For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
iqra Khilji
حق پرستوں کے نام ۔ اِقرا ؑ خِلجی
۱
زمانے اور بھی تھے، حاکم اور بھی تھے
اُن میں ظالم بھی تھے، جابر بھی تھے
جِن کے قدموں میں تھے مُنشی
جِن کی اسیری میں تھے قلم
۲
مگر اِن میں اِنقلابی بھی تھے، سرگرم شرارے بھی تھے
یہ ہے اُن رضاکاروں کے لئے
صحافیوں کے، ادیبوں کے، تاریخ نگاروں کے لئے
اصحابِ حق کے لئے
۳
جِن کے قلم کے آگے بہ سجود تھا جبر و ظلم
جِن کے زورِ لب سے بیباک تھے زندہ، اور آزاد تھی زندگی
جِن کی دیانت پہ شرمندہ تھیں بخشِشیں
جِن کی بیباکی پہ ناکام تھے فرمانِ خاموشی
۴
حق، جِن کی جستجو کی نازش، حق، جِن کی حُجّتوں کا حاصل
وہ زلزلوں کے سبب، وہ سرکشی اور غضب
وہ دلیلوں کے عابد، وہ رئیسوں کے مُرتد
وہی جو ہیں قوم کے راہ بیں اور رہنما
وہی جو ہیں آج اِن ویرانوں میں سرگرداں
۵
ایک ساحر کے سیّال فریب کی کشش میں ڈوب چکا ہے مُلک
وہ روز نیا خواب دکھاتا ہے
مجبور ہیں آنکھوں کی پٹّی سے گرہ کھولنے والے
وہ روز نیا پازیب دلاتا ہے
اور قید ہیں پاؤں کی بیڑیاں توڑنے والے
۶
میرے مُلک میں ہیں اِک جھوٹ پہ مر مٹنے والے
طالبِ حق یہاں مقبول نہیں ہے
میرا مُلک ہے جہاں کے زور پرستوں میں
قاصدِ سحر یہاں طلوع نہیں ہوتے
हक़्क़ परस्तौं के नाम – एक़्रा ख़िल्जी
१
ज़माने और भी थे, हाकम और भी थे
उन में ज़ालिम भी थे, जाबर भी थे
जिन के क़द्मौं में थे मुंशी
जिन की असीरी में थे क़लम
२
मगर इन में इन्क़लाबी भी थे, सरगर्म शरारे भी थे
ये है उन रज़ाकारौं के लिये
सहाफ़ियौं के, अदीबौं के, रारीख़-निगारौं के लिये
अस्हाब-ए हक़्क़ के लिये
३
जिन के क़लम के आगे बा-सुजूद था जब्र ओ ज़ुल्म
जिन के ज़ोर-ए लब से बेबाक थे ज़िन्दा और आज़ाद थी ज़िन्दगी
जिन की दियानत पे शर्मिन्दा थीं बख़्शिशें
जिन की बेबाकी पे नाकाम थे फ़र्मान-ए ख़ामोशी
४
हक़्क़ जिन की जुस्तजू की नाज़िश, हक़्क़, जिन की हुज्जतौं का हासिल
वो ज़ल्ज़लौं के सबब, वो सरकशी और ग़ज़ब
वो दलीलौं के आबद, वो रईसौं के मुर्तिद
वही जो हैं क़ौम के राह-बीं और रहनुमा
वही जो हैं आज इन वीरानौं में सर्गदां
५
एक साहर के सय्याल फ़रेब की कशिश में डथब चुका है मुल्क
वो रोज़ नया ख़्वाब दिखाता है
मज्बूर हैं आंखौं की पट्टी से गिरह खोलने वाले
वो रोज़ नया पाज़ेब दिलाता है
और क़ैद हैं पाऊं की बेढियां तोडने वाले
६
मेरे मुल्क पे हैं एक झूट में मर मिटने वाले
तालेब-ए हक़्क़ यहां मक़्बूल नहीं है
मेरा मुल्क है जहां के ज़ोर परस्तौं में
क़ासद-ए सहर यहां तुलू नहीं होते
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. iqra Khilji is young woman from ahmedabad. Trained as a lawyer and intends to practice law in ahmedabad. She writes very well about feminist issues. She has spent time in shaheen baaGh and participated in many “ehtejaaji mushaa’era” that were held all over India around Republic Day. This is a tribute to intrepid poets, writers, reporters, historians who speak truth to power. She appears to be doing full justice to the meaning of her name.
