4-aaj sub akele haiN-sahir

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

پرچھائیاں  –  آج  سب  اکیلے  ہیں  ۔  ساحرؔ  لدھیانوی

۱

تصورات  کی  پرچھائیاں  اُبھرتی  ہیں

۲

تم  آ  رہی  ہو  سرِ  عام  بال  بکھرائے

ہزار  گونہ  ملامت  کا  بار  اُٹھائے  ہوئے

ہوس  پرست  نگاہوں  کی  چیرہ  دستی  سے

بدن  کی  جھینپتی  عریانیاں  چھپائے  ہوئے

۳

تصورات  کی  پرچھائیاں  اُبھرتی  ہیں

۴

میں  شہر  جا  کے  ہر  اک  در  پہ  جھانک  آیا  ہوں

کسی  جگہ  میری  محنت  کا  مول  مل  نہ  سکا

ستمگروں  کے  سیاسی  قمار  خانے  میں

الم  نصیب  فراست  کا  مول  مل  نہ  سکا

۵

تصورات  کی  پرچھائیاں  اُبھرتی  ہیں

۶

تمہارے  گھر  میں  قیامت  کا  شور  برپا  ہے

محاذِ  جنگ  سے  ہرکارہ  تار  لایا  ہے

کہ  جس  کا  ذکر  تمہیں  زندگی  سے  پیارا  تھا

وہ  بھائی  نرغۂ  دُشمن  میں  کام  آیا  ہے

۷

تصورات  کی  پرچھائیاں  اُبھرتی  ہیں

۸

ہر  ایک  گام  پہ  بدنامیوں  کے  جمگھٹ  ہیں

ہر  ایک  موڑ  پہ  رسوائیوں  کے  میلے  ہیں

نہ  دوستی  نہ  تکلّف  نہ  دلبری  نہ  خلوص

کسی  کا  کوئی  نہیں  آج  سب  اکیلے  ہیں

۹

تصورات  کی  پرچھائیاں  اُبھرتی  ہیں

۱۰

وہ    رہگزر  جو  میرے  دِل  کی  طرح  سونی  ہے

نہ  جانے  تم  کو  کہاں  لیکے  جانے  والی  ہے

تمہیں  خرید  رہے  ہیں  ضمیر  کے    قاتل

اُ  فق  پہ  خونِ  تمنّائے  دِل  کی  لالی  ہے

۱۱

تصورات  کی  پرچھائیاں  اُبھرتی  ہیں

पर्छाईयां – आज सब अकेले हैं – साहर लुधियानवी

तसव्वुरात की पर्छाईयां उभरती हैं

तुम आ रही हो सर-ए आम बाल बिख्राए
हज़ार गुना मलामत का बार उठाये हुए
हवस परस्त निगाहों की चीरा दस्ती से

बदन की झेंपती उरियानियाँ छुपाए हुए

तसव्वुरात की पर्छाईयां उभरती हैं

मैं शहर जा के हर एक दर पे झाँक आया हूँ
किसी जगह मेरी मेहनत का मोल मिल न सका
सितमगरों के सियासी क़ुमार ख़ाने में

अलम नसीब फ़रासत का मोल मिल न सका

तसव्वुरात की पर्छाईयां उभरती हैं

तुम्हारे घर में क़यामत का शोर बर्पा है
महाज़-ए जंग से हरकारा तार लाया है
के जिस का ज़िक्र तुम्हें ज़िन्दगी से प्यारा था

वो भाई नरग़ा-ए दुश्मन में काम आया है

तसव्वुरात की पर्छाईयां उभरती हैं

हर एक गाम पे बदनामियों का जमघट है
हर एक मोड़ पे रुसवाइयों के मेले हैं
न दोस्ती न तक्कलुफ़ न दिलबरी न ख़ुलूस

किसी का कोई नहीं आज सब अकेले हैं

तसव्वुरात की पर्छाईयां उभरती हैं

१०

वो रहगुज़र जो मेरे दिल की तरह सूनी थी
न जाने तुम को कहाँ लेके जाने वाली है
तुम्हें ख़रीद रहे हैं ज़मीर के क़ातिल

