tark-e vatan – jagan nath azad
(josh malihabadi ke pakistan jaane par – October 1955)

Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. jagan nath azad (1918-2004), born in miyaaNvaali (now in pakistan) was the son of another great poet, tilok chand mahroom. He has written with much passion about hindu-muslim and India-pakistan accord. He was much impressed with iqbal and has written several books on him. He also composed tributes and several Ghazal in the style of Ghalib. In 1947 he decided to continue to live in lahore and was invited by jinnah to compose the first anthem to pakistan. Later azad himself was forced by circumstances to leave his home in Pakistan and come to India. He obviously missed it throughout his life and visited often. He and josh were also good friends and he bemoans the loss of his friend. Also see his tribute to josh in “josh ke baad” and other places. The move was not easy for josh either. He was a personal friend of jawaharlal nehru who tried to persuade him to stay. It is generally believed that josh lost his stature and regretted his move to Pakistan.
1
ye maiN har gosha¹-e dehli meN kya aavaz sunta huN
vatan ko naaz² tha jis par vatan se aaj jaata hai
ye aisi baat hai jis ka yaqeeN³ mushkil se aaye ga
chaman se bulbul-e raNgiN-nava⁴ daaman⁵ chhuRaata hai1.corner 2.pride 3.credibility 4.colourful voice 5.hem of the robe
What is it that I hear in every corner of Dehli? He, who has been the pride of the homeland, is leaving home. This rumour is such that it will be very difficult for me to believe it – that the bulbul of colourful/beautiful voice is pulling up his robe and leaving.
2

meri bazm-e vafa¹ se jaane vaale ek zara thham² jaa
ke jo kuchh sun rahe haiN kaan maiN us ka yaqiN kar luN
agar is baat meN ae jaane vaale kuchh sadaaqat³ ho
to phir maiN apna dil saNgiN⁴, kaleja⁵ aahaniN⁶ kar luN1.assembly of love 2.tarry, linger 3.truth, credibility 4.stony 5.liver condered to be the seat of emotions/life in urdu poetry 6.of steel
You, who are leaving my gathering of love, tarry a while that I may verify the rumours that I hear. And if there is any truth to what I hear, then I may have time to steel my heart and soul.
3

vatan ki sarzamiN¹ ko chhoRne vaale Khabar² bhi hai
vatan ki sarzamiN ko chhoRna kitni aziyyat³ hai
kahaaN⁴ mumkin⁵ ke lafzauN⁶ ki zabaaN us ko bayaaN⁷ kar de
vatan ki sarzamiN ko chhoRna jitni aziyyat hai1.homeland 2.awareness, knowledge 3.painful 4.how 5.possible 6.words 7.describe
You who are leaving the homeland, are you even aware how difficult/painful it is to leave. How is it possible to describe in words how painful it is to leave the homeland.
4

ye mujh se poochh tu, jis se laRakpan meN vatan chhooTa
ke ye Gham zindagi bhar chayn se rahne nahiN deta
ye vo kaaNTa hai jo ta-zeest¹ pahlu² meN khaTakta³ hai
Khushi ki mauj⁴ meN ehsaas⁵ ko bahne⁶ nahiN deta1.life long 2.side 3.prick 4.wave 5.sentiments 6.flow
Ask me, who lost his homeland in boyhood. This sorrow never lets you spend your life in comfort. It is a thorn that constantly pricks your side. It does not let sentiments/feelings (of pleasure) flow freely (painlessly). It always reminds you of the loss
5

vatan se rishta¹-e shaa’er² kuchh aisa paak³ rishta hai
ke is meN kaahish⁴-e sood o ziyaaN⁵ baaqi⁶ nahiN rahti
koii samjhe to ye rishta kuchh is soorat⁷ ka rishta hai
ke is meN kuchh majaal⁸-e een o aaN⁹ baaqi nahiN rahti1.relationship 2.poet 3.pure, holy 4.pining, yearning 5.profit and loss 6.remain 7.characteristic, kind 8.capability, possibility 9.this and that, daily necessities
The relationship between the poet and his homeland is such a holy relationship that no consideration remains of profit and loss. If one understands it, the characteristic of this relationship is such that there is no room left for considerations of daily needs.
6

ye rishta¹ mahz² lafzauN³ ka nahiN hai dil ka rishta hai
yahaaN alfaaz⁴ ka aaiin⁵ koii chal nahiN sakta
gul o bulbul⁶ ka hai ye shama o parvaana⁷ ka rishta hai
yahaaN dil ke siva⁸ aaiin koii chal nahiN sakta1.relationship 2.merely 3.words 4.words 5.traditions, rules 6.rose and bulbul – symbols of lover and beloved 7.lamp and moth – also symbols of beloved and lover 8.except for
This is not a relationship of mere words, it is a relationship of the heart. The rules of words/language do not apply here. It is like the relationship of love, like that of rose and bulbul, lamp and moth. Only the rules of the heart apply.
7

ba-aasani¹ vatan ki sarzamiN² ko chhoRne vaale
vatan ki sarzamiN ko chhoRna aasaaN nahiN hota
faqat³ dil ka vatan ki Khaak⁴ se paimaan⁵ hota hai
tijaarat⁶ ka vatan ki Khaak se paimaaN nahiN hota1.with ease 2.homeland 3.only 4.dust, soil 5.promise, commitment 6.trade, give and take
You, who are leaving the homeland with ease (not under threat, not under duress) be aware that it is not easy to leave. The heart has a commitment/agreement with the soil of the homeland. It is not a matter of trade or give and take, only a matter of love.
8

hazaar¹ insaan shaahi² qasr³ se vaabasta⁴ ho jaaye
laRakpan jis meN khela ho vo galiyaaN yaad aatiN haiN
zar⁵ o la’al⁶ o guhar⁷ kab aaNsuauN ko rok sakte haiN
guzishta⁸ daur⁹ ki jab raNg raliyaaN¹⁰ yaad aatiN haiN1.thousand, however much 2.royal 3.palace 4.associated 5.gold 6.ruby 7.pearl 8.past 9.times 10.pleasure, enjoyment, play
However much a person may associate himself with the royal palace, the streets he played in during boyhood come back to him in memories. Gold and rubies or pearls cannot hold tears back, when the playful pleasures of past times come to mind.
9

vatan shaa’er ka jaada¹ hai, vatan shaa’er ki manzil² hai
vatan kishti hai shaa’er ki vatan saahil³ hai shaa’er ka
vatan ki Khaak⁴ se maiN kya bataauN⁵ rishta⁶-e shaa’er
vatan ka jo bhi zarra⁷ hai dhaRakta⁸ dil hai shaa’er ka1.pathway 2.destination 3.shore 4.soil 5.say, tell 6.relationship 7.particle (of dust) 8.beating, pulsating
The homeland is both the pathway and the destination of the poet. It is both the boat and the shore. How can I tell you the relationship between the soil of the homeland and the poet. Each particle of dust here is his beating heart.
10

vatan ko chhoRne vaale zara mujh ko bataata ja
havaa-e subah dam¹ yaad-e vatan laaii to kya hoga
dua ye hai naii duniya mubarak ho tujhe laikin
vahaaN ki bhi fiza² tujh ko na raas³ aaii to kya hoga1.moment, time 2.atmosphere, conditions 3.compatible, lucky
You who are leaving the homeland, please tell me as you go, if the morning breeze blows in with memories of the homeland, then what will you do. I pray that the new world be good for you but, what if conditions there do not prove to be lucky for you.