For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
مانگتا ہے زمانا ۔ اننت فانیؔ
۱
ترے کُن کا تو پینترا ہے پرانا
نئے معجزے مانگتا ہے زمانا
۲
چھپا ہے جو ہم سے پتہ ہے نہ اُس کو
محبت میں ہے جرم کچھ بھی چھپانا
۳
بھرے ترکشوں کا بھرم بھی بہت ہے
نہیں لازمی تیر سارے چلانا
۴
سفر ہے پڑاؤ آتے جاتے رہیں گے
کسی اِک ٹھکانے سے کیا دل لگانا
۵
عجوبہ سا کچھ انت میں ہوگا فانیؔ
وگرنہ تو کیا ہی تھا سارا فسانہ
माँगता है ज़माना – अनन्त फ़ानी
१
तेरे कुन का तो पैंतरा है पुराना
नए मो’जेज़े माँगता है ज़माना
२
छुपा है जो हम से पता है न उस को
मोहब्बत में है जुर्म कुछ भी छुपाना
३
भरे तरकशों का भरम भी बहुत है
नहीं लाज़मी तीर सारे चलाना
४
सफ़र है पढा’ऊ आते जाते रहेंगे
किसी एक ठिकाने से क्या दिल लगाना
५
अजूबा सा कुछ अंत में होगा फ़ानी
वगरना तो क्या ही था सारा फ़साना
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ananth iyer faani (1989-living) dehli, beNgaluru. BSc, Applied Physics followed by MBA. He manages partnerships in a fintech company and is also a writer and precussionist in karnaaTak music. I don’t know how he got interested in urdu but I find the combination of youth, non-muslim background and urdu fascinating.
1
tere kun1 ka to paiNtra2 hai puraana
na’ye mo’jize3 maaNgta hai zamaana4 1.to be, creation 2.tactic, trick 3.miracles 4.world
This draws on the conventional, orthodox story of creation – god said ‘be’ and the universe was created. Says the poet, this story/trickery is now old. The world demands new miracles … new demonstrations/logic.
2
chhupa1 hai jo ham se pataa2 hai na us ko
mohabbat meN hai jurm3 kuchh bhi chhupaana4 1.hidden 2.awareness, knowledge 3.crime, sin 4.hiding
The relationship between god and human is said to be one of love and god is hidden from our view. Is he/she not aware that it is a sin to hide anything in love.
3
bhare tarkashoN1 ka bharam2 bhi bahut hai
nahiN laazimi3 tiir saare chalaana 1.quiver, container for arrows 2.deception 3.necessary
The deception of a quiver full of arrows is a great trick. It is not necessary that all the arrows be used. Perhaps he means that the threat of using arrows (power of some sort) sometimes works without actually having to carry out the threat. Perhaps it is the beloved who has a quiver full of arrows, but does not have to use them to win over the lover’s heart.
4
safar1 hai paRaa’u2 aate jaate raheNge
kisi ek Thikaane3 se kya dil lagaana 1.journey 2.rest-stops 3.place
Life is a journey. There will be many rest-stops along the way. What is the point of getting attached to any one place. Here ‘Thikhaana’ can imply a position or a point of view. The she’r reflects the dynamism of life, the evolution of ideas and learning. There is no point in being stuck in one place.
5
ajuuba1 sa kuchh ant2 meN hoga faani3
vagarna4 to kya hi tha saara fasaana5 1.miracle, unusual happening 2.end 3.pen-name of the poet 4.otherwise 5.fable
This could be about the story of creation which was the subject of the first she’r or about any other fable perpetrated by orthodoxy. O faani, we must expect/experience some miracle towards the end. Otherwise, what is the use of this fable.
ananth iyer faani (1989-living) dehli, beNgaluru. BSc, Applied Physics followed by MBA. He manages partnerships in a fintech company and is also a writer and precussionist in karnaaTak music. I don’t know how he got interested in urdu but I find the combination of youth, non-muslim background and urdu fascinating.
1
tere kun1 ka to paiNtra2 hai puraana
na’ye mo’jize3 maaNgta hai zamaana4
1.to be, creation 2.tactic, trick 3.miracles 4.world
This draws on the conventional, orthodox story of creation – god said ‘be’ and the universe was created. Says the poet, this story/trickery is now old. The world demands new miracles … new demonstrations/logic.
2
chhupa1 hai jo ham se pataa2 hai na us ko
mohabbat meN hai jurm3 kuchh bhi chhupaana4
1.hidden 2.awareness, knowledge 3.crime, sin 4.hiding
The relationship between god and human is said to be one of love and god is hidden from our view. Is he/she not aware that it is a sin to hide anything in love.
3
bhare tarkashoN1 ka bharam2 bhi bahut hai
nahiN laazimi3 tiir saare chalaana
1.quiver, container for arrows 2.deception 3.necessary
The deception of a quiver full of arrows is a great trick. It is not necessary that all the arrows be used. Perhaps he means that the threat of using arrows (power of some sort) sometimes works without actually having to carry out the threat. Perhaps it is the beloved who has a quiver full of arrows, but does not have to use them to win over the lover’s heart.
4
safar1 hai paRaa’u2 aate jaate raheNge
kisi ek Thikaane3 se kya dil lagaana
1.journey 2.rest-stops 3.place
Life is a journey. There will be many rest-stops along the way. What is the point of getting attached to any one place. Here ‘Thikhaana’ can imply a position or a point of view. The she’r reflects the dynamism of life, the evolution of ideas and learning. There is no point in being stuck in one place.
5
ajuuba1 sa kuchh ant2 meN hoga faani3
vagarna4 to kya hi tha saara fasaana5
1.miracle, unusual happening 2.end 3.pen-name of the poet 4.otherwise 5.fable
This could be about the story of creation which was the subject of the first she’r or about any other fable perpetrated by orthodoxy. O faani, we must expect/experience some miracle towards the end. Otherwise, what is the use of this fable.