उफ़क़ पे ख़ून-ए तमन्ना-ए दिल की लाली है

११

तसव्वुरात की पर्छाईयां उभरती हैं

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu. He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level. Supported labour movements. The fourth part of his long nazm, parchhaaiyaaN, the poet describes what has befallen his beloved and to his dreams.
1
tasavvurat ki parchhaaiyaaN ubharti haiN Memories emerge like hazy shadows.
2
tum aa rahi ho sar-e aam1 baal bikhraae
hazaar guna2 malaamat3 ka baar4 uThaaye hue
havas parast5 nigaahoN6 ki cheera dasti7 se
badan ki jhaiNpti8 uriyaaniyaN9 chhupaae hue
1.openly, in public 2.thousand fold 3.reproach 4.burden 5.lecherous 6.eyes 7.hands that tear (clothing) apart 8.embarrassed 9.nakedness
You are walking the open road in public, bare headed, bearing the burden of a thousand reproaches, lecherous eyes tearing your clothes off, while you try to hide the embarrassment of nakedness.

3
tasavvurat ki parchhaaiyaaN ubharti haiN Memories emerge like hazy shadows.
4
maiN shahr jaa ke har ek dar10 pe jhaNk aaya huN
kisi jagah meri mehnat ka mol mil na sakaa
sitamgaroN ke siyasi qumaar Khaane11 meN
alam naseeb12 faraasat13 ka mol mil na sakaa
10.door 11.political gambling houses 12.destined for sorrow 13.thoughtulness, care
I have knocked at every door in the city, nowhere do I find any demand for my work. In the gambling houses of cruel politics my grieving thoughtfulness cannot get a sympathetic hearing.

5
tasavvurat ki parchhaaiyaaN ubharti haiN Memories emerge like hazy shadows.
6
tumhaare ghar men qayamat ka shor14 barpa15 hai
mahaaz e jung16 se harkaara17 taar18 laaya hai
ke jis ka zikr19 tumheN zindagi se pyara tha
vo bhai narGha e dushman20 meN kaam aaya21 hai
14.hellish sounds (of mourning) 15.happening 16.war front 17.messenger, postman 18.telegram 19.mention, talk 20.circle of enemies 21.killed
His memories change from the earlier, pleasant recollection of romantic scenes to the destitution of war. A hellish sound of mourning is heard from your house. A messenger from the war front brings news that the brother more dear to you than life itself has fallen in an ambush.

7
tasavvurat ki parchhaaiyaaN ubharti haiN Memories emerge like hazy shadows.
8
har ek gaam22 pe badnaamiyoN ka jamghaT23 hai
har ek moR pe rusvaiyoN24 ke mele haiN
na dosti na takkaluf25 na dilbari26 na Khuloos27
kisi ka koi nahiN aaj sab akele haiN
22.step 23.crowd 24.embarrassments 25.consideration 26.empathy 27.consideration for the other, relationship
There is a barrage of blame at every step, a host of shame at every turn. No friend in sight, the heritage of sharing and caring lost. Everyone is on their own, all alone.

9
tasavvurat ki parchhaaiyaaN ubharti haiN Memories emerge like hazy shadows.
10
vo rahguzar26 jo mere dil ki tarah sooni27 thi
na jaane tum ko kahaN leke jaane vaali hai
tumheN Kharid rahe haiN zamir28 ke qaatil
ufaq29 pe Khoon-e tamanna e dil30 ki lali hai
26.path 27.desolate 28.inner desire/thoughts 29.horizon 30.blood of heart’s desire
The lonely path, as desolate as my heart, where it will lead you, I do not know. The killers of love are out to buy you and the horizon is red with the blood of a broken heart. The redness of a sunset can be enjoyed as beautiful and also used as a metaphor for hearts bleeding with sorrow. The poet/lover’s heart has been broken and is bleeding – hence the redness of the blood of a broken heart on the horizon.

