For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
گُل بانگِ قفس ۔ داؤد خاں اخترؔ شیرانی
۱
مدت سے نہ آئی کوئی خبر، یارانِ گلستاں کیسے ہیں
اے بادِ صبا اِتنا تو بتا، سرو و گل و ریحاں کیسے ہیں
۲
پابندِ قفس تو کیسے کہیں اور کس سے کہیں رُودادِ قفس
آزادِ قفس بتلائیں ہمیں، اربابِ گلستاں کیسے ہیں
۳
ہر ایک قدم یاں مجلسِ غم، ہر تازہ ستم اِک مصرِ الم
اِس حال میں پوچھیں کس سے ہم، غم دیدۂ کنعاں کیسے ہیں
۴
ہمدرد ہے اپنا کون یہاں، لا تُو ہی خبر اے بادِ خزاں
اس سال وطن کے باغوں میں، گلہائے بہاراں کیسے ہیں
۵
غربت ہی نہ تھی کم ہوش ربا، اُس پر یہ اسیری رنج فزا
ہے کون جو پوچھے آ کے ذرا، ہم خستۂ ارماں کیسے ہیں
۶
صیّاد نے کیوں چُن چُن کے کیا، بے جرم و خطا محبوسِ بلا
ہے کس کو غرض جو پوچھے ذرا، آباد یہ زنداں کیسے ہیں
۷
اے موجِ نسیمِ صبح چمن، خوش باش سُنا پھر حالِ وطن
کہسار و دمن کس حال میں ہیں وادی و خیاباں کیسے ہیں
۸
کیا پوچھتی ہے اے شامِ قفس، افسانۂ رنگ و بوئے چمن
ہم قیدیوں کو کیا علم کہ اب، گُل کیسے ہیں گُلِستاں کیسے ہیں
۹
گل بانگ قفس ہی بن جائے، اے کاش نوائے آزادی
کیا کہیے کہ اخترؔ سینے میں مچلے ہوئے ارماں کیسے ہیں
ग़ुल-बाँग-ए क़फ़स – दाऊद ख़ाँ अख़्तर शीरानी
१
मुद्दत से न आई कोई ख़बर, यारान-ए गुलिस्ताँ कैसे हैं
अए बाद-ए सबा इतना तो बता, सर्व ओ गुल ओ रेहां कैसे हैं
२
पाबंद-ए क़फ़स तो कैसे कहें और किस से कहें रूदाद-ए क़फ़स
आज़ाद-ए क़फ़स बतलाएँ हमें, अर्बाब-ए गुलिस्ताँ कैसे हैं
३
हर एक क़दम यां मजलिस-ए ग़म, हर ताज़ा सितम एक मिस्र-ए अलम
इस हाल में पूछें किस से हम, ग़म-दीदा-ए कन’आँ कैसे हैं
४
हमदर्द है अपना कौन यहाँ, ला तू ही ख़बर अए बाद-ए ख़िज़ाँ
इस साल वतन के बाग़ों में, गुल-हा-ए बहाराँ कैसे हैं
५
ग़ुर्बत ही न थी कम होश-रुबा, उस पर ये असीरी रंज-अफ़्ज़ा
है कौन जो पूछे आ के ज़रा, हम ख़स्ता-ए अर्मां कैसे हैं
६
सय्याद ने क्यूं चुन चुन के किया, बे जुर्म ओ ख़ता महबूस-ए बला
है किस को ग़रज़ जो पूछे ज़रा, आबाद ये ज़िंदाँ कैसे हैं
७
अए मौज-ए नसीम-ए सुब्ह-ए चमन, ख़ुश-बाश सुना फिर हाल-ए वतन
कोहसार ओ दमन किस हाल में हैं, वादी ओ ख़ियाबाँ कैसे हैं
८
क्या पूछती है अए शाम-ए क़फ़स, अफ़्साना-ए रंग ओ बू-ए चमन
हम क़ैदियों को क्या इल्म के अब, गुल कैसे हैं गुलिस्ताँ कैसे हैं
९
गुल-बाँग-ए क़फ़स ही बन जाए, अए काश नवा-ए आज़ादी
क्या कहिए के अख़्तर सीने में मचले हुए अर्मां कैसे हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mohammed dawood KhaaN aKhtar shiiraani (1904-1948) ToNk, rajashthan. He received religious and classical education at home and was also given lessons in wrestling. In 1921, there was a rebellion against the local navaab. He was able to put down the rebellion but banished a lot of people, among them shiiraani’s family, who migrated to lahore. He started working as a journalist and publisher. His love interest and poetry caused a breakdown of relationship with his father, but his allowance continued. He died early due to heavy smoking and drinking. In his poetry he broke with the trend of progressive poets and stayed with romantic themes. This is a soul-stirring lament about loss of home – ToNk.
