Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution. His nazm are fiery, passionate, and full of energy. His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good. He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice and orthodoxy. The title of this nazm (but following the structure of a Ghazal – hence a musalsil Ghazal) can be roughly translated as wine loving socialist. But ‘rind-wine lover’ is a loaded metaphor. It symbolizes wine drinking as a rebellion against orthodoxy, against the power structure and received wisdom. The wine can be wine of universal knowledge, love of justice and/or love of knowledge.
1
uTh keh uThti nahiN ab seena-e ayyaam¹ se aag
dil-e aafaaq² peh barsa ufaq³-e jaam⁴ se aag    1.days, times, present period 2.skies 3.horizon 4.cup, goblet (of wine)
This is addressed to himself and/or to his comrades asking them to rise and do something. There is no flame rising from the bosom of the times i.e., people seem not to be rising up in protest. The curvature of the horizon is like the rim of a wine cup. It also is red (at sunrise) like the colour of wine. Sunrise also symbolizes the coming socialist revolution. Rise up and pour this red wine into the heart of the skies i.e., bring about a socialist uprising. Fire here could be of red colour and also intensity of passion.
2
daaman¹-e tar² ko bana haamil³-e barq⁴ o aatish⁵
keh nikalti nahiN ab jaama-e-ahraam⁶ se aag    1.hem of the garment 2.wet 3.carry, bear 4.lightning 5.fire 6.cloth wrapped during hajj
The hem of the garment is wet with tears (of sorrow due to deprivation). Change that sorrow into revolutionary energy by making the wet hem bear lightning and fire symbolizing the energy for change. Because the garment of hajj pilgrimage no longer inspires the kind of energy/change that it used to during early times.
3
na raha kausar¹ o tasneem¹ ke chheeNTauN² meN asar³
ab dil o jaaN meN laga baada-e-gulfaam⁴ se aag    1.names of two rivers in heaven 2.sprinkled drops 3.effect 4.rose-coloured/red wine
In orthodox convention sprinkling with ‘holy’ water of the rivers of heaven would provide deliverance. That does not have the same effect any more. Set the heart and soul on fire with red wine. He is using red wine to symbolize socialism.
4
aaj use kufr¹ ke jhoNkauN² se farozaaN³ kar de
kal lagaaii thhi kalejauN⁴ meN jo islaam se aag    1.non-belief, rebellion 2.gusts of wind 3.brighten, burning 4.liver (seat of courage)
This may have been written during the anti-colonial movement. josh is conflating rebellion against the British with the socialist movement and specifically addressing the muslim community to rise up. Early islaamic tradition had set livers of fire i.e., inspired courageous action. That flame has died down. He is calling upon his comrades to blow ‘gusts of winds of resistance – kufr ke jhoNke’ to bring that fire to life.
5
kaam ke ab na rahe qahar¹ o Ghazab² ke aKhgar³
ab zamaane⁴ meN laga baKhshish⁵ o in’aam⁶ se aag    1.curse, divine wrath 2.anger, fury 3.embers, fires 4.world 5.grants, gifts 6.rewards
Fear of burning embers of hell, divine wrath and fury is not going to work. Set the world on fire with thoughts of expectations and rewards (of change).
6
ab to guftaar¹ meN Khud² aa, keh hai bujhne ke qareeb³
tu ne bhaRkaaii⁴ thi jo naama⁵ o paiGhaam⁶ se aag    1.conversation 2.yourself, in person 3.near, almost 4.set aflame 5.letter, book 6.message
This is probably addressed to god. At one time you had set minds/hearts on fire with your message and book. Those flames are almost extinguished. It is time for you come yourself and talk to the world.
7
vaqt¹ aaya hai keh be-parda² ho aye barq³-e jamaal⁴
ab dahakti⁵ nahiN seenauN meN tere naam se aag    1.time 2.unveiled, appear 3.lightning 4.beauty, grace, glory 5.glow, burn
The time has come that you appear, O divine glory because the fire that used to burn in bosoms inspired by your name, does not glow any more.
8
barq¹ raftaar² javaanauN ko dikha raah³-e sharaar⁴
keh bhaRakti⁵ nahiN peeraan⁶-e subuk-gaam⁷ se aag    1.lightning 2.speed 3.path 4.spark, fire 5.burst into flames 6.elders, old 7.light/slow step
Show the fleet footed youth the path of passion because the slow elders can no longer make rising flames.
9
Khanda¹-e Khwaaja²-e Khush-vaqt³ se nikle ga na kaam
ab laga ashk⁴-e Gham-e banda-e-naakaam⁵ se aag    1.smile 2.leader 3.good times 4.tears 5.unsuccessful/frustrated devotee/servant
By ‘Khwaaja-e Khush-vaqt’ is meant a leader who may be OK when times are good but who cannot deal with adversities/challenges. The smile of such a leader will not work any more. Use the tears of sorrow (anger) of the frustrated commoner to set a fire.
10
hukm¹ de sharr²-e Khush-aaGhaaz³ ko zau-baari⁴ ka
keh nikalti nahiN ab Khair⁵-e bad-anjaam⁶ se aag     1.command 2.here-short for sharaarat, mischief, rebellion, revolution 3.good beginning 4.raining light 5.well-being 6.bad result
The powers that be, have made promises of well-being, but they have not been fulfilled. There is no sign of fire/rebellion against it. Command the revolution/change of good beginnings to rain light on the state of affairs.
11
Khalvat¹-e Khaas² ke sho’le³ to bahut dekhe haiN
aaj barsa⁴ ufaq⁵-e jalva-gah⁶-e ‘aam⁷ se aag    1.seclusion, sanctuary 2.special 3.flames 4.rain down 5.horizon 6.place of manifestation 7.general, public, ordinary
We have seen many flames coming from the sanctuary of special interests. Today, make fire rain down from the horizon of the place of public gathering i.e., raise the anger of protest among common people.
12
duur hai vaadi¹-e ayman² ho keh tuur³-e siina⁴
ab ye mauqa⁵ hai keh barsa⁶ de har ek baam⁷ se aag    1.valley 2.sanctuary, safety, heaven 3.mount tuur 4.Sinai 5.occasion 6.rain down 7.rooftop
Mount tuur in Sinai is where Moses is supposed to have gone asking to see god. He saw a divine flash of lightning which is sometimes interpreted as enlightenment. vaadi-e ayman is used here to mean heaven. Thus both of these divine promises are far away and uncertain. This is the time to make fire rain down from every rooftop.
13
josh¹ kya sub’h ko ho dekhiye nazm²-e aalam³
aaj raushan⁴ hai mere dil meN sar⁵-e shaam se aag    1.pen-name of the poet 2.administration, power-structure 3.world 4.lit up, shining 5.beginning
The poet has been restless from the beginning of the evening. He feels that some change is going to happen. O josh, let us see what the new order of the world is going to be in the morning. The morning is progressive urdu poetry symbolises the day of social justice.