mazdurauN ka geet-majaz

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

مزدوروں کا گیت ۔ مجاز

 

محنت سے یہ مانا چور ہیں ہم
آرام سے کوسوں دور ہیں ہم
پر لڑنے پر مجبور ہیں ہم
مزدور ہیں ہم مزدور ہیں ہم

 

گو آفت و غم کے مارے ہیں
ہم خاک نہیں ہیں تارے ہیں
اس جگ کے راج دلارے ہیں
مزدور ہیں ہم مزدور ہیں ہم

 

بننے کی تمنّا رکھتے ہیں
مٹنے کا کلیجہ رکھتے ہیں
سرکش ہیں سر اونچا رکھتے ہیں
مزدور ہیں ہم مزدور ہیں ہم

 

ہر چند کہ ہیں ادبار میں ہم
کہتے ہیں کھلے بازار میں ہم
ہیں سب سے بڑے سنسار میں ہم
مزدور میں ہم مزدور ہیں ہم

 

جس سمت بڑھا دیتے ہیں قدم
جھک جاتے ہیں شاہوں کے پرچم
ساونت ہیں ہم بلونت ہیں ہم
مزدور ہیں ہم مزدور ہیں ہم

 

گو جان پہ لاکھوں بار بنی
کر گزرے مگر جو جی میں ٹھنی
ہم دل کے کھرے باتوں کے دھنی
مزدور ہیں ہم مزدور ہیں ہم

 

ہم کیا ہیں کبھی دکھلا دیں گے
ہم نظمِ کہن کو ڈھا دیں گے
ہم ارض و سما کو ہلا دیں گے
مزدور ہیں ہم مزدور ہیں ہم

 

ہم جسم میں طاقت رکھتے ہیں
سینوں میں حرارت رکھتے ہیں
ہم عزمِ بغاوت رکھتے ہیں
مزدور ہیں ہم مزدور ہیں ہم

 

جس روز بغاوت کر دیں گے
دنیا میں قیامت کر دیں گے
خوابوں کو حقیقت کر دیں گے
مزدور ہیں ہم مزدور ہیں ہم

 

ہم قبضہ کریں گے دفتر پر
ہم وار کریں گے قیصر پر
ہم ٹوٹ پڑیں گے لشکر پر
مزدور ہیں ہم مزدور ہیں ہم

मज़्दूरौं का गीत – मजाज़

 

मेहनत से ये माना चूर हैं हम
आराम से कोसों दूर हैं हम
पर लड़ने पर मजबूर हैं हम
मज़दूर हैं हम मज़दूर हैं हम

 

गो आफ़त ओ ग़म के मारे हैं
हम ख़ाक नहीं हैं तारे हैं
इस जग के राज-दुलारे हैं
मज़दूर हैं हम मज़दूर हैं हम

 

बनने की तमन्ना रखते हैं
मिटने का कलेजा रखते हैं
सरकश हैं सर ऊँचा रखते हैं
मज़दूर हैं हम मज़दूर हैं हम

 

हर चंद के हैं अदबार में हम
कहते हैं खुले बाज़ार में हम
हैं सब से बड़े संसार में हम
मज़दूर में हम मज़दूर हैं हम

 

जिस सम्त बढ़ा देते हैं क़दम
झुक जाते हैं शाहों के परचम
सावंत हैं हम बलवंत हैं हम
मज़दूर हैं हम मज़दूर हैं हम

 

गो जान पे लाखों बार बनी
कर गुज़रे मगर जो जी में ठनी
हम दिल के खरे बातों के धनी
मज़दूर हैं हम मज़दूर हैं हम

 

हम क्या हैं कभी दिखला देंगे
हम नज़्म-ए-कोहन को ढा देंगे
हम अर्ज़-ओ-समा को हिला देंगे
मज़दूर हैं हम मज़दूर हैं हम

 

हम जिस्म में ताक़त रखते हैं
सीनों में हरारत रखते हैं
हम अज़्म-ए-बग़ावत रखते हैं
मज़दूर हैं हम मज़दूर हैं हम

 

जिस रोज़ बग़ावत कर देंगे
दुनिया में क़यामत कर देंगे
ख़्वाबों को हक़ीक़त कर देंगे
मज़दूर हैं हम मज़दूर हैं हम

 

