Recitation
محوروں کی تلاش – وحید اَخْتَر
بہت دِنوں سے نہیں دِل میں دردِ بے وطنی
وفاتِ یادِ وطن کو زمانے بیت گئے
سفر کی بھول بھلیّاں میں بچھڑا گھر کا خیال
پرائے دیسوں میں ساتھی بسے ، رفیق چھٹے
وہ جن سے گھر تھا گھر، اک عہد گزرا خاک ہوئے
جو زندگی تھے غمِ زندگی سے پاک ہوئے
اک عمر گزری رفو دِل كے سارے چاک ہوئے
زمیں كے رشتے سب آلائشوں سے پاک ہوئے
زمیں کا ایک ہی محور ہمارے سو محور
کسی کا نام وطن ہے، کسی کا ماضی ہے
کسی کو کنبہ، قبیلہ، کسی کو گھرکہیے
ہزاروں رشتے ہیں ہراک کو معتبر کہیے
زمین گھومتی ہے اپنے چاک پر یکساں
ہم اپنے محوروں کی گردشوں کے قیدی ہیں
جو محوروں کی کشاکش میں ٹوٹے اک محور
تو زندگی نئے محور تلاش کرتی ہے
مگر ہے اب کوئ محور نہ زندگی کا مدار
نہ کوئ سمتِ سفر، نے شکستگی کا مدار
قبیلہ، کنبہ، وطن، خاندان ٹوٹ گئے
مسلمات کی بُنیاد پر پڑیں ضربیں
عقیدے بیٹھے تھے جس عافیت کے گوشے میں
ہے اُس کی سقف شکستہ، دریدہ دیواریں
کچھ ایسے ہیں کہ ہے جِن کا شِکستگی پہ مدار
کُریدیے تو خدا پر نہ بندگی پہ مدار
ہماری نسل کی تقدیر ٹھیری در بہ دری
ہمارے بعد کی نسلوں کی زندگی ہِجرت
یہ ہجرتیں ہیں وہ ایماں کہ جن کا فکر معاش
سحر سے تا بہ شبِ تار جنگ ہوتی ہے
کبھی غنیم کا حملہ، کبھی خود اپنوں سے جنگ
کمینِ خواب میں اندیشہ ہائے دور و دراز
ہر ایک روز دفاعِ محازِ نانِ جویں
ہر ایک رات ہے نیندوں پہ خوف کا شب خوں
یہی دِفاعِ شکم، خوف اور اندیشے
پرائے دیسوں میں ہجرت کے قافلوں کا مدار
نہ ٹوٹے رشتہ انفاس و جسم، فکر یہی
شکست اور ترقی کے حوصلوں کا مدار
کہیں ہو جنگ کہیں اِنقلاب آئے نہ آئے
پرائے دیسوں کی تعمیر کے تنوروں میں
مہاجرینِ شکم روز بنتے ہیں ایندھن
اِسی تنور میں آسائشوں کے کچھ ساماں
ضروریات کے اسباب جمع کرتے ہیں
پرائے بنکوں کے لاکروں میں کھاتوں میں
اُمیدیں، حسرتیں اور خواب جمع کرتے ہیں
کبھی خیال جو آ جائے گھر عزیزوں کا
تو یاد بھیجتی ہے ڈالروں کی سوغاتیں
وطن میں اپنے تنورِ شکم میں قید بزرگ
دعائیں دیتے ہیں اور پڑھتے ہیں مناجاتیں
شکستہ رشتوں کی ہوتی ہیں یوں مداراتیں
کہا ہے کس نے کہ محور ہیں زندگی کے ہزار
تلاشِ رِزق ہے لے دے کے زندگی کا مدار
یہاں ہم اپنے کئ محوروں کی گردِش میں
سحر سے شام تلک ٹوٹتے ہیں لاکھوں بار
کبھی زبان کے مرنے کا خوف طوقِ گلو
کبھی یہ فکر کہ تہذیب پر نہ آئے زوال
تعصبات کے آتش فشاں پہ بیٹھے ہیں
یہ آرزو ہے اِسے مولدِ بہار کریں
محازِ جہدِ بقا پر یہ سوچتے ہیں کھڑے
اِس اندھی جنگ کو ہم کیسے اِختیار کریں
کہیں رِوایتیں زنجیرِ پا رسوم کہیں
ہے دوزخِ ہوسِ اقتدار میں بھی یہ ضِد
کہ دامنِ حوسِ دل کو تار تار کریں
کہا ہے کِس نے کہ بے محوری ہے آج حیات
جو محوروں کی کشاکش میں ٹوٹے اک محور
تو زندگی کئ محور تلاش کرتی ہے
महवरौं कि तलाश – वहीद अख़्तर
बहुत दिनौं से नहीं दिल में दर्द-ए बे-वतनी
वफ़ात-ए याद-ए वतन को ज़माने बीत गए
सफ़र कि भूल भुल्लय्यां में बिछ्ड़ा घर का ख़याल
पराए देशों में साथी बसे रफ़ीक़ छुटे
वो जिन से घर था घर, एक अहद गुज़रा ख़ाक हुए
जो ज़िन्दगी थे ग़म-ए ज़िन्दगी से पाक हुए
एक उम्र गुज़री रफ़ू दिल के सारे चाक हुए
