For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
کوئی نہ بولے ۔ احمد فرہادؔ
۱
کہا گیا ہے سنا گیا ہے کوئی نہ بولے
زباں درازوں کو مشورہ ہے کوئی نہ بولے
۲
ہر ایک لب پر سوال کرتی خموشیاں ہیں
بس ایک ڈر ہے جو بولتا ہے کوئی نہ بولے
۳
عجیب گونگی ہوا چلی ہے کہ شہر بھر میں
جسے بھی ملتا ہوں کہہ رہا ہے کوئی نہ بولے
۴
بنامِ مذہب، بنامِ حُرمت، بنامِ حکمت
یہی بھلا ہے یہی بجا ہے کوئی نہ بولے
۵
اب ایسے عالم میں بات کرنا ہے جیسے مرنا
تو سیدھا سادہ سا مشورہ ہے کوئی نہ بولے
۶
کھلا ہوا ہے کہیں پہ دروازہ گفتگو کا
اور اس کے اوپر لکھا ہوا ہے کوئی نہ بولے
۷
خموشیوں کی زباں میں کہتے چلو جو قصہ
تمہیں پتہ ہے مجھے پتہ ہے کوئی نہ بولے
۸
کٹی زبانوں سے پوچھتے ہیں وہ عدل پرور
تمہی بتاؤ کسے کہا ہے کوئی نہ بولے
۹
یہ چپ ہمارے نصاب کا لازمی سبق ہے
ازل سے ہم نے یہی پڑھا ہے کوئی نہ بولے
۱۰
عجیب لُکنت پسند حاکم سے واسطہ ہے
جو چاہتا ہے جو سوچتا ہے کوئی نہ بولے
कोई न बोले – अहमद फ़रहाद
१
कहा गया है सुना गया है कोई न बोले
ज़बां-दराज़ों को मश्वरा है कोई न बोले
२
हर एक लब पर सवाल करती ख़मोशियाँ हैं
बस एक डर है जो बोलता है कोई न बोले
३
अजीब गूंगी हवा चली है के शहर भर में
जिसे भी मिलता हूँ कह रहा है कोई न बोले
४
बनाम-ए मज़्हब, बनाम-ए हुर्मत, बनाम-ए हिक्मत
यही भला है यही बजा है कोई न बोले
५
अब ऐसे आलम में बात करना है जैसे मरना
तो सीधा सादा सा मश्वरा है कोई न बोले
६
खुला हुआ है कहीं पे दरवाज़ा गुफ़्तगू का
और उस के ऊपर लिखा हुआ है कोई न बोले
७
ख़मोशियों की ज़बां में कहते चलो जो क़िस्सा
तुम्हें पता है मुझे पता है कोई न बोले
८
कटी ज़बानों से पूछते हैं वो अद्ल-परवर
तुम्ही बताओ किसे कहा है कोई न बोले
९
ये चुप हमारे निसाब का लाज़मी सबक़ है
अज़ल से हम ने यही पढ़ा है कोई न बोले
१०
अजीब लुक्नत-पसंद हाकिम से वास्ता है
जो चाहता है जो सोचता है कोई न बोले
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ahmad farhaad (1986-living) pakistani kashmiri poet, journalist, activist.
1
kaha gaya hai suna gaya hai koi na bolay
zabaaN-daraazoN1 ko mashvara2 hai koi na bolay 1.long-tongued i.e., those who speak openly 2.advice, caution
It has been heard, it has been said, that no one should speak out. Those who speak openly are advised/cautioned that no one should speak.
2
har ek lab1 par savaal2 karti KhamoshiyaaN3 haiN
bas ek Dar4 hai jo bolta hai koi na bolay 1.lips, mouth 2.question 3.silence 4.fear
On every lip, questions linger in silence. It is only fear that declares that no one should speak.
3
ajeeb1 gooNgi2 hava chali hai keh shahr bhar meN
jise bhi milta huN kah3 raha hai koi na bolay 1.strange 2.mute 3.says
A strange, mute wind blows through town that whoever I meet says that no one should speak out.
4
ba-naam1-e mazhab2, ba-naam-e hurmat3, ba-naam-e hikmat4
yahi bhala hai yahi baja5 hai koi na bolay 1.in the name of 2.religion 3.sanctity, honour 4.wisdom 5.appropriate
In the name of religion, in the name of honour, in the name of wisdom, only this is well, only this is appropriate that on one shall speak out.
5
ab aise aalam1 meN baat karna hai jaise marna
to seedha-saada2 sa mashvara3 hai koi na bolay 1.condition 2.plain and straightforward 3.advice
Under these conditions, speaking out is like dying. So there is one plain and straightforward advice, no one should speak out.