हम क़ब्ज़ा करेंगे दफ़्तर पर
हम वार करेंगे क़ैसर पर
हम टूट पड़ेंगे लश्कर पर
मज़दूर हैं हम मज़दूर हैं हम

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. asrar-ul haq majaz (1911-1955) was progressive as well as romantic poet, a heartthrob. He received his BA from aligaRh after interruptions in earlier schooling. He developed close relationships with progressives and was a major force in the Progressive Writers’ Association. He lived in aligaRh, dehli and lucknow working for radio stations, editing magazines on and off but with no steady income. He met with a rather tragic end at the young age of 44. This is a folk song like composition quite unlike his romantic Ghazals. I can easily imagine this to be a part of a workers’ march.

mehnat1 se ye maana chuur haiN ham
aaraam se kosoN2 duur haiN ham
par laRne par majbur3 haiN ham
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham 
1.toil, hard labour 2.miles 3.forced
Although we are broken by toil and miles away from any rest, we are forced to fight (for our rights). We are workers, workers we are.

go aafat1 o Gham2 ke maare haiN
ham Khaak3 nahiN haiN taare haiN
is jag4 ke raj-dulaare haiN
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham
1.disaster 2.sorrow 3.dust 4.world
Even though disasters and sorrows have been visited upon us, we are not (yet) trampled into the dust. We sparkle like stars in the sky. We are the beloved of this world. We are workers …

ban-ne ki tamanna1 rakhte haiN
miTne ka kaleja2 rakhte haiN
sarkash3 haiN sar uNcha rakhte haiN
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham
1.desire 2.liver – used to mean fortitude 3.rebel
We have the desire to make something of our lives but we also have the fortitude to sacrifice ourselves for it. We are rebels, we hold our head up high. We are workers ….

har-chand1 ke haiN adbaar2 meN ham
kahte haiN khule baazaar meN ham
haiN sab se baRe3 sansaar4 meN ham
mazdur meN ham mazdur haiN ham  
1.even though 2.declining fortunes 3.used here to mean ‘essential/necessary’ 4.world
Even though our fortune is in decline, we declare openly that we are essential for this world. We are workers …

jis samt1 baRha dete haiN qadam2
jhuk jaate haiN shaahoN3 ke parcham
saavant4 haiN ham balvant5 haiN ham
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham
1.direction 2.steps 3.kings, lords 4.wise 5.strong
In whichever direction we turn, the banners/flags of kings bow down. We are wise, we are strong, we are workers …

go1 jaan pe laakhoN baar bani2
kar-guzre3 magar jo ji meN Thani4
ham dil ke khare5 baatauN ke dhani6
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham
1.though 2.‘jaan pe bani’ is an expression used to mean ‘risk to life’ 3.‘kar guzarna’ means to do something in the face of difficulties 4.decided 5.rough but true, frank 6.rich words meaning we mean what we say
Even when faced with risk to life, we did what we decided to do. We are frank, we speak the truth, we are workers …

ham kya haiN kabhi dikhla deNge
ham nazm-e-kuhan1 ko Dha2 deNge
ham arz-o-sama3 ko hila deNge
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham  
1.old regime 2.break, destroy 3.eath and sky
Some day we will show you who we are. We will destroy the old (oppressive) regime. We will shake up the earth and sky. We are workers …

ham jism1 meN taaqat2 rakhte haiN
siinauN3 meN haraarat4 rakhte haiN
ham azm-e-baGhaavat5 rakhte haiN
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham
1.body, arms 2.strength 3.bosom 4.warmth, fire 5.determination of rebellion
We have strength in our arms and warmth in our hearts/bosom (it can be the warmth of love and forgiveness or the fire of determination). We are determined to rebel, we are workers …

jis roz baGhavaat1 kar deNge
duniya meN qayaamat2 kar deNge
KhvaaboN3 ko haqiqat4 kar deNge
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham
1.rebellion 2.day of reckoning 3.dreams 4.reality
The day we bring about our revolution will be the day of reckoning for this world. Our dreams will come true. We are workers …

ham qabza1 kareNge daftar2 par
ham vaar3 kareNge qaisar4 par
ham TuuT paReNge lashkar5 par
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham
1.occupy 2.offices, power structure 3.blow 4.ceasar – used to mean tyrant 5.armies
We will occupy the centers of power, we will strike at the oppressor. We will fall upon (the oppressor’s) armies. We are workers …

mazdurauN ka geet – majaz

asrar-ul haq majaz (1911-1955) was progressive as well as romantic poet, a heartthrob.  He received his BA from aligaRh after interruptions in earlier schooling.  He developed close relationships with progressives and was a major force in the Progressive Writers’ Association.  He lived in aligaRh, dehli and lucknow working for radio stations, editing magazines on and off but with no steady income.  He met with a rather tragic end at the young age of 44.  This is a folk song like composition quite unlike his romantic Ghazals.  I can easily imagine this to be a part of a workers’ march.

