nau-e bashar jaag – josh

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

Recitation

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نوعِ  بشر  جاگ  – جوشؔ ملیح آبادی

۱

اے  خفتہ  ہنر، خفتہ  گہر، خفتہ  نظر  جاگ

اے  خیرہ  دِل  و خیرہ  سر  و  خیرہ  جگر  جاگ

اے  خاک  بجاں، خاک  بکف، خاک  بسر  جاگ

چمکے  سرِ  بالیں  وہ  حوادث  کے  تبر  جاگ

ہوگی  تو  بہت  روح  کو  تکلیف  مگر  جاگ

اے  نوع  بشر، نوع  بشر، نوعِ  بشر، اے  نوعِ  بشر  جاگ

۲

آبا  کے  فسانوں  کا  تجھے  اب  بھی  ہے  سرسام

مبروص  ترا  ذہن،  تیری  عقل  زبوں  گام

جھولی  میں  تری  آج  بھی اے  بستۂ  آلام

سیلے  ہوے  اقوال  ہیں، چٹکے  ہوے  اوہام

اے کشتۂ  اجداد، پئے  نقد  و  نظر  جاگ

اے  نوع  بشر، نوع  بشر، نوعِ  بشر، اے  نوعِ  بشر  جاگ

۳

افسردہ  و  حیراں  ہیں  ترے  خواب  سے  افلاک

سیّار  کے  دِل  خون،  ثوابت  کے  جگر  چاک

مفلوج  ہے  کونین،  شکن  ہمتِ  بیباک

تاچند  خریداریِ  سنگ  و  خس  و  خاشاک

اے مشتریِ  شمس  و  خریدارِ  قمر  جاگ

اے  نوع  بشر، نوع  بشر، نوعِ  بشر، اے  نوعِ  بشر  جاگ

۴

تو  جنسِ  تعصب  کا  خریدار  ہے  اب  تک

ملکوں کے  گھروندوں  میں  گرفتار  ہے  اب  تک

دِل  وحدتِ  اقوام  سے  بیزار  ہے  اب  تک

تو  مشرک  و خونخوار  و  سیہ  کار  ہے  اب  تک

اِنسان کے  اے  دیدۂ  توحید  نگر  جاگ

اے  نوع  بشر، نوع  بشر، نوعِ  بشر، اے  نوعِ  بشر  جاگ

۵

اِک  عمر  سے  برپا ہے  دِلِ  سنگ  میں  کہرام

مضطر  ہے  ترشنے  کے  لئے  خاطرِ  اصنام

میدان  ہیں  بیتاب  کہ  شہروں کے  ملیں  نام

ذرّات  کے  سینوں  میں  پرافشاں  ہیں  در  و  بام

معمار!  تری  سمت  ہے  گیتی  کی  نظر  جاگ

اے  نوع  بشر، نوع  بشر، نوعِ  بشر، اے  نوعِ  بشر  جاگ

۶

تاریِخ  غلط  لہجہ  کی  ہے  شوخیِ  گفتار

یہ  قول  کہ  تو  بھی  تھا  کبھی زیرک  و  بیدار

واللہ  کہ  یہ  ڈینگ  ہے، اے  یارِ  زُبوں  کار

اور  سچ  بھی  ہو  بالفرض  تو اے خفتہ  و  نادار

ہا ں  بارِ  دِگر، بارِ  دِگر، بارِ  دگر  جاگ

اے  نوع  بشر، نوع  بشر، نوعِ  بشر، اے  نوعِ  بشر  جاگ

۷

قدموں  پہ  جھکانا  ہے  تجھے تاجِ کیانی

اپنے کو  بنانا  ہے تجھے  یوسفِ  ثانی

دینا  ہی  نہیں  صرف  بڑھاپے  کو  جوانی

تجھ  کو  نہیں بھرنا ہے  فقط  آگ  سے  پانی

خود  موت  کو  کرنا  ہے  تجھے  زیر  و  زبر،  جاگ

اے  نوع  بشر، نوع  بشر، نوعِ  بشر، اے  نوعِ  بشر  جاگ

۸

وہ  نبضِ  شبِ  تارِ  زُبوں  چھوٹ  رہی  ہے

کاشانۂ  ظلمت  کو  ضیا  لوٹ  رہی  ہے

وہ  دیوِ  سیاہی  کی  کمر  ٹوٹ  رہی  ہے

ہاں  دیکھ، وہ  مشرق  سے کرن  پھوٹ  رہی  ہے

ہے وقتِ  سحر،  وقتِ  سحر،  وقتِ  سحر  جاگ

اے  نوع  بشر، نوع  بشر، نوعِ  بشر، اے  نوعِ  بشر  جاگ

