For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
لافانی حروف –۰۱۔۱۱۔ جوشؔ ملیح آبادی
۱
لکھ رہی ہیں، لکھ رہی ہیں، لکھ رہی ہیں اُنگلیاں
موت کی خونی حکائیت، زندگی کی داستاں
۲
جوت ہیرے کی جگائے، کوئیلے کے انگ میں
دامنِ طرزِ بیاں کو ڈوب دیتی رنگ میں
۳
روشنائی سے ہزاروں خال و خد کو جھالتی
شعلۂ رُخسار میں نوکِ قلم کو ڈھالتی
۴
سرُمئی سطروں پہ دوڑاتی شعاعِ دِل نشیں
سنگِ موسیٰ کو عطا کرتی جمالِ مرمریں
۵
جوشِ مستی میں صریرِ کِلک پر گاتی ہوئی
لفظ کو انواستی، معنی کو اُجلاتی ہوئی
۶
روئے این و آں کو تابِ کہکشاں دیتی ہوئی
بے صدا آفاق کے منھ میں زباں دیتی ہوئی
۷
زندگی کے یخ کدے میں آگ بھڑکاتی ہوئی
دِل کی پرتیں کھولتی حرفوں کو چٹکاتی ہوئی
۸
جامۂ فکر و نظر کی آستیں چنتی ہوئی
کلکِ جنباں سے تخیُّل کی رِدا بُنتی ہوئی
۹
ولولوں کو معارضِ تحریر میں لاتی ہوئی
لیلیِ احساس کی ہر پور چٹخاتی ہوئی
۱۰
کانپتی میزان پر ارض و سما کو تولتی
عقدۂ اسرارِ جولاں ناخنوں سے کھولتی
۱۱
ناچتی، گاتی، تھرکتی، شوخیاں کرتی ہوئی
سینہ کاغذ میں، دِل کی دھڑکنیں بھرتی ہوئی
लाफ़ानी हुरूफ़ – ०१-११-जोश मलीहाबादी
१
लिख रही हैं, लिख रही हैं, लिख रही हैं उंगलियां
मौत की ख़ूनी हिकायेत, ज़िंदगी की दास्तां
२
जोत हीरे की जगाये, कोएले के अंग में
दामन-ए तर्ज़-ए बयाँ को डूब देती रंग में
३
रौशनाई से हज़ारों ख़ाल ओ ख़द को झालती
शो’ला-ए रुख़सार में नोक-ए क़लम को ढ़ालती
४
सुरमा’ई सतरों पे दौढाती शो’आ-ए दिल नशीं
संग-ए मूसा को अता करती जमाल-ए मरमरीं
५
जोश-ए मस्ती में सरीर-ए किल्क पर गाती हुई
लफ़्ज़ को अनवास्ती, मा’नी को उजलाती हुई
६
रु-ए ईन ओ आं को ताब-ए कहकशां देती हुई
बे सदा आफ़ाक़ के मुंह में ज़बां देती हुई
७
ज़िंदगी के यख़-कदे में आग भढकाती हुई
दिल की पर्तें खोलती हर्फ़ों को चिटकाती हुई
८
जामा-ए फ़िक्र ओ नज़र की आस्तीं चुनती हुई
किल्क-ए जुम्बां से तख़य्युल की रिदा बुनती हुई
९
वलवलों को मारिज़-ए तहरीर में लाती हुई
लैली-ए एहसास की हर पूर चिटख़काती हुई
१०
काँपती मीज़ान पर अर्ज़ ओ समा को तोलती
उक़दा-ए अस्रार-ए जौलां नाख़ुनों से खोलती
११
नाचती, गाती, थिरकती, शूख़ियां करती हुई
सीना-ए काग़ज़ में दिल की धढकनें भरती हुई
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution. His nazm are fiery, passionate, and full of energy. His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good. He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice and orthodoxy. This long nazm, in praise of the fingers of the poet, their pen and their words, is posted in 5 parts for easy reading/listening. All the 5 parts are linked to ‘suKhanvar o suKhavari’ in the Theme Index page.
1
likh rahi haiN, likh rahi haiN, likh rahi haiN ungliaaN
maut ki Khuuni hikaayet1, zindagi ki daastaaN2 1.bloody story 2.story
They write, they write, my fingers keep writing, the blood soaked story of death, the glory of life.
2
jot3 heere ki jagaaye, ko’ele ke aNg4 meN
daaman-e tarz-e bayaaN5 ko Doob deti raNg meN 3.jyothi-brilliance 4.body/heart 5.hem of stylish (refined) speech
They (words) make a lump of coal sparkle like a diamond – this could be that the meaning sparkles like a diamond while the black writing is like a heap of coal. Alternatively, the writing of other poets is like a heap of coal, and Josh’s stands out like a diamond in that heap. They paint the apron of speech in rich colours.
