For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
ہلالِ عید ۔ معین احسن جذبیؔ
۱
اے ہلالِ عید اے چھوٹے سے ٹکڑے نور کے
اے حیا پرور تبسّم آسمانی حور کے
۲
تو نگارِ مہر کی بھٹکی ہوئی تنویر ہے
یا نگاہِ شوق کی سمٹی ہوئی تصویر ہے
۳
تو کوئی شمعِ سحر ہے جس کی لو بے اختیار
چومتی ہے خاک پروانوں کی جھک کر بار بار
۴
اہلِ عشرت کی نظر میں آنکھ کا تارا ہے تو
آہ لیکن دل جلے کہتے ہیں انگارا ہے تو
۵
تیری موجوں میں خراماں چشمۂ حیواں بھی ہے
تیری موجوں میں ہلاکت آفریں طوفاں بھی ہے
۶
تیری نظروں میں سرورِ بادۂ احمر بھی ہے
تیری نظروں میں جراحت آفریں نشتر بھی ہے
۷
اِک طرف کرتا ہے تو ہنس ہنس کے لوگوں سے کلام
اِک طرف تو کھینچتا ہے اپنی تیغ خوش خرام
۸
اِک طرف تو عیش کا احساس کر دیتا ہے تیز
اِک طرف تو نشۂ افلاس کر دیتا ہے تیز
۹
تیری زر پاشی ہے کب ہم غم کے ماروں کے لیے
آہ تو نکلا ہے اِن سرمایہ داروں کے لیے
हिलाल-ए ईद – मोइन अहसन जज़्बी
१
अए हिलाल-ए ईद अए छोटे से टुकड़े नूर के
अए हया परवर तबस्सुम आसमानी हूर के
२
तू निगार-ए मेहर की भटकी हुई तनवीर है
या निगाह-ए शौक की सिम्टी हुई तस्वीर है
३
तू कोई शमा-ए सहर है जिस की लौ बे-इख़्तियार
चूमती है ख़ाक परवानों की झुक कर बार बार
४
अहल-ए इशरत की नज़र में आंख का तारा है तू
आह लेकिन दिल जले कहते हैं अंगारा है तू
५
तेरी मौजों में ख़रामां चश्मा-ए हयवां भी है
तेरी मौजों में हलाकत आफ़्रीं तूफ़ान भी है
६
तेरी नज़रों में सरूर-ए बादा-ए अहमर भी है
तेरी नज़रों में जराहत आफ़्रीं नश्तर भी है
७
एक तरफ़ करता है तू हंस हंस के लोगों से कलाम
एक तरफ़ तू खींचता है अपनी तेग़-ए ख़ुश ख़राम
८
एक तरफ़ तू ऐश का एहसास कर देता है तेज़
एक तरफ़ तू नशा-ए इफ़्लास कर देता है तेज़
९
तेरी ज़र पाशी है कब हम ग़म के मारों के लिए
आह तू निकला है इन सरमाया दारों के लिए
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. moin ehsan jazbi (1912-2005) born in aazamgaRh and educated, taught and lived in aligaRh. Member of the Progressive Writers’ Association. He worked as an assistant editor of ‘aajkal’ of which josh malihabadi was also the chief editor. I am not sure if they overlapped but he was close to majaz, faani, sardar jafri and sibt-e hasan. He did his MA from aligaRh and later joined the faculty teaching there until his retirement. He also completed his PhD while teaching and published several collections of poetry. This is a rather poignant view of the hilaal-e eid.
1
aye hilaal1-e eid aye chhoTe se tukRe noor2 ke
aye haya-parvar3 tabassum4 aasmaani hoor5 ke 1.crescent moon 2.light 3.modesty nurturing 4.smile 5.heavenly angel
The poet addresses the crescent moon of eid, symbolizing and announcing the beginning of festivities, as a narrow ray of light. He compares its appearance to the modest smile of heavenly maidens, implying a sense of beauty and purity associated with the moon.
2
tu nigaar1-e mahr2 ki bhaTki3 hui tanveer4 hai
ya nigaah5-e shauq6 ki simTi7 hui tasveer hai 1.adornment, painting 2.sun 3.lost 4.light, brilliance 5.sight, gaze 6.desire, love 7.gathered
The sun adorns itself with light. A ray of such light that adorns the sun got lost and found its way to the crescent moon. Thus, the crescent is a lost ray of light adorning the sun, or, is it the congealed image of ‘nigaah-e shauq’. ‘nigaah-e shauq’ is the gaze of desire. Who is gazing whom? The poet leaves the field wide open … is it god gazing lovingly at humanity?
