For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
آؤ کہ کوئی خواب بُنیں – ساحرؔ لدھیانوی
۱
آؤ کہ کوئی خواب بُنیں کل کے واسطے
ورنہ یہ رات آج کے سنگین دور کی
ڈس لیگی جان و دِل کو کچھ ایسے کہ جان و دِل
تا عمر پھر نہ کوئی حسیں خواب بُن سکیں
۲
گو ہم سے بھاگتی رہی یہ تیز گام عمر
خوابوں کے آسرے پہ کٹی ہے تمام عمر
زلفوں کے خواب، ہونٹوں کے خواب اور بدن کے خواب
معراجِ فن کے خواب کمالِ سخن کے خواب
تحذیبِ زندگی کے فروغِ وطن کے خواب
زنداں کے خواب، کوچہِ دار و رسن کے خواب
۳
یہ خواب ہی تو اپنی جوانی کے پاس تھے
یہ خواب ہی تو اپنے عمل کی اساس تھے
یہ خواب مر گئے ہیں تو بے رنگ ہے حیات
یوں ہے کہ جیسے دستِ تہہِ سنگ ہے حیات
۴
آؤ کہ کوئی خواب بُنیں کل کے واسطے
ورنہ یہ رات آج کے سنگین دور کی
ڈس لیگی جان و دِل کو کچھ ایسے کہ جان و دِل
تا عمر پھر نہ کوئی حسیں خواب بُن سکیں
आओ के कोई ख़्वाब बुनें – साहिर लुधियानवी
१
आओ के कोई ख़्वाब बुनें कल के वास्ते
वरना ये रात आज के संगीन दौर की
डस लेगी जान ओ दिल को कुछ ऐसे के जान ओ दिल
ता उम्र फिर न कोई हसीं ख़्वाब बुन सकें
२
गो हम से भागती रही ये तेज़ गाम उम्र
ख़्वाबों के आसरे पे कटी है तमाम उम्र
ज़ुल्फ़ों के ख़्वाब, होंटों के ख़्वाब और बदन के ख़्वाब
मे’राज-ए फ़न के ख़्वाब, कमाल-ए सुख़न के ख़्वाब
तहज़ीब-ए ज़िन्दगी के, फ़रोग़-ए वतन के ख़्वाब
ज़िन्दां के ख़्वाब, कूचा-ए दार ओ रसन के ख़्वाब
३
ये ख़्वाब ही तो अपनी जवानी के पास थे
ये ख़्वाब ही तो अपने अमल की असास थे
ये ख़्वाब मर गए हैं तो बे रंग है हयात
यूँ है के जैसे दस्त-ए तह-ए संग है हयात
४
आओ के कोई ख़्वाब बुनें कल के वास्ते
वर्ना ये रात आज के संगीन दौर की
डस लेगी जान ओ दिल को कुछ ऐसे के जान ओ दिल
ता उम्र फिर न कोई हसीं ख़्वाब बुन सकें
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu. He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level. Supported labour movements. Strong participant in the Progressive Writers’ Association. Winner of Lenin Peace Prize and padma shri, and several movie industry awards. He has written quite openly about his atheism. This is his invitation to create a vision for the future.
1
aao ke koi Khwaab1 buneN2 kal ke vaaste
varna ye raat aaj ke saNgeen3 daur4 ki
Dass5 legi jan o dil ko kuchh aise ke jaan o dil
ta umr6 phir na koi haseeN7 Khwaab bun sakeN 1.dream, vision 2.weave 3.stony 4.times 5.sting/poison 6.lifelong 7.beautiful
Come, let us weave a dream, a vision for tomorrow, lest this dark, stony/unfeeling order of the day poison life and soul that the heart and mind may never be able to weave a dream at all.
