For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
ہند-پاک مشاعرہ – علی سردار جعفری
۱
پِھر شمییمِ گُل نویدِ جاںفزا لائی ہے آج
میرے گلشن میں بہارِ رفتہ پِھر آئی ہے آج
پِھر اُٹھا ہے وادیِ گنگا سے ابرِ نو بہار
سمتِ راوی سے ہوائے مہرباں آئی ہے آج
۲
آج پِھر ہے اتّحادِ شیشہ و ساغر کا دور
محفلِ رِنداں میں جشنِ بادہ پیمای ہے آج
چشمِ ساقی تجھ میں سارا میکدہ آباد ہے
قامتِ رعنا میں موجِ مے کی انگڑائی ہے آج
۳
کھُل گئے ہیں اشتیاقِ دید میں آنکھوں كے دَر
دوستوں کی خانۂ دِل میں پزیرائی ہے آج
آ مِلے ہیں سینہ چاکانِ چمن سے سینہ چاک
شور ہے محفل میں دیوانوں کی بن آئی ہے آج
۴
پِھر وہی گلیاں وہی اگلا طوافِ کوئے دوست
عشق کو مژدہ كہ پِھر سامانِ رسوائی ہے آج
کون ہے جس سے سنبھالا جائے گا میرا جنوں
خود ہی پائے شوق کو زنجیر پہنائی ہے آج
۵
ڈر رہا ہوں جان و تن کو پھونک ڈالے گی یہ آگ
میرے سینے میں جو ضبطِ غم نے بھڑکائی ہے آج
آج بیباکی میں ہے اہلِ خرد کی مصلحت
سرفروشی ہی میں اہلِ دِل کی دانائی ہے آج
۶
مسکرائے زخمِ دِل ہنسنے لگے سینے كے داغ
روحِ استبداد کیسی کیسی شرمائی ہے آج
خونِ ناحق لالا و گل بن كے پھوٹا خاک سے
تِیشَہ زن كے خوں سے دشت و دَر کی زیبائی ہے آج
۷
کہہ دو صیّادوں سے ، گلچینوں کو کر دو ہوشیار
فصلِ گُل نے دور تک زنجیر پھیلائی ہے آج
ہاں یہی ہے روزِ محشر، ہاں یہی روزِ حساب
تیری رسوائی ہے اب یا میری رسوائی ہے آج
۸
پِھر ہے میناروں پہ رعشا، پِھر ہیں گنبد سَر نگوں
پِھر نوا شاعر کی ایوانوں سے ٹکرائی ہے آج
آج پِھر قدموں پہ آ کر جُھک رہی ہے کا ئنات
اپنے قبضے میں جہانِ نو کی دارائی ہے آج
۹
خاک پر جُھکتی نہیں ، افلاک پر رُکتی نہیں
جو نگہ تقدیرِ عالم کی تماشائی ہے آج
ایک ساحل ہے كہ اُبھرا ہے بھنور کی گود سے
ایک کشتی ہے كہ طوفانوں سے ٹکرائی ہے آج
۱۰
رنگِ مے، حسنِ نگاراں ، جشنِ گُل ، فصلِ بہار
ہند کی روحِ جواں شعروں میں کھنچ آئی ہے آج
جل اُٹھا نبضوں میں خوں، روشن ہوئے دِل میں چراغ
شاعرِ آتَش نوا نے آگ برسائی ہے آج
हिंद-पाक मुशाएरा – अली सरदार जाफ़री
१
फिर शमीम-ए गुल नवीद-ए जां-फ़ज़ा लाई है आज
मेरे गुलशन में बहार-ए रफ़्ता फिर आई है आज
फिर उठा है वादी-ए गंगा से अब्र-ए नौ बहार
सिम्त-ए रावी से हवा-ए मेहरबां आई है आज
२
आज फिर है इत्तेहाद-ए शीशा ओ साग़र का दौर
महफ़िल-ए रिन्दां में जश्न-ए बादा पैमाई है आज
चश्म-ए साक़ि तुझ में सारा मैकदा आबाद है
क़ामत-ए राना में मौज-ए मै की अंगड़ाई है आज
३
खुल गये हैं इश्तियाक़-ए दीद में आंखौं के दर
दोस्तौं की ख़ाना-ए दिल में पज़ेराई है आज
आ मिले हैं सीना चाकान-ए चमन से सीना चाक
शोर है महफ़िल में दीवानौं की बन आई है आज
४
फिर वही गलियां वही अगला तवाफ़-ए कू-ए दोस्त
इश्क़ को मुज़्शदा के फिर सामान-ए रुसवाई है आज
कौन है जिस से संभाला जाएगा मेरा जुनूं
ख़ुद ही पा-ए शौक़ को ज़ंजीर पहनाई है आज
५
डर रहा हूं जान ओ तन को फूंक डालेगी ये आग
मेरे सीने में जो ज़ब्त-ए ग़म ने भड़काई है आज
आज बेबाकी में है अहल-ए ख़िरद की मस्लेहत
सर-फ़रोशी ही में अहल-ए दिल की दानाई है आज
६
मुस्कुराए ज़ख़्म-ए दिल हंसने लगे सीने के दाग़
रूह-ए इस्तेब्दाद कैसी कैसी शरमाई है आज
