Recitation
mohammed ali
محمد علی بِلالی ۔ شاہد
محمد علی کی نظم “فریڈم بیٹر ناؤ” کا ترجمہ
دیکھتا یہ ہوں كہ بہتر ہے یہی
موت آنی تو ہے ، لڑتا ہوا مر جاؤں ابھی
اِس سے اچھا مجھے انجام ملے گا نہ کبھی
بہتر ہے یقیناً کسی بستر پہ پڑے
لاچار ہو ، بیمار ہو ، بیٹھے نہ کھڑے
سسکیاں لیتے بلکتے ہوئے کیوں دم توڑے
اور کسی مرض كے پنجہ میں جکڑ کر یوں ہی
گڑگڑاتا ہوا ہو جاؤں دعا گو میں بھی
ایذا دیتی ہوئی موت آئے مگر آئے وہی
یا میں پِھر قلب کی تکلیف کا مارا ہو جاؤں
یا دوا کوئی ملے نا تو تڑپتا رہ جاؤں
اِس سے بہتر کہ میں ہبشی ہوں تو بِسمل ہو جاؤں
کیا ہی اچھا ہے كہ اِس طرح سے موت آئے مجھے
صورت ایسی نہ ہو کہ خوف ہی کھا جائے مجھے
موت شیریں ہے وہ آمادہ اگر پائے مجھے
ایسا نہ ہو کہ خوں میرا بیکار بہے
ٹکراؤ جو شہراہ پہ بے وجہ لگے
ٹکڑے ٹکڑے میرے اعضاؑ کے بھی ہر سمت اُڑے
موت بہتر ہے بلاوے سے جو آئے مجھکو
نا كہ اندیکھے کسی کونے میں پھانسے مجھکو
اور مردہ کوئی انجانا ہی پائے مجھکو
بہتر ہے یہی میری جوانی نہ ہو زنداں کی نظر
مجھکو اِس بات کی مرضی یہاں مل جائے اگر
قتل کر دے میرا اِس دار و رسن كے اوپر
خون کھولا ہے میرا ظلم کی شِدّت سے تیری
لڑ كے مرنا ہے بجا خون کی گرمی ہے میری
ورنہ ٹھنڈا نہ یہ ہو جائے ضعیفی میں میری
اپنے حق كے لئے لڑتے ہوئے موت اچھی ہے
چاپلوسی میں ،خوشامد میں یہ کمزوری ہے
جھوٹی کرنے میں صلح مجھکو نہ منظوری ہے
وقت ہے اب كہ کھلے عام میں کہہ سکتا ہوں
سر اُٹھائے ہوئے ، حق مانگتا مر سکتا ہوں
ابھی شباب ہے مرضی پہ میں چل سکتا ہوں
بہتر ہے یہی فیصلہ ہو آج ہمارا
اب مجھے خوف نہیں موت کا ہرگز نہ تمہارا
کل ہو روشن یا نہ ہو سر پہ میرے کوئی سویرا
मोहम्मद अली बिलाली – शाहेद
मोहम्मद अली की नज़्म “Freedom – Better Now” का तर्जुमा
देखता ये हूं के बेहतर है यही
मौत आनि तो है, लड़ता हुआ मर जाऊं अभी
इस से अच्छा मुझे अंजाम मिलेगा न कभी
बेहतर है यक़ीनन किसी बिस्तर पे पड़े
लाचार हो, बीमार हो बैठे न खड़े
सिसकियां लेते बिलकते हुए क्यूं दम तोड़े
और किसी मर्ज़ के पंजे में जकड़ कर यूं ही
गिड़गिड़ाता हुआ हो जाऊं दुआ-गो मैं भी
ईज़ा देती हुई मौत आए मगर आए वही
या मैं फिर क़ल्ब की तकलीफ़ का मारा हो जाऊं
या दवा कोई मिले न तो तड़पता रह जाऊं
इस से बेहतर के मैं हबशी हूं तो बिस्मिल हो जाऊं
क्या ही अच्छा है के इस तरह से मौत आए मुझे
सूरत ऐसी न हो के ख़ौफ़ हि खा जाए मुझे
मौत शीरीं है वो आमादा अगर पाए मुझे
ऐसा न हो के ख़ूँ मेरा बेकार बहे
टकराऊ जो शहराह पे बे-वजह लगे
टुकड़े टुकड़े मेरे आ’ज़ा के भी हर सिम्त उड़े
मौत बेहतर है बुलावे से जो आए मुझ को
ना के अनदेखे किसी कोने में फांसे मुझ को
और मुर्दा कोई अंजाना ही पाए मुझ को
बेहतर है यही मेरी जवानी न हो ज़िन्दाँ की नज़र
मुझ को इस बात की मर्ज़ी यहां मिल जाए अगर
क़त्ल कर दे मेरा इस दार ओ रसन के ऊपर
ख़ून खौला है मेरा ज़ुल्म की शिद्दत से तेरी
लड़ के मरना है बजा ख़ून की गर्मी है मेरी
वरना ठंडा न ये हो जाए ज़ईफ़ी में मेरी
अपने हक़ के लिए लड़ते हुए मौत अच्छी है
चापलूसी में ख़ुशआमद में ये कमज़ोरी है
झूटी करने में सुलह मुझको न मंज़ूरी है
वक़्त है अब के खुले आम मैं कह सकता हूँ