नौ-ए बशर जाग – जोश मलीहाबादी

१

अए ख़ुफ़्ता हुनर, ख़ुफ़्ता गोहर, ख़ुफ़्ता नज़र जाग

अए ख़ीरा दिल ओ ख़ीरा सर ओ ख़ीरा जिगर जाग

अए ख़ाक बजां, ख़ाक बकफ़, ख़ाक बसर जाग

चमके सर-ए बालीं वो हवादिस के तबर जाग

होगी तो बहुत रूह को तक्लीफ़ मगर जाग

अए नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, अए नौ-ए बशर जाग

२

आबा के फ़सानौं का तुझे अब भी है सरसाम

मब्रूस तेरा ज़हन, तेरी अक़्ल ज़ुबूं गाम

झोली में तेरी आज भी अए बस्ता-ए आलाम

सीले हुए अक़्वाल हैं, चिटके हुए औहाम

अए कुश्ता-ए अजदाद, पय-ए नक़्द ओ नज़र जाग

अए नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, अए नौ-ए बशर जाग

३

अफ़्सुर्दा ओ हैराँ हैं तेरे ख़्वाब से अफ़्लाक

सय्यार के दिल ख़ून, सवाबित के जिगर चाक

मफ़्लूज है कौनैन, शिकन हिम्मत-ए बेबाक

ताचंद ख़रीदारी-ए संग ओ ख़स ओ ख़ाशाक

अए मुश्तरी-ए शम्स ओ ख़रीदार-ए क़मर जाग

अए नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, अए नौ-ए बशर जाग

४

तू जिन्स-ए ता’अस्सुब का ख़रीदार है अब तक

मुल्कों के घरोंदौं में गिरफ़्तार है अब तक

दिल वहदत-ए अक़्वाम से बेज़ार है अब तक

तू मुश्रिक ओ ख़ूंख़वार ओ सिय’ह-फ़ाम है अब तक

इंसान के अए दीदा-ए तौहीद निगर जाग

अए नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, अए नौ-ए बशर जाग

५

एक उम्र से बरपा है दिल-ए संग में कोहराम

मुज़्तर है तरशने के लिए ख़ातिर-ए अस्नाम

मैदान हैं बेताब के शहरौं के मिलें नाम

ज़र्रात के सीनौं में पर-अफ़्शां हैं दर ओ बाम

मे’मार! तेरी सिम्त है गेती कि नज़र, जाग

अए नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, अए नौ-ए बशर जाग

६

तारीख़-ए ग़लत-लहजा कि है शूख़ी-ए गुफ़्तार

ये क़ौल के तू भी था कभी ज़ीरक ओ बेदार

वल्लाह के ये डेंग है, अए यार-ए ज़ुबूं कार

और सच भी हो बिलफ़र्ज़ तो अए ख़ुफ़ता ओ नादार

हाँ बार-ए दिगर, बार-ए दिगर, बार-ए दिगर जाग

अए नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, अए नौ-ए बशर जाग

७

क़दमों पे झुकाना है तुझे ताज-ए कयानी

अपने को बनाना है तुझे यूसुफ़-ए सानी

देना ही नहीं सिर्फ़ बुढ़ापे को जवानी

तुझ को नहीं भरना है फ़क़त आग से पानी

ख़ुद मौत को करना है तुझे ज़ेर ओ ज़बर जाग

अए नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, अए नौ-ए बशर जाग

८

वो नब्ज़-ए शब-ए तार-ए ज़ुबूं छूट रही है

काशाना-ए ज़ुल्मत को ज़िया लूट रही है

वो देव-ए सियाही कि कमर टूट रही है

हाँ देख वो मश्रिक़ से किरन फूट रही है

है वक़्त-ए सहर, वक़्त-ए सहर, वक़्त-ए सहर जाग

अए नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, नौ-ए बशर, अए नौ-ए बशर जाग

