For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
ہمارے ہوئے تو ہیں ۔ امیتا پرسورام میتاؔ
۱
تجدیدِ زندگی کے اِشارے ہوئے تو ہیں
کچھ پل سہی وہ آج ہمارے ہوئے تو ہیں
۲
مانا نصیب ہو نہ سکا کوئی آفتاب
راتوں میں میری چاند ستارے ہوئے تو ہیں
۳
بے شک حقیقتوں سے بہت دور ہے مگر
بے شک یہی سراب سہارے ہوئے تو ہیں
۴
چُھوٹا نہیں ہے دامن امید اب تلک
ہم بھی اے دوست وقت کے مارے ہوئے تو ہیں
۵
یہ اور بات ہم ہی نہ محظوظ ہو سکے
خوش رنگ زندگی کے نظارے ہوئے تو ہیں
हमारे हुए तो हैं – अमीता परसुराम मीता
१
तज्दीद-ए ज़िंदगी के इशारे हुए तो हैं
कुछ पल सही वो आज हमारे हुए तो हैं
२
माना नसीब हो न सका कोई आफ़्ताब
रातों में मेरी चाँद सितारे हुए तो हैं
३
बे-शक हक़ीक़तों से बहुत दूर है मगर
बे-शक यही सराब सहारे हुए तो हैं
४
छूटा नहीं है दामन-ए उम्मीद अब तलक
हम भी अए दोस्त वक़्त के मारे हुए तो हैं
५
ये और बात हम ही न महज़ूज़ हो सके
ख़ुश-रंग ज़िंदगी के नज़ारे हुए तो हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ameeta parasuram (1955-living) a psychologist by profession involved in teaching, training and therapy in naii dehli. She writes in the classical style with an interest in understanding human relationships, especially from a woman’s perspective. How did meeta come to urdu? Her response ‘I grew up in a family where the spoken languages were Urdu and Panjabi. My father was a genius with exceptional command over Urdu. So conversational Urdu was part of the routine. He also initiated me into poetry by often quoting couplets, discussing poetry with me, teaching life through the medium of Urdu couplets. It grew on me. Later after my Masters in psychology I joined DU Urdu department to learn the script and I have always loved reading works of the poets’. This Ghazal is linked to an icon on ‘hue to haiN’ on the radeef-refrain page.
1
tajdiid1 zindagii ke ishaare2 hue to haiN
kuchh pal sahii vo aaj hamaare hue to haiN 1.renewal 2.hints
At least there are a few hints of renewal of life/relationship. At least for a short time he has been mine. This can be interpreted in ways other than romantic relationships. This could be a renewal of promises by political leaders with “hamaare hue to haiN” meaning they are acting in our interests, at least for now.
2
maana1 nasiib2 ho na sakaa koii aaftaab3
raatoN meN merii chaand sitaare hue to haiN 1.agree 2.fate, fortune 3.sun
I agree that the brilliance of the sun was not in my fortune. But at least for my dark nights of the moon and stars, even if with a dim light i.e., I did not get everything I wished for, but at least some to able to make peace with what I got.
3
be-shak1 haqiiqatoN2 se bahut duur hai magar
be-shak yahii saraab3 sahaare4 hue to haiN 1.without doubt 2.realities, truth 3.mirage 4.support
Doubtless we are far removed from realities, but the unrealities/mirage/self-deception that we ‘see’ have been our support i.e., our ideals (however unrealistic) have carried us.
4
chhooTa1 nahiiN hai daaman2-e ummiid3 ab talak
ham bhii aye dost vaqt ke maare hue to haiN 1.let go 2.hem of the robe 3.hope
Letting go of the hem of the robe of hope is to lose hope. Thus, we have not lost hope yet but O friend, we too have been stricken/hurt by the times/world.
5
ye aur baat ham hii na mahzuuz1 ho sake
Khush-raNg2 zindagii ke nazaare3 hue to haiN 1.entertained 2.colourful 3.sights
It is a different matter that ourselves we were not entertained/benefitted (from the prosperity around us) but at least we have been able to see (vicariously) and visulaize a colourful/fruitful life. This vision is the basis of our ideals.
ameeta parasuram (1955-living) a psychologist by profession involved in teaching, training and therapy in naii dehli. She writes in the classical style with an interest in understanding human relationships, especially from a woman’s perspective. How did meeta come to urdu? Her response ‘I grew up in a family where the spoken languages were Urdu and Panjabi. My father was a genius with exceptional command over Urdu. So conversational Urdu was part of the routine. He also initiated me into poetry by often quoting couplets, discussing poetry with me, teaching life through the medium of Urdu couplets. It grew on me. Later after my Masters in psychology I joined DU Urdu department to learn the script and I have always loved reading works of the poets’. This Ghazal is linked to an icon on ‘hue to haiN’ on the radeef-refrain page.
1
tajdiid1 zindagii ke ishaare2 hue to haiN
kuchh pal sahii vo aaj hamaare hue to haiN
1.renewal 2.hints
At least there are a few hints of renewal of life/relationship. At least for a short time he has been mine. This can be interpreted in ways other than romantic relationships. This could be a renewal of promises by political leaders with “hamaare hue to haiN” meaning they are acting in our interests, at least for now.
2
maana1 nasiib2 ho na sakaa koii aaftaab3
raatoN meN merii chaand sitaare hue to haiN
1.agree 2.fate, fortune 3.sun
I agree that the brilliance of the sun was not in my fortune. But at least for my dark nights of the moon and stars, even if with a dim light i.e., I did not get everything I wished for, but at least some to able to make peace with what I got.
3
be-shak1 haqiiqatoN2 se bahut duur hai magar
be-shak yahii saraab3 sahaare4 hue to haiN
1.without doubt 2.realities, truth 3.mirage 4.support
Doubtless we are far removed from realities, but the unrealities/mirage/self-deception that we ‘see’ have been our support i.e., our ideals (however unrealistic) have carried us.
4
chhooTa1 nahiiN hai daaman2-e ummiid3 ab talak
ham bhii aye dost vaqt ke maare hue to haiN
1.let go 2.hem of the robe 3.hope
Letting go of the hem of the robe of hope is to lose hope. Thus, we have not lost hope yet but O friend, we too have been stricken/hurt by the times/world.
5
ye aur baat ham hii na mahzuuz1 ho sake
Khush-raNg2 zindagii ke nazaare3 hue to haiN
1.entertained 2.colourful 3.sights
It is a different matter that ourselves we were not entertained/benefitted (from the prosperity around us) but at least we have been able to see (vicariously) and visulaize a colourful/fruitful life. This vision is the basis of our ideals.