ख़ून-ए नाहक़ लाला ओ गुल बन के फूटा ख़ाक से
तीशा-ज़न के ख़ून से दश्त ओ दर की ज़ेबाई है आज
७
कह दो सय्यादौं से, गुल्चीनौं को कर दो होशियार
फ़स्ल-ए गुल ने दूर तक ज़ंजीर फैलाइ है आज
हाँ यही है रोज़-ए महशर, हाँ यही रोज़-ए हिसाब
तेरी रुसवाइ है या मेरी रुसवाइ है आज
८
फिर है मीनारों पे राशा, फिर हैं गुंबद सर निगूं
फिर नवा शा’एर की ऐवानों से टकराई है आज
आज फिर क़दमों पे आ कर झुक रही है का’एनात
अपने क़ब्ज़े में जहान-ए नौ की दाराइी है आज
९
ख़ाक पर झुकती नहीं, अफ़्लाक पर रुकती नहीं
जो निगह तक़दीर-ए आलम की तमाशाई है आज
एक साहिल है के उभरा है भंवर की गोद से
एक किश्ती है के तूफ़ानों से टकराई है आज
१०
रंग-ए मै, हुस्न-ए निगारां, जश्न-ए गुल, फ़स्ल-ए बहार
हिंद की रूह-ए जवां शेरों में खिंच आई है आज
जल उठा नब्ज़ों में ख़ूं, रौशन हुए दिल में चिराग़
शा’एर-ए आतिश नवा ने आग बरसाई है आज
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for word meanings and interpretation/discussion. ali sardar jafri (1913-2000), balrampur, gonDa, U.P. Religious upbringing and education. MA luckhnow university. Started composing at 15. He soon turned to progressive, revolutionary nazm/Ghazal. Member Communist Party. Arrested in 1940. Plays, short stories, movies and TV serials gave him a career in mumbaii. Padma Shri in 1967. The joy of poets, similar to the joy of people to people cultural contacts, is palpable. Also see the same emotions in the work of jagannath azad ‘baar baar aate raho’.
1
phir shameem1-e gul naveed2-e jaaNfaza3 laaii hai aaj
mere gulshan meN bahaar4-e rafta5 phir aaii hai aaj
phir uTha hai vaadi6-e gaNga se abr7-e nau-bahaar8
simt9-e raavi se havaa-e mehrbaaN10 aaii hai aaj1.fragrant breeze 2.good news 3.life sustaining/nuturing 4.spring 5.past 6.valley 7.cloud 8.new spring 9.direction of 10.kindness, love
Once again, a life nurturing fragrant breeze brings good news. Spring of past years has come again to my garden. Once again, a benevolent cloud of a new spring rises from the valley of the Ganges. Once again, a breeze of love blows from the Ravi.
2
aaj phir hai ittehaad1-e sheesha-o-saaGhar2 ka daur3
mahfil4-e rindaaN5 meN jashn6-e baada-paimaaii7 hai aaj
chashm8-e saaqi tujh meN saara maikada9 aabaad10 hai
qaamat11-e raana12 meN mauj13-e mai14 ki angRaaii hai aaj1.union, alliance 2.bottle and cup 3.round, circulation 4.gathering 5.celebrants, revelers 6.celebration 7.measuring (drinking) wine 8.eye 9.tavern 10.prospering 11.stature/posture 12.graceful gait 13.wave 14.wine
The celebration/mushaira is likened to a get-together of revelers with wine. The poet sees the beauty of the whole tavern reflected in the eyes of the saaqi and in her beautiful stature/gait/curvaceous stretching he sees waves of flowing wine.