1
muddat1 se na aa’ii koii Khabar2, yaaraan3-e gulistaaN kaise haiN
aye baad4-e sabaa5 itnaa to bataa, sarv6 o gul-o-rehaaN7 kaise haiN 1.long time 2.news 3.friends 4.breeze 5.morning 6.cypress 7.rose and basil
Here ‘sarv-cypress’ is symbolic of graceful beauty and ‘gul-o-rehaaN rose and basil’ are symbolic of beauty and fragrance of the garden. The poet himself is portrayed as a caged bird away from the garden and missing his nest and friends. ‘baad-e sabaa the morning breeze’ is supposed to bring in fragrances, memories and news. Thus, it has been a long time since I have received any news. Tell me how my friends in the garden are. O morning breeze, tell me this much, how is the old grace, beauty and fragrance of the garden.
2
paaband1-e qafas2 to kaise kaheN aur kis se kaheN ruudaad3-e qafas2
aazaad4-e qafas2 batlaa’eN humeN, arbaab5-e gulistaaN kaise haiN 1.restricted, bound by 2.cage 3.story 4.free 5.lords, owners
I am restricted to the cage, how can I say, who can I tell, the story of my imprisonment. You who are free of the cage, tell me how fare the lords of the garden i.e., free birds.
3
har aek qadam1 yaaN2 majlis3-e Gham4, har taazaa5 sitam6 ek misr7-e alam8
is haal9 meN puuchheN kis se hum, Gham-diida10-e kan’aaN11 kaise haiN 1.step, moment 2.short for yahaaN, here 3.gathering 4.sorrow 5.fresh 6.oppression, cruelty 7.Egypt 8.sorrow 9.condition 10.sorrowful/tearful eyes 11.land of Canaan
This has reference to the story of yusuf/Joseph. His brothers, in a fit of jealousy, threw him down a well. He was rescued by a passing caravan and then auctioned in slavery in Egypt. In the meantime, his father, in the land of Canaan, cried for him so much that he became blind. Thus, Gham-diida-e kan’aaN is his father and others who might be mourning for him. ‘misr-e alam’ is figuratively a mountain of sorrow. Thus, here (in captivity) every moment feels like a mournful gathering, every fresh cruelty and mountain of sorrow. In this condition, who can I ask, how are those who mourn for me in the homeland of Canaan.
4
hamdard1 hai apna kaun yahaaN, laa tuu hii Khabar2 aye baad-e-KhizaaN3
is saal4 vatan5 ke baaGhoN meN, gul’haa6-e bahaaraaN7 kaise haiN 1.sympathizer 2.news 3.breeze of autumn 4.year 5.homeland 6.flowers (pluralization in faarsi is done by adding haa 7.spring
‘baad-e KhizaaN’ the breeze of autumn brings dryness, falling leaves and a barren garden. There is an implication that the caged bird (poet) has given up on ‘baad-e bahaarii-spring breeze’ and is content to ask the breeze of autumn to bring him news of this year’s blooming of spring flowers in the gardens of the homeland.
5
Ghurbat1 hi na thii kam hosh-rubaa2, us par ye asiirii3 raNj-afzaa4
hai kaun jo puuchhe aa ke zaraa, ham Khasta5-e armaaN6 kaise haiN 1.exile 2.losing senses, bewildering 3.captivity 4.sorrow increasing 5.broken 6.desires
As if exile was not enough, there is this sorrow enhancing captivity on top of it. Who is there to come and ask, how we, of shattered dreams, are doing.