सर उठाए हुए हक़ मांगता मर सकता हूँ
अभी शबाब है मर्ज़ी पे मैं चल सकता हूँ
बेहतर है यही फ़ैसला हो आज हमारा
अब मुझे ख़ौफ़ नहीं मौत का, हरगिज़ न तुम्हारा
कल हो रौशन या न हो सर पे मेरे कोई सवेरा
mohammad ali bilaali – shahed
mohammad ali ki nazm “Freedom – Better Now” ka tarjuma
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. There was a protest against oppressive ill treatment at Attica Prison. Prisoners were holding staff hostage trying to bargain for better treatment. The spokesman of the protestors was given 10 minutes to surrender before troops stormed in and massacred many. mohammad ali wrote a poem “Freedom – Better Now” as an imagined response of the prisoner/spokesman. As a tribute to mohammed ali, I have recomposed his poem in urdu.
dekhta ye huN ke behtar1 hai yahi
maut aani2 to hai, laRta hua mar jaauN abhi
is se achha mujhe anjaam3 milega na kabhi1.better 2.has to come 3.end, fate
I see that it is better, knowing that death is certain, that I die fighting. There can no better fate for me than this.
behtar hai yaqeenan1 kisi bistar2 pe paRe
laachaar3 ho, beemar4 ho, baiThe na khaRe
sisakiyaaN5 lete, bilakte6 hue kyuN dum toRe1.certainly 2.bed 3.helpless 4.sick 5.whimpering 6.sobbing
It is certainly better than lying in a sick bed, helpless, unable to sit or stand, whimpering and sobbing until finally you die.
aur kisi marz1 ke panje2 meN jakaR3 kar yuN hi
giRgiRata4 hua ho jaauN dua-go5 maiN bhi
eeza6 deti hui maut aaye magar aaye vahi1.disease 2.claws 3.grip 4.pleading 5.praying 6.pain, torture
(It is better than being) in the grip/claws of a disease, pleading and praying helplessly, while death comes with great pain, but it comes never the less.
ya maiN phir qalb1 ki takleef ka maara ho jaauN
ya dava koii mile na to taRapta rah jaauN
is se behtar2 ke maiN habashi3 huN to bismil4 ho jaauN1.heart 2.better 3.negro 4.sacrificial animal
Or may be I get a heart attack, or die suffering, waiting for some medicine/cure that I cannot get. It is better that I be killed just because I am negro.
kya hi achha hai ke is tarah se maut aaye mujhe
soorat1 aisi na ho ke Khauf2 hi khaa jaaye mujhe
maut shiriN3 hai vo aamada4 agar paaye mujhe1.condition 2.fear 3.sweet 4.willing, ready
How much better it is that I die like this (fighting) and not cower overcome by fear. Death is sweet only if it finds me ready and willing.
aisa na ho ke KhuN mera bekaar bahe
Takraau1 jo shahraah2 pe be-vajah3 lage
TukRe TukRe mere a’aza4 ke bhi har simt5 uRay1.collision 2.highway 3.without reason, useless 4.limbs 5.direction
Let it not be that my blood be spilled in vain in some meaningless collision on a highway, with my body parts/limbs flying all over.