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution. His nazm are fiery, passionate, and full of energy. His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good. He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice, and orthodoxy. This nazm is a stirring call for humanity to wake up and welcome the coming of socialism.
1
aye Khufta1 hunar2, Khufta guhar3, Khufta nazar4 jaag
aye Kheera5 dil o Kheera sar6 o Kheera jigar7 jaag
aye Khaak bajaaN8, Khaak bakaf9, Khaak basar10 jaag
chamke sar-e baaliN11 vo havadis12 ke tabar13 jaag
hogi to bahut rooh14 ko takleef15 magar jaag
aye nau-e bashar16, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag 1.hidden/asleep 2.talent 3.pearl-quality 4.vision 5.dazzled, confused, aimless 6.head/mind 7.liver/seat of life in Urdu poetry 8.“dust on life” – wasted life 9.“dust in hand” – useless work 10.“dust on head” – useless thought 11.on top of the head 12.happenings, history 13.mace, hammer 14.spirit (used here for ego) 15.discomfort 16.human species
O you with numb minds, wasted talents and blinded vision, awake. O you with dazzled and confused mind and heart, aimless living, awake. You who wallow in dust, doing meaningless things, awake. The shining, sharp sword of history is about to descend upon your heads, awake. It may hurt your ego a bit but wake up. O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
2
aaba1 ke fasaanoN2 ka tujhe ab bhi hai sarsaam3
mabroos4 tera zahn5, teri aql6 zubooN7 gaam8
jholi meN teri aaj bhi aye basta-e aalaam9
seele10 hue aqvaal11 haiN, chikTe12 hue auhaam13
aye kushta14-e ajdaad15, pa-e-naqd-o-nazar16 jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag 1.ancestors 2.fables (unbelievable) 3.encephelitis, delirium 4.afflicted with leprosy 5.mind 6.intellect 7.helpless, useless 8.path 9.prisoner (victim) of calamities 10.rotten 11.sayings, beliefs 12.blossoming 13.superstitions 14.killed by 15.forbears 16.for the sake of survival (present) and foresight (future)
Your mind is delirious with ancestral fables. Your mind is atrophied and on the wrong path. O prisoner of calamities, even to this day you carry in your sack, rotten sayings/beliefs and rampant superstitions. O you victim of (the traditions) of your forebears, for the sake a new vision of well being, awake. O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
3
afsurda1 o hairaN2 haiN tere Khwaab3 se aflaak4
sayyar5 ke dil Khoon6, savaabit7 ke jigar chaak8
maflooj9 hai kaunain10, shikan11 himmat-e bebaak12
taachand13 Kharidari-e-sang-o-Khas-o-Khaashaak14
aye mushtari15-e shams16 o Kharidaar-e qamar17 jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag 1.sorrowful 2.puzzled 3.sleepiness, inaction 4.skies, heavens 5.(moving) planets 6.hearts bleeding 7.(stationary) stars 8.torn liver (life) 9.paralyzed 10.both worlds, here and hereafter 11.wrinkled, crumpled 12.daring courage 13.how long 14.buying of rocks, hay and pebbles 15.buyer 16.sun 17.moon
The skies droop in lost hope and, puzzled at your slumber. The stars in the sky bleed, their bosoms torn asunder. Both the here and hereafter are beggared and courage crumpled up. How long will you be fascinated with pebbles and trinkets when the very sun and moon are yours for the taking. O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
4
tu jins-e ta’assub1 ka Kharidaar hai ab tak
mulkoN ke gharondoN2 meN giraftaar3 hai ab tak
dil vahdat4-e aqvaam5 se bezaar6 hai ab tak
tu mushrik7 o KhunKhwaar o siyah faam8 hai ab tak
insaan ke aye deeda9-e tauheed nigar10 jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag 1.elements/ingredients of (communal) prejudice 2.huts, confines 3.imprisoned 4.one-ness, equality 5.communities 6.disinterested 7.literally polytheist, non-believer (in unity of communities) 8.black faced (evil) 9.eyeball (sight) 10.one who can see (the one-ness of humanity/communities)