mehnat1 se ye maana chuur haiN ham
aaraam se kosoN2 duur haiN ham
par laRne par majbur3 haiN ham
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham

1.toil, hard labour 2.miles 3.forced

Although we are broken by toil and miles away from any rest, we are forced to fight (for our rights).  We are workers, workers we are.

go aafat1 o Gham2 ke maare haiN
ham Khaak3 nahiN haiN taare haiN
is jag4 ke raj-dulaare haiN
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham

1.disaster 2.sorrow 3.dust 4.world

Even though disasters and sorrows have been visited upon us, we are not (yet) trampled into the dust.  We sparkle like stars in the sky.  We are the beloved of this world.  We are workers …

ban-ne ki tamanna1 rakhte haiN
miTne ka kaleja2 rakhte haiN
sarkash3 haiN sar uNcha rakhte haiN
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham

1.desire 2.liver – used to mean fortitude 3.rebel

We have the desire to make something of our lives but we also have the fortitude to sacrifice ourselves for it.  We are rebels, we hold our head up high.  We are workers ….

har-chand1 ke haiN adbaar2 meN ham
kahte haiN khule baazaar meN ham
haiN sab se baRe3 sansaar4 meN ham
mazdur meN ham mazdur haiN ham

1.even though 2.declining fortunes 3.used here to mean ‘essential/necessary’ 4.world

Even though our fortune is in decline, we declare openly that we are essential for this world.  We are workers …

jis samt1 baRha dete haiN qadam2
jhuk jaate haiN shaahoN3 ke parcham
saavant4 haiN ham balvant5 haiN ham
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham

1.direction 2.steps 3.kings, lords 4.wise 5.strong

In whichever direction we turn, the banners/flags of kings bow down.  We are wise, we are strong, we are workers …

go1 jaan pe laakhoN baar bani2
kar-guzre3 magar jo ji meN Thani4
ham dil ke khare5 baatauN ke dhani6
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham

1.though 2.‘jaan pe bani’ is an expression used to mean ‘risk to life’ 3.‘kar guzarna’ means to do something in the face of difficulties 4.decided 5.rough but true, frank 6.rich words meaning we mean what we say

Even when faced with risk to life, we did what we decided to do.  We are frank, we speak the truth, we are workers …

ham kya haiN kabhi dikhla deNge
ham nazm-e-kuhan1 ko Dha2 deNge
ham arz-o-sama3 ko hila deNge
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham

1.old regime 2.break, destroy 3.eath and sky

Some day we will show you who we are.  We will destroy the old (oppressive) regime.  We will shake up the earth and sky.  We are workers …

ham jism1 meN taaqat2 rakhte haiN
siinauN3 meN haraarat4 rakhte haiN
ham azm-e-baGhaavat5 rakhte haiN
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham

1.body, arms 2.strength 3.bosom 4.warmth, fire 5.determination of rebellion

We have strength in our arms and warmth in our hearts/bosom (it can be the warmth of love and forgiveness or the fire of determination).  We are determined to rebel, we are workers …

jis roz baGhavaat1 kar deNge
duniya meN qayaamat2 kar deNge
KhvaaboN3 ko haqiqat4 kar deNge
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham

1.rebellion 2.day of reckoning 3.dreams 4.reality

The day we bring about our revolution will be the day of reckoning for this world.  Our dreams will come true.  We are workers …

ham qabza1 kareNge daftar2 par
ham vaar3 kareNge qaisar4 par
ham TuuT paReNge lashkar5 par
mazdur haiN ham mazdur haiN ham

1.occupy 2.offices, power structure 3.blow 4.ceasar – used to mean tyrant 5.armies

We will occupy the centers of power, we will strike at the oppressor.  We will fall upon (the oppressor’s) armies.  We are workers …

Key Search Words: progressive writers association, labour, labor, may day, mazdoor, mazdoorauN ka geet