3
khul gaye haiN ishtiaq1-e deed2 meN aaNkhauN ke dar3
dostauN ki Khaana4-e dil meN pazeeraaii5 hai aaj
aa mile haiN seena-chaakan6-e chaman se seena chaak
shor hai mahfil7 meN deevaanauN ki ban-aaii8 hai aaj1.eagerness 2.sight, seeing 3.door 4.home 5.welcome 6.torn shirt baring bosom 7.gathering 8.expression used to mean wishes fulfilled
Eyes are wide open in eagerness to see long lost friends. They find welcome in the homes of hearts (meaning deep in our hearts). Torn shirt/bare bosom is an expression for men mad with passion of love. The meeting of these passionate people is such that their heart’s desires have been fulfilled.
4
phir vahi galiyaaN vahi agla1 tavaaf2-e koo3-e dost4
ishq5 ko muzshda6 ke phir saaman7-e rusvaaii8 hai aaj
kaun hai jis se sambhaala9 jaayega mera junuN10
Khud hi paa11-e shauq12 ko zanjir pahnaaii hai aaj1.past 2.circumambulation, going around 3.street of 4.beloved 5.love 6.congratulations 7.means of 8.embarrassment 9.restrain, take care of, handle 10.passion 11.feet 12.desire
When these poets/friends/lovers get together it is just like old times when they used to circulate in the beloved’s street. Lovers should be congratulated that all the means are provided for their embarrassment … of course the imagery here is that the beloved spurns all of them, but the beloved’s cruelty is a source of joy. The poet’s happiness/passion is so overwhelming that he is afraid that on one will be able to restrain him, so he has himself chained the feet of his passion.
5
Dar raha huN jaan o tan ko phooNk1 Daalegi ye aag
mere seene meN jo zabt2-e Gham ne bhaRkaaii hai aaj
aaj bebaaki3 meN hai ahl-e-Khirad4 ki maslehat5
sarfaroshi6 hi meN ahl-e-dil7 ki daanaaii8 hai aaj1.blow (to ashes), burn 2.bear, control 3.daring 4.people of reason 5.purpose, intent 6.offering head, ready to die 7.people of heart/love/passion 8.wisdom, used here to mean happiness
There has been a fire of passion in the poet’s heart which he has borne/controlled for long. Now that the fire has found an outlet, he is afraid that it is likely to burn his ‘jaan o tan’ – body and soul. Usually the purpose/intent/goal of ahl-e Khirad and ahl-e dil is different, perhaps even opposed. But today, their ‘maslehat/daanaaii’ seems to be converging on ‘bebaaki/sarfaroshi’.
6
muskuraaye zaKhm-e dil haNsne lage seene ke daaGh
rooh1-e istebdaad2 kaisi kaisi sharmaaii hai aaj
Khoon-e naahaq3 laala4 o gul5 bun ke phooTa Khaak6 se
teesha-zan7 ke KhuN se dasht-o-dar8 ki zebaaii9 hai aaj1.spirit of 2.oppression 3.unjustified 4.tulip 5.rose 6.dust, soil 7.chisel/pickaxe bearer, stone mason 8.wilderness and door/settlement 9.beautification
The fact that people/poets have not been allowed to get together has been oppressive. Today the spirit of oppression is repentant – the wounds of the heart and the scars of the bosom are smiling. All past conflicts have resulted in shedding of blood that is unjustified – “Khoon-e naahaq”. That blood now sprouts as laala o gul. ‘dasht-o-dar’ – wilderness and door/settlements used together implies everywhere. ‘teesha-zan’ is farhaad of the ‘shiriN-farhaad’ fame. farhaad was set the task of carving a path in the mountain for a river, as a condition for getting shirin’s hand in marriage. He did that with his chisel/pickaxe but was deceived and killed himself. His blood is a symbol of love/sacrifice. Thus, farhaad’s blood is making the whole place beautiful with its red colour.
