Recitation
ائے دیس سے آنے والے بتا ۔ اَحْمَد فراز
وہ شہر جو ہم سے چُھوٹَا ہے ، وہ شہر ہمارا کیسا ہے
سب دوست ہمیں پیارے ہیں مگر ، وہ جان سے پیارا کیسا ہے
شب بزم حریفاں سجتی ہے ، یا شام ڈھلے سو جاتے ہیں
یاروں کی بسر اوقات ہے کیا ، ہر انجمن آرا کیسا ہے
جب بھی میخانے بند ہی تھے ، اور وا درِ زنداں رہتا تھا
اب مفتئِ دیں کیا کہتا ہے ، موسم کا اِشارہ کیسا ہے
میخانے کا پندار گیا، پیمانے کا معیار کہاں
کل تلخی مئے بھی کھلتی تھی ، اب زہر گوارا کیسا ہے
وہ پاس نہیں احساس تو ہے ، اک یاد تو ہے ، اک آس تو ہے
دریائے جدائی میں دیکھو، تنکے کا سہارا کیسا ہے
ملکوں ملکوں گھومے ہیں بہت ، جاگے ہیں بہت ، روئے ہیں بہت
اب تم کو بتائیں کیا یارو ، دُنیا کا نظارا کیسا ہے
یہ شامِ ستم کٹتی ہی نہیں ، یہ ظلمتِ شب گھٹتی ہی نہیں
میرے بد قسمت لوگوں کی، قسمت کا ستارا کیسا ہے
کیا کوئے نگاراں میں اب بھی ، عشاقوں کا میلہ لگتا ہے
اہل دِل نے قاتل كے لئے ، مقتل کو سںوارا کیسا ہے
کیا اب بھی ہمارے گاؤں میں ، گھنگھرو ہیں ہوا كے پاؤں میں
یا آگ لگی ہے چھاؤں میں ، اب وقت کا دھارا کیسا ہے
قاصد كے لبوں پر کیا اب بھی ، آتا ہے ہمارا نام کبھی
وہ بھی تو خبر رکھتا ہوگا ، یہ جھگڑا سارا کیسا ہے
ہر ایک کشیدہ قامت پر ، کیا اب بھی کمندیں پڑتی ہیں
جب سے وہ مسیحا دار ہوا ، ہر دَرْد کا مارا کیسا ہے
کہتے ہیں كے اب گھر زنداں ہیں ، کہتے ہیں كے زنداں مقتل ہیں
یہ جبر خدا كے نام پہ ہے ، یہ ظلم خدارا کیسا ہے
پندار سلامت ہے كہ نہیں ، بس یہ دیکھو ، یہ مت دیکھو
جاں کتنی ریزہ ریزہ ہے ، دِل پارا پارا کیسا ہے
ائے دیس سے آنے والے مگر ، تم نے تو نہ اتنا بھی پوچھا
وہ کوَی جسے بن باس ملا ، وہ دَرْد کا مارا کیسا ہے
अए देस से आने वाले बता – अहमद फ़राज़
वो शहर जो हम से छूटा है, वो शहर हमारा कैसा है
सब दोस्त हमें प्यारे हैं मगर, वो जान से प्यारा कैसा है
शब बज़्म-ए हरीफ़ान् सजती है, या शाम ढले सो जाते हैं
यारौं की बसर औक़ात है क्या, हर अंजुमन आरा कैसा है
जब भी मैख़ाने बंद ही थे, और वा दर-ए ज़िन्दाँ रहता था
अब मुफ़्ती-ए दीं क्या कहता है, मोसम का इशारा कैसा है
मैख़ाने का पिंदार गया, पैमाने का मे’आर कहां
कल तल्ख़ी-ए मै भी खलती थी, अब ज़हर गवारा कैसा है
वो पास नहीं एहसास तो है, एक याद तो है, एक आस तो है
दरया-ए जुदाइ में देखो तिनके का सहारा कैसा है
मुल्कौं मुल्कौं घूमे हैं बहुत, जागे हैं बहुत, रोए हैं बहुत
अब तुम को बताएं क्या यारो, दुनिया का नज़ारा कैसा है
ये शाम-ए सितम कट्ति ही नहीं, ये ज़ुल्मत-ए शब घट्ति ही नहीं
मेरे बद क़िस्मत लोगौं की, क़िस्मत का सितारा कैसा है
क्या कू-ए निगारां में अब भी, उश्शाक़ का मेला लगता है
अहल-ए दिल ने क़ातिल के लिए, मक़तल को संवारा कैसा है
क्या अब भी हमारे गाऊं में, घुंघरू हैं हवा के पाऊं में
या आग लगी है छाऊं में, अब वक़्त का धारा कैसा है
क़ासिद के लबौं पर क्या अब भी, आता है हमारा नाम कभी
वो भी तो ख़बर रखता होगा, ये झगड़ा सारा कैसा है
हर एक कशीदा क़ामत पर, क्या अब भी कमन्दें पड़ती हैं
जब से वो मसीहा दार हुआ, हर दर्द का मारा कैसा है
कहते हैं के अब घर ज़िन्दाँ हैं, कहते हैं के ज़िन्दाँ मक़्तल है
ये जब्र ख़ुदा के नाम पे है, ये ज़ुल्म ख़ुदारा कैसा है
पिंदार सलामत है के नहीं, बस ये देखो, ये मत देखो
जां कितनी रेज़ा रेज़ा है, दिल पारा पारा कैसा है
अए देस से आने वाले मगर, तुम ने तो न इतना भी पूछा
वो कवि जिसे बन बास मिला, वो दर्द का मारा कैसा है
aye des se aane vaale bata – ahmad faraz