2
go8 hum se bhaagti rahi ye tez gaam9 umr
Khwaabon ke aasre10 pe kaTi hai tamaam umr
zulfoN11 ke Khwaab, honToN ke Khwaab aur badan ke Khwaab
meraaj12 e fun13 ke Khwaab, kamal14 e suKhan15 ke Khwaab
tahzib16 e zindagi ke, faroGh17 e vatan ke Khwaab
zindaN18 ke Khwaab, koocha19 e daar o rasan20 ke Khwaab 8.even though 9.fast moving 10.basis 11.curls 12.apex 13.talent
14.expertise 15.poetry writing and recitation 16.culture 17.progress 18.prison 19.street 20.hangman’s noose, gallows
Even though this fast paced life has outpaced us, our whole life has been guided by our dreams. Dreams of curls, lips and of bodies. Dreams of the apex of talent, of the turn of phrase. Visions of high culture, of the betterment of the homeland, thoughts of prison/rebellion, visions of the street leading to the gallows.
3
ye Khwaab hi to apni javaani ke paas21 the
ye Khwaab hi to apne amal22 ki asaas23 the
ye Khwaab mar gaye haiN to be raNg24 hai hayaat25
yuN hai keh jaise dast-e tah-e saNg26 hai hayaat 21.dignity 22.action 23.basis 24.without purpose 25.life 26.hand under a rock (unable to do anything useful)
Our dreams are what holds up our dignity. They are the basis of what we do. Without a vision life is colourless, it is as if our hands are tied down (trapped under a rock).
4
aao ke koi Khwaab buneN kal ke vaaste
varna ye raat aaj ke saNgeen daur ki
das legi jan o dil ko kuchh aise ke jaan o dil
ta umr phir na koi hasiN Khwaab bun sakeN Come, let us weave a dream, a vision for tomorrow, lest this dark, stony/unfeeling order of the day poison life and soul that the heart and mind may never be able to weave a dream at all.
sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu. He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level. Supported labour movements. Strong participant in the Progressive Writers’ Association. Winner of Lenin Peace Prize and padma shri, and several movie industry awards. He has written quite openly about his atheism. This is his invitation to create a vision for the future.
1
aao ke koi Khwaab1 buneN2 kal ke vaaste
varna ye raat aaj ke saNgeen3 daur4 ki
Dass5 legi jan o dil ko kuchh aise ke jaan o dil
ta umr6 phir na koi haseeN7 Khwaab bun sakeN
1.dream, vision 2.weave 3.stony 4.times 5.sting/poison 6.lifelong 7.beautiful
Come, let us weave a dream, a vision for tomorrow, lest this dark, stony/unfeeling order of the day poison life and soul that the heart and mind may never be able to weave a dream at all.
2
go8 hum se bhaagti rahi ye tez gaam9 umr
Khwaabon ke aasre10 pe kaTi hai tamaam umr
zulfoN11 ke Khwaab, honToN ke Khwaab aur badan ke Khwaab
meraaj12 e fun13 ke Khwaab, kamal14 e suKhan15 ke Khwaab
tahzib16 e zindagi ke, faroGh17 e vatan ke Khwaab
zindaN18 ke Khwaab, koocha19 e daar o rasan20 ke Khwaab
8.even though 9.fast moving 10.basis 11.curls 12.apex 13.talent
14.expertise 15.poetry writing and recitation 16.culture 17.progress 18.prison 19.street 20.hangman’s noose, gallows
Even though this fast paced life has outpaced us, our whole life has been guided by our dreams. Dreams of curls, lips and of bodies. Dreams of the apex of talent, of the turn of phrase. Visions of high culture, of the betterment of the homeland, thoughts of prison/rebellion, visions of the street leading to the gallows.
3
ye Khwaab hi to apni javaani ke paas21 the
ye Khwaab hi to apne amal22 ki asaas23 the
ye Khwaab mar gaye haiN to be raNg24 hai hayaat25
yuN hai keh jaise dast-e tah-e saNg26 hai hayaat
21.dignity 22.action 23.basis 24.without purpose 25.life 26.hand under a rock (unable to do anything useful)
Our dreams are what holds up our dignity. They are the basis of what we do. Without a vision life is colourless, it is as if our hands are tied down (trapped under a rock).
4
aao ke koi Khwaab buneN kal ke vaaste
varna ye raat aaj ke saNgeen daur ki
das legi jan o dil ko kuchh aise ke jaan o dil
ta umr phir na koi hasiN Khwaab bun sakeN
Come, let us weave a dream, a vision for tomorrow, lest this dark, stony/unfeeling order of the day poison life and soul that the heart and mind may never be able to weave a dream at all.