7
kah do sayyaadauN1 se, gulchinauN2 ko kar do hoshiyaar3
fasl-e-gul4 ne duur tak zanjir phailaaii hai aaj
haaN yahi hai roz-e mahshar5, haN yahi roz-e hisaab
teri rusvaaii6 hai ya meri rusvaaii hai aaj1.hunter, bird catcher 2.flower picker 3.warn 4.season of flower, spring 5.day of reckoning 6.shame, embarrassment ‘gul-o-bulbul’ are lover and beloved.
‘sayyaad’ catches and cages birds and ‘gulchiN’ picks flowers. Thus, they are both oppressors. The occasion of the joint mushaira is ‘fasl-e gul’. Not only is it joyous, but also has spread a chain far and wide to catch/keep away the sayyaad and the gulchiN – the oppressive/obstuctionist forces that prevent people from getting together. Thus, they should be warned to stay away. This is the day of reckoning and it will be battle to decide who wins and who will be embarrassed. This is once again a challenge to the oppressors.
8
phir hai miinaarauN pe raasha1, phir haiN gunbad2 sar-niguN3
phir nava4 shaa’er ki aivaanauN5 se takraaii hai aaj
aaj phir qadmauN6 pe aa kar jhuk rahi hai kaa’enaat7
apne qabze8 meN jahaan-e-nau9 ki daaraaii10 hai aaj1.trembling 2.dome 3.head bowed 4.sound/voice/call 5.hallways 6.feet 7.creation – used here to mean the powerful 8.control 9.new world order 10.lordship – derived from daara-Darius
The implication here is that people in power have kept the people of Pakistan and India separate from each other. Minarets and domes are symbolic of power structures. They are trembling and their heads are bowed today. The voices/calls of the poets challenges the hallways of power. The powerful bow down at their feet today. We (the poets/people) are in control of the new world order.
9
Khaak1 par jhukti nahiN, aflaak2 par rukti nahiN
jo nigah3 taqdir4-e aalam5 ki tamaashaaii6 hai aaj
ek saahil7 hai ke ubhra hai bhaNwar8 ki god se
ek kishti hai ke toofaanauN se Takraaii hai aaj1.dust, earth 2.skies 3.sight/vision 4.fate 5.world 7.shore/refuge 8.whirlpool/storm
The sight/vision of the poet can see the fate of humanity – a vision of a peaceful future, so his eyes will not stoop to the earth or even stop at the skies but will continue to look beyond to this beautiful vision. The get-together of the poets is seen as a shore/refuge in otherwise stormy seas/whirlpools. The boat (of hope/peace) dares to take on storms now.
10
raNg-e-mai1, husn-e-nigaaraaN2, jashn-e-gul3, fasl-e-bahaar4
hind ki rooh-e-javaaN5 she’rauN meN khiNch aaii hai aaj
jal uTha nabzauN6 meN KhuN, raushan hue dil meN chiraaGh
shaa’er-e aatish-nava7 ne aag barsaaii hai aaj1.colour of wine 2.beauty of the beloved 3.feast of flowers 4.season of spring 5.youthful spirit 6.veins 7.fiery voice
Today is colourful like wine, beautiful like the beloved, festive like flowers, pleasant like spring. The youthful spirit (future) of India (and Pakistan) has been squeezed into asha’ar (couplets). Blood flowing through veins is on the boil (due to passion) and lamps have been lit in hearts (realization of love). The shaa’er of fiery words has rained fire (of passion) today.
ali sardar jafri (1913-2000), balrampur, gonDa, U.P. Religious upbringing and education. MA luckhnow university. Started composing at 15. He soon turned to progressive, revolutionary nazm/Ghazal. Member Communist Party. Arrested in 1940. Plays, short stories, movies and TV serials gave him a career in mumbaii. Padma Shri in 1967. The joy of poets, similar to the joy of people to people cultural contacts, is palpable. Also see the same emotions in the work of jagannath azad ‘baar baar aate raho’.
1
phir shameem1-e gul naveed2-e jaaNfaza3 laaii hai aaj
mere gulshan meN bahaar4-e rafta5 phir aaii hai aaj
phir uTha hai vaadi6-e gaNga se abr7-e nau-bahaar8
simt9-e raavi se havaa-e mehrbaaN10 aaii hai aaj
1.fragrant breeze 2.good news 3.life sustaining/nuturing 4.spring 5.past 6.valley 7.cloud 8.new spring 9.direction of 10.kindness, love
Once again, a life nurturing fragrant breeze brings good news. Spring of past years has come again to my garden. Once again, a benevolent cloud of a new spring rises from the valley of the Ganges. Once again, a breeze of love blows from the Ravi.
