For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.
urdu recomposition
shreya goshal bengali
ایکلا چلو رے ۔ رابندرناتھ ٹگور
اکیلا ہی چلا چل ۔ سید محمد شاہد
۱
تیری آواز پہ آواز نہ جب کوئی لگاتا
سنّاٹا ہی ہر سُو نہ کوئی چاپ نہ سنچل
اکیلا ہی چلا چل
۲
ہے خوف بہت لب پہ مہر سب کے لگی ہے
دِل کی جو کہانی ہے سُنانے سے نہ تُو ٹل
اکیلا ہی چلا چل
۳
مُنھ پھیرے پلٹ جاتا ہے ہر ایک جو ڈر کر
رُسوائی نہیں تیری، نہ کر آنکھ تُو بوجھل
اکیلا ہی چلا چل
۴
ہے راہ تری سب سے جُدا، کیوں فکر ہے تجھ کو
کانٹوں سے بھری راہ ہے پاؤں بھی تیرے شل
اکیلا ہی چلا چل
۵
مشعل کوئی پکڑے نہ ہے قندیل نہ شمع
طوفان میں بجلی کی چمک باندھ، اندھیرے کا یہی حل
اکیلا ہی چلا چل
اِضافتاً، کیفی آعظمی کی نظم ‘عورت’ کی بِنا پر
۶
جنّت اِک اور ہے جو مرد کے پہلو میں نہیں
منزل و راہ بھی اپنی، ترا اپنا ہی عمل
اکیلی ہی چلی چل
ऐक्ला चलो रे – रबीन्द्रनाथ टगोर
अकेला हि चला चल – सय्यद मोहम्मद शाहेद
१
तेरी आवाज़ पे आवाज़ न जब कोई लगाता
सन्नाटा हि हर सू न कोई चाप न संचल
अकेला हि चला चल
२
है ख़ौफ़ बहुत लब पे मोहर सब के लगी है
दिल की जो कहानी हऐ सुनाने से न तू टल
अकेला हि चला चल
३
मुंह फेरे पलट जाता है हर एक जो डर कर
रुस्वाई नहीं तेरी, कर आंख न बोझल
अकेला हि चला चल
४
है राह तेरी सब से जुदा, क्यूं फ़िक्र है तुझ को
कांटौं से भरी राह है पाऊं भि तेरे शल
अकेला हि चला चल
५
मशअल कोई पकड़े न है क़िंदील न शमअ
तूफ़ान में बिज्ली कि चमक बांध अंधेरे का यही हल
अकेला हि चला चल
इज़ाफ़तन, कैफ़ी आज़्मी की नज़म “औरत” कि बिना पर
६
जन्नत एक और है जो मर्द के पहलू में नहीं
मंज़िल ओ राह भी अपनी, तेरा अपना हि अमल
अकेली हि चली चल
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), poems, songs, hymns, short stories, drama and novels in bangla, some of which he himself translated in English. His poem, “ekla chalo re”, was sung as a song of resistance on the streets during protests especially against the first partition of Bengal in 1905. shahed has taken Tagore’s English translation of “ekla chalo re” and recomposed it in urdu. The last stanza is an addition, a slightly different theme, taken from kaifi azmi’s ‘aurat’, also posted on this site.
1
teri aavaaz pe aavaaz na jab koii lagaata
sannaaTa1 hi har soo2, na koii chaap3 na sanchal4
akela hi chala chal 1.hush silence 2.direction 3.foot steps 4.footfall
When no one answers you call
When there is silence all around, no sound of footsteps
Walk alone, keep walking alone
2
hai Khauf1 bahut, lab2 pe mohar3 sub ke lagi hai
dil ki jo kahaani hai sunaane se na tu Tal4
akela hi chala chal 1.fear 2.lips 3.stamp, seal 4.postpone, walk away
There is fear all lips are sealed
The message in your heart, do not delay
Walk alone, keep walking alone
3
muNh phere, palaT jaata hai har ek jo Dar kar
rusvaaii1 nahiN teri na kar aaNkh tu bojhal2
akela hi chala chal 1.shame, embarrassment 2.heavy, drooping
They look away, turn around in fear, one and all
No need for embarrassment, do not look down in shame
Walk alone, keep walking alone
4
hai raah1 teri sub se juda2, kyuN fikr3 hai tujh ko
kaaNToN se bhari raah hai paauN bhi tere shal4
akela hi chala chal 1.path 2.different 3.worry 4.numb
Your path is different from others, why are your worried
The path may be thorny, your feet numb, but
Walk alone, keep walking alone
5
mash’al1 koii pakRe, na hai qindeel2, na sham’a3
toofan meN bijli ki chamak baandh, andhere ka yahi hal4
akela hi chala chal 1.torch 2.lantern, lamp 3.candle 4.solution
There is none to hold a torch, no lamp or candle
Capture the brilliance of lightning, this is the solution of darkness
Walk alone, keep walking alone
This is added based on kaifi azmi’s nazm “aurat”
6
jannat ek aur hai jo mard ke pahlu1 meN nahiN
manzil2 o raah3 bhi apni, tera apna hi amal4
akeli hi chali chal 1.embrace 2.destination 3.path 4.action, effort
There are pleasures beyond the embrace of man
You have your own destination, you own path and your own effort
Walk alone, keep walking alone
This is an addition based on kaifi azmi’s nazm ‘aurat’ but takes the thought a step further by recognizing woman’s right to walk alone rather than “uTh meri jaan mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe”. But also, I much prefer the energy and dignity of fahmida riaz …
hayaat ki shahraah par, jagmaga rahi hai meri zehaanat
zamiN ke ruKh par jo hai pasiina, to jhilmilaati hai meri mehnat
rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), poems, songs, hymns, short stories, drama and novels in bangla, some of which he himself translated in English. His poem, “ekla chalo re”, was sung as a song of resistance on the streets during protests especially against the first partition of Bengal in 1905. shahed has taken Tagore’s English translation of “ekla chalo re” and recomposed it in urdu. The last stanza is an addition, a slightly different theme, taken from kaifi azmi’s ‘aurat’, also posted on this site.