ज़मीं के रिश्ते सब आलाएशौं से पाक हुए
ज़मीं का ऐक ही महवर हमारे सौ महवर
किसी का नाम वतन है किसी का माज़ी है
किसी को कुनबा, क़बीला, किसी को घर कहिये
हज़ारों रिश्ते हैं हर एक को मो’तबर कहिये
ज़मीं घूमती है अपने चाक पर यकसां
हम अपने महवरौं कि गर्दिशों के क़ैदी हैं
जो महवरौं कि कशाकश में टूटे एक महवर
तो ज़िन्दगी नए महवर तलाश करती है
मगर है अब कोई महवर न ज़िन्दगी का मदार
न कोई सिम्त-ए सफ़र ने शिकस्तगी का मदार
क़बीला, कुनबा, वतन, ख़ानदान टूट गए
मुसल्लमात कि बुन्याद पर पड़ीं ज़र्बें
अक़ीदे बैठे थे जिस आफ़ियत के गोशे में
है इसकी सक़्फ़ शिकस्ता, दरीदा दीवारें
कुछ ऐसे हैं के है जिन का शिकस्तगी पे मदार
कुरेदिये तो ख़ुदा पर न बन्दगी पे मदार
हमारी नस्ल कि तक़्दीर ठहरी दर ब दरी
हमारे बा’द कि नस्लों कि ज़िन्दगी हिज्रत
ये हिज्रतें हैं वो ईमां है जिन का फ़िक्र म’आश
सहर से ता बी शब-ए तार जंग होती है
कभी ग़नीम का हमला कभी ख़ुद अपनौं से जंग
कमीन-ए ख़्वाब में अंदेशा-हा-ए दूर ओ दराज़
हर एक रोज़ दिफ़ा-ए मेहाज़-ए नान-ए जुईं
हर एक रात है नींदों पे ख़ौफ़ का शब ख़ूं
यही दिफ़ा-ए शिकम, ख़ौफ़ और अंदेशे
पराए देसों में हिजरत के क़ाफ़िलौं का मदार
न टूटे रिश्ता-ए अनफ़ास ओ जिस्म, फ़िक्र यही
शिकस्त और तरक़्क़ी के हौसलों का मदार
कहीं हो जंग कहीं इंक़ेलाब आए न आए
पराए देसों कि तामीर के तनूरौं में
महाजेरीन-ए शिकम रोज़ हैं ईंधन
इसी तनूर में आसाएशों के कुछ सामां
ज़रूरियात के अस्बाब जम’आ करते हैं
पराए बैंकों के लॉकरों में खातों में
उमीदें हसरतें और ख़्वाब जम’आ करते हैं
कभी ख़्याल जो आ जाए घर अज़ीज़ौं का
तो याद भेजती है डॉलरौं की सौग़ातें
वतन में अपने तनूर-ए शिकम में क़ैद बुज़ुर्ग
दुआऐं देते हैं और पढ़ते हैं मुनाजातें
शिकस्ता रिश्तों कि होती हैं यूं मुदारातें
कहा है किस ने के महवर हैं ज़िन्दगी के हज़ार
तलाश-ए रिज़्क़ है ले दे के ज़िन्दगी का मदार
यहां हम अपने कई महवरौं कि गर्दिश में
सहर से शाम तलक टूटते हैं लाखौं बार
कभि ज़बान के मरने का ख़ौफ़ तौक़-ए गुलू
कभि ये फ़िक्र के तहज़ीब पर न आए ज़वाल
ता’असुबात के आतिश फ़िशां पे बैठे हैं
ये आर्ज़ू है इसे मौलिद-ए बहार करें
मेहाज़-ए जहद-ए वफ़ा पे ये सोचते हैं खड़े
इस अंधी जंग को हम कैसे इक़्तियार करें
कहीं रिवायतें ज़ंजीर-ए पा, रुसूम कहीं
है दोज़ख़-ए हवस-ए इक़्तेदार में भी ये ज़िद
के दामन-ए हवस-ए दिल को तार तार करें
कहा ये किस ने के बे महवरी है आज हयात
जो महवरौं कि कशाकश में टूटे एक महवर
तो ज़िन्दगी कई महवर तलाश करती है
mahvarauN ki talaash – vaheed aKhtar
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. This seems to have been written with the community of expatriates from India/Pakistan working in the Middle East (western countries?) in mind. They struggle to find an anchor, dealing with a “loss of cultural identity”. “mahvar” ordinarily means “axis” (of rotation). This is the axis around which life rotates. It is used in the sense of anchors of life – value system, culture, language, religion, family relationships.
