For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
sunil puwaar
محنت کش ۔ سُنیل پُوار
۱
بھٹّی میں جو تپتا ہے اِنسان وہی میں ہوں
کُوڑے سے جو بِنتا ہے سامان وہی میں ہوں
سیور میں کھدانوں میں ہر روز اُترتا ہے
لے کر کے ہتھیلی پر جو جان وہی میں ہوں
۲
میں لُو کے تھپیڑوں میں رِکشا بھی چلاتا ہوں
ہر صبح تیرے گھر میں اخبار میں لاتا ہوں
سبزی کا کبھی ٹھیلا، سِگنل پہ کبھی چھتری
فُٹ پاتھ سے اکثر میں آواز لگاتا ہوں
۳
سپنوں کی کہیں دُنیا میں چھوڑ کے آیا ہوں
آنگن میں کوئی گڑیا میں چھوڑ کے آیا ہوں
پتّھر کی طرح بے شک سُونی ہیں میری آنکھیں
کاجل کی وہیں ڈِبیا میں چھوڑ کے آیا ہوں
۴
راشن کا مجھے پرچا رشوت سے ہی ملتا ہے
مانگوں جو کبھی قرضہ رشوت سے ہی ملتا ہے
سڑکوں پہ جو ٹکرا کر، خود کو کہیں کھو بیٹھوں
اپنا بھی مجھے مُردا رشوت سے ہی ملتا ہے
۵
مانا کہ خرابے کی تصویرِ مجسّم ہوں
جھوٹے کِسی بھاشن کی تحریرِ مجسّم ہوں
پھندے میں غریبی کے لا کر مجھے کہتے ہیں
میں مُلک کے پیروں کی زنجیرِ مُجسّم ہوں
۶
تعمیرِ شوالہ بھی مجھ سے ہی کراتے ہو
مِنبر کی مرمّت کو مجھ کو ہی بلاتے ہو
مندر کی شہادت پر، مسجد کی شہادت پر
میرے ہی گھروں میں پھر، تم آگ لگاتے ہو
۷
ہر جسم یہاں میری محنت سے سنورتا ہے
رُوئی کے ہُنر والا، دھاگے کو ترستا ہے
کرگا میرے ہاتھوں کا، لگتا ہے مجھے اکثر
میلے میرے کُرتے کے پیوند پہ ہنستا ہے
۸
نغمات نگل لیں گے جذبات نگل لیں گے
یوں ہی میرے سپنوں کو حالات نگل لیں گے
لوگوں سے کٹی سڑکیں، کارؤں سے بھرے رستے
اِک دن میرے حصّہ کی فُٹ پاتھ نگل لیں گے
۹
بیتی ہوئی باتوں پر ہاتھوں کو نہیں مَلتا
تقدیر بھی کوسے سے کچھ کام نہیں چلتا
رونا ہے بہت آساں، غم بھی ہیں بہت لیکن
جذبات کے ایندھن سے چولھا تو نہیں جلتا
۱۰
شاہوں کے اِرادوں سے انجان نہیں ہوں میں
صندوق میں رکھنے کا سامان نہیں ہوں میں
تُم خیر مناؤ میں بولوں نہ کبھی کچھ بھی
مشکل جو میں بن جاؤن، آسان نہیں ہوں میں
۱۱
چھینوں کبھی محنت کا اِنعام تو کیا ہوگا
محلوں پہ جو لکھ آؤں میں نام تو کیا ہوگا
چیخوں کو دبانے کا، آہوں کو کچلنے کا
تم کو بھی دِکھا دوں جو انجام تو کیا ہوگا
۱۲
اِک دِن کوئی مجھ میں سے پھر نیند سے اُٹّھے گا
نعرہ کوئی بادل پر پھر برق سا چمکے گا
تاریخ یہ کہتی ہے، سب میں ہی بدلتا ہوں
اِس وقت کا پہیّا بھی پھر مجھ سے ہی بدلے گا
मेहनत कश – सुनील पुवार
१
भट्टी में जो तप्ता है, इंसान वही मैं हूं
कूढे से जो बिंता है सामान वही मैं हूं
सीवर में खदानौं में हर रोज़ उतरता है
ले कर के हथेली पर जो जान वही मैं हूं
२
मैं लू के थपेढौं में रिक्शा भी चलाता हूं
हर सुबह तेरे घर में अख़्बार मैं लाता हूं
सब्ज़ी का कभी ठेला, सिग्नल पे कभी छत्री
फ़ुटपाथ से अक्सर मैं आवाज़ लगाता हूं
३
सपनौं कि कहीं दुनिया मैं छोढ के आया हूं
आंगन में कोई गुढिया मैं छोढ के आया हूं
पत्थर कि तरह बेशक सूनी हैं मेरी आंखें
काजल कि वहीं डिबिया मैं छोढ के आया हूं
४
राशन का मुझे पर्चा रिश्वत से हि मिलता है
मांगूं जो कभी क़र्ज़ा रिश्वत से हि मिलता है
सढकौं पे जो टक्रा कर, ख़ुद को कहीं खो बैठूं
अपना भी मुझे मुर्दा रिश्वत से हि मिलता है
५
माना के ख़राबे की तस्वीर-ए मुजस्सम हूं
