For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
لہو نظر دے رہی ہے حیات ۔ ساحرؔ لدھیانوی
۱
مرے جہاں میں سمن زار ڈھونڈنے والے
یہاں بہار نہیں آتشیں بگولے ہیں
دھنک کے رنگ نہیں سرمئی فضاؤں میں
اُفق سے تا بہ اُفق پھانسیوں کے جھولے ہیں
۲
پھر ایک منزلِ خونبار کی طرف ہیں رواں
وہ رہنما جو کئی بار راہ بھولے ہیں
بلند دعویٔ جمہوریت کے پردے میں
فروغِ مجلس و زنداں ہیں تازیانے ہیں
۳
بنامِ امن ہیں جنگ و جدل کے منصوبے
بہ شورِ عدل تفاوُت کے کارخانے ہیں
دلوں پہ خوف کے پہرے لبوں پہ قفلِ سکوت
سروں پہ گرم سلاخوں کے شامیانے ہیں
۴
مگر ہٹے ہیں کہیں جبر اور تشدّد سے
وہ فلسفے کہ جِلا دے گئے دماغوں کو
کوئی سپاہِ ستم پیشہ چور کر نہ سکی
بشر کی جاگی ہوئی روح کے ایاغوں کو
قدم قدم پہ لہو نظر دے رہی ہے حیات
سپاہیوں سے اُلجھتے ہوئے چراغوں کو
۵
رواں ہے قافلۂ اِرتقائے انسانی
نظام آتش و آہن کا دل ہلائے ہوئے
بغاوتوں کے دُہَل بج رہے ہیں چار طرف
نکل رہے ہیں جواں مشعلیں جلائے ہوئے
تمام ارضِ جہاں کھولتا سمندر ہے
تمام کوہ و بیاباں ہیں تِلملائے ہوئے
۶
مری صدا کو دبانا تو خیر ممکن ہے
مگر حیات کی للکار کون روکے گا
فصیل آتش و آہن بہت بلند سہی
بدلتے وقت کی رفتار کون روکے گا
نئے خیال کی پرواز روکنے والو
نئے عوام کی تلوار کون روکے گا
۷
پناہ لیتا ہے جن مجلسوں میں تیرہ نظام
وہیں سے صبح کے لشکر نکلنے والے ہیں
اُبھر رہے ہیں فضاؤں میں احمریں پرچم
کنارے مشرق و مغرب کے ملنے والے ہیں
ہزار برق گرے لاکھ آندھیاں اٹھیں
وہ پھول کِھل کے رہیں گے جو کِھلنے والے ہیں
लहू दे रही है हयात – साहर लुधियानवी
१
मेरे जहाँ में समन-ज़ार ढूँडने वाले
यहाँ बहार नहीं आतिशीं बगूले हैं
धनक के रंग नहीं सुर्मई फ़ज़ाओं में
उफ़ुक़ से ता-बा-उफ़ुक़ फाँसियों के झूले हैं
२
फिर एक मंज़िल-ए ख़ूँ-बार की तरफ़ हैं रवाँ
वो रहनुमा जो कई बार राह भूले हैं
बुलंद दा’वा-ए जम्हूरियत के पर्दे में
फ़रोग़-ए मज्लिस-ओ-ज़िन्दाँ हैं ताज़ियाने हैं
३
ब-नाम-ए अम्न हैं जंग-ओ-जदल के मंसूबे
ब-शोर-ए अद्ल तफ़ावुत के कार-ख़ाने हैं
दिलों पे ख़ौफ़ के पहरे लबों पे क़ुफ़्ल-ए सुकूत
सुरों पे गर्म सलाख़ों के शामियाने हैं
४
मगर हटे हैं कहीं जब्र और तशद्दुद से
वो फ़ल्सफ़े के जिला दे गए दिमाग़ों को
कोई सिपाह-ए सितम पेशा चूर कर न सकी
बशर की जागी हुई रूह के अयाग़ों को
क़दम क़दम पे लहू नज़र दे रही है हयात
सिपाहियों से उलझते हुए चराग़ों को
५
रवाँ है क़ाफ़ला-ए इर्तेक़ा-ए इंसानी
निज़ाम-ए आतिश-ओ-आहन का दिल हिलाए हुए
बग़ावतों के दुहल बज रहे हैं चार तरफ़
निकल रहे हैं जवाँ मश’अलें जलाए हुए
तमाम अर्ज़-ए जहाँ खौलता समुंदर है
तमाम कोह-ओ-बयाबाँ हैं तिल्मिलाए हुए
६
मेरी सदा को दबाना तो ख़ैर मुम्किन है
मगर हयात की लल्कार कौन रोकेगा
फ़सील-ए आतिश-ओ-आहन बहुत बुलंद सही
बदलते वक़्त की रफ़्तार कौन रोकेगा
नए ख़याल की पर्वाज़ रोकने वालो
नए अवाम की तल्वार कौन रोकेगा
७
पनाह लेता है जिन मज्लिसों में तीरा-निज़ाम
वहीं से सुब्ह के लश्कर निकलने वाले हैं
उभर रहे हैं फ़ज़ाओं में अहमरीं परचम
किनारे मश्रिक-ओ-मग़्रिब के मिलने वाले हैं
हज़ार बर्क़ गिरे लाख आँधियाँ उट्ठें
वो फूल खिल के रहेंगे जो खिलने वाले हैं
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. Here with naïve optimism, he pronounces the arrival of a new social order.