bahut dinauN se nahiN dil meN dard-e be-vatani
vafaat1-e yaad-e vatan ko zamaane2 biit gaye
safar3 ki bhool bhulayyaaN4 meN bichhRa ghar ka Khyaal
paraaye desauN meN saathi5 basey, rafiq6 chhuTey1. death 2. long time 3. travel, being away from home 4. maze 5. companions 6. friends He has been too busy in his struggles to feel homesick in a long time. The heart has gone numb and no longer feels the pain of loss of home. Memories of home died a long time ago. In the maze/labyrinth of life, they lost the thought of home. In foreign lands, they found companions, but lost their friends.
vo jin se ghar tha ghar, ek ahd1 guzra2 Khaak3 huey
jo zindagi the Gham-e zindagi se paak4 huey
ek umr guzri rafu5 dil ke saare chaak6 huey
zamiN ke rishte7 sub aalaayeshauN8 se paak9 huey1. epoch, long time 2. passed 3. dust 4. relieved of 5. repaired, patched 6. tears, rents 7. relationships 8. impurities 9. purified
They, who made the house a home have been gone (into dust) for a long time now. They, who were the spirit of life have been relieved of the struggle of life. The tears in the heart have been patched. Worldly relationships have been purified of all impurities.
zamiN ka ek hi mahvar1 hamaare sau mahvar
kisi ka naam vatan hai, kisi ka maazi2 hai
kisi ko kunba3, qabeela4, kisi ko ghar kahiye
hazaaroN rishte haiN har ek ko mo’tabar5 kahiye1. axis 2. past, memories 3. family 4. tribe 5. dependable
The earth has only one axis, we have hundreds that anchor us in life – homeland, memories, family/relatives or tribe. There are thousands of relationships, we depend on each in its own way.
zameen ghoomti hai apne chaak1 par eksaaN2
hum apne mahvarauN ki gardishauN3 ke qaidi4 haiN
jo mahvarauN ki kashaakash5 meN TooTe ek mahvar
to zindagi naye mahvar talaash karti hai1. potter’s wheel 2. unchanging 3. movements, wanderings 4. prisoner 5. galaxy, constellation
The earth constantly (unchanging) rotates about its axis (potter’s wheel). We are prisoners of the changes in our axes/anchors. In the galaxy of anchors, if one breaks, Life looks for new one.
magar hai ab koi mahvar, na zindagi ka madaar1
na koii simt2-e safar, ne shikastagi3 ka madaar
qabeela4, kunba5, vatan, Khaandaan TooT gaye
mussalamaat6 ki buniyaad7 par paReeN zarbeN81. orbit, path 2. direction 3. defeat 4. tribe 5. relatives 6. established, accepted 7. foundation 8. blows
But now there is no axis, no anchor of Life, no direction. Even defeat has no place to stand. Tribe, relatives, homeland, family are all broken. Well accepted traditions have received mortal blows.