3
raushnaaii6 se hazaaroN Khaal-o-Khad7 ko jhaalti8
sho’la-e-ruKhsaar9 meN nok10-e-qalam11 ko Dhaalti12 6.red ink 7.features, appearanc, beauty 8.polish, clean 9.flame (redness) of cheeks 10.point 11.pen 12.mould, cast
They polish thousands of beautiful faces in many colours. The point of the pen writes getting its ink dipped in the beauty of the beloved.
4
surma’ii13 satroN14 pe dauRati15 shu’aa-e dil-nashiN16
saNg-e muusa17 ko ata18 karti jamaal-e marmariiN19 13.grey 14.lines (of writing) 15.to make something run 16.heart pleasing rays of light 17.black stone 18.grant 19.beauty of (white) marble
Giving pleasant radiance to drab grey lines, bestowing the beauty of marble on rough hewn rock. There is an interesting double meaning possible. “saNg e muusa” is black marble while “saNg e marmar” is white marble. A straightforward interpretation is words grant black marble the lustre of white marble. If “saNg e musa” is interpreted as the stone tablets that Moses brought down from the mountain – is there an implication that god is not a very fine stone mason. The stone tablets that Moses received were “rough hewn” and needed polish. Iqbal also says, “man aanam ke az saNg aaiina saazam” … It is I who polished a mirror out of rough stone … doing one up on god!
5
josh-e masti1 meN sariir-e kilk2 par gaati hui
lafz3 ko anvaasti4, ma’ani5 ko ujlaati6 hui 1.enthusiasm of joy 2.music (scraping on paper) of pen 3.words 4.give a place to live 5.meaning 6.making clean/clear
Dancing with joy to the music of pen and paper. Ghalib calls the scraping of pen on paper equivalent to the flapping of the wings of an angel (who brings divine inspiration for Ghalib to compose). Giving a home to words, making meaning clear.
6
ruu7 e een-o-aaN8 ko taab-e kahkashaN9 deti hui
be-sadaa10 aafaaq11 ke muNh meN zabaaN deti hui 7.face 8.this and that, ordinary 9.brilliance of constellations 10.voiceless 11.horizons, skies
Bestowing brilliance/beauty to everyday/ordinary thoughts. Giving voice to the voiceless world.
7
zindagi ke yaKh-kade12 meN aag bhaRkaati13 hui
dil ki parteN14 kholti harfoN15 ko chiTkaati16 hui 12.ice box 13.setting fire 14.layers 15.words 16.making blossom
Rousing passion (setting fire to) in cold/icy souls. Removing layers (mysteries) of hidden desire, causing words to blossom.
8
jaama’17-e fikr-o-nazar18 ki aastiiN19 chunti20 hui
kilk-e jumbaaN21 se tahayyal22 ki rida23 bunti24 hui 17.robe 18.reason and vision 19.sleeve 20.make wrinkles, stylish refinement 21.moving pen 22.drawing attention to 23.shawl 24.weave
Refining the robe of reason and vision. Weaving a robe for Attention (personified) with the moving pen. The act of weaving is akin to the act of writing.
9
valvaloN1 ko ma’ariz-e tahriir2 meN laati hui
laili-e ehsaas3 ki har puur4 chiTKhaati5 hui 1.passions 2.field of writing 3.Laila of emotions 4.knuckles 5.cracking (cracking knuckles–amazement)
Bringing passion to the field/arena of words in a style that makes the Laila of emotions dumbfounded and amazed.
10
kaaNpti miizan6 par arz-o-samaa7 ko tolti8
uqda9-e asraar-e jaulaaN10 naaKhunoN se kholti 6.trembling at the balance point of the fulcrum, delicate balancing 7.earth and sky 8.weigh, take the measure of 9.knot 10.fettered (tied) mysteries
Taking the measure of the earth and sky on a fine balance. Undoing the knots of tangled secrets.
11
naachti, gaati, thirakti, shooKhiyaN11 karti hui
seena-e kaaGhaz meN dil ki dhaRkaneN bharti hui 11.playfulness
Dancing, singing, swaying, playing tricks. Giving lifeless paper the throbbing/feelings/emotions of a beating heart.
josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution. His nazm are fiery, passionate, and full of energy. His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good. He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice and orthodoxy. This long nazm, in praise of the fingers of the poet, their pen and their words, is posted in 5 parts for easy reading/listening. All the 5 parts are linked to ‘suKhanvar o suKhavari’ in the Theme Index page.
1
likh rahi haiN, likh rahi haiN, likh rahi haiN ungliaaN
maut ki Khuuni hikaayet1, zindagi ki daastaaN2
1.bloody story 2.story
They write, they write, my fingers keep writing, the blood soaked story of death, the glory of life.