maut behtar hai bulaave1 se jo aaye mujhko
na ke andekhe2 kisi kone meN phaaNse mujhko
aur murda3 koi anjaana4 hi paaye mujhko1.calling, invitation 2.unseen, sudden 3.corpse 4.unknown, unrecognized
Death is better when it comes by invitation rather than snare me suddenly in some corner/slum of the city where someone finds my unrecognized corpse.
behtar hai yahi meri javaani na ho zindaaN ki nazar1
mujhko is baat ki marzi2 yahaaN mil jaaye agar
qatl3 kar de mera is daar-o-rasan4 ke oopar1.offering, sacrifice 2.permission, agreement 3.kill 4.gallows
It is better that my youth not be wasted in prison. If I get agreement here, kill me now, on these gallows.
Khoon khaula1 hai mera zulm2 ki shiddat3 se teri
laR ke marna hai baja4 Khoon ki garmi hai meri
varna ThanDa na ye ho jaae za’eefi5 meN meri1.boil 2.oppression 3.excess 4.justified 5.old age, weakness
My blood boils in anger at your excessive oppression. It is better that I die while my blood still boils, otherwise it will cool down in my old age/weakness.
apne haq1 ke liye laRte hue maut achhi hai
chaaploosi2 meN, Khushaamad3 meN ye kamzori4 hai
jhooTi karne meN sulah5 mujhko na manzoori6 hai1.rights 2.flattery 3.cajolery 4.weakness 5.peace 6.acceptance
Death while fighting for your rights is better. Flattery and cajolery has this weakness that I cannot accept a false/defective peace.
vaqt hai ab ke khule-aam1 maiN kah sakta huN
sar uThaaye hue, haq2 maaNgta mar sakta huN
abhi shabab3 hai marzi4 pe maiN chal sakta huN1.openly, without fear 2.rights 3.youth 4.will
This is the time while I can still speak without fear, while I can still die fighting, speaking the truth, asking for my rights. I am still young/strong and can walk my own path under my own will.
behtar1 hai yahi faisla2 ho aaj hamaara
ab muje Khauf3 nahiN maut4 ka hargiz na tumhaara
kal ho raushan ya na ho sar per mere koii savera5 1.better 2.decision 3.fear 4.death 5.dawn
It is better that there be a decision now/today. I do not fear Death and certainly not you. I do not care if I see another dawn.
mohammad ali bilaali – shahed
mohammad ali ki nazm “Freedom – Better Now” ka tarjuma
There was a protest against oppressive ill treatment at Attica Prison. Prisoners were holding staff hostage trying to bargain for better treatment. The spokesman of the protestors was given 10 minutes to surrender before troops stormed in and massacred many. mohammad ali wrote a poem “Freedom – Better Now” as an imagined response of the prisoner/spokesman. As a tribute to mohammed ali, I have recomposed his poem in urdu.
dekhta ye huN ke behtar1 hai yahi
maut aani2 to hai, laRta hua mar jaauN abhi
is se achha mujhe anjaam3 milega na kabhi
1.better 2.has to come 3.end, fate
I see that it is better, knowing that death is certain, that I die fighting. There can no better fate for me than this.
behtar hai yaqeenan1 kisi bistar2 pe paRe
laachaar3 ho, beemar4 ho, baiThe na khaRe
sisakiyaaN5 lete, bilakte6 hue kyuN dum toRe
1.certainly 2.bed 3.helpless 4.sick 5.whimpering 6.sobbing
It is certainly better than lying in a sick bed, helpless, unable to sit or stand, whimpering and sobbing until finally you die.
aur kisi marz1 ke panje2 meN jakaR3 kar yuN hi
giRgiRata4 hua ho jaauN dua-go5 maiN bhi
eeza6 deti hui maut aaye magar aaye vahi
1.disease 2.claws 3.grip 4.pleading 5.praying 6.pain, torture
(It is better than being) in the grip/claws of a disease, pleading and praying helplessly, while death comes with great pain, but it comes never the less.
ya maiN phir qalb1 ki takleef ka maara ho jaauN
ya dava koii mile na to taRapta rah jaauN
is se behtar2 ke maiN habashi3 huN to bismil4 ho jaauN
1.heart 2.better 3.negro 4.sacrificial animal
Or may be I get a heart attack, or die suffering, waiting for some medicine/cure that I cannot get. It is better that I be killed just because I am negro.