aqeede1 baiThe the jis aafiyat2 ke goshe3 meN
hai uski saqf4 shikasta5, dareeda6 diivaareN
kuchh aise haiN ke hai jin ka shikastagi7 pe madaar8
kurediye9 to Khuda par na bandagi10 pe madaar1. beliefs 2. protection 3. corner 4. roof 5. weak, broken 6. cracked 7. defeat 8. dependence 9. scratch 10. servitude (of god)
Beliefs that hitherto had been sheltered in a safe corner now face broken walls and falling roof. There are some whose only basis of life is complete defeatism. If you scratch the surface, there is no basis either on god or on being his servant.
hamaari nasl1 ki taqdeer2 Thahri dar ba-dari3
hamaare baad ki naslauN ki zindagi hijrat4
ye hijrateN haiN vo eemaaN5 hai jin ka fikr-e ma’ash6
sahr7 se taa8 ba shab-e taar9 juNg hoti hai1. generation 2. fate 3. door to door, wandering 4. leaving home 5. faith 6. concern for livelihood 7. dawn 8. until 9. darkness of night
The fate of our generation was wandering. The generation after us is fated to leave home, be homeless. This is the homelessness whose faith is based on making a living. From dawn to midnight there is a war/struggle.
kabhi Ghaneem1 ka hamla, kabhi Khud apnauN se juNg
kameen2-e Khwaab meN andesha3-ha-e duur o daraaz4
har ek roz difaa’5-e mahaaz6-e naan-e javeeN7
har ek raat hai neendauN pe Khauf8 ka shabKhuN9 1. enemy 2. ambush 3. fear, risk 4. far fetched 5. defense 6. front (of war/conflict) 7. bread of “jau” (javaari/corn) 8. fear 9. surprise attack
Sometimes the enemy attacks and at others a conflict with friends. At others an ambush of far fetched fears in nightmares. Every day a defense at the front of the struggle for bread and every night a surprise attack on sleep.
yehi difaa-e shikam1, Khauf2 aur andeshe3
paraaye desauN meN hijrat4 ke qaafilauN5 ka madaar6
nah TooTe rishta7-e anfaas o jism8, fikr9 yehi
shikast10 aur taraqqi11 ke hauslauN12 ka madaar1. defence of the stomach/livelihood 2. fear 3. apprehension 4. homelessness 5. caravans 6. orbit, axis, circuit 7. relationship 8. body and soul 9. worry 10. defeat, failure 11. advancement 12. courage
This fear and apprehension of defending livelihood is the only axis of the homeless caravans in foreign lands. That the relationship between body and soul not be broken and all concern around (avoiding) failure and (achieving) success.
kahiN ho juNg, kahiN inqelaab aaye na aaye
paraaey desauN ki ta’amiir1 ke tanoorauN2 meN
mohajareen3-e shikam4 roz bante haiN eendhan5
isi tanoor meN aasaaeshauN6 ke kuchh saamaaN
zarooriyaat7 ke asbaab8 jama’ karte haiN
paraaye baNkauN ke laukaruaN meN, khaatauN meN
umeedeN, hasrateN aur Khwaab jama’a karte haiN1. construction, progress 2. ovens 3. refugees, emigrants 5. fuel 6. comforts, luxuries 7. necessities, survival 8. bases, means
Whether there be or not be any war or revolution, economic refugees (refugees of the stomach) are the fuel in the ovens of progress of foreign lands. In these ovens, they save some means of survival and a few luxuries. In foreign bank accounts and lockers they save hopes, desires and dreams.
kabhi Khayaal1 jo aa jaae ghar azizauN2 ka
to yaad bhejti hai DollarauN ki sauGhaateN3
vatan meN apne tanoor-e shikam4 meN qaid5 buzurg6
duaaeN dete haiN aur paRhte haiN munaajaateN7
shikasta8 rishtauN ki hoti haiN yuN mudaraateN91. thought, rememberance 2. loved ones, relatives 3. souvenirs, gifts 4. oven of the stomach, struggle for livelihood 5. imprisoned 6. elders 7. prayers 8. weakened, broken 9. taking care of
And when they remember the loved ones left behind at home, then they send gifts of dollars. Meanwhile, the elders who are in their own struggle for livelihood, give blessings and recite invocations and prayers. This is how weakened relationships are nurtured.
