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Recitation
kaleem aajiz
کرامات کرو ہو ۔ کلیم عاجزؔ
۱
میرے ہی لہو پر گزر اوقات کرو ہو
مجھ سے ہی امیروں کی طرح بات کرو ہو
۲
دن ایک ستم ایک ستم رات کرو ہو
وہ دوست ہو دشمن کو بھی تم مات کرو ہو
۳
ہم خاک نشیں تم سخن آرائے سرِ بام
پاس آ کے ملو دور سے کیا بات کرو ہو
۴
ہم کو جو ملا ہے وہ تمہیں سے تو ملا ہے
ہم، اور بُھلا دیں تمہیں، کیا بات کرو ہو
۵
یوں تو کبھی منہ پھیر کے دیکھو بھی نہیں ہو
جب وقت پڑے ہے تو مدارات کرو ہو
۶
دامن پہ کوئی چھینٹ نہ خنجر پہ کوئی داغ
تم قتل کرو ہو کہ کرامات کرو ہو
۷
بکنے بھی دو عاجزؔ کو جو بولے ہے بکے ہے
دیوانہ ہے دیوانے سے کیا بات کرو ہو
करामात करो हो – कलीम आजिज़
१
मेरे ही लहू पर गुज़र-औक़ात करो हो
मुझ से ही अमीरों की तरह बात करो हो
२
दिन एक सितम एक सितम रात करो हो
वो दोस्त हो दुश्मन को भी तुम मात करो हो
३
हम ख़ाक-नशीं तुम सुख़न-आरा-ए सर-ए बाम
पास आ के मिलो दूर से क्या बात करो हो
४
हम को जो मिला है वो तुम्हीं से तो मिला है
हम और भुला दें तुम्हें क्या बात करो हो
५
यूँ तो कभी मुँह फेर के देखो भी नहीं हो
जब वक़्त पड़े है तो मुदारात करो हो
६
दामन पे कोई छींट न ख़ंजर पे कोई दाग़
तुम क़त्ल करो हो के करामात करो हो
७
बकने भी दो आजिज़ को जो बोले है बके है
दीवाना है दीवाने से क्या बात करो हो
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. kaleem ahmed aajiz (1924-2015). PhD dissertation on the evolution of urdu literature in bihar. Awarded padma sri. He writes mostly in classical style on classical themes and claimed to follow in the footsteps of mir taqi mir, although he has composed a number of Ghazal in the style of Ghalib. He regularly presented at the mushaa’era traditionally heeld in the Red Fort on Indian independence day celebration. He recited this Ghazal in front of indira gandhi during emergency rule, pointedly rebuking her in disguise.
1
maeray hi lahu1 par guzar-auqaat2 karo ho
mujh se hi amiroN ki tarah baat karo ho 1.blood 2.literally-pass time, actually used to mean-lead/sustain life
You sustain your life on my blood and you turn around as if you own me. This could well be labour speaking to capital, or the citizen speaking to the political leader.
2
din ek sitam1 ek sitam raat karo ho
vo dost ho dushman ko bhi tum maat2 karo ho 1.cruel blow 2.defeat
This is conventionally addressed to the beloved, but it could well be addressed to political leaders in a clever disguise. You strike a cruel blow during the day and another at night (i.e. you strike day and night). You are a friend who surpasses an enemy in striking me.
3
ham Khaak-nashiN1 tum suKhan-aaraa2-e sar3-e baam4
paas aa ke milo duur se kyaa baat karo ho 1.dust-dwellers 2.speaking, embellishing words 3.head, top 4.roof
We are dust dwellers. You speak from the top of the roof. Come closer to meet/see us why do you talk from afar.
4
ham ko jo milaa hai vo tumhiN se to milaa hai
ham aur bhulaa deN tumheN kya baat karo ho Whatever we have received, we have received from you. We and forget you, what kind of talk/thought/accusation is this!
5
yuN to kabhi muNh pher ke dekho bhi nahiN ho
jab vaqt paRe hai to mudaaraat1 karo ho 1.welcome, greet, be nice to
Normally, you do not even turn to look at us. But when you need us, you are nice to us. Once again, an accusation conventionally leveled against the beloved, but equally applicable to the politician who seeks votes every election.
6
daaman1 pe koi chhiNT na Khanjar2 pe koi daaGh3
tum qatl karo ho ke karaamaat4 karo ho 1.hem of the skirt/robe 2.dagger 3.stain 4.miracle
There is no spot (of blood) on the hem of your clothes, nor any stain on the dagger. Do you kill, or perform miracles! i.e. you kill without leaving any clue of having done so.
7
baknay bhi do aajiz1 ko jo bole hai bakay hai
divaana hai divaane se kya baat karo ho 1.pen-name of poet
Let aajiz rave and rant, whenever he opens his mouth he raves. He is a madman, what conversation can you have with a madman.
kaleem ahmed aajiz (1924-2015). PhD dissertation on the evolution of urdu literature in bihar. Awarded padma sri. He writes mostly in classical style on classical themes and claimed to follow in the footsteps of mir taqi mir, although he has composed a number of Ghazal in the style of Ghalib. He regularly presented at the mushaa’era traditionally heeld in the Red Fort on Indian independence day celebration. He recited this Ghazal in front of indira gandhi during emergency rule, pointedly rebuking her in disguise.
1
maeray hi lahu1 par guzar-auqaat2 karo ho
mujh se hi amiroN ki tarah baat karo ho
1.blood 2.literally-pass time, actually used to mean-lead/sustain life
You sustain your life on my blood and you turn around as if you own me. This could well be labour speaking to capital, or the citizen speaking to the political leader.
2
din ek sitam1 ek sitam raat karo ho
vo dost ho dushman ko bhi tum maat2 karo ho
1.cruel blow 2.defeat
This is conventionally addressed to the beloved, but it could well be addressed to political leaders in a clever disguise. You strike a cruel blow during the day and another at night (i.e. you strike day and night). You are a friend who surpasses an enemy in striking me.
3
ham Khaak-nashiN1 tum suKhan-aaraa2-e sar3-e baam4
paas aa ke milo duur se kyaa baat karo ho
1.dust-dwellers 2.speaking, embellishing words 3.head, top 4.roof
We are dust dwellers. You speak from the top of the roof. Come closer to meet/see us why do you talk from afar.
4
ham ko jo milaa hai vo tumhiN se to milaa hai
ham aur bhulaa deN tumheN kya baat karo ho
Whatever we have received, we have received from you. We and forget you, what kind of talk/thought/accusation is this!
5
yuN to kabhi muNh pher ke dekho bhi nahiN ho
jab vaqt paRe hai to mudaaraat1 karo ho
1.welcome, greet, be nice to
Normally, you do not even turn to look at us. But when you need us, you are nice to us. Once again, an accusation conventionally leveled against the beloved, but equally applicable to the politician who seeks votes every election.
6
daaman1 pe koi chhiNT na Khanjar2 pe koi daaGh3
tum qatl karo ho ke karaamaat4 karo ho
1.hem of the skirt/robe 2.dagger 3.stain 4.miracle
There is no spot (of blood) on the hem of your clothes, nor any stain on the dagger. Do you kill, or perform miracles! i.e. you kill without leaving any clue of having done so.
7
baknay bhi do aajiz1 ko jo bole hai bakay hai
divaana hai divaane se kya baat karo ho
1.pen-name of poet
Let aajiz rave and rant, whenever he opens his mouth he raves. He is a madman, what conversation can you have with a madman.