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. ahmad faraz was exiled from pakistan during military dictatorship. You can hear about it in faraz’s own voice in “muhaasira”. He wrote this nazm expressing his homesickness during exile. I found print and youtube versions that were considerably different from each other. Both are posted.
vo shahr1 jo hum se chhooTa hai, vo shahr hamaara kaisa hai
sub dost hameN pyaare haiN magar, vo jaan se pyaara kaisa hai1.city but used here to mean homeland
The homeland that was taken away from me, how fares that home. All are dear to me, but that which is dearer than life, how is it.
shab bazm1-e hareefaaN2 sajti haiN, ya shaam Dhale so jaate haiN
yaarauN ki basar auqaat3 hai kya, har anjuman-aara4 kaisa hai1.gathering 2.rivals/competitors 3.past-time 4.host (of sessions)
The poet remembers gatherings and late night sessions of poetry recitation. All friends get together – they are friends and rivals too, to see who recites the best poem. Do they still get together in the evenings or go to bed early. How do my friends spend their time. How is the host of (poetry) sessions.
jab bhi maiKhaane1 bund hi thhe, aur vaa2 dar3-e zindaaN4 rahta thha
ab mufti-e deeN5 kya kahta hai, mosam ka ishaara kaisa hai1.tavern 2.open 3.door 4.prison 5.religious (Islamic) jurist, fatwa giver
maiKhaana – the tavern is used as a metaphor for liberal space as opposed to masjid – the orthodox space. Thus the poet remembers – liberal places used to be closed and prison doors open (to take in prisoners). What does the fatwa-giver say now, what is the indication of the season (which way does the wind blow).
maiKhaane1 ka pindaar2 gaya, paimaane3 ka me’aar4 kahaaN
kal talKhi5-e mai6 bhi khalti7 thhi, ab zahr8 gavaara9 kaisa hai1.tavern, liberalism 2.dignity 3.measure (size of the goblet of wine) 4.standard 5.bitterness 6.wine 7.disagreeable 8.poison 9.tolerate
The dignity of liberal institutions is gone, the standard of measure of wine to be served is lost. Yesterday we complained about the bitterness of wine that was served. Today, how do they tolerate the poison that is being served.
vo paas1 nahiN ehsaas2 to hai, ek yaad to hai, ek aas3 to hai
darya-e judaaii4 meN dekho tinke5 ka sahaara6 kaisa hai1.near 2.awareness 3.hope 4.river of separation 5.straw 6.support
The poet realizes that she (the homeland) is not near, he is aware of that but still has memories and hopes to hang on it. In this river of separation as he is drowning these are the only bits of straw that he can hang on to.
mulkauN mulkauN ghoome haiN bahut, jaage haiN bahut, roe haiN bahut
ab tum ko bataaeN kya yaaro, duniya ka nazaara kaisa haiThe poet has wandered hither and thither from this country to that, has not been able to sleep has spent his nights crying (for loss of homeland) and even though it might seem that he has “seen the world” he does not have the spirit/courage to describe what he has seen.
ye shaam-e sitam kaTti hi nahiN, ye zulmat-e shab1 ghaTti hi nahiN
mere bad-qismat2 logauN ki qismat ka sitaara kaisa hai1.darkness of the night 2.unfortunate
This night of oppression does not pass, the darkness of the night is not reduced. What is the fate/fortune of my unfortunate people.