2
aaj phir hai ittehaad1-e sheesha-o-saaGhar2 ka daur3
mahfil4-e rindaaN5 meN jashn6-e baada-paimaaii7 hai aaj
chashm8-e saaqi tujh meN saara maikada9 aabaad10 hai
qaamat11-e raana12 meN mauj13-e mai14 ki angRaaii hai aaj
1.union, alliance 2.bottle and cup 3.round, circulation 4.gathering 5.celebrants, revelers 6.celebration 7.measuring (drinking) wine 8.eye 9.tavern 10.prospering 11.stature/posture 12.graceful gait 13.wave 14.wine
The celebration/mushaira is likened to a get-together of revelers with wine. The poet sees the beauty of the whole tavern reflected in the eyes of the saaqi and in her beautiful stature/gait/curvaceous stretching he sees waves of flowing wine.
3
khul gaye haiN ishtiaq1-e deed2 meN aaNkhauN ke dar3
dostauN ki Khaana4-e dil meN pazeeraaii5 hai aaj
aa mile haiN seena-chaakan6-e chaman se seena chaak
shor hai mahfil7 meN deevaanauN ki ban-aaii8 hai aaj
1.eagerness 2.sight, seeing 3.door 4.home 5.welcome 6.torn shirt baring bosom 7.gathering 8.expression used to mean wishes fulfilled
Eyes are wide open in eagerness to see long lost friends. They find welcome in the homes of hearts (meaning deep in our hearts). Torn shirt/bare bosom is an expression for men mad with passion of love. The meeting of these passionate people is such that their heart’s desires have been fulfilled.
4
phir vahi galiyaaN vahi agla1 tavaaf2-e koo3-e dost4
ishq5 ko muzshda6 ke phir saaman7-e rusvaaii8 hai aaj
kaun hai jis se sambhaala9 jaayega mera junuN10
Khud hi paa11-e shauq12 ko zanjir pahnaaii hai aaj
1.past 2.circumambulation, going around 3.street of 4.beloved 5.love 6.congratulations 7.means of 8.embarrassment 9.restrain, take care of, handle 10.passion 11.feet 12.desire
When these poets/friends/lovers get together it is just like old times when they used to circulate in the beloved’s street. Lovers should be congratulated that all the means are provided for their embarrassment … of course the imagery here is that the beloved spurns all of them, but the beloved’s cruelty is a source of joy. The poet’s happiness/passion is so overwhelming that he is afraid that on one will be able to restrain him, so he has himself chained the feet of his passion.
5
Dar raha huN jaan o tan ko phooNk1 Daalegi ye aag
mere seene meN jo zabt2-e Gham ne bhaRkaaii hai aaj
aaj bebaaki3 meN hai ahl-e-Khirad4 ki maslehat5
sarfaroshi6 hi meN ahl-e-dil7 ki daanaaii8 hai aaj
1.blow (to ashes), burn 2.bear, control 3.daring 4.people of reason 5.purpose, intent 6.offering head, ready to die 7.people of heart/love/passion 8.wisdom, used here to mean happiness
There has been a fire of passion in the poet’s heart which he has borne/controlled for long. Now that the fire has found an outlet, he is afraid that it is likely to burn his ‘jaan o tan’ – body and soul. Usually the purpose/intent/goal of ahl-e Khirad and ahl-e dil is different, perhaps even opposed. But today, their ‘maslehat/daanaaii’ seems to be converging on ‘bebaaki/sarfaroshi’.