3
tu koi sham’a-e sahr1 hai jis ki lau2 be-eKhtiyaar3
choomti hai Khaak4 parvaanoN5 ki jhuk kar baar baar 1.dawn 2.flame 3.uncontrolled flaring 4.ashes 5.moths
Here is the picture/image that the she’r sketches. The candle at dawn is on its last legs and the flame flares as it is extinguished. There may be thin flares shooting every now and then appearing uncontrolled. All night long moths have been circling the candle flame and have been burnt to death, their ashes all around. Thus, the dying flame is uncontrollably trying to kiss the ashes of the burnt moths. What does this symbolize? ‘parvaane’ could the the community which loves the crescent moon because it heralds the beginning of eid festivities. And the crescent moon sends its rays down to kiss/bless them. It is possible that ‘ashes’ symbolize the helplessness of the deprived humans.
4
ahl-e-ishrat1 ki nazar2 meN aaNkh ka taara3 hai tu
aah laikin dil jale kahte haiN aNgaara hai tu 1.people of pleasure/luxury 2.eyes 3.apple of the eyes
People who are comfortable/well off are delighted to see the crescent moon for it heralds the beginning of celebration. But those who are deprived, have been burnt by unfulfilled desires, think of it as a painful (hot glowing ember) reminder of their deprivation because they don’t have the means to celebrate.
5
teri maujoN meN KharaamaaN1 chashma-e-haivaaN2 bhi hai
teri maujoN meN halaakat-aafriiN3 toofaaN4 bhi hai 1.graceful walk/gait 2.spring/source of life 3.creating destruction, ruinous 4.storm
The poet presents the same two ways of looking at the crescent moon. Those who are well-off see it as the gentle gait of renewal – the gentle flow of the river of life. Those who are deprived can see it as a destructive storm making them even more acutely aware of their deprivation.
6
teri nazroN meN suroor1-e baadah2-e ahmar3 bhi hai
teri nazroN meN jaraahat-aafriiN4 nashtar5 bhi hai 1.pleasure 2.wine 3.red 4.creating wounds, hurting 5.knife, dagger
Yet another set of contrasting perceptions of the crescent moon. It can be as pleasure giving as red wine or as pain inflicting as a dagger, depending on whether you are well-off or deprived.
7
ek taraf1 karta hai tu haNs haNs ke logoN se kalaam2
ek taraf tu kheeNchta hai apni teGh3-e Khush-Kharaam4 1.side, direction 2.conversation 3.sword 4.elegant moves (used sarcastically)
One side (with the rich and well provided) you converse happily and on the other side you pull out your sharp sword.
8
ek taraf1 tu aish2 ka ehsaas3 kar deta hai tez4
ek taraf tu nasha5-e iflaas6 kar deta hai tez 1.side 2.luxury, pleasure 3.feeling, sensation 4.intense 5.intoxication, dullness of sensitivity 6.poverty, deprivation
On the one side (for the well endowed) you increase the feelings of pleasure/luxury. On the other side you lull the sensitivity to deprivation (perhaps by providing a temporary, fleeting sense of celebration).
9
teri zar-paashi1 hai kab hum Gham ke maaroN ke liye
aah tu nikla hai in sarmaaya-daaroN2 ke liye
1.spreading/sprinkling gold 2.wealthy, capitalists
When is your generosity (spreading of golden light) ever for the sorrow stricken. Alas, you emerge only of the wealthy.
moin ehsan jazbi (1912-2005) born in aazamgaRh and educated, taught and lived in aligaRh. Member of the Progressive Writers’ Association. He worked as an assistant editor of ‘aajkal’ of which josh malihabadi was also the chief editor. I am not sure if they overlapped but he was close to majaz, faani, sardar jafri and sibt-e hasan. He did his MA from aligaRh and later joined the faculty teaching there until his retirement. He also completed his PhD while teaching and published several collections of poetry. This is a rather poignant view of the hilaal-e eid.