kaha ye kis ne ke mahvar1 haiN zindagi ke hazaar
talaash-e rizq2 hai le de ke zindagi ka madaar3
yahaaN hum apne kaii mahvarauN ki gardish4 meN
sahr5 se shaam talak TooTte haiN laakhauN baar1. axis, anchor 2. search for food 3. anchor, basis 4. wandering 5. dawn
Who says there are thousands of anchors of Life. Give and take there is only one – the search for livelihood. Here (at home) we break a thousand times from morning till night tending to our anchors/conerns.
kabhi zabaan1 ke marne ka Khauf2 tauq-e guloo3
kabhi ye fikr4 ke tahzeeb5 par na aaye zavaal6
ta’asubaat7 ke aatish fishaaN8 pe baiThe haiN
ye aarzu9 hai ise maulid10-e bahaar11 kareN1. language 2. fear 3. manacle, noose around the throat 4. fear, concern 5. culture 6. downfall 7. bigotry, discrimination 8. volcano 9. desire 10. father of 11. spring
Sometimes the fear of the loss of language hangs around the throat like a noose. Sometimes the fear that culture is on a downward slide. They sit on a volcano of bigotry and still hope to engender a joyous spring.
mahaaz1-e jahd-e baqaa2 par ye sochte haiN khaRe
is andhi3 jaNg ko hum kaise iKhtiyaar4 kareN
kahiN rivaayeteN5 zanjiir-e paa6 rusoom7 kahiN
hai dozaKh-e havas8-e iqtedaar9 meN bhi ye zid10
ke daaman11-e havas12-e dil ko taar taar13 kareN
kaha ye kis ne ke be-mahvari14 hai aaj hayaat15
jo mahvarauN ki kashaakash16 meN TooTe ek mahvar
to zindagi kaii mahvar talaash karti hai1. front 2. struggle for survival 3. blind, unpredictable 4. undertake 5. traditions 6. ankle chains, fetters 7. customs 8. greed 9. power 10. insistence 11. hem of the robe, cloak 12. passionate desire 13. shred (to shred the hem of one’s cloak is to show the intensity of desire, of being mad with desire) 14. anchor-less, aimless 15. Life 16. struggle, conflict
Standing at the frontier of the struggle for survival they think of how they might undertake this unpredictable war. Traditions and customs hold them back like fetters on their feet and yet sitting in the hell of the power-greedy they insist and show their intense desire (to keep up their culture). Who says Life is without aim or anchor. In the conflict of many anchors, if one anchor is lost, Life looks for (adopts) another anchor.
mahvarauN ki talaash – vaheed aKhtar
This seems to have been written with the community of expatriates from India/Pakistan working in the Middle East (western countries?) in mind. They struggle to find an anchor, dealing with a “loss of cultural identity”. “mahvar” ordinarily means “axis” (of rotation). This is the axis around which life rotates. It is used in the sense of anchors of life – value system, culture, language, religion, family relationships.
bahut dinauN se nahiN dil meN dard-e be-vatani
vafaat1-e yaad-e vatan ko zamaane2 biit gaye
safar3 ki bhool bhulayyaaN4 meN bichhRa ghar ka Khyaal
paraaye desauN meN saathi5 basey, rafiq6 chhuTey
1. death 2. long time 3. travel, being away from home 4. maze 5. companions 6. friends
He has been too busy in his struggles to feel homesick in a long time. The heart has gone numb and no longer feels the pain of loss of home. Memories of home died a long time ago. In the maze/labyrinth of life, they lost the thought of home. In foreign lands, they found companions, but lost their friends.
vo jin se ghar tha ghar, ek ahd1 guzra2 Khaak3 huey
jo zindagi the Gham-e zindagi se paak4 huey
ek umr guzri rafu5 dil ke saare chaak6 huey
zamiN ke rishte7 sub aalaayeshauN8 se paak9 huey
1. epoch, long time 2. passed 3. dust 4. relieved of 5. repaired, patched 6. tears, rents 7. relationships 8. impurities 9. purified
They, who made the house a home have been gone (into dust) for a long time now. They, who were the spirit of life have been relieved of the struggle of life. The tears in the heart have been patched. Worldly relationships have been purified of all impurities.