6
muskuraaye zaKhm-e dil haNsne lage seene ke daaGh
rooh1-e istebdaad2 kaisi kaisi sharmaaii hai aaj
Khoon-e naahaq3 laala4 o gul5 bun ke phooTa Khaak6 se
teesha-zan7 ke KhuN se dasht-o-dar8 ki zebaaii9 hai aaj
1.spirit of 2.oppression 3.unjustified 4.tulip 5.rose 6.dust, soil 7.chisel/pickaxe bearer, stone mason 8.wilderness and door/settlement 9.beautification
The fact that people/poets have not been allowed to get together has been oppressive. Today the spirit of oppression is repentant – the wounds of the heart and the scars of the bosom are smiling. All past conflicts have resulted in shedding of blood that is unjustified – “Khoon-e naahaq”. That blood now sprouts as laala o gul. ‘dasht-o-dar’ – wilderness and door/settlements used together implies everywhere. ‘teesha-zan’ is farhaad of the ‘shiriN-farhaad’ fame. farhaad was set the task of carving a path in the mountain for a river, as a condition for getting shirin’s hand in marriage. He did that with his chisel/pickaxe but was deceived and killed himself. His blood is a symbol of love/sacrifice. Thus, farhaad’s blood is making the whole place beautiful with its red colour.
7
kah do sayyaadauN1 se, gulchinauN2 ko kar do hoshiyaar3
fasl-e-gul4 ne duur tak zanjir phailaaii hai aaj
haaN yahi hai roz-e mahshar5, haN yahi roz-e hisaab
teri rusvaaii6 hai ya meri rusvaaii hai aaj
1.hunter, bird catcher 2.flower picker 3.warn 4.season of flower, spring 5.day of reckoning 6.shame, embarrassment
‘gul-o-bulbul’ are lover and beloved. ‘sayyaad’ catches and cages birds and ‘gulchiN’ picks flowers. Thus, they are both oppressors. The occasion of the joint mushaira is ‘fasl-e gul’. Not only is it joyous, but also has spread a chain far and wide to catch/keep away the sayyaad and the gulchiN – the oppressive/obstuctionist forces that prevent people from getting together. Thus, they should be warned to stay away. This is the day of reckoning and it will be battle to decide who wins and who will be embarrassed. This is once again a challenge to the oppressors.
8
phir hai miinaarauN pe raasha1, phir haiN gunbad2 sar-niguN3
phir nava4 shaa’er ki aivaanauN5 se takraaii hai aaj
aaj phir qadmauN6 pe aa kar jhuk rahi hai kaa’enaat7
apne qabze8 meN jahaan-e-nau9 ki daaraaii10 hai aaj
1.trembling 2.dome 3.head bowed 4.sound/voice/call 5.hallways 6.feet 7.creation – used here to mean the powerful 8.control 9.new world order 10.lordship – derived from daara-Darius
The implication here is that people in power have kept the people of Pakistan and India separate from each other. Minarets and domes are symbolic of power structures. They are trembling and their heads are bowed today. The voices/calls of the poets challenges the hallways of power. The powerful bow down at their feet today. We (the poets/people) are in control of the new world order.
9
Khaak1 par jhukti nahiN, aflaak2 par rukti nahiN
jo nigah3 taqdir4-e aalam5 ki tamaashaaii6 hai aaj
ek saahil7 hai ke ubhra hai bhaNwar8 ki god se
ek kishti hai ke toofaanauN se Takraaii hai aaj
1.dust, earth 2.skies 3.sight/vision 4.fate 5.world 7.shore/refuge 8.whirlpool/storm
The sight/vision of the poet can see the fate of humanity – a vision of a peaceful future, so his eyes will not stoop to the earth or even stop at the skies but will continue to look beyond to this beautiful vision. The get-together of the poets is seen as a shore/refuge in otherwise stormy seas/whirlpools. The boat (of hope/peace) dares to take on storms now.
10
raNg-e-mai1, husn-e-nigaaraaN2, jashn-e-gul3, fasl-e-bahaar4
hind ki rooh-e-javaaN5 she’rauN meN khiNch aaii hai aaj
jal uTha nabzauN6 meN KhuN, raushan hue dil meN chiraaGh
shaa’er-e aatish-nava7 ne aag barsaaii hai aaj
1.colour of wine 2.beauty of the beloved 3.feast of flowers 4.season of spring 5.youthful spirit 6.veins 7.fiery voice
Today is colourful like wine, beautiful like the beloved, festive like flowers, pleasant like spring. The youthful spirit (future) of India (and Pakistan) has been squeezed into asha’ar (couplets). Blood flowing through veins is on the boil (due to passion) and lamps have been lit in hearts (realization of love). The shaa’er of fiery words has rained fire (of passion) today.