6
sayyaad1 ne kyuN chuN-chuN2 ke kiya, be-jurm-o-Khataa3 mahbuus4-e balaa5
hai kis ko Gharaz6 jo puuchhe zaraa, aabaad7 ye zindaaN8 kaise haiN 1.captor, birdcatcher 2.carefully picking 3.without crime or fault 4.imprisoned, overwhelmed 5.calamity 6.concern 7.filled, occupied 8.prison, cage
Why did the captor selectively overwhelm me with calamities, without any fault or crime. Who has any concern to ask why these prisons/cages have been filled (by innocents).
7
aye mauj1-e nasiim2-e sub’h-e chaman, Khush-baash3 sunaa phir haal4-e vatan5
kohsaar-o-daman6 kis haal meN haiN vaadii-o-KhiyaabaaN7 kaise haiN 1.gust of wind 2.breeze 3.happy 4.condition 5.homeland 6.hills and valleys 7.plains and garden walks
O happy gust of the morning breeze from the garden, tell me again the condition of the homeland. How are the hills and valleys, how are the gardens/plains and garden walks.
8
kya puuchhti hai aye shaam1-e qafas2, afsaana3-e raNg-o-buu4-e chaman
ham qaidiyoN5 ko kya ilm6 keh ab, gul kaise haiN gulistaaN kaise haiN 1.night, evening 2.cage 3.story 4.colour/beauty and fragrance 5.caged 6.knowledge
O evening, I am in a cage, why do you ask about the beauty and fragrance of the garden. How do I, who is caged, know the condition of the flowers and the garden.
9
gul-baaNg1-e qafas2 hii ban jaa’e, aye kaash3 navaa4-e aazaadii5
kya kahiye keh aKhtar6 siine meN, machle7 hue armaaN8 kaise haiN 1.song of the nightingale 2.cage 3.I wish, I pray 4.sound, call 5.freedom 6.pen-name of the poet 7.restless, stubborn, demanding
The poet himself is the nightingale. I pray that my song in the cage become a call for freedom. How can I say, aKhtar, how many restless desires in my heart/bosom are eager to break out.
mohammed dawood KhaaN aKhtar shiiraani (1904-1948) ToNk, rajashthan. He received religious and classical education at home and was also given lessons in wrestling. In 1921, there was a rebellion against the local navaab. He was able to put down the rebellion but banished a lot of people, among them shiiraani’s family, who migrated to lahore. He started working as a journalist and publisher. His love interest and poetry caused a breakdown of relationship with his father, but his allowance continued. He died early due to heavy smoking and drinking. In his poetry he broke with the trend of progressive poets and stayed with romantic themes. This is a soul-stirring lament about loss of home – ToNk.
1
muddat1 se na aa’ii koii Khabar2, yaaraan3-e gulistaaN kaise haiN
aye baad4-e sabaa5 itnaa to bataa, sarv6 o gul-o-rehaaN7 kaise haiN
1.long time 2.news 3.friends 4.breeze 5.morning 6.cypress 7.rose and basil
Here ‘sarv-cypress’ is symbolic of graceful beauty and ‘gul-o-rehaaN rose and basil’ are symbolic of beauty and fragrance of the garden. The poet himself is portrayed as a caged bird away from the garden and missing his nest and friends. ‘baad-e sabaa the morning breeze’ is supposed to bring in fragrances, memories and news. Thus, it has been a long time since I have received any news. Tell me how my friends in the garden are. O morning breeze, tell me this much, how is the old grace, beauty and fragrance of the garden.
2
paaband1-e qafas2 to kaise kaheN aur kis se kaheN ruudaad3-e qafas2
aazaad4-e qafas2 batlaa’eN humeN, arbaab5-e gulistaaN kaise haiN
1.restricted, bound by 2.cage 3.story 4.free 5.lords, owners
I am restricted to the cage, how can I say, who can I tell, the story of my imprisonment. You who are free of the cage, tell me how fare the lords of the garden i.e., free birds.