1
teri aavaaz pe aavaaz na jab koii lagaata
sannaaTa1 hi har soo2, na koii chaap3 na sanchal4
akela hi chala chal
1.hush silence 2.direction 3.foot steps 4.footfall
When no one answers you call
When there is silence all around, no sound of footsteps
Walk alone, keep walking alone
2
hai Khauf1 bahut, lab2 pe mohar3 sub ke lagi hai
dil ki jo kahaani hai sunaane se na tu Tal4
akela hi chala chal
1.fear 2.lips 3.stamp, seal 4.postpone, walk away
There is fear all lips are sealed
The message in your heart, do not delay
Walk alone, keep walking alone
3
muNh phere, palaT jaata hai har ek jo Dar kar
rusvaaii1 nahiN teri na kar aaNkh tu bojhal2
akela hi chala chal
1.shame, embarrassment 2.heavy, drooping
They look away, turn around in fear, one and all
No need for embarrassment, do not look down in shame
Walk alone, keep walking alone
4
hai raah1 teri sub se juda2, kyuN fikr3 hai tujh ko
kaaNToN se bhari raah hai paauN bhi tere shal4
akela hi chala chal
1.path 2.different 3.worry 4.numb
Your path is different from others, why are your worried
The path may be thorny, your feet numb, but
Walk alone, keep walking alone
5
mash’al1 koii pakRe, na hai qindeel2, na sham’a3
toofan meN bijli ki chamak baandh, andhere ka yahi hal4
akela hi chala chal
1.torch 2.lantern, lamp 3.candle 4.solution
There is none to hold a torch, no lamp or candle
Capture the brilliance of lightning, this is the solution of darkness
Walk alone, keep walking alone
This is added based on kaifi azmi’s nazm “aurat”
6
jannat ek aur hai jo mard ke pahlu1 meN nahiN
manzil2 o raah3 bhi apni, tera apna hi amal4
akeli hi chali chal
1.embrace 2.destination 3.path 4.action, effort
There are pleasures beyond the embrace of man
You have your own destination, you own path and your own effort
Walk alone, keep walking alone
This is an addition based on kaifi azmi’s nazm ‘aurat’ but takes the thought a step further by recognizing woman’s right to walk alone rather than “uTh meri jaan mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe”. But also, I much prefer the energy and dignity of fahmida riaz …
hayaat ki shahraah par, jagmaga rahi hai meri zehaanat
zamiN ke ruKh par jo hai pasiina, to jhilmilaati hai meri mehnat
Key Search Words:
ekla cholo
English Translation by Tagore
If there is no-one responding to your call – then go on all alone
If no-one speaks (to you), don’t think you are unfortunate,
if no-one speaks (to you),
If everyone turns away, if everyone fears (to speak),
then with an open heart without hesitation speak your mind alone
If everyone walks away, O unlucky one, everyone walks away
If no-one looks back towards the (your) unpredictable path,
then with thorn pricked (of the path) bloodied feet, walk alone
If no-one heeds your call – then walk alone
If no-one shines a light (on the path), O unlucky one,
If the dark night brings a storm at the door –
then let the lightning ignite the light in you alone to shine on the path
If no-one heeds your call – then walk alone
ekla cholo re – rabindranath Tagore
baNgla in Roman transcription
Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re,
Tobe ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo re.
Jodi keu kotha na koe, ore ore o obhaga,keu kothana koi
Jodi shobai thake mukh phiraee shobai kore bhoe,
jodi shobaai thake mukh phiraae shobai kore bhoi—
Tobe poran khule
O tui mukh phute tor moner kotha ekla bolo re.
Jodi shobai phire jae, ore ore o obhaga,shobai phire jai
Jodi gohon pothe jabar kale keu phire na chae,
jodi gohon pothe jabar kale keu phire naa chaai—
Tobe pother kata
O tui roktomakha chorontole ekla dolo re
Jodi alo na dhore, ore ore o obhaga,
Jodi jhor-badole adhar rate duar dee ghore—
Tobe bojranole
Apon buker pajor jalie nie ekla jolo re.
Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re,
