lagta hai ke tum ho-jaaN nisaar aKhtar

For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.

لگتا ہے کہ تم ہو ۔ جاں نثار اخترؔ

۱

آہٹ سی کوئی آئے تو لگتا ہے کہ تم ہو

سایہ کوئی لہرائے تو لگتا ہے کہ تم ہو

۲

جب شاخ کوئی ہاتھ لگاتے ہی چمن میں

شرمائے لچک جائے تو لگتا ہے کہ تم ہو

۳

صندل سے مہکتی ہوئی پر کیف ہوا کا

جھونکا کوئی ٹکرائے تو لگتا ہے کہ تم ہو

۴

اوڑھے ہوئے تاروں کی چمکتی ہوئی چادر

ندی کوئی بل کھائے تو لگتا ہے کہ تم ہو

۵

جب رات گئے کوئی کرن میرے برابر

چپ چاپ سی سو جائے تو لگتا ہے کہ تم ہو

 

लगता है के तुम हो – जां निसार अख़्तर

आहट सी कोई आए तो लगता है के तुम हो

साया कोई लहराए तो लगता है के तुम हो

जब शाख़ कोई हाथ लगाते ही चमन में

शरमाए लचक जाए तो लगता है के तुम हो

संदल से महकती हुई पुर-कैफ़ हवा का

झोंका कोई टकराए तो लगता है के तुम हो

ओढ़े हुए तारों की चमकती हुई चादर

नद्दी कोई बल खाए तो लगता है के तुम हो

जब रात गए कोई किरन मेरे बराबर

चुप-चाप सी सो जाए तो लगता है के तुम हो

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. syed jaaN nisaar husain razvi, aKhtar (1914-1976) romantic, progressive and revolutionary. Worked in academics and in cinema. Both his father (muztar Khairabadi) and his son (javed aKhtar) are noted poets. This Ghazal is a part of a collection of five with the refrain ‘lagta hai ke tum ho’. Enter this in the search box to see all five – jaaN nisaar aKhtar, ahmad faraz, sarfaraz Khalid, ahmad salman and masooda hayaat.
1
aahaT si koi aaye to lagta hai ke tum ho
saaya koi lahraaye to lagta hai ke tum ho  
The poet/lover is waiting/longing for the beloved’s arrival. Any gentle sound, a footfall or a passing shadow and he thinks it is her. Compare with maKhdoom mohiuddin’s ‘intezaar’ …
pattiyaaN khaRki to samjha ke aap aa hi gaye
sijda-e masroor ke masjood ko hum paa hi gaye

2
jab shaaKh koi haath lagate hi chaman meN
sharmaye lachak jaaye to lagta hai ke tum ho  
He recalls how she would be bashful at the slightest touch, like the coiling of a gentle bough in the garden when it is touched.

3
sandal se mahakti1 hui pur-kaif2 hava ka
jhoNka koi Takraaye to lagta hai ke tum ho   
1.fragrant 2.pleasant
A gentle gust of breeze, loaded with the fragrance of sandal, blowing at him, reminds him of her.

4
oRhe hue taaroN ki chamakti hui chaadar
naddi koi bal khaaye to lagta hai ke tum ho    
Imagine a winding river, gentle flow, still surface, bending/curving along its path and at night light reflected on its surface like twinkling stars. That reminds him of her.

5
jab raat gaye koi kiran mere baraabar
chup-chaap si so jaaye to lagta hai ki tum ho   
When late at night, a ray of light, silently lays down beside him, he remembers her.

syed jaaN nisaar husain razvi, aKhtar (1914-1976) romantic, progressive and revolutionary.  Worked in academics and in cinema.  Both his father (muztar Khairabadi) and his son (javed aKhtar) are noted poets.  This Ghazal is a part of a collection of five with the refrain ‘lagta hai ke tum ho’.  Enter this in the search box to see all five – jaaN nisaar aKhtar, ahmad faraz, sarfaraz Khalid, ahmad salman and masooda hayaat.
1
aahaT si koi aaye to lagta hai ke tum ho
saaya koi lahraaye to lagta hai ke tum ho

The poet/lover is waiting/longing for the beloved’s arrival.  Any gentle sound, a footfall or a passing shadow and he thinks it is her.  Compare with maKhdoom mohiuddin’s ‘intezaar’ …
pattiyaaN khaRki to samjha ke aap aa hi gaye
sijda-e masroor ke masjood ko hum paa hi gaye
2
jab shaaKh koi haath lagate hi chaman meN
sharmaye lachak jaaye to lagta hai ke tum ho

He recalls how she would be bashful at the slightest touch, like the coiling of a gentle bough in the garden when it is touched.
3
sandal se mahakti1 hui pur-kaif2 hava ka
jhoNka koi Takraaye to lagta hai ke tum ho

1.fragrant 2.pleasant

A gentle gust of breeze, loaded with the fragrance of sandal, blowing at him, reminds him of her.
4
oRhe hue taaroN ki chamakti hui chaadar
naddi koi bal khaaye to lagta hai ke tum ho

Imagine a winding river, gentle flow, still surface, bending/curving along its path and at night light reflected on its surface like twinkling stars.  That reminds him of her.
5
jab raat gaye koi kiran mere baraabar
chup-chaap si so jaaye to lagta hai ki tum ho

When late at night, a ray of light, silently lays down beside him, he remembers her.

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