6
khula hua hai kahiiN peh darvaaza guftagu1 ka
aur us ke oopar likha hua hai koi na bolay 1.conversation
Somewhere there is a door of conversation that is open and on top of the door is written, ‘no one should speak out’.
7
KhamoshiyoN1 ki zabaaN2 meN kahte chalo jo qissa3
tumheN pata4 hai mujhe pata hai koi na bolay 1.silence 2.language 3.story 4.knowledge, awareness
The story that keeps getting told in the language of silence, you know and I know that no one should speak.
8
kaTi zabaanoN se poochhte haiN voh adl-parvar1
tumhi bataao kisay kaha hai koi na bolay 1.justice nurturing, justice dispensing
Those who dispense justice ask those whose tongues have been cut off – pray tell me who has been told not to speak out.
9
ye chup1 hamaare nisaab2 ka laazimi3 sabaq4 hai
azal5 se hum ne yahi paRha hai koi na bolay 1.silence 2.used here to mean inheritence 3.inevitable 4.lesson 5.beginning of time
This silence is the inevitable lesson of our inheritance. From the beginning of time we have read (we have been told) that no one should speak out.
10
ajeeb1 luknat-pasand2 haakim3 se vaasta4 hai
jo chahta hai jo sochta hai koi na bolay 1.strange 2.one who likes hesitant speech 3.ruler 4.connection, relationship
We have to deal with a strange ruler who likes hesitant/halting speech, who wants and who thinks that on one should speak out.
ahmad farhaad (1986-living) pakistani kashmiri poet, journalist, activist.
1
kaha gaya hai suna gaya hai koi na bolay
zabaaN-daraazoN1 ko mashvara2 hai koi na bolay
1.long-tongued i.e., those who speak openly 2.advice, caution
It has been heard, it has been said, that no one should speak out. Those who speak openly are advised/cautioned that no one should speak.
2
har ek lab1 par savaal2 karti KhamoshiyaaN3 haiN
bas ek Dar4 hai jo bolta hai koi na bolay
1.lips, mouth 2.question 3.silence 4.fear
On every lip, questions linger in silence. It is only fear that declares that no one should speak.
3
ajeeb1 gooNgi2 hava chali hai keh shahr bhar meN
jise bhi milta huN kah3 raha hai koi na bolay
1.strange 2.mute 3.says
A strange, mute wind blows through town that whoever I meet says that no one should speak out.
4
ba-naam1-e mazhab2, ba-naam-e hurmat3, ba-naam-e hikmat4
yahi bhala hai yahi baja5 hai koi na bolay
1.in the name of 2.religion 3.sanctity, honour 4.wisdom 5.appropriate
In the name of religion, in the name of honour, in the name of wisdom, only this is well, only this is appropriate that on one shall speak out.
5
ab aise aalam1 meN baat karna hai jaise marna
to seedha-saada2 sa mashvara3 hai koi na bolay
1.condition 2.plain and straightforward 3.advice
Under these conditions, speaking out is like dying. So there is one plain and straightforward advice, no one should speak out.
6
khula hua hai kahiiN peh darvaaza guftagu1 ka
aur us ke oopar likha hua hai koi na bolay
1.conversation
Somewhere there is a door of conversation that is open and on top of the door is written, ‘no one should speak out’.
7
KhamoshiyoN1 ki zabaaN2 meN kahte chalo jo qissa3
tumheN pata4 hai mujhe pata hai koi na bolay
1.silence 2.language 3.story 4.knowledge, awareness
The story that keeps getting told in the language of silence, you know and I know that no one should speak.
8
kaTi zabaanoN se poochhte haiN voh adl-parvar1
tumhi bataao kisay kaha hai koi na bolay
1.justice nurturing, justice dispensing
Those who dispense justice ask those whose tongues have been cut off – pray tell me who has been told not to speak out.
9
ye chup1 hamaare nisaab2 ka laazimi3 sabaq4 hai
azal5 se hum ne yahi paRha hai koi na bolay
1.silence 2.used here to mean inheritence 3.inevitable 4.lesson 5.beginning of time
This silence is the inevitable lesson of our inheritance. From the beginning of time we have read (we have been told) that no one should speak out.
10
ajeeb1 luknat-pasand2 haakim3 se vaasta4 hai
jo chahta hai jo sochta hai koi na bolay
1.strange 2.one who likes hesitant speech 3.ruler 4.connection, relationship
We have to deal with a strange ruler who likes hesitant/halting speech, who wants and who thinks that on one should speak out.
