Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ahmad nadiim qaasimi (1916-2006), ahmad shah aawaan-born near sargodha. Local schools and colleges, then MA (1936) punjab university. Worked as editor of several literary journals, then started his own ‘funoon’, which was successful. Editor, poet, journalist, script writer, short story writer, dramatist, literary critic. Very active in Progressive Writers’ Association. Arrested and jailed for his activism. This Ghazal, though not exactly of the same qaafiya-radeef is so similar in spirit that it is linked to others with the radeef ‘ki baat kareN’ on the Refrain Index page.
1
ufuq¹ nehaaN² hai to hadd³-e nazar⁴ ka zikr⁵ kareN
sitaar’e Doob rahe haiN sah’r⁶ ka zikr kareN     1.horizon 2.hidden 3.limits 4.sight 5.narrate, speak of 6.dawn
sitaar’e Doobna is a indication of the end of the night. Night is symbolic of injustice and sah’r-dawn is symbolic of the birth of social justice-socialism. If ufuq nihaaN hai the future is not very clear, then at least we can talk about/take action for what we can see to the limits of our sight. The era of injustice is about to end, let us talk about a new beginning- a new social order.
2
faza¹ ka zikr² kareN bahr-o-bar³ ka zikr kareN
bahut buland⁴ hai firdaus⁵, ghar ka zikr kareN 1.atmosphere, ambience, surroundings 2.speak of, talk about 3.land and sea 4.high, far away 5.heaven
Let us talk about our surroundings, about land and see-things here on earth. Heaven is too far away, let us deal with the practicalities and injustices of daily life.
3
KhizaaN¹ ko buu²-e gul³-o-nastaran⁴ se chhalka⁵ deN
agar bahaar⁶ nahiN barg-o-bar⁷ ka zikr kareN    1.autumn, dry season 2.fragrance 3.rose 4.jasmine 5.spill, sprinkle, infuse 6.spring 7.trees and leaves
KhizaaN is symbolic of famine and drought, poverty and unmet needs. These are the conditions around us, let us infuse them with the fragrance of rose and jasmine – symbolic of the pleasant times to come. It is not spring yet, but let us at least talk about trees and leaves that will burst into life with the arrival of spring-social justice.
4
hameN to azmat¹-e insaaN ko aazmana² hai
huzoor³, falsafa⁴-e Khair-o-shar⁵ ka zikr kareN    1.greatness, courage, resolve 2.try, put to test 3.honourific like sir 4.philosophy 5.good and evil
We have to try/test the greatness (courage, determination) of humanity (azmat-e insaan). The huzoor may be addressed to the vested power structure. He challenges them to discuss the philosophy of good and evil (falsafa-e khair-o-shar); justice and injustice; equality and rights.
5
sitaare kaun chunega ba-dast¹-e zaKhm²-aalood³
chalo Ghubaar⁴-e sar-e-rah-guzar⁵ ka zikr kareN    1.with hand 2.wounds 3.stained 4.dust 5.side of the path
sitaare may be symbolic of lofty ideas, future promises, false/unreachable promises. Hands stained with wounds are the workers hands that have been wounded before and Ghubaar-e sar-e rahguzar may be symbolic of those left behind as the priveleged of the society move forward. Thus, don’t ask us to pluck stars (unattainable goals, false promises) with wounded hands. Let us talk about those left behind in the caravan of life.