zamiN ka ek hi mahvar1 hamaare sau mahvar
kisi ka naam vatan hai, kisi ka maazi2 hai
kisi ko kunba3, qabeela4, kisi ko ghar kahiye
hazaaroN rishte haiN har ek ko mo’tabar5 kahiye
1. axis 2. past, memories 3. family 4. tribe 5. dependable
The earth has only one axis, we have hundreds that anchor us in life – homeland, memories, family/relatives or tribe. There are thousands of relationships, we depend on each in its own way.
zameen ghoomti hai apne chaak1 par eksaaN2
hum apne mahvarauN ki gardishauN3 ke qaidi4 haiN
jo mahvarauN ki kashaakash5 meN TooTe ek mahvar
to zindagi naye mahvar talaash karti hai
1. potter’s wheel 2. unchanging 3. movements, wanderings 4. prisoner 5. galaxy, constellation
The earth constantly (unchanging) rotates about its axis (potter’s wheel). We are prisoners of the changes in our axes/anchors. In the galaxy of anchors, if one breaks, Life looks for new one.
magar hai ab koi mahvar, na zindagi ka madaar1
na koii simt2-e safar, ne shikastagi3 ka madaar
qabeela4, kunba5, vatan, Khaandaan TooT gaye
mussalamaat6 ki buniyaad7 par paReeN zarbeN8
1. orbit, path 2. direction 3. defeat 4. tribe 5. relatives 6. established, accepted 7. foundation 8. blows
But now there is no axis, no anchor of Life, no direction. Even defeat has no place to stand. Tribe, relatives, homeland, family are all broken. Well accepted traditions have received mortal blows.
aqeede1 baiThe the jis aafiyat2 ke goshe3 meN
hai uski saqf4 shikasta5, dareeda6 diivaareN
kuchh aise haiN ke hai jin ka shikastagi7 pe madaar8
kurediye9 to Khuda par na bandagi10 pe madaar
1. beliefs 2. protection 3. corner 4. roof 5. weak, broken 6. cracked 7. defeat 8. dependence 9. scratch 10. servitude (of god)
Beliefs that hitherto had been sheltered in a safe corner now face broken walls and falling roof. There are some whose only basis of life is complete defeatism. If you scratch the surface, there is no basis either on god or on being his servant.
hamaari nasl1 ki taqdeer2 Thahri dar ba-dari3
hamaare baad ki naslauN ki zindagi hijrat4
ye hijrateN haiN vo eemaaN5 hai jin ka fikr-e ma’ash6
sahr7 se taa8 ba shab-e taar9 juNg hoti hai
1. generation 2. fate 3. door to door, wandering 4. leaving home 5. faith 6. concern for livelihood 7. dawn 8. until 9. darkness of night
The fate of our generation was wandering. The generation after us is fated to leave home, be homeless. This is the homelessness whose faith is based on making a living. From dawn to midnight there is a war/struggle.
kabhi Ghaneem1 ka hamla, kabhi Khud apnauN se juNg
kameen2-e Khwaab meN andesha3-ha-e duur o daraaz4
har ek roz difaa’5-e mahaaz6-e naan-e javeeN7
har ek raat hai neendauN pe Khauf8 ka shabKhuN9
1. enemy 2. ambush 3. fear, risk 4. far fetched 5. defense 6. front (of war/conflict) 7. bread of “jau” (javaari/corn) 8. fear 9. surprise attack
Sometimes the enemy attacks and at others a conflict with friends. At others an ambush of far fetched fears in nightmares. Every day a defense at the front of the struggle for bread and every night a surprise attack on sleep.
yehi difaa-e shikam1, Khauf2 aur andeshe3
paraaye desauN meN hijrat4 ke qaafilauN5 ka madaar6
nah TooTe rishta7-e anfaas o jism8, fikr9 yehi
shikast10 aur taraqqi11 ke hauslauN12 ka madaar
1. defence of the stomach/livelihood 2. fear 3. apprehension 4. homelessness 5. caravans 6. orbit, axis, circuit 7. relationship 8. body and soul 9. worry 10. defeat, failure 11. advancement 12. courage
This fear and apprehension of defending livelihood is the only axis of the homeless caravans in foreign lands. That the relationship between body and soul not be broken and all concern around (avoiding) failure and (achieving) success.