झूटे किसी भाषन की तहरीर-ए मुजस्सम हूं
फंदे में ग़रीबी के ला कर मुझे कहते हैं
मैं मुल्क के पैरौं की ज़ंजीर-ए मुजस्सम हूं
६
ता’मीर-ए शिवाला भी मुझ से हि कराते हो
मिम्बर कि मरम्मत को मुझ को हि बुलाते हो
मंदिर कि शहादत पर, मस्जिद कि शहादत पर
मेरे हि घरौं में फिर, तुम आग लगाते हो
७
हर जिस्म यहां मेरी, मेहनत से संवरता है
रूई के हुनर वाला, धागे को तरस्ता है
कर्गा मेरे हाथौं का, लगता है मुझे अक्सर
मैले मेरे कुर्ते के पैवंद पे हंस्ता है
८
नग़्मात निगल लेंगे, जज़्बात निगल लेंगे
यूं हि मेरे सपनौं को हालात निगल लेंगे
लोगौं से कटी सढकें कारौं से भरे रस्ते
एक दिन मेरे हिस्से की फ़ुटपाथ निगल लेंगे
९
बीती हुई बातौं पर हाथौं को नहीं मलता
तक़्दीर भी कोसे से कुछ काम नहीं चलता
रोना है बहुत आसां, ग़म भी हैं बहुत लैकिन
जज़्बात के ईंधन से चूल्हा तो नहीं जलता
१०
शाहौं के इरादौं से अंजान नहीं हूं मैं
संदूक़ में रखने का सामान नहीं हूं मैं
तुम ख़ैर मनाओ मैं बोलूं न कभी कुछ भी
मुश्किल जो मैं बन जाऊं, आसान नहीं हूं मैं
११
छीनूं कभी मेहनत का इन’आम तो क्या होगा
महलौं पे जो लिख आऊं मैं नाम तो क्या होगा
चीख़ौं को दबाने का, आहौं को कुचलने का
तुम को भी दिखा दूं मैं अंजाम तो क्या होगा
१२
एक दिन कोई मुझ में से फिर नींद से उट्ठेगा
ना’रा कोई बादल पर फिर बर्क़ सा चमकेगा
तारीख़ ये कहती है, सब मैं हि बदलता हूं
इस वक़्त का पहिय्या भी फिर मुझ से हि बदलेगा
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sunil puwaar (looks like in his mid 40s), IAS, Forestry Officer maharashTra. In this wonderful nazm he deals with many professions of low wage, daily, migrant and self employed workers. This was recited at a mushaa’era organized in biidar by dakkhani adab in March 2020. I have linked this to the series “mazdoor” under subject-wise index, in celebration of labour on May 1st.
1
bhaTTi1 meN jo tapta2 hai insaan vahi maiN huN
kooRe se jo binta3 hai saamaan vahi maiN huN
seewar4 meN khadaanoN5 meN har roz utarta hai
le kar ke hatheli6 par jo jaan vahi maiN huN 1.furnace 2.bake 3.sort 4.sewer drains 5.diggings, holes 6.palm, hands
The one who gets baked in front of a furnace, that’s me (this could be a brick maker or a baker or a steel worker). The one who sorts and picks from the garbage dump, that’s me. The one who descends into sewer drains and deep holes, taking his life in his hands, that’s me.
2
maiN luu1 ke thapeRauN2 meN riksha bhi chalaata huN
har subah tere ghar meN aKhbaar maiN laata huN
sabzi ka kabhi Thela, signal pe kabhi chhatri
fooTpaath se aksar3 maiN aavaaz lagaata huN 1.hot and dry winds 2.gusts 3.often
I ply and pedal the rikshaw in the face of gusts of hot winds. I deliver the newspaper to your home every day. Sometimes, a vegetable cart, at other times vending under an umbrella at a crossing, the one that hawks from the footpath, that’s me.