1
mere jahaaN1 meN saman-zaar2 DhooNDne vaale
yahaaN bahaar3 nahiN aatishiN4 bagoole5 haiN
dhanak6 ke raNg nahiN surmaii7 fazaaoN8 meN
ufaq9 se taa-ba10 ufaq phaaNsiyoN ke jhoole haiN 1.world (of poetry) 2.jasmine garden 3.spring, flowers 4.fiery 5.whirlwind 6.rainbow 7.grey, dark clouds 8.air, atmosphere 9.horizon 10.until, as far as
This is probably addressed to his readers/audience. If so, his world is the world of poetry and if they are looking for flowery, romantic verse (jasmine garden), you will not find it here. There are no flowers here, only fiery windstorms. In these stormy clouds, there are no colours of the rainbow. From horizon to horizon there are only swings of nooses – this probably is a reversal of the arch of the rainbow, signifying sorrow and anger.
2
phir ek manzil1-e KhooNbaar2 ki taraf haiN ravaaN3
vo rahnumaa4 jo kaii baar raah5 bhoole haiN
buland6 daa’va7-e jamhooriyat ke parde meN
faroGh-e-majlis8 o zindaaN9 haiN taaziyaane10 haiN 1.destination, goal 2.blood raining 3.flowing, going 4.guide, leader 5.path 6.tall, loud 7.claim 8.focus on/shining a light on parliament 9.prison 10.whips
Once again leaders who have lost the way (to peace) before, are headed towards a bloody destination. Behind loud claims of democracy, shining a light on parliament as a show, they hide prison cells and whips/torture.
3
ba-naam1-e amn2 haiN jaNg-o-jadal3 ke mansoobe4
ba-shor5-e adl6 tafaavut7 ke kaar-Khaane haiN
diloN pe Khauf8 ke pahre laboN9 pe qufl10-e sukoot11
saroN pe garm salaaKhoN12 ke shaamiyaane13 haiN 1.in the name of 2.peace 3.war and conflict 4.plans 5.with loud 6.justice 7.difference, suppression 8.fear 9.lips 10.locks 11.silence 12.bars (prison) 13.tent, shelter
In the name of peace, they make plans of war and conflict. Loudly proclaiming justice, they run workshops of suppression. With fear as a sentinel for hearts and locks on lips for silence, they place hot prison bars over heads for shelter.
4
magar haTe haiN kahiN jabr1 aur tashaddud2 se
vo falsafe keh jilaa3 de gaye dimaaGhoN ko
koi sipaah4-e sitam-pesha5 chuur kar na saki
bashar6 ki jaagi hui ruuh7 ke ayaaGhoN8 ko
qadam-qadam9 pe lahu10 nazr11 de rahi hai hayaat12
sipaahiyoN se ulajhte hue charaaGhoN ko 1.oppression 2.force 3.light, enlightenment, awareness 4.army 5.professional cruelty 6.human 7.spirit 8.cups 9.every step 10.blood 11.offering 12.life
But has the philosophy (socialism) that awakened human minds ever been suppressed by force and oppression. Has any professionally cruel army ever been able to crush the awakened souls of humanity. At every step, life is offering blood (in sacrifice) resisting armed force. Here charaaGh probably refers to youth uprising (largely imagined).