You still subscribe to communal prejudice, still confined to arbitray national boundaries. Your heart is still untutored of the oneness of humanity. Your loyalty to communal identities causes blood to flow, evil to flourish. O seeing eye of the oneness of humanity, awake. O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
5
ek umr se1 barpa2 hai dil-e-saNg3 meN kohraam4
muztar5 hai tarashne6 ke liye Khaatir7-e asnaam8
maidan9 haiN betaab10 ke shahroN11 ke mileN naam
zarrat12 ke seenoN meN par afshaaN13 haiN dar-o-baam14
mae’maar15! teri simt16 hai geti17 ki nazar18, jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag 1.for a lifetime 2.afoot, in progress 3.heart of rock 4.tumult 5.eager 6.to be carved 7.hearts 8.idols 9.fields 10.restless 11.cities 12.particles, rocks 13.shining 14.doors and roofs (buildings) 15.architect, builder 16.direction 17.world 18.sight
For long now the heart inside stones awaits, throbbing with desire, eager to be carved into shapeliness. Open fields are restless in the anticipation to be built into cities. The stones aspire to be carved into doorways of grace. O builder/architect! All eyes are turned towards you, awake. O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
6
tareeKh1-e Ghalat lahja2 ki hai shooKhi3-e guftaar4
ye qaul5 ke tu bhi tha kabhi zeerak6 o bedaar7
vallaah8 ke ye DaeNg9 hai, aye yaar-e-zubuN-kaar10
aur sach bhi ho bilfarz11 to aye Khufta12 o nadaar13
haN baar-e-digar14, baar-e-digar, baar-e-digar jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag   1.history 2.wrong accent, wrong emphasis 3.mischief 4.conversation 5.sayings, statements, beliefs 6.clever 7.awake 8.by god 9.boasting 10.friend who does weak/useless work 11.assuming that 12.asleep 13.helpless 14.once again
There are loud cries of how great Hindu civilization was in ancient times, including knowledge of “interplanetary flight” and “plastic surgery”. There are similar flights of fancy (of Islamic superiority) in some of Iqbal’s compositions. Also see Fahmida Riaz’s “naya bharat” for a beautiful, satirical composition on this tendency. Apparently this was also quite prevalent during Josh’s time. It is not entirely clear if the focus of Josh’s composition is on Hindu or Islamic boasts of glory. I would like to think, both. Thus he says … It is a mischief of distorted history, the fable that you were once noble and great. By god this is a vain boast, o my weak-kneed friend. And even if it were true, o somnambulant and helpless one, yes once again, once again and yet again awake. O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
7
qadmauN1 pe jhukaana hai tujhe taj-e kayani2
apne ko banaana hai tujhe yusuf-e-saani3
dena hi nahiN sirf buRhape ko javaani
tujh ko nahiN bharna hai faqat aag se paani
Khud maut ko karna hai tujhe zer-o-zabar4 jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag 1.feet 2.royal crown 3.Second Joseph (usually used as a metaphor of good looking man, here used as liberator of his enslaved tribe) 4.helter skelter
Your call is to pull the royal crown down to your feet, to reenact the deed of Joseph in liberating your people. Not only do you have to make old age youthful, not only do you have to wring lifegiving water from fire, you also have to overcome death itself, awake. O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
8
vo nabz-e-shab-e-taar-e-zubuN1 chooT2 rahi hai
kashaana3-e zulmat4 ko zia5 looT rahi hai
vo dev-e-siyahi6 ki kamar TooT rahi hai
haN dekh vo mashriq7 se kiran8 phooT rahi hai
hai vaqt-e-sahr9, vaqt-e-sahr, vaqt-e-sahr jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag 1.pulse of the dark night of weakness 2.(pulse) fading away 3.palace 4.darkness (evil) 5.light (goodness) 6.demon of darkness 7.East 8.ray of light 9.time of dawn
In urdu poetic tradition ‘new dawn’ and ‘rays from the East’ refer to the rise of socialism. The dark night of oppression is on its last feeble legs. The castle of Darkness is about to be overwhelmed by Light. The back of the demon of evil is about to break. A new burst of light is breaking out from the East. It is a new dawn, a new dawn, a new dawn, awake. O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.

josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution.  His nazm are fiery, passionate, and full of energy.  His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good.  He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice and orthodoxy.  This nazm is a stirring call for humanity to wake up and welcome the coming of socialism.
1
aye Khufta1 hunar2, Khufta guhar3, Khufta nazar4 jaag
aye Kheera5 dil o Kheera sar6 o Kheera jigar7 jaag
aye Khaak bajaaN8, Khaak bakaf9, Khaak basar10 jaag
chamke sar-e baaliN11 vo havadis12 ke tabar13 jaag
hogi to bahut rooh14 ko takleef15 magar jaag
aye nau-e bashar16, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag

1.hidden/asleep 2.talent 3.pearl-quality 4.vision 5.dazzled, confused, aimless 6.head/mind 7.liver/seat of life in Urdu poetry 8.“dust on life” – wasted life 9.“dust in hand” – useless work 10.“dust on head” – useless thought 11.on top of the head 12.happenings, history 13.mace, hammer 14.spirit (used here for ego) 15.discomfort 16.human species

O you with numb minds, wasted talents and blinded vision, awake.  O you with dazzled and confused mind and heart, aimless living, awake.  You who wallow in dust, doing meaningless things, awake.  The shining, sharp sword of history is about to descend upon your heads, awake.  It may hurt your ego a bit but wake up.  O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
2
aaba1 ke fasaanoN2 ka tujhe ab bhi hai sarsaam3
mabroos4 tera zahn5, teri aql6 zubooN7 gaam8
jholi meN teri aaj bhi aye basta-e aalaam9
seele10 hue aqvaal11 haiN, chikTe12 hue auhaam13
aye kushta14-e ajdaad15, pa-e-naqd-o-nazar16 jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag

1.ancestors 2.fables (unbelievable) 3.encephelitis, delirium 4.afflicted with leprosy 5.mind 6.intellect 7.helpless, useless 8.path 9.prisoner (victim) of calamities 10.rotten 11.sayings, beliefs 12.blossoming 13.superstitions 14.killed by 15.forbears 16.for the sake of survival (present) and foresight (future)

Your mind is delirious with ancestral fables.  Your mind is atrophied and on the wrong path.  O prisoner of calamities, even to this day you carry in your sack, rotten sayings/beliefs and rampant superstitions.  O you victim of (the traditions) of your forebears, for the sake a new vision of well being, awake.  O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
3
afsurda1 o hairaN2 haiN tere Khwaab3 se aflaak4
sayyar5 ke dil Khoon6, savaabit7 ke jigar chaak8
maflooj9 hai kaunain10, shikan11 himmat-e bebaak12
taachand13 Kharidari-e-sang-o-Khas-o-Khaashaak14
aye mushtari15-e shams16 o Kharidaar-e qamar17 jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag

1.sorrowful 2.puzzled 3.sleepiness, inaction 4.skies, heavens 5.(moving) planets 6.hearts bleeding 7.(stationary) stars 8.torn liver (life) 9.paralyzed 10.both worlds, here and hereafter 11.wrinkled, crumpled  12.daring courage 13.how long 14.buying of rocks, hay and pebbles 15.buyer 16.sun 17.moon

The skies droop in lost hope and, puzzled at your slumber.  The stars in the sky bleed, their bosoms torn asunder.  Both the here and hereafter are beggared and courage crumpled up.  How long will you be fascinated with pebbles and trinkets when the very sun and moon are yours for the taking.  O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
4
tu jins-e ta’assub1 ka Kharidaar hai ab tak
mulkoN ke gharondoN2 meN giraftaar3 hai ab tak
dil vahdat4-e aqvaam5 se bezaar6 hai ab tak
tu mushrik7 o KhunKhwaar o siyah faam8 hai ab tak
insaan ke aye deeda9-e tauheed nigar10 jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag

1.elements/ingredients of (communal) prejudice 2.huts, confines 3.imprisoned  4.one-ness, equality 5.communities 6.disinterested 7.literally polytheist, non-believer (in unity of communities) 8.black faced (evil) 9.eyeball (sight) 10.one who can see (the one-ness of humanity/communities)