3
sapnoN ki kahiN duniya maiN chhoR ke aaya huN
aaNgan meN koii guRiya maiN chhoR ke aaya huN
patthar ki tarah beshak1 suuni2 haiN meri aaNkheN
kaajal ki vahiN Dibiya maiN chhoR ke aaya huN 1.no doubt 2.desolate, lusterless
I have left behind my dreams and my little daughter in my courtyard (this could be a migrant worker come to the city leaving his family behind). No doubt my eyes look stony and forlorn, but the balm for my eyes, I have left behind.
4
raashan1 ka mujhe parcha2 rishvat se hi milta hai
maaNguN jo kabhi qarza3, rishvat se hi milta hai
saRkoN pe jo Takra kar Khud ko kahiN kho baiThuN
apna bhi mujhe murda4 rishvat se hi milta hai 1.ration 2.paper, card 3.loan 4.corpse
I have to pay a bribe to get my ration card and also to get a (government) loan. If I get killed on some road, then they have to pay a bribe even to retrieve my body.
5
maana1 ke Kharaabe2 ki tasveer-e mujassim3 huN
jhooTe kisi bhaashan4 ki tahrir5-e mujassim3 huN
phande meN Gharibi ke laa kar mujhe kahte ho
maiN mulk ke pairoN ki zanjiir-e mujassim3 huN 1.agree 2.ruins, poverty 3.personified 4.(political) speech/promises 5.writing, words
I agree that I am the picture of poverty personified. I am the words of broken promises of your political speeches. You surround me in the web of poverty and then accuse me of being a drag on the feet of progress of the country.
6
t’aamiir1-e shivaala bhi mujh se hi karaate ho
mimbar2 ki marammat3 ko mujh ko hi bulaate ho
mandir ki shahaadat4 par, masjid ki shahaadat par
mere hi gharoN meN phir, tum aag lagaate ho 1.construction 2.pulpit (in a mosque) 3.repair 4.martyrdom i.e. destruction
You get me to build the shivaala (shiv temple). You call me to repair the pulpit in your mosque. And when the mosque of the mandir are destroyed you create riots to burn my house.
7
har jism1 yahaaN meri, mehnat se saNvarta2 hai
ruuii3 ke hunar4 vaala, dhaage ko tarasta hai
karga5 mere haathoN ka, lagta hai mujhe aksar
maeyle mere kurte ke paivand pe haNsta hai 1.body 2.adorned 3.cotton 4.skill 5.loom
This may be a millworkder. Every body here is adorned (in beautiful dresses) because of my labour, while the one who is skilled at weaving cotton thirsts for bare threads. The loom in my hands, appears to me often, to laugh at the patches on my dirty shirt. This reminds me of sahir ludhianavi’s “millworkers’ strike”, posted as a part of this series …
mileN isi liye resham ke Dher bunti haiN
ke duKhtaraan-e vatan taar taar ko tarseN
8
naGhmaat1 nigal2 leNge, jazbaat3 nigal2 leNge
yuN hi mere sapnoN ko haalaat4 nigal leNge
logoN se kaTi saRkeN, kaaroN se bhare raste
ek din mere hisse ki fooTpaath nigal leNge 1.songs, joys 2.swallow 3.feelings, aspirations 4.conditions
They will swallow my joys and my aspirations. These conditions will destroy my dreams. Roads criss-crossed with people, pathways filled with cars will soon swallow my portion of the footpath too. Reminds me of sahir’s …
jitni bhi bilDiNgeN thiiN, sethoN ne baaNT liiN haiN
fooTpaath bamabii ke haiN aashiyaaN hamaara
and munnavar raana’s …
so jaate haiN fooTpaath pe aKhbaar bichha kar
mazdoor kabhi niind ki goli nahiN khaate
9
biiti1 hui baatoN par haathoN ko nahiN malta2
taqdir bhi kose3 se kuchh kaam nahiN chalta
rona hai bahut aasaaN, Gham bhi haiN bahut laikin
jazbaat4 ke eendhan5 se choolha to nahiN jalta 1.past 2.haath malna is either to regret or to feel sorry about or complain about 3.curse 4.sentiments, emotions 5. fuel
I do not regret or feel sorry or complain about what is past. Cursing my fate does not accomplish anything. It is easy to cry and week and there are a lot of sorrows for sure, but the stove doesn’t burn on the fuel of emotions. A burning stove is symbolic of cooking for meals.