kahiN ho juNg, kahiN inqelaab aaye na aaye
paraaey desauN ki ta’amiir1 ke tanoorauN2 meN
mohajareen3-e shikam4 roz bante haiN eendhan5
isi tanoor meN aasaaeshauN6 ke kuchh saamaaN
zarooriyaat7 ke asbaab8 jama’ karte haiN
paraaye baNkauN ke laukaruaN meN, khaatauN meN
umeedeN, hasrateN aur Khwaab jama’a karte haiN
1. construction, progress 2. ovens 3. refugees, emigrants 5. fuel 6. comforts, luxuries 7. necessities, survival 8. bases, means
Whether there be or not be any war or revolution, economic refugees (refugees of the stomach) are the fuel in the ovens of progress of foreign lands. In these ovens, they save some means of survival and a few luxuries. In foreign bank accounts and lockers they save hopes, desires and dreams.
kabhi Khayaal1 jo aa jaae ghar azizauN2 ka
to yaad bhejti hai DollarauN ki sauGhaateN3
vatan meN apne tanoor-e shikam4 meN qaid5 buzurg6
duaaeN dete haiN aur paRhte haiN munaajaateN7
shikasta8 rishtauN ki hoti haiN yuN mudaraateN9
1. thought, rememberance 2. loved ones, relatives 3. souvenirs, gifts 4. oven of the stomach, struggle for livelihood 5. imprisoned 6. elders 7. prayers 8. weakened, broken 9. taking care of
And when they remember the loved ones left behind at home, then they send gifts of dollars. Meanwhile, the elders who are in their own struggle for livelihood, give blessings and recite invocations and prayers. This is how weakened relationships are nurtured.
kaha ye kis ne ke mahvar1 haiN zindagi ke hazaar
talaash-e rizq2 hai le de ke zindagi ka madaar3
yahaaN hum apne kaii mahvarauN ki gardish4 meN
sahr5 se shaam talak TooTte haiN laakhauN baar
1. axis, anchor 2. search for food 3. anchor, basis 4. wandering 5. dawn
Who says there are thousands of anchors of Life. Give and take there is only one – the search for livelihood. Here (at home) we break a thousand times from morning till night tending to our anchors/conerns.
kabhi zabaan1 ke marne ka Khauf2 tauq-e guloo3
kabhi ye fikr4 ke tahzeeb5 par na aaye zavaal6
ta’asubaat7 ke aatish fishaaN8 pe baiThe haiN
ye aarzu9 hai ise maulid10-e bahaar11 kareN
1. language 2. fear 3. manacle, noose around the throat 4. fear, concern 5. culture 6. downfall 7. bigotry, discrimination 8. volcano 9. desire 10. father of 11. spring
Sometimes the fear of the loss of language hangs around the throat like a noose. Sometimes the fear that culture is on a downward slide. They sit on a volcano of bigotry and still hope to engender a joyous spring.
mahaaz1-e jahd-e baqaa2 par ye sochte haiN khaRe
is andhi3 jaNg ko hum kaise iKhtiyaar4 kareN
kahiN rivaayeteN5 zanjiir-e paa6 rusoom7 kahiN
hai dozaKh-e havas8-e iqtedaar9 meN bhi ye zid10
ke daaman11-e havas12-e dil ko taar taar13 kareN
kaha ye kis ne ke be-mahvari14 hai aaj hayaat15
jo mahvarauN ki kashaakash16 meN TooTe ek mahvar
to zindagi kaii mahvar talaash karti hai
1. front 2. struggle for survival 3. blind, unpredictable 4. undertake 5. traditions 6. ankle chains, fetters 7. customs 8. greed 9. power 10. insistence 11. hem of the robe, cloak 12. passionate desire 13. shred (to shred the hem of one’s cloak is to show the intensity of desire, of being mad with desire) 14. anchor-less, aimless 15. Life 16. struggle, conflict
Standing at the frontier of the struggle for survival they think of how they might undertake this unpredictable war. Traditions and customs hold them back like fetters on their feet and yet sitting in the hell of the power-greedy they insist and show their intense desire (to keep up their culture). Who says Life is without aim or anchor. In the conflict of many anchors, if one anchor is lost, Life looks for (adopts) another anchor.