5
ravaaN1 hai qaafila2-e irteqaa3-e insaani
nizaam4-e aatish-o-aahan5 kaa dil hilaa’e hue
baGhaavatoN6 ke duhal7 baj rahe haiN chaar taraf
nikal rahe haiN javaaN mish’aleN8 jalaa’e hue
tamaam arz9-e jahaaN khaulta10 samandar hai
tamaam koh-o-bayaabaaN11 haiN tilmilaa’e12 hue 1.flowing, marching 2.caravan 3.progress 4.regime 5.fire and steel 6.rebellion 7.drum 8.torch 9.land 10.boiling 11.mountains and wilderness 12.resltless, impatient
The caravan of human progress marches forward, instilling fear in the heart of the regime of steel and fire. The drums of rebellion sound all around. Youth is coming out with torches lit. The whole land is like a boiling ocean. Mountains and the wilderness are restless and impatient.
6
meri sadaa1 ko dabaanaa to Khair2 mumkin3 hai
magar hayaat4 ki lalkaar5 kaun rokegaa
fasiil6-e aatish-o-aahan7 bahut buland8 sahi
badalte vaqt ki raftaar9 kaun rokegaa
naye Khayaal ki parvaaz10 rokne vaalo
naye avaam11 ki talvaar kaun rokegaa 1.voice 2.after all 3.possible 4.life 5.challenge 6.boundary, wall 7.fire and steel 8.tall 9.speed, flow 10.flight 11.public
After all, it is possible to suppress my voice, but who can stop the challenge of life. The wall of fire and steel may be tall, but who can stop the flow of changing times. You, who try to stop the flight of new thinking, who can stop the sword of the newly awakened public.
7
panaah1 letaa hai jin majlisoN2 meN tiira-nizaam3
vahiN se sub’h ke lashkar4 nikalne vaale haiN
ubhar5 rahe haiN fazaaoN6 meN ahmariN7 parcham
kinaare8 mashriq-o-maGhrib9 ke milne vaale haiN
hazaar barq10 gire laakh aaNdhiyaaN uTTheN
vo phuul khil ke raheNge jo khilne vaale haiN 1.shelter 2.parliament, societies, parties 3.dark/unjust regime 4.armies 5.emerge, rise 6.atmosphere 7.red 8.corners, edges, boundaries 9.East and West 10.lightning
From the very societies in which your unjust regime seeks shelter will come armies of dawn (enlightenment). Red banners emerge in the air. The boundaries of East and West will merge i.e. socialism will spread all over. However much lightning may strike, however many storms may rise, the flowers that are to bloom will certainly bloom.
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. Here with naïve optimism, he pronounces the arrival of a new social order.
1
mere jahaaN1 meN saman-zaar2 DhooNDne vaale
yahaaN bahaar3 nahiN aatishiN4 bagoole5 haiN
dhanak6 ke raNg nahiN surmaii7 fazaaoN8 meN
ufaq9 se taa-ba10 ufaq phaaNsiyoN ke jhoole haiN
1.world (of poetry) 2.jasmine garden 3.spring, flowers 4.fiery 5.whirlwind 6.rainbow 7.grey, dark clouds 8.air, atmosphere 9.horizon 10.until, as far as
This is probably addressed to his readers/audience. If so, his world is the world of poetry and if they are looking for flowery, romantic verse (jasmine garden), you will not find it here. There are no flowers here, only fiery windstorms. In these stormy clouds, there are no colours of the rainbow. From horizon to horizon there are only swings of nooses – this probably is a reversal of the arch of the rainbow, signifying sorrow and anger.
2
phir ek manzil1-e KhooNbaar2 ki taraf haiN ravaaN3
vo rahnumaa4 jo kaii baar raah5 bhoole haiN
buland6 daa’va7-e jamhooriyat ke parde meN
faroGh-e-majlis8 o zindaaN9 haiN taaziyaane10 haiN
1.destination, goal 2.blood raining 3.flowing, going 4.guide, leader 5.path 6.tall, loud 7.claim 8.focus on/shining a light on parliament 9.prison 10.whips
Once again leaders who have lost the way (to peace) before, are headed towards a bloody destination. Behind loud claims of democracy, shining a light on parliament as a show, they hide prison cells and whips/torture.
