For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
کہ غم کی رات کٹے ۔ دوارکا داس شعلہؔ
۱
ذرا نگاہ اٹھاؤ کہ غم کی رات کٹے
نظر نظر سے ملاؤ کہ غم کی رات کٹے
۲
اب آ گئے ہو تو میرے قریب آ بیٹھو
دوئی کے نقش مٹاؤ کہ غم کی رات کٹے
۳
شب فراق ہے شمع امید لے آؤ
کوئی چراغ جلاؤ کہ غم کی رات کٹے
۴
کہاں ہیں ساقی و مطرب کہاں ہے پیر حرم
کہاں ہیں سب یہ بلاؤ کہ غم کی رات کٹے
۵
کہاں ہو میکدے والو ذرا ادھر آؤ
ہمیں بھی آج پلاؤ کہ غم کی رات کٹے
۶
نہیں کچھ اور جو ممکن تو یار شعلہؔ کی
کوئی غزل ہی سناؤ کہ غم کی رات کٹے
के ग़म की रात कटे -द्वारका दास शो’ला
१
ज़रा निगाह उठाओ के ग़म की रात कटे
नज़र नज़र से मिलाओ के ग़म की रात कटे
२
अब आ गए हो तो मेरे क़रीब आ बैठो
दुई के नक़्श मिटाओ के ग़म की रात कटे
३
शब-ए फ़िराक़ है शम-ए उमीद ले आओ
कोई चराग़ जलाओ के ग़म की रात कटे
४
कहाँ हैं साक़ी-ओ-मुत्रिब कहाँ है पीर-ए हरम
कहाँ हैं सब ये बुलाओ के ग़म की रात कटे
५
कहाँ हो मयकदे वालो ज़रा इधर आओ
हमें भी आज पिलाओ के ग़म की रात कटे
६
नहीं कुछ और जो मुमकिन तो यार शोला की
कोई ग़ज़ल ही सुनाओ के ग़म की रात कटे
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. dwarka das sho’la (1910-1983), lahore and later punjab and dehli. He started learning urdu because he liked ‘urdu-vaale’ around him. He inherited a pharmacy business and grew it enough to get a mention in Who’s Who, India Trade Directory, 1942. He received formal schooling only up to 8th grade because his father recruited him in the family business. While washing bottles/vials he kept humming ash’aar. Later, hafiz jalandhari became his ustaad. He says they clicked because hafiz jaalandhari was equally unschooled (formally) and talked in panjabi. This Ghazal is linked to the radeef/qaafiya grouping ‘keh kuchh raat kaTe’ even though the qaafiya is different, but the spirit is the same.
1
zara nigaah1 uThaao ke Gham ki raat kaTe
nazar2 nazar se milaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe 1.glance 2.eyes
Raise your glance, that this night of sorrow may pass. Look me in the eye that this night of sorrow may pass.
2
ab aa gaye ho to mere qarib1 aa baiTho
dui2 ke naqsh3 miTaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe 1.near, next 2.duality 3.marks, signs
Now that you are here, come and sit next to me. Erase all signs of duality (differences, let us become one) that this night of sorrow may pass.
3
shab-e-firaaq1 hai sham’a-e umiid le aao
koi charaaGh jalaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe 1.night of separation
This is a night separation, bring the lamp of hope. Light some lamp that this night of sorrow may pass.
4
kahaaN haiN saaqi1-o-mutrib2 kahaaN hai piir-e-haram3
kahaaN haiN sab ye bulaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe 1.wine server, tavern keeper 2.singer 3.elders of the mosque
Where is the tavern keeper, the singer and the elders of the mosque. Call them all to come that this night of sorrow may pass. Of course, the tavern keeper and the elder of the mosque are two very different people. He is bringing them all together to celebrate.
5
kahaaN ho mai-kade1 vaalo zaraa idhar aao
hameN bhi aaj pilaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe 1.tavern
Where are you, O, fellow patrons of the tavern. Come here and give me some wine to drink too, that this night of sorrow may pass.
6
nahiN kuchh aur jo mumkin1 to yaar shola ki
koi Ghazal hi sunaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe 1.possible
If nothing else is possible, then at least my friend, recite a Ghazal of sho’la that this night of sorrow may pass.
dwarka das sho’la (1910-1983), lahore and later punjab and dehli. He started learning urdu because he liked ‘urdu-vaale’ around him. He inherited a pharmacy business and grew it enough to get a mention in Who’s Who, India Trade Directory, 1942. He received formal schooling only up to 8th grade because his father recruited him in the family business. While washing bottles/vials he kept humming ash’aar. Later, hafiz jalandhari became his ustaad. He says they clicked because hafiz jaalandhari was equally unschooled (formally) and talked in panjabi. This Ghazal is linked to the radeef/qaafiya grouping ‘keh kuchh raat kaTe’ even though the qaafiya is different, but the spirit is the same.
1
zara nigaah1 uThaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe
nazar2 nazar se milaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe
1.glance 2.eyes
Raise your glance, that this night of sorrow may pass. Look me in the eye that this night of sorrow may pass.
2
ab aa gaye ho to mere qarib1 aa baiTho
dui2 ke naqsh3 miTaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe
1.near, next 2.duality 3.marks, signs
Now that you are here, come and sit next to me. Erase all signs of duality (differences, let us become one) that this night of sorrow may pass.
3
shab-e-firaaq1 hai sham’a-e umiid le aao
koi charaaGh jalaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe
1.night of separation
This is a night separation, bring the lamp of hope. Light some lamp that this night of sorrow may pass.
4
kahaaN haiN saaqi1-o-mutrib2 kahaaN hai piir-e-haram3
kahaaN haiN sab ye bulaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe
1.wine server, tavern keeper 2.singer 3.elders of the mosque
Where is the tavern keeper, the singer and the elders of the mosque. Call them all to come that this night of sorrow may pass. Of course, the tavern keeper and the elder of the mosque are two very different people. He is bringing them all together to celebrate.
5
kahaaN ho mai-kade1 vaalo zaraa idhar aao
hameN bhi aaj pilaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe
1.tavern
Where are you, O, fellow patrons of the tavern. Come here and give me some wine to drink too, that this night of sorrow may pass.
6
nahiN kuchh aur jo mumkin1 to yaar shola ki
koi Ghazal hi sunaao keh Gham ki raat kaTe
1.possible
If nothing else is possible, then at least my friend, recite a Ghazal of sho’la that this night of sorrow may pass.