kya koo-e nigaaraaN1 meN ab bhi, ushshaaqauN2 ka mela lagta hai
ahl-e dil3 ne qaatil4 ke liye, maqtal5 ko saNvaara kaisa hai1.street of beauties/beloved 2.lovers 3.people of heart i.e. lovers 4.killer, beloved 5.slaughter house
The tradition is that lovers gather in the street of the beloved and the beloved kills them (with her looks) – thus the street becomes a slaughter house. But still lovers keep gathering in her street.
kya ab bhi hamaare gaauN meN, ghuNgru haiN havaa ke paauN meN
ya aag lagi hai chhaauN meN, ab vaqt ka dhaara kaisa haiIn our village is there merriment and dance like it used to be when even the breeze blowing through sounded like tinkling ankle bells. Or is it as if even in the shade, fires rage. Which direction does time flow (are things improving or going backwards).
qaasid1 ke labauN par kya ab bhi, aata hai hamaara naam kabhi
vo bhi to Khabar2 rakhta hoga, ye jhagRa saara kaisa hai1.messenger, bringer of news 2.awareness (of what is going on)
Does the reporter ever mention my name (is there any chance that I will be forgiven and allowed to come back). He surely keeps track of what is going on, he knows all about these conflicts.
har ek kasheeda-qaamat1 par, kya ab bhi kamandeN2 paRti haiN
jab se vo maseeha3 daar4 hua, har dard ka maara kaisa hai1.elongated/stretched/tall stature 2.noose 3.messiah, saviour 4.gallows
This probably has reference to the hanging of zulfiqaar ali bhuTTo. Ever since that saviour (bhuTTo) was hung at the gallows, what is happening all the downtrodden. Does anyone who stands out, still get caught in a noose?
kahte haiN ke ab ghar zindaaN1 haiN, kahte haiN ke zindaaN1 maqtal2 hai
ye jabr3 Khuda ke naam pe hai, ye zulm4 Khudaara kaisa hai1.prison 2.slaughter house 3.oppression 4.torture
They say that houses have now become prisons and prisons have become slaughter houses. This oppression is the name of religion, by god what kind of torture is this?
pindaar1 salaamat2 hai ke nahiN, bas ye dekho, ye mat dekho
jaaN kitni reza-reza3 hai, dil paara-paara4 kaisa hai1.dignity 2.surviving, preserved 3.shredded to bits 4.shattered to pieces
Is dignity preserved or are you allowed to see this and not that. Is life shredded and hearts shattered?
aye des se aane vaale magar, tum ne to na itna bhi poochha
vo kavi jise ban-baas1 mila, vo dard ka maara kaisa hai1.forest dwelling, exile
O visitor from home, but you have not even asked about the poet who has been exiled, never inquired how this wretch is doing.
aye des se aane vaale bata – ahmad faraz
ahmad faraz was exiled from pakistan during military dictatorship. You can hear about it in faraz’s own voice in “muhaasira”. He wrote this nazm expressing his homesickness during exile. I found print and youtube versions that were considerably different from each other. Both are posted.
vo shahr1 jo hum se chhooTa hai, vo shahr hamaara kaisa hai
sub dost hameN pyaare haiN magar, vo jaan se pyaara kaisa hai
1.city but used here to mean homeland
The homeland that was taken away from me, how fares that home. All are dear to me, but that which is dearer than life, how is it.
shab bazm1-e hareefaaN2 sajti haiN, ya shaam Dhale so jaate haiN
yaarauN ki basar auqaat3 hai kya, har anjuman-aara4 kaisa hai
1.gathering 2.rivals/competitors 3.past-time 4.host (of sessions)
The poet remembers gatherings and late night sessions of poetry recitation. All friends get together – they are friends and rivals too, to see who recites the best poem. Do they still get together in the evenings or go to bed early. How do my friends spend their time. How is the host of (poetry) sessions.
jab bhi maiKhaane1 bund hi thhe, aur vaa2 dar3-e zindaaN4 rahta thha
ab mufti-e deeN5 kya kahta hai, mosam ka ishaara kaisa hai
1.tavern 2.open 3.door 4.prison 5.religious (Islamic) jurist, fatwa giver
maiKhaana – the tavern is used as a metaphor for liberal space as opposed to masjid – the orthodox space. Thus the poet remembers – liberal places used to be closed and prison doors open (to take in prisoners). What does the fatwa-giver say now, what is the indication of the season (which way does the wind blow).