11
tasavvurat ki parchhaaiyaaN ubharti haiN Memories emerge like hazy shadows.

sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu.  He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level.  Supported labour movements.  The fourth part of his long nazm, parchhaaiyaaN, the poet describes what has befallen his beloved and to his dreams.
1
tasavvurat ki parchhaaiyaaN ubharti haiN

Memories emerge like hazy shadows.
2
tum aa rahi ho sar-e aam1 baal bikhraae
hazaar guna2 malaamat3 ka baar4 uThaaye hue
havas parast5 nigaahoN6 ki cheera dasti7 se
badan ki jhaiNpti8 uriyaaniyaN9 chhupaae hue

1.openly, in public 2.thousand fold 3.reproach 4.burden 5.lecherous 6.eyes 7.hands that tear (clothing) apart 8.embarrassed 9.nakedness

You are walking the open road in public, bare headed, bearing the burden of a thousand reproaches, lecherous eyes tearing your clothes off, while you try to hide the embarrassment of nakedness.
3
tasavvurat ki parchhaaiyaaN ubharti haiN

Memories emerge like hazy shadows.
4
maiN shahr jaa ke har ek dar10 pe jhaNk aaya huN
kisi jagah meri mehnat ka mol mil na sakaa
sitamgaroN ke siyasi qumaar Khaane11 meN
alam naseeb12 faraasat13 ka mol mil na sakaa

10.door 11.political gambling houses 12.destined for sorrow 13.thoughtulness, care

I have knocked at every door in the city, nowhere do I find any demand for my work. In the gambling houses of cruel politics my grieving thoughtfulness cannot get a sympathetic hearing.
5
tasavvurat ki parchhaiyaaN ubharti haiN

Memories emerge like hazy shadows.
6
tumhaare ghar men qayamat ka shor14 barpa15 hai
mahaaz e jung16 se harkaara17 taar18 laaya hai
ke jis ka zikr19 tumheN zindagi se pyara tha
vo bhai narGha e dushman20 meN kaam aaya21 hai

14.hellish sounds (of mourning) 15.happening 16.war front 17.messenger, postman 18.telegram 19.mention, talk 20.circle of enemies 21.killed

His memories change from the earlier, pleasant recollection of romantic scenes to the destitution of war. A hellish sound of mourning is heard from your house. A messenger from the war front brings news that the brother more dear to you than life itself has fallen in an ambush.
7
tasavvurat ki parchhaiyaaN ubharti haiN

Memories emerge like hazy shadows.
8
har ek gaam22 pe badnaamiyoN ka jamghaT23 hai
har ek moR pe rusvaiyoN24 ke mele haiN
na dosti na takkaluf25 na dilbari26 na Khuloos27
kisi ka koi nahiN aaj sab akele haiN

22.step 23.crowd 24.embarrassments 25.consideration 26.empathy 27.consideration for the other, relationship

There is a barrage of blame at every step, a host of shame at every turn. No friend in sight, the heritage of sharing and caring lost. Everyone is on their own, all alone.
9
tasavvurat ki parchhaiyaaN ubharti haiN

Memories emerge like hazy shadows.
10
vo rahguzar26 jo mere dil ki tarah sooni27 thi
na jaane tum ko kahaN leke jaane vaali hai
tumheN Kharid rahe haiN zamir28 ke qaatil
ufaq29 pe Khoon-e tamanna e dil30 ki lali hai

26.path 27.desolate 28.inner desire/thoughts 29.horizon 30.blood of heart’s desire

The lonely path, as desolate as my heart, where it will lead you, I do not know. The killers of love are out to buy you and the horizon is red with the blood of a broken heart. The redness of a sunset can be enjoyed as beautiful and also used as a metaphor for hearts bleeding with sorrow. The poet/lover’s heart has been broken and is bleeding – hence the redness of the blood of a broken heart on the horizon.
11
tasavvurat ki parchhaiyaaN ubharti haiN

Memories emerge like hazy shadows.