Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. naushad ali naushad (1919-2006) was a famous, successful and well liked music director of the hindustani movie industry. He was awarded the padma bhushan in 1992. Born in lucknow, son of a munshi (court clerk), not satisfied with being another clerk, he went to bombai, living on the pavements until he found his footing. He was also a respected poet, with his diivaan (aaThvaaN sur – eighth note) published in 1998.
1
na mandir meN sanam¹ hote na masjid meN Khuda hota
hamiiN se ye tamaasha² hai na ham hote to kya hota   1.idols 2.used in the sense of ‘drama’
There would not have been idols in the temple nor god in the mosque. This drama is all because of us. If we had not been, what would have been i.e. there would have been no concept of god.
2
na aisi manzileN¹ hotiiN na aisa raasta hota
sambhal² kar ham zara chalte to aalam³ zer-e-paa⁴ hota    1.destinations, goals 2.carefully 3.world 4.under your feet
The implication is that under the present conditions both the destination and the path to the destination is difficult. It is all our doing because of the mistakes that we have made. Had we been a little more careful, our goals and the pathway would have been different/better and the whole world would have been under our feet/control.
3
ghaTa chhaati bahaar aati tumhaara tazkira¹ hota
phir us ke b’aad gul² khilte³ ke zaKhm⁴-e dil hara⁵ hota     1.narrative, story 2.roses 3.bloom 4.wound 5.green, fresh
In urdu poetic tradition (as in Indian cultural tradition) rain clouds are harbingers of celebration (perhaps because of their importance for agriculture). Rain clouds cover the sky, spring arrives and we talk of you (the beloved). After that, roses bloom and wounds of the heart open up again (because the poet/lover is not united with beloved even during this season of celebration). In addition, there is an interesting play on words … gul khilna, while it literally means roses will bloom, it also means new mischief/mishap will come to pass.
4
zamaane¹ ko to bas mashq²-e sitam³ se lutf⁴ lena hai
nishaane⁵ par na ham hote to koi doosra hota    1.times, the world 2.practice 3.cruelty, oppression 4.pleasure 5.target
In poetic tradition, the world/society/fate/times is the oppressor of lovers. Thus, all it does is derive pleasure from exercising cruelty (on lovers). If I had not been the target, then it would have been someone else.
5
tere shaan¹-e karam² ki laaj rakh li Gham ke maaroN ne
na hota Gham to is duniya meN har banda³ Khuda hota     1.prestige, reputation 2.benevolence, kindness 3.devotee, creature, human being
Those stricken with love/pain have saved the reputation of kindness/benevolence of god. If there had been no pain in this world, then every devotee would have been god i.e. perfect, not wanting of anything. Then no one would have needed god’s kindness. Because they are stricken with the pain of love, they have given god the opportunity to show his kindness.
6
musiibat¹ ban gaye haiN ab to ye saaNsoN ke, do tinke²
jala tha jab to poora ashiyaana³ jal gaya hota     1.difficulty, problem 2.straw pieces 3.nest
In poetic tradition the poet is depicted as a bird, building a home/nest with straw. But cruel lighnting always strikes and burns it down. Thus, lightning has struck and burned down his nest, but not completely. He says that the whole nest should have burned down. Why are a few pieces of straw left. This has become a major problem for his life. Perhaps because it means that because of the few pieces left, he is forced to rebuild his nest. Otherwise, he would have been a free bird.
7
hameN to Doobna hi tha ye hasrat¹ rah ga’ii dil meN
kinaare aap hote aur safina² Doobta hota     1.longing, desire 2.boat
It was certain that the poet/lover would drown. That was pre-ordained. He is not sorry about the drowning. What he is sorry about is that he had a longing/yearning that his boat would sink and the beloved would see it from the shore. Perhaps that means he would be able to see her until his last breath and/or that she would feel sorry for him and cry and he would be able to see it as he went down. But that desire remained unfulfilled.
8
are o jiite-ji dard¹-e judaa’ii² dene vaale sun
tujhe ham sabr³ kar lete agar mar ke juda hota     1.pain 2.separation 3.patience, bearing something with fortitude
The poet/lover is addressing the beloved – Oh, you who have given me the pain of separation while I was still alive, listen. I would have borne the pain of separation with fortitude had it been upon my death. How can I bear to be separated while still alive.
9
bula kar tum ne mahfil¹ meN hameN GhairoN² se uThvaaya
hamiiN Khud uTh gaye hote ishaara³ kar diya hota    1.gathering 2.rival 3.signal, gesture
The beloved invited the poet/lover to the gathering and then got the rival to throw him out. Why did you have to do that. I would have left myself if you had only made a slight gesture.
10
tere ahbaab¹ tujh se mil ke phir maayuus² lauT aaye
tujhe naushad³ kaisi chup lagi kuchh to kaha hota     1.friends 2.disappointed 3.pen-name of the poet
This reminds me of Ghalib’s she’r …
kuchh to paRhiye ke log kahte haiN
aaj Ghalib Ghazal-saraa na hua
Your friends have returned in disappointment, after meeting you. What kind of silence has come over you, O, naushad, you should have said something. “kaha hota” in poetic tradition can imply, you should have recited some verse.