maiKhaane1 ka pindaar2 gaya, paimaane3 ka me’aar4 kahaaN
kal talKhi5-e mai6 bhi khalti7 thhi, ab zahr8 gavaara9 kaisa hai
1.tavern, liberalism 2.dignity 3.measure (size of the goblet of wine) 4.standard 5.bitterness 6.wine 7.disagreeable 8.poison 9.tolerate
The dignity of liberal institutions is gone, the standard of measure of wine to be served is lost. Yesterday we complained about the bitterness of wine that was served. Today, how do they tolerate the poison that is being served.
vo paas1 nahiN ehsaas2 to hai, ek yaad to hai, ek aas3 to hai
darya-e judaaii4 meN dekho tinke5 ka sahaara6 kaisa hai
1.near 2.awareness 3.hope 4.river of separation 5.straw 6.support
The poet realizes that she (the homeland) is not near, he is aware of that but still has memories and hopes to hang on it. In this river of separation as he is drowning these are the only bits of straw that he can hang on to.
mulkauN mulkauN ghoome haiN bahut, jaage haiN bahut, roe haiN bahut
ab tum ko bataaeN kya yaaro, duniya ka nazaara kaisa hai
The poet has wandered hither and thither from this country to that, has not been able to sleep has spent his nights crying (for loss of homeland) and even though it might seem that he has “seen the world” he does not have the spirit/courage to describe what he has seen.
ye shaam-e sitam kaTti hi nahiN, ye zulmat-e shab1 ghaTti hi nahiN
mere bad-qismat2 logauN ki qismat ka sitaara kaisa hai
1.darkness of the night 2.unfortunate
This night of oppression does not pass, the darkness of the night is not reduced. What is the fate/fortune of my unfortunate people.
kya koo-e nigaaraaN1 meN ab bhi, ushshaaqauN2 ka mela lagta hai
ahl-e dil3 ne qaatil4 ke liye, maqtal5 ko saNvaara kaisa hai
1.street of beauties/beloved 2.lovers 3.people of heart i.e. lovers 4.killer, beloved 5.slaughter house
The tradition is that lovers gather in the street of the beloved and the beloved kills them (with her looks) – thus the street becomes a slaughter house. But still lovers keep gathering in her street.
kya ab bhi hamaare gaauN meN, ghuNgru haiN havaa ke paauN meN
ya aag lagi hai chhaauN meN, ab vaqt ka dhaara kaisa hai
In our village is there merriment and dance like it used to be when even the breeze blowing through sounded like tinkling ankle bells. Or is it as if even in the shade, fires rage. Which direction does time flow (are things improving or going backwards).
qaasid1 ke labauN par kya ab bhi, aata hai hamaara naam kabhi
vo bhi to Khabar2 rakhta hoga, ye jhagRa saara kaisa hai
1.messenger, bringer of news 2.awareness (of what is going on)
Does the reporter ever mention my name (is there any chance that I will be forgiven and allowed to come back). He surely keeps track of what is going on, he knows all about these conflicts.
har ek kasheeda-qaamat1 par, kya ab bhi kamandeN2 paRti haiN
jab se vo maseeha3 daar4 hua, har dard ka maara kaisa hai
1.elongated/stretched/tall stature 2.noose 3.messiah, saviour 4.gallows
This probably has reference to the hanging of zulfiqaar ali bhuTTo. Ever since that saviour (bhuTTo) was hung at the gallows, what is happening all the downtrodden. Does anyone who stands out, still get caught in a noose?
kahte haiN ke ab ghar zindaaN1 haiN, kahte haiN ke zindaaN1 maqtal2 hai
ye jabr3 Khuda ke naam pe hai, ye zulm4 Khudaara kaisa hai
1.prison 2.slaughter house 3.oppression 4.torture
They say that houses have now become prisons and prisons have become slaughter houses. This oppression is the name of religion, by god what kind of torture is this?
pindaar1 salaamat2 hai ke nahiN, bas ye dekho, ye mat dekho
jaaN kitni reza-reza3 hai, dil paara-paara4 kaisa hai
1.dignity 2.surviving, preserved 3.shredded to bits 4.shattered to pieces
Is dignity preserved or are you allowed to see this and not that. Is life shredded and hearts shattered?
aye des se aane vaale magar, tum ne to na itna bhi poochha
vo kavi jise ban-baas1 mila, vo dard ka maara kaisa hai
1.forest dwelling, exile
O visitor from home, but you have not even asked about the poet who has been exiled, never inquired how this wretch is doing.
