Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. shahed (1944-still kicking), struggles with urdu, maintains this website and sometimes is compelled to write verse. This is inspired by the women’s movement in India protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act. They have occupied a long stretch of main road known as shaheen baaGh, and have been there 24/7 for about a month. This has inspired other similar movements in several cities. All driven and led by women, 92 years old to very young girls.
1
tera hai baaGh shaahiN¹, naazaaN² hai hind tujh par
yaaN maadar³-e vatan bhi, aur hai vatan ki duKhtar⁴ 1.hawk, eagle, high flying bird 2.proud 3.mother 4.daughter
shaheen baGh is the venue is dehli where women are gathered for protest. shaahiN is also a high flying bird with a keen eye and wide view of the ‘garden’ under its wings … the garden being India. O, shaaheen, this garden belongs to you, bharat is proud of you. There are grandmothers and daughters gathered here to protest.
2
sardi baRi kaRi hai, aur raat ka andhera
is raat ki sahar¹ ka hai taaj tere sar par 1.dawn
raat and andhera is symbolic of injustice and oppression. You stand in the cold, facing injustice and oppression, night and day. When the dawn of this night comes, it will be to your credit.
3
jhaaNsi ne baag¹ moRi, teri taraf² hai aati
teri tarah hai vo bhi, bachche ko saath le kar   1.reins of a horse 2.towards
The iconic picture of the rani of jhaaNsi who fought the British, is when she jumps over the ramparts, on her horse, with her son and escapes to fight another day. She has turned the reins towards you. Like you, she also brings her child with her (many women at the protest, have brought their children).
4
dakkan se chaand bibi, lalkaarti uTThi hai
shaaheen baaGh ko ab ek morcha¹ banaa kar 1.battle front, defensive lines
chaand bibi fought off internal resistance to a woman becoming queen and then fought moGhal armies to keep her kingdom. She has risen again from the dakkan to come to shaheen baaGh to make a new line of defence.
5
sultana razia nikli, saRkoN pe aa gaii hai
ab saath tera dene, shaana¹ ba shaana ho kar   1.shoulder
razia sultan, queen/empress of the slave dynasty was similarly hounded out by the nobles because she was a woman. She fought them off successfully, but succumbed to a later conspiracy and attach. sultana razia has come out, she has taken to the streets to stand shoulder to shoulder with you.
6
saavitri baai phule, phoole nahiN samaati¹
dekhi teri dileri², kashaakash³ teri samajh kar 1.cannot contain joy 2.bravery 3.struggle
saavitri baai phule is considered a crusading feminist of the late 1800s and worked hard for women’s education and empowerment. saavitri baai phule cannot contain her joy. She sees your courage and understands your struggle.
7
bapu ka saath dene, Khaamosh jo khaRi thi
kasturba khaRi hai peechhe tere bhi chhup kar   kasturba, the wife of gandhi, played a crucial and supportive role in his life but always stayed in the shadows. kasturba who was always quietly supporting gandhi, is standing behind you, still quiet and hidden.
8
bharat ki tu hai naari¹, naazaaN² sabhi haiN tujh par
dete Khiraaj³ tujh ko, mohibb-e-vatan⁴ haiN aa kar    1.woman 2.proud 3.tribute 4.lovers of the homeland
You are the woman of bharat. Everyone is proud of you. Lovers of the homeland come to pay their respects.