1
aye hilaal1-e eid aye chhoTe se tukRe noor2 ke
aye haya-parvar3 tabassum4 aasmaani hoor5 ke
1.crescent moon 2.light 3.modesty nurturing 4.smile 5.heavenly angel
The poet addresses the crescent moon of eid, symbolizing and announcing the beginning of festivities, as a narrow ray of light. He compares its appearance to the modest smile of heavenly maidens, implying a sense of beauty and purity associated with the moon.
2
tu nigaar1-e mahr2 ki bhaTki3 hui tanveer4 hai
ya nigaah5-e shauq6 ki simTi7 hui tasveer hai
1.adornment, painting 2.sun 3.lost 4.light, brilliance 5.sight, gaze 6.desire, love 7.gathered
The sun adorns itself with light. A ray of such light that adorns the sun got lost and found its way to the crescent moon. Thus, the crescent is a lost ray of light adorning the sun, or, is it the congealed image of ‘nigaah-e shauq’. ‘nigaah-e shauq’ is the gaze of desire. Who is gazing whom? The poet leaves the field wide open … is it god gazing lovingly at humanity?
3
tu koi sham’a-e sahr1 hai jis ki lau2 be-eKhtiyaar3
choomti hai Khaak4 parvaanoN5 ki jhuk kar baar baar
1.dawn 2.flame 3.uncontrolled flaring 4.ashes 5.moths
Here is the picture/image that the she’r sketches. The candle at dawn is on its last legs and the flame flares as it is extinguished. There may be thin flares shooting every now and then appearing uncontrolled. All night long moths have been circling the candle flame and have been burnt to death, their ashes all around. Thus, the dying flame is uncontrollably trying to kiss the ashes of the burnt moths. What does this symbolize? ‘parvaane’ could the the community which loves the crescent moon because it heralds the beginning of eid festivities. And the crescent moon sends its rays down to kiss/bless them. It is possible that ‘ashes’ symbolize the helplessness of the deprived humans.
4
ahl-e-ishrat1 ki nazar2 meN aaNkh ka taara3 hai tu
aah laikin dil jale kahte haiN aNgaara hai tu
1.people of pleasure/luxury 2.eyes 3.apple of the eyes
People who are comfortable/well off are delighted to see the crescent moon for it heralds the beginning of celebration. But those who are deprived, have been burnt by unfulfilled desires, think of it as a painful (hot glowing ember) reminder of their deprivation because they don’t have the means to celebrate.
5
teri maujoN meN KharaamaaN1 chashma-e-haivaaN2 bhi hai
teri maujoN meN halaakat-aafriiN3 toofaaN4 bhi hai
1.graceful walk/gait 2.spring/source of life 3.creating destruction, ruinous 4.storm
The poet presents the same two ways of looking at the crescent moon. Those who are well-off see it as the gentle gait of renewal – the gentle flow of the river of life. Those who are deprived can see it as a destructive storm making them even more acutely aware of their deprivation.
6
teri nazroN meN suroor1-e baadah2-e ahmar3 bhi hai
teri nazroN meN jaraahat-aafriiN4 nashtar5 bhi hai
1.pleasure 2.wine 3.red 4.creating wounds, hurting 5.knife, dagger
Yet another set of contrasting perceptions of the crescent moon. It can be as pleasure giving as red wine or as pain inflicting as a dagger, depending on whether you are well-off or deprived.
7
ek taraf1 karta hai tu haNs haNs ke logoN se kalaam2
ek taraf tu kheeNchta hai apni teGh3-e Khush-Kharaam4
1.side, direction 2.conversation 3.sword 4.elegant moves (used sarcastically)
One side (with the rich and well provided) you converse happily and on the other side you pull out your sharp sword.
8
ek taraf1 tu aish2 ka ehsaas3 kar deta hai tez4
ek taraf tu nasha5-e iflaas6 kar deta hai tez
1.side 2.luxury, pleasure 3.feeling, sensation 4.intense 5.intoxication, dullness of sensitivity 6.poverty, deprivation
On the one side (for the well endowed) you increase the feelings of pleasure/luxury. On the other side you lull the sensitivity to deprivation (perhaps by providing a temporary, fleeting sense of celebration).
9
teri zar-paashi1 hai kab hum Gham ke maaroN ke liye
aah tu nikla hai in sarmaaya-daaroN2 ke liye
Top of Form
1.spreading/sprinkling gold 2.wealthy, capitalists
When is your generosity (spreading of golden light) ever for the sorrow stricken. Alas, you emerge only of the wealthy.