kya hi achha hai ke is tarah se maut aaye mujhe
soorat1 aisi na ho ke Khauf2 hi khaa jaaye mujhe
maut shiriN3 hai vo aamada4 agar paaye mujhe
1.condition 2.fear 3.sweet 4.willing, ready
How much better it is that I die like this (fighting) and not cower overcome by fear. Death is sweet only if it finds me ready and willing.
aisa na ho ke KhuN mera bekaar bahe
Takraau1 jo shahraah2 pe be-vajah3 lage
TukRe TukRe mere a’aza4 ke bhi har simt5 uRay
1.collision 2.highway 3.without reason, useless 4.limbs 5.direction
Let it not be that my blood be spilled in vain in some meaningless collision on a highway, with my body parts/limbs flying all over.
maut behtar hai bulaave1 se jo aaye mujhko
na ke andekhe2 kisi kone meN phaaNse mujhko
aur murda3 koi anjaana4 hi paaye mujhko
1.calling, invitation 2.unseen, sudden 3.corpse 4.unknown, unrecognized
Death is better when it comes by invitation rather than snare me suddenly in some corner/slum of the city where someone finds my unrecognized corpse.
behtar hai yahi meri javaani na ho zindaaN ki nazar1
mujhko is baat ki marzi2 yahaaN mil jaaye agar
qatl3 kar de mera is daar-o-rasan4 ke oopar
1.offering, sacrifice 2.permission, agreement 3.kill 4.gallows
It is better that my youth not be wasted in prison. If I get agreement here, kill me now, on these gallows.
Khoon khaula1 hai mera zulm2 ki shiddat3 se teri
laR ke marna hai baja4 Khoon ki garmi hai meri
varna ThanDa na ye ho jaae za’eefi5 meN meri
1.boil 2.oppression 3.excess 4.justified 5.old age, weakness
My blood boils in anger at your excessive oppression. It is better that I die while my blood still boils, otherwise it will cool down in my old age/weakness.
apne haq1 ke liye laRte hue maut achhi hai
chaaploosi2 meN, Khushaamad3 meN ye kamzori4 hai
jhooTi karne meN sulah5 mujhko na manzoori6 hai
1.rights 2.flattery 3.cajolery 4.weakness 5.peace 6.acceptance
Death while fighting for your rights is better. Flattery and cajolery has this weakness that I cannot accept a false/defective peace.
vaqt hai ab ke khule-aam1 maiN kah sakta huN
sar uThaaye hue, haq2 maaNgta mar sakta huN
abhi shabab3 hai marzi4 pe maiN chal sakta huN
1.openly, without fear 2.rights 3.youth 4.will
This is the time while I can still speak without fear, while I can still die fighting, speaking the truth, asking for my rights. I am still young/strong and can walk my own path under my own will.
behtar1 hai yahi faisla2 ho aaj hamaara
ab muje Khauf3 nahiN maut4 ka hargiz na tumhaara
kal ho raushan ya na ho sar per mere koii savera5
1.better 2.decision 3.fear 4.death 5.dawn
It is better that there be a decision now/today. I do not fear Death and certainly not you. I do not care if I see another dawn.
Freedom, Better Now – Mohammad Ali
Better far— from all I see—
To die fighting to be free
What more fitting end could be?
Better surely than in some bed
Where in broken health I’m led
Lingering until I’m dead
Better than with prayers and pleas
Or in the clutch of some disease
Wasting slowly by degrees
Better than of heart attack
or some dose of drug I lack
Let me die by being black
Better far that I should go
Standing here against the foe
Is the sweeter death to know
Better than the bloody stain
on some highway where I’m lain
Torn by flying glass and pane
Better calling death to come
than to die another dumb,
muted victim in the slum
Better than of this prison rot
if there’s any choice I’ve got
Kill me here on the spot
Better for my fight to wage
Now while my blood boils with rage
Lest it cool with ancient age
Better violent for us to die
Than to Uncle Tom and try
Making peace just to live a lie
Better now that I say my sooth
I’m gonna die demanding Truth
While I’m still akin to youth
Better now than later on
Now that fear of death is gone
Never mind another dawn.