3
ba-naam1-e amn2 haiN jaNg-o-jadal3 ke mansoobe4
ba-shor5-e adl6 tafaavut7 ke kaar-Khaane haiN
diloN pe Khauf8 ke pahre laboN9 pe qufl10-e sukoot11
saroN pe garm salaaKhoN12 ke shaamiyaane13 haiN
1.in the name of 2.peace 3.war and conflict 4.plans 5.with loud 6.justice 7.difference, suppression 8.fear 9.lips 10.locks 11.silence 12.bars (prison) 13.tent, shelter
In the name of peace, they make plans of war and conflict. Loudly proclaiming justice, they run workshops of suppression. With fear as a sentinel for hearts and locks on lips for silence, they place hot prison bars over heads for shelter.
4
magar haTe haiN kahiN jabr1 aur tashaddud2 se
vo falsafe keh jilaa3 de gaye dimaaGhoN ko
koi sipaah4-e sitam-pesha5 chuur kar na saki
bashar6 ki jaagi hui ruuh7 ke ayaaGhoN8 ko
qadam-qadam9 pe lahu10 nazr11 de rahi hai hayaat12
sipaahiyoN se ulajhte hue charaaGhoN ko
1.oppression 2.force 3.light, enlightenment, awareness 4.army 5.professional cruelty 6.human 7.spirit 8.cups 9.every step 10.blood 11.offering 12.life
But has the philosophy (socialism) that awakened human minds ever been suppressed by force and oppression. Has any professionally cruel army ever been able to crush the awakened souls of humanity. At every step, life is offering blood (in sacrifice) resisting armed force. Here charaaGh probably refers to youth uprising (largely imagined).
5
ravaaN1 hai qaafila2-e irteqaa3-e insaani
nizaam4-e aatish-o-aahan5 kaa dil hilaa’e hue
baGhaavatoN6 ke duhal7 baj rahe haiN chaar taraf
nikal rahe haiN javaaN mish’aleN8 jalaa’e hue
tamaam arz9-e jahaaN khaulta10 samandar hai
tamaam koh-o-bayaabaaN11 haiN tilmilaa’e12 hue
1.flowing, marching 2.caravan 3.progress 4.regime 5.fire and steel 6.rebellion 7.drum 8.torch 9.land 10.boiling 11.mountains and wilderness 12.resltless, impatient
The caravan of human progress marches forward, instilling fear in the heart of the regime of steel and fire. The drums of rebellion sound all around. Youth is coming out with torches lit. The whole land is like a boiling ocean. Mountains and the wilderness are restless and impatient.
6
meri sadaa1 ko dabaanaa to Khair2 mumkin3 hai
magar hayaat4 ki lalkaar5 kaun rokegaa
fasiil6-e aatish-o-aahan7 bahut buland8 sahi
badalte vaqt ki raftaar9 kaun rokegaa
naye Khayaal ki parvaaz10 rokne vaalo
naye avaam11 ki talvaar kaun rokegaa
1.voice 2.after all 3.possible 4.life 5.challenge 6.boundary, wall 7.fire and steel 8.tall 9.speed, flow 10.flight 11.public
After all, it is possible to suppress my voice, but who can stop the challenge of life. The wall of fire and steel may be tall, but who can stop the flow of changing times. You, who try to stop the flight of new thinking, who can stop the sword of the newly awakened public.
7
panaah1 letaa hai jin majlisoN2 meN tiira-nizaam3
vahiN se sub’h ke lashkar4 nikalne vaale haiN
ubhar5 rahe haiN fazaaoN6 meN ahmariN7 parcham
kinaare8 mashriq-o-maGhrib9 ke milne vaale haiN
hazaar barq10 gire laakh aaNdhiyaaN uTTheN
vo phuul khil ke raheNge jo khilne vaale haiN
1.shelter 2.parliament, societies, parties 3.dark/unjust regime 4.armies 5.emerge, rise 6.atmosphere 7.red 8.corners, edges, boundaries 9.East and West 10.lightning
From the very societies in which your unjust regime seeks shelter will come armies of dawn (enlightenment). Red banners emerge in the air. The boundaries of East and West will merge i.e. socialism will spread all over. However much lightning may strike, however many storms may rise, the flowers that are to bloom will certainly bloom.