10
shaahoN ke iraadoN1 se anjaan2 nahiN huN maiN
sandooq3 meN rakhne ka saamaan nahiN huN maiN
tum Khair4 manaao maiN boluuN na kabhi kuchh bhi
mushkil jo maiN ban jaauN, aasaan nahiN huN maiN 1.intentions 2.unaware, not understanding 3.storage chest/box 4.well being
It is not that I do not know the intentions of the rulers. They should be aware that I am not something that they can put away in a storage chest (this could imply vote bank, political support). You celebrate your well being and I never say anything! If I raise difficulties, it will not be easy.
11
chheenuN1 kabhi mehnat2 ka in’aam3 to kya hoga
mahloN pe jo likh aauN, maiN naam to kya hoga
cheeKhoN ko dabaane ka, aahoN4 ko kuchalne ka
tum ko bhi dikha duN maiN anjaam5 to kya hoga 1.snatch, take back 2.labour 3.reward, compensation 4.sighs 5.result
If I claim and take back the rightful reward of my labout, what do you think will happen. If I wrote my name on your mansions and claim ownership, what do you think will happen. Suppressing cries, choking off sighs, if I show you the result of this, what do you think will happen.
12
ek din koii mujh meN se phir neend se uTThega
n’aara1 koii baadal par phir barq2 sa chamkega
taariiKh3 ye kahti hai, sub maiN hi badalta huN
is vaqt ka pahiya bhi, phir mujh se hi badlega 1.cry of protest 2.lightning 3.history
One day, someone from among me will rise from this sleep. The cry of protest will strike like a thunderbolt across clouds in the sky. History tells us that things change only because of me. This wheel of the times, the order with day, will also change because of me.
sunil puwaar (looks like in his mid 40s), IAS, Forestry Officer maharashTra. In this wonderful nazm he deals with many professions of low wage, daily, migrant and self employed workers. This was recited at a mushaa’era organized in biidar by dakkhani adab in March 2020. I have linked this to the series “mazdoor” under subject-wise index, in celebration of labour on May 1st.
1
bhaTTi1 meN jo tapta2 hai insaan vahi maiN huN
kooRe se jo binta3 hai saamaan vahi maiN huN
seewar4 meN khadaanoN5 meN har roz utarta hai
le kar ke hatheli6 par jo jaan vahi maiN huN
1.furnace 2.bake 3.sort 4.sewer drains 5.diggings, holes 6.palm, hands
The one who gets baked in front of a furnace, that’s me (this could be a brick maker or a baker or a steel worker). The one who sorts and picks from the garbage dump, that’s me. The one who descends into sewer drains and deep holes, taking his life in his hands, that’s me.
2
maiN luu1 ke thapeRauN2 meN riksha bhi chalaata huN
har subah tere ghar meN aKhbaar maiN laata huN
sabzi ka kabhi Thela, signal pe kabhi chhatri
fooTpaath se aksar3 maiN aavaaz lagaata huN
1.hot and dry winds 2.gusts 3.often
I ply and pedal the rikshaw in the face of gusts of hot winds. I deliver the newspaper to your home every day. Sometimes, a vegetable cart, at other times vending under an umbrella at a crossing, the one that hawks from the footpath, that’s me.
3
sapnoN ki kahiN duniya maiN chhoR ke aaya huN
aaNgan meN koii guRiya maiN chhoR ke aaya huN
patthar ki tarah beshak1 suuni2 haiN meri aaNkheN
kaajal ki vahiN Dibiya maiN chhoR ke aaya huN
1.no doubt 2.desolate, lusterless
I have left behind my dreams and my little daughter in my courtyard (this could be a migrant worker come to the city leaving his family behind). No doubt my eyes look stony and forlorn, but the balm for my eyes, I have left behind.
4
raashan1 ka mujhe parcha2 rishvat se hi milta hai
maaNguN jo kabhi qarza3, rishvat se hi milta hai
saRkoN pe jo Takra kar Khud ko kahiN kho baiThuN
apna bhi mujhe murda4 rishvat se hi milta hai
1.ration 2.paper, card 3.loan 4.corpse
I have to pay a bribe to get my ration card and also to get a (government) loan. If I get killed on some road, then they have to pay a bribe even to retrieve my body.
5
maana1 ke Kharaabe2 ki tasveer-e mujassim3 huN
jhooTe kisi bhaashan4 ki tahrir5-e mujassim3 huN
phande meN Gharibi ke laa kar mujhe kahte ho
maiN mulk ke pairoN ki zanjiir-e mujassim3 huN
1.agree 2.ruins, poverty 3.personified 4.(political) speech/promises 5.writing, words
I agree that I am the picture of poverty personified. I am the words of broken promises of your political speeches. You surround me in the web of poverty and then accuse me of being a drag on the feet of progress of the country.