You still subscribe to communal prejudice, still confined to arbitray national boundaries.  Your heart is still untutored of the oneness of humanity.  Your loyalty to communal identities causes blood to flow, evil to flourish.  O seeing eye of the oneness of humanity, awake.  O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
5
ek umr se1 barpa2 hai dil-e-saNg3 meN kohraam4
muztar5 hai tarashne6 ke liye Khaatir7-e asnaam8
maidan9 haiN betaab10 ke shahroN11 ke mileN naam
zarrat12 ke seenoN meN par afshaaN13 haiN dar-o-baam14
mae’maar15! teri simt16 hai geti17 ki nazar18, jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag

1.for a lifetime 2.afoot, in progress 3.heart of rock 4.tumult 5.eager 6.to be carved 7.hearts 8.idols 9.fields 10.restless 11.cities 12.particles, rocks 13.shining 14.doors and roofs (buildings) 15.architect, builder 16.direction 17.world 18.sight

For long now the heart inside stones awaits, throbbing with desire, eager to be carved into shapeliness.  Open fields are restless in the anticipation to be built into cities.  The stones aspire to be carved into doorways of grace.  O builder/architect!  All eyes are turned towards you, awake.  O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
6
tareeKh1-e Ghalat lahja2 ki hai shooKhi3-e guftaar4
ye qaul5 ke tu bhi tha kabhi zeerak6 o bedaar7
vallaah8 ke ye DaeNg9 hai, aye yaar-e-zubuN-kaar10
aur sach bhi ho bilfarz11 to aye Khufta12 o nadaar13
haN baar-e-digar14, baar-e-digar, baar-e-digar jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag

1.history 2.wrong accent, wrong emphasis 3.mischief 4.conversation 5.sayings, statements, beliefs 6.clever 7.awake 8.by god 9.boasting 10.friend who does weak/useless work 11.assuming that 12.asleep 13.helpless 14.once again

There are loud cries of how great Hindu civilization was in ancient times, including knowledge of “interplanetary flight” and “plastic surgery”. There are similar flights of fancy (of Islamic superiority) in some of Iqbal’s compositions. Also see Fahmida Riaz’s “naya bharat” for a beautiful, satirical composition on this tendency. Apparently this was also quite prevalent during Josh’s time. It is not entirely clear if the focus of Josh’s composition is on Hindu or Islamic boasts of glory. I would like to think, both.  Thus he says … It is a mischief of distorted history, the fable that you were once noble and great.  By god this is a vain boast, o my weak-kneed friend.  And even if it were true, o somnambulant and helpless one, yes once again, once again and yet again awake.  O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
7
qadmauN1 pe jhukaana hai tujhe taj-e kayani2
apne ko banaana hai tujhe yusuf-e-saani3
dena hi nahiN sirf buRhape ko javaani
tujh ko nahiN bharna hai faqat aag se paani
Khud maut ko karna hai tujhe zer-o-zabar4 jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag

1.feet 2.royal crown 3.Second Joseph (usually used as a metaphor of good looking man, here used as liberator of his enslaved tribe) 4.helter skelter

Your call is to pull the royal crown down to your feet, to reenact the deed of Joseph in liberating your people.  Not only do you have to make old age youthful, not only do you have to wring lifegiving water from fire, you also have to overcome death itself, awake.  O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.
8
vo nabz-e-shab-e-taar-e-zubuN1 chooT2 rahi hai
kashaana3-e zulmat4 ko zia5 looT rahi hai
vo dev-e-siyahi6 ki kamar TooT rahi hai
haN dekh vo mashriq7 se kiran8 phooT rahi hai
hai vaqt-e-sahr9, vaqt-e-sahr, vaqt-e-sahr jaag
aye nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar, nau-e bashar jaag

1.pulse of the dark night of weakness 2.(pulse) fading away 3.palace 4.darkness (evil) 5.light (goodness) 6.demon of darkness 7.East 8.ray of light 9.time of dawn

In urdu poetic tradition ‘new dawn’ and ‘rays from the East’ refer to the rise of socialism.  The dark night of oppression is on its last feeble legs.  The castle of Darkness is about to be overwhelmed by Light.  The back of the demon of evil is about to break.  A new burst of light is breaking out from the East.  It is a new dawn, a new dawn, a new dawn, awake.  O humankind, o humankind, o humankind awake.