2
jot3 heere ki jagaaye, ko’ele ke aNg4 meN
daaman-e tarz-e bayaaN5 ko Doob deti raNg meN
3.jyothi-brilliance 4.body/heart 5.hem of stylish (refined) speech
They (words) make a lump of coal sparkle like a diamond – this could be that the meaning sparkles like a diamond while the black writing is like a heap of coal. Alternatively, the writing of other poets is like a heap of coal, and Josh’s stands out like a diamond in that heap. They paint the apron of speech in rich colours.
3
raushnaaii6 se hazaaroN Khaal-o-Khad7 ko jhaalti8
sho’la-e-ruKhsaar9 meN nok10-e-qalam11 ko Dhaalti12
6.red ink 7.features, appearanc, beauty 8.polish, clean 9.flame (redness) of cheeks 10.point 11.pen 12.mould, cast
They polish thousands of beautiful faces in many colours. The point of the pen writes getting its ink dipped in the beauty of the beloved.
4
surma’ii13 satroN14 pe dauRati15 shu’aa-e dil-nashiN16
saNg-e muusa17 ko ata18 karti jamaal-e marmariiN19
13.grey 14.lines (of writing) 15.to make something run 16.heart pleasing rays of light 17.black stone 18.grant 19.beauty of (white) marble
Giving pleasant radiance to drab grey lines, bestowing the beauty of marble on rough hewn rock. There is an interesting double meaning possible. “saNg e muusa” is black marble while “saNg e marmar” is white marble. A straightforward interpretation is words grant black marble the lustre of white marble. If “saNg e musa” is interpreted as the stone tablets that Moses brought down from the mountain – is there an implication that god is not a very fine stone mason. The stone tablets that Moses received were “rough hewn” and needed polish. Iqbal also says, “man aanam ke az saNg aaiina saazam” … It is I who polished a mirror out of rough stone … doing one up on god!
5
josh-e masti1 meN sariir-e kilk2 par gaati hui
lafz3 ko anvaasti4, ma’ani5 ko ujlaati6 hui
1.enthusiasm of joy 2.music (scraping on paper) of pen 3.words 4.give a place to live 5.meaning 6.making clean/clear
Dancing with joy to the music of pen and paper. Ghalib calls the scraping of pen on paper equivalent to the flapping of the wings of an angel (who brings divine inspiration for Ghalib to compose). Giving a home to words, making meaning clear.
6
ruu7 e een-o-aaN8 ko taab-e kahkashaN9 deti hui
be-sadaa10 aafaaq11 ke muNh meN zabaaN deti hui
7.face 8.this and that, ordinary 9.brilliance of constellations 10.voiceless 11.horizons, skies
Bestowing brilliance/beauty to everyday/ordinary thoughts. Giving voice to the voiceless world.
7
zindagi ke yaKh-kade12 meN aag bhaRkaati13 hui
dil ki parteN14 kholti harfoN15 ko chiTkaati16 hui
12.ice box 13.setting fire 14.layers 15.words 16.making blossom
Rousing passion (setting fire to) in cold/icy souls. Removing layers (mysteries) of hidden desire, causing words to blossom.
8
jaama’17-e fikr-o-nazar18 ki aastiiN19 chunti20 hui
kilk-e jumbaaN21 se tahayyal22 ki rida23 bunti24 hui
17.robe 18.reason and vision 19.sleeve 20.make wrinkles, stylish refinement 21.moving pen 22.drawing attention to 23.shawl 24.weave
Refining the robe of reason and vision. Weaving a robe for Attention (personified) with the moving pen. The act of weaving is akin to the act of writing.
9
valvaloN1 ko ma’ariz-e tahriir2 meN laati hui
laili-e ehsaas3 ki har puur4 chiTKhaati5 hui
1.passions 2.field of writing 3.Laila of emotions 4.knuckles 5.cracking (cracking knuckles–amazement)
Bringing passion to the field/arena of words in a style that makes the Laila of emotions dumbfounded and amazed.
10
kaaNpti miizan6 par arz-o-samaa7 ko tolti8
uqda9-e asraar-e jaulaaN10 naaKhunoN se kholti
6.trembling at the balance point of the fulcrum, delicate balancing 7.earth and sky 8.weigh, take the measure of 9.knot 10.fettered (tied) mysteries
Taking the measure of the earth and sky on a fine balance. Undoing the knots of tangled secrets.
11
naachti, gaati, thirakti, shooKhiyaN11 karti hui
seena-e kaaGhaz meN dil ki dhaRkaneN bharti hui
11.playfulness
Dancing, singing, swaying, playing tricks. Giving lifeless paper the throbbing/feelings/emotions of a beating heart.