1
zamaane aur bhi the, haakim1 aur bhi the
un meN zaalim2 bhi the, jaabir3 bhi the
jin ke qadmoN meN the munshi4
jin ki asiiri5 meN the qalam6 1.rulers 2.cruel 3.oppressors 4.scribes, note takers 5.captivity 6.pen
There were other rulers too (before your time). Among them were cruel oppressors. At their feet (at their command) were scribes. The pen was their captive.
2
magar in meN inqelaabi1 bhi the, sargarm2 sharaare3 bhi the
ye hai un razakaaroN4 ke liye
sahaafiyoN5 ke, adeeboN6 ke, taariiKh-nigaaroN7 ke liye
as’haab8-e haq9 ke liye 1.revolutionaries, change makers 2.busy 3.sparks 4.volunteers, acting on their own will 5.journalists 6.writers 7.historians 8.friends, supporters 9.truth
But among them also were change makers, busy lighting sparks. This (tribute) is for those who acted on their own judgement/will. It is for journalists, writers, historians and truth tellers.
3
jin ke qalam1 ke aage2 ba-sujood3 tha jabr4 o zulm5
jin ke zor-e-lab6 se bebaak7 the zinda aur aazaad thi zindagi
jin ki diyaanat8 pe sharminda9 thiiN baKhshisheN10
jin ki bebaaki7 pe nakaam11 the farmaan12-e Khaamoshi 1.pen 2.before, in front of 3.prostrated, bowed down 4.oppression 5.cruelty 6.power of lips/words 7.fearless, daring 8.honesty 9.shamed 10.grants, gifts 11.unsuccessful 12.orders, edicts
Before whose pen, cruelty and oppression bowed down. The power of their words brought out the daring and life felt free. Before whose honesty, corrupt gifts were shamed. Before whose courage edicts of silence were unsuccessful.
4
haq1 jin ki justaju2 ki naazish3, haq1 jin ki hujjatoN4 ka haasil5
vo zalzaloN6 ke sabab7, vo sarkashi8 aur Ghazab9
vo daliiloN10 ke aabid11, vo ra’eesoN12 ke murtid13
vahi jo haiN qaum14 ke raahbiiN15 aur rahnuma16
vahi jo haiN aaj in viiraanoN17 meN sargardaaN18 1.truth, justice 2.search 3.pride 4.debate, logic, reasoning 5.objective, attainment 6.earthquake, revolutionary change 7.basis, cause 8.defiance 9.terror 10.proof 11.obedient 12.rich 13.rejecting 14.community 15.able to see the path 16.showing the path, guide 17.deserted places 18.wandering
Truth, the pride of their search, the objective of their reasoning. They are the cause of change, defiance and terror personified. They obey logic, reject the interests of wealth. They who can see the path forward and show it. They, who today, are wandering in lonely places.
5
ek saahir1 ke sayyaal2 fareb3 ki kashish4 meN Doob chuka hai mulk
vo roz naya Khwaab dikhaata hai
majboor5 haiN aaNkhoN ki paTTi se girah kholne vaale
vo roz naya paazeb6 dilaata hai
aur qaid7 haiN paauN ki beRiyaaN8 toRne vaale 1.magician 2.liquid – implies shapeless, changing shape 3.deception 4.attraction 5.helpless, powerless 6.anklet – used here to mean shackles, fetters 7.imprisoned 8.shackles, fetters
My homeland is drowned in the attraction of the constantly changing deception of a magician. He makes a new promise/shows new dreams every day. And those who can untie the blindfolds on our eyes are powerless. He gives new anklets/fetters every day and those who can cut the fetters on our feet are imprisoned.
6
mere mulk meN haiN ek jhooT pe mar miTne vaale
taalib1-e haq2 yahaaN maqbool3 nahiN hote
mera mulk hai jahaaN4 ke zor-parastoN5 meN
qaasid6-e sahr7 yahaaN tulu8 nahiN hote 1.seeker 2.truth 3.accepted, popular 4.world 5.power-worshippers 6.news bearer, harbinger 7.dawn 8.emerge
My homeland has those who are willing to die for a lie. Those who seek the truth are not popular here. My homeland is among the power-worshippers of the world. Those bearing news of a new dawn do not emerge here.
iqra Khilji is young woman from ahmedabad. Trained as a lawyer and intends to practice law in ahmedabad. She writes very well about feminist issues. She has spent time in shaheen baaGh and participated in many “ehtejaaji mushaa’era” that were held all over India around Republic Day. This is a tribute to intrepid poets, writers, reporters, historians who speak truth to power. She appears to be doing full justice to the meaning of her name.