6
t’aamiir1-e shivaala bhi mujh se hi karaate ho
mimbar2 ki marammat3 ko mujh ko hi bulaate ho
mandir ki shahaadat4 par, masjid ki shahaadat par
mere hi gharoN meN phir, tum aag lagaate ho
1.construction 2.pulpit (in a mosque) 3.repair 4.martyrdom i.e. destruction
You get me to build the shivaala (shiv temple). You call me to repair the pulpit in your mosque. And when the mosque of the mandir are destroyed you create riots to burn my house.
7
har jism1 yahaaN meri, mehnat se saNvarta2 hai
ruuii3 ke hunar4 vaala, dhaage ko tarasta hai
karga5 mere haathoN ka, lagta hai mujhe aksar
maeyle mere kurte ke paivand pe haNsta hai
1.body 2.adorned 3.cotton 4.skill 5.loom
This may be a millworkder. Every body here is adorned (in beautiful dresses) because of my labour, while the one who is skilled at weaving cotton thirsts for bare threads. The loom in my hands, appears to me often, to laugh at the patches on my dirty shirt. This reminds me of sahir ludhianavi’s “millworkers’ strike”, posted as a part of this series …
mileN isi liye resham ke Dher bunti haiN
ke duKhtaraan-e vatan taar taar ko tarseN
8
naGhmaat1 nigal2 leNge, jazbaat3 nigal2 leNge
yuN hi mere sapnoN ko haalaat4 nigal leNge
logoN se kaTi saRkeN, kaaroN se bhare raste
ek din mere hisse ki fooTpaath nigal leNge
1.songs, joys 2.swallow 3.feelings, aspirations 4.conditions
They will swallow my joys and my aspirations. These conditions will destroy my dreams. Roads criss-crossed with people, pathways filled with cars will soon swallow my portion of the footpath too. Reminds me of sahir’s …
jitni bhi bilDiNgeN thiiN, sethoN ne baaNT liiN haiN
fooTpaath bamabii ke haiN aashiyaaN hamaara
and munnavar raana’s …
so jaate haiN fooTpaath pe aKhbaar bichha kar
mazdoor kabhi niind ki goli nahiN khaate
9
biiti1 hui baatoN par haathoN ko nahiN malta2
taqdir bhi kose3 se kuchh kaam nahiN chalta
rona hai bahut aasaaN, Gham bhi haiN bahut laikin
jazbaat4 ke eendhan5 se choolha to nahiN jalta
1.past 2.haath malna is either to regret or to feel sorry about or complain about 3.curse 4.sentiments, emotions 5. fuel
I do not regret or feel sorry or complain about what is past. Cursing my fate does not accomplish anything. It is easy to cry and week and there are a lot of sorrows for sure, but the stove doesn’t burn on the fuel of emotions. A burning stove is symbolic of cooking for meals.
10
shaahoN ke iraadoN1 se anjaan2 nahiN huN maiN
sandooq3 meN rakhne ka saamaan nahiN huN maiN
tum Khair4 manaao maiN boluuN na kabhi kuchh bhi
mushkil jo maiN ban jaauN, aasaan nahiN huN maiN
1.intentions 2.unaware, not understanding 3.storage chest/box 4.well being
It is not that I do not know the intentions of the rulers. They should be aware that I am not something that they can put away in a storage chest (this could imply vote bank, political support). You celebrate your well being and I never say anything! If I raise difficulties, it will not be easy.
11
chheenuN1 kabhi mehnat2 ka in’aam3 to kya hoga
mahloN pe jo likh aauN, maiN naam to kya hoga
cheeKhoN ko dabaane ka, aahoN4 ko kuchalne ka
tum ko bhi dikha duN maiN anjaam5 to kya hoga
1.snatch, take back 2.labour 3.reward, compensation 4.sighs 5.result
If I claim and take back the rightful reward of my labout, what do you think will happen. If I wrote my name on your mansions and claim ownership, what do you think will happen. Suppressing cries, choking off sighs, if I show you the result of this, what do you think will happen.
12
ek din koii mujh meN se phir neend se uTThega
n’aara1 koii baadal par phir barq2 sa chamkega
taariiKh3 ye kahti hai, sub maiN hi badalta huN
is vaqt ka pahiya bhi, phir mujh se hi badlega
1.cry of protest 2.lightning 3.history
One day, someone from among me will rise from this sleep. The cry of protest will strike like a thunderbolt across clouds in the sky. History tells us that things change only because of me. This wheel of the times, the order with day, will also change because of me.
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