3
har aek qadam1 yaaN2 majlis3-e Gham4, har taazaa5 sitam6 ek misr7-e alam8
is haal9 meN puuchheN kis se hum, Gham-diida10-e kan’aaN11 kaise haiN
1.step, moment 2.short for yahaaN, here 3.gathering 4.sorrow 5.fresh 6.oppression, cruelty 7.Egypt 8.sorrow 9.condition 10.sorrowful/tearful eyes 11.land of Canaan
This has reference to the story of yusuf/Joseph. His brothers, in a fit of jealousy, threw him down a well. He was rescued by a passing caravan and then auctioned in slavery in Egypt. In the meantime, his father, in the land of Canaan, cried for him so much that he became blind. Thus, Gham-diida-e kan’aaN is his father and others who might be mourning for him. ‘misr-e alam’ is figuratively a mountain of sorrow. Thus, here (in captivity) every moment feels like a mournful gathering, every fresh cruelty and mountain of sorrow. In this condition, who can I ask, how are those who mourn for me in the homeland of Canaan.
4
hamdard1 hai apna kaun yahaaN, laa tuu hii Khabar2 aye baad-e-KhizaaN3
is saal4 vatan5 ke baaGhoN meN, gul’haa6-e bahaaraaN7 kaise haiN
1.sympathizer 2.news 3.breeze of autumn 4.year 5.homeland 6.flowers (pluralization in faarsi is done by adding haa 7.spring
‘baad-e KhizaaN’ the breeze of autumn brings dryness, falling leaves and a barren garden. There is an implication that the caged bird (poet) has given up on ‘baad-e bahaarii-spring breeze’ and is content to ask the breeze of autumn to bring him news of this year’s blooming of spring flowers in the gardens of the homeland.
5
Ghurbat1 hi na thii kam hosh-rubaa2, us par ye asiirii3 raNj-afzaa4
hai kaun jo puuchhe aa ke zaraa, ham Khasta5-e armaaN6 kaise haiN
1.exile 2.losing senses, bewildering 3.captivity 4.sorrow increasing 5.broken 6.desires
As if exile was not enough, there is this sorrow enhancing captivity on top of it. Who is there to come and ask, how we, of shattered dreams, are doing.
6
sayyaad1 ne kyuN chuN-chuN2 ke kiya, be-jurm-o-Khataa3 mahbuus4-e balaa5
hai kis ko Gharaz6 jo puuchhe zaraa, aabaad7 ye zindaaN8 kaise haiN
1.captor, birdcatcher 2.carefully picking 3.without crime or fault 4.imprisoned, overwhelmed 5.calamity 6.concern 7.filled, occupied 8.prison, cage
Why did the captor selectively overwhelm me with calamities, without any fault or crime. Who has any concern to ask why these prisons/cages have been filled (by innocents).
7
aye mauj1-e nasiim2-e sub’h-e chaman, Khush-baash3 sunaa phir haal4-e vatan5
kohsaar-o-daman6 kis haal meN haiN vaadii-o-KhiyaabaaN7 kaise haiN
1.gust of wind 2.breeze 3.happy 4.condition 5.homeland 6.hills and valleys 7.plains and garden walks
O happy gust of the morning breeze from the garden, tell me again the condition of the homeland. How are the hills and valleys, how are the gardens/plains and garden walks.
8
kya puuchhti hai aye shaam1-e qafas2, afsaana3-e raNg-o-buu4-e chaman
ham qaidiyoN5 ko kya ilm6 keh ab, gul kaise haiN gulistaaN kaise haiN
1.night, evening 2.cage 3.story 4.colour/beauty and fragrance 5.caged 6.knowledge
O evening, I am in a cage, why do you ask about the beauty and fragrance of the garden. How do I, who is caged, know the condition of the flowers and the garden.
9
gul-baaNg1-e qafas2 hii ban jaa’e, aye kaash3 navaa4-e aazaadii5
kya kahiye keh aKhtar6 siine meN, machle7 hue armaaN8 kaise haiN
1.song of the nightingale 2.cage 3.I wish, I pray 4.sound, call 5.freedom 6.pen-name of the poet 7.restless, stubborn, demanding
The poet himself is the nightingale. I pray that my song in the cage become a call for freedom. How can I say, aKhtar, how many restless desires in my heart/bosom are eager to break out.