1
zamaane aur bhi the, haakim1 aur bhi the
un meN zaalim2 bhi the, jaabir3 bhi the
jin ke qadmoN meN the munshi4
jin ki asiiri5 meN the qalam6
1.rulers 2.cruel 3.oppressors 4.scribes, note takers 5.captivity 6.pen
There were other rulers too (before your time). Among them were cruel oppressors. At their feet (at their command) were scribes. The pen was their captive.
2
magar in meN inqelaabi1 bhi the, sargarm2 sharaare3 bhi the
ye hai un razakaaroN4 ke liye
sahaafiyoN5 ke, adeeboN6 ke, taariiKh-nigaaroN7 ke liye
as’haab8-e haq9 ke liye
1.revolutionaries, change makers 2.busy 3.sparks 4.volunteers, acting on their own will 5.journalists 6.writers 7.historians 8.friends, supporters 9.truth
But among them also were change makers, busy lighting sparks. This (tribute) is for those who acted on their own judgement/will. It is for journalists, writers, historians and truth tellers.
3
jin ke qalam1 ke aage2 ba-sujood3 tha jabr4 o zulm5
jin ke zor-e-lab6 se bebaak7 the zinda aur aazaad thi zindagi
jin ki diyaanat8 pe sharminda9 thiiN baKhshisheN10
jin ki bebaaki7 pe nakaam11 the farmaan12-e Khaamoshi
1.pen 2.before, in front of 3.prostrated, bowed down 4.oppression 5.cruelty 6.power of lips/words 7.fearless, daring 8.honesty 9.shamed 10.grants, gifts 11.unsuccessful 12.orders, edicts
Before whose pen, cruelty and oppression bowed down. The power of their words brought out the daring and life felt free. Before whose honesty, corrupt gifts were shamed. Before whose courage edicts of silence were unsuccessful.
4
haq1 jin ki justaju2 ki naazish3, haq1 jin ki hujjatoN4 ka haasil5
vo zalzaloN6 ke sabab7, vo sarkashi8 aur Ghazab9
vo daliiloN10 ke aabid11, vo ra’eesoN12 ke murtid13
vahi jo haiN qaum14 ke raahbiiN15 aur rahnuma16
vahi jo haiN aaj in viiraanoN17 meN sargardaaN18
1.truth, justice 2.search 3.pride 4.debate, logic, reasoning 5.objective, attainment 6.earthquake, revolutionary change 7.basis, cause 8.defiance 9.terror 10.proof 11.obedient 12.rich 13.rejecting 14.community 15.able to see the path 16.showing the path, guide 17.deserted places 18.wandering
Truth, the pride of their search, the objective of their reasoning. They are the cause of change, defiance and terror personified. They obey logic, reject the interests of wealth. They who can see the path forward and show it. They, who today, are wandering in lonely places.
5
ek saahir1 ke sayyaal2 fareb3 ki kashish4 meN Doob chuka hai mulk
vo roz naya Khwaab dikhaata hai
majboor5 haiN aaNkhoN ki paTTi se girah kholne vaale
vo roz naya paazeb6 dilaata hai
aur qaid7 haiN paauN ki beRiyaaN8 toRne vaale
1.magician 2.liquid – implies shapeless, changing shape 3.deception 4.attraction 5.helpless, powerless 6.anklet – used here to mean shackles, fetters 7.imprisoned 8.shackles, fetters
My homeland is drowned in the attraction of the constantly changing deception of a magician. He makes a new promise/shows new dreams every day. And those who can untie the blindfolds on our eyes are powerless. He gives new anklets/fetters every day and those who can cut the fetters on our feet are imprisoned.
6
mere mulk meN haiN ek jhooT pe mar miTne vaale
taalib1-e haq2 yahaaN maqbool3 nahiN hote
mera mulk hai jahaaN4 ke zor-parastoN5 meN
qaasid6-e sahr7 yahaaN tulu8 nahiN hote
1.seeker 2.truth 3.accepted, popular 4.world 5.power-worshippers 6.news bearer, harbinger 7.dawn 8.emerge
My homeland has those who are willing to die for a lie. Those who seek the truth are not popular here. My homeland is among the power-worshippers of the world. Those bearing news of a new dawn do not emerge here.
I hope this poem is widely published in the Indian Subcontinent in many different languages. Everybody needs to hear that by muzzling the truth-tellers, the rulers push society down the dark hole of ignorance, violence, hate, everything undesirable in a decent society.
It’s unspeakably sad to note that the enemies of decency are part of this great civilization, one of only three that go back at least 5,000 years.