For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
وصفِ اُردو ۔ وجیندر سنگھ پروازؔ
۱
کوچے کوچے کو معطّر کیا یوں اُردو نے
جیسے زلفوں میں صبا بوئے چمن رکھ جائے
یوں امیدوں سے بندھے دل اسی اِک فن کے طفیل
صبح جیسے کہیں تنکوں پہ کرن رکھ جائے
۲
دلہنِ ملک کا زیور ہے کلامِ خسرو
خاکِ بھارت میں رچا اور بسا رنگِ نظیر
کیسے کہہ دیں کہ یہ اُردو ہے مسلمانوں کی
فن کا بٹوارا نہیں کرتے کبھی اہل ضمیر
۳
زلف و رخسار لب و قد کے تصور کا مزاج
قوم و مذہب کا کوئی بوجھ نہیں ڈھو سکتا
آدمیت کا تقاضہ ہے ہمارا فن تو
کوئی اُردو کے لیے غیر نہیں ہو سکتا
۴
شاعری ہی نہیں وہ نثر کا میدان سہی
صنف در صنف خیالوں کو منوّر دیکھو
بھید کُھل جائے گا کہتے ہیں کسے اُردو ادب
ایک مرکز پہ ادیبوں کو بلا کر دیکھو
۵
اختلافات کا اس فن سے نہیں ملتا مزاج
واقعی ایک صداقت ہی صداقت اُردو
رنگ در رنگ تغزل کے تسلسل کا قیام
لفظ در لفظ محبت ہی محبت اُردو
۶
کوکھ سے ہند کی اُردو نے لیا ایسا جنم
آسمانوں پہ زمینوں کی دعائیں رکھ دیں
آبشاروں میں ہے اشعار کا پرتو روشن
پتھروں میں انہیں لفظوں نے صدائیں رکھ دیں
۷
جس سے چھن چھن کے یہاں شرم و حیا قائم ہیں
روحِ بھارت پہ وہ پردہ ہے زبان اُردو
روح تک ہند کی دھرتی پہ اثر ہے اس کا
ذرّے ذرّے سے جھلکتا ہے نشان اُردو
۸
ایسا احساسِ محبت ہے زبانِ اُردو
جس میں گنجائشِ نفرت کا تصور ہی نہیں
جب سے اس فن کا خزانہ ہوا حاصل ہم کو
ہو گیا اپنا وطن اور حسیں اور حسیں
۹
اپنے کردارِ محبت کو بچانے کے لیے
ظلم سے جبر سے ہر دور میں ٹکرائی ہے
راستہ بن کے زبانوں پہ جو اُردو بیٹھی
شمع تخیل نے کس درجہ جِلا پائی ہے
۱۰
کتنے لوگوں نے اسے خون جگر سے سینچا
کتنے فنکاروں سے حاصل ہے اسے رعنائی
اپنی فطرت میں صداقت ہی صداقت لے کر
ایک بولی سے یہ معیارِ ادب تک آئی
वस्फ़-ए उर्दू – विजेंद्र सिंघ परवाज़
१
कूचे-कूचे को मो’अत्तर किया यूं उर्दू ने
जैसै ज़ुल्फौं में सबा बू-ए चमन रख जाए
यूं उमीदौं से बंधे दिल इसी एक फ़न के तुफ़ैल
सब’ह जैसे कहीं तिन्कौं पे किरन रख जा’ए
२
दुल्हन-ए मुल्क का ज़ेवर है कलाम-ए ख़ुसरो
ख़ाक-ए भारत में रचा और बसा रंग-ए नज़ीर
कैसे कह दूं के ये उर्दू है मुसलमानौं की
फ़न का बटवारा नहीं करते कभी अहल-ए ज़मीर
३
ज़ुल्फ़ ओ रुख़सार लब ओ क़द के तसव्वुर का मिज़ाज
क़ौम ओ मज़्हब का कोई बोझ नहीं ड़ो सकता
आदमियत का तक़ाज़ा है हमारा फ़न तो
कोई उर्दू के लिए ग़ैर नहीं हो सकता
४
शा’एरी ही नहीं वो नस्र का मैदान सही
सन्फ़-दर-सन्फ़ ख़यालौं को मुनव्वर देखो
भेद खुल जा’एगा कहते हैं किसे उर्दू अदब
एक मर्कज़ पे आदीबौं को बुला कर देखो
५
एख़्तेलाफ़ात का इस फ़न से नहीं मिलता मिज़ाज
वाक़े’ई एक सदाक़त ही सदाक़त उर्दू
रंग-दर-रंग तग़ज़्ज़ुल के तसल्सुल का क़याम
लफ़्ज़-दर-लफ़्ज़ मोहब्बत ही मोहब्बत उर्दू
६
कोख से हिंद की उर्दू ने लिया ऐसा जनम
आसमानौं पे ज़मीनौं की दुआएं रख दीं
आबशारों में है अश’आर का परतौ रौशन
पत्थरौं में इन्हीं लफ्ज़ौं ने सदाएं रख दीं
७
जिस से छन छन के यहाँ शर्म ओ हया क़ा’एम है
रूह-ए भारत पे वो पर्दा है ज़बान-ए उर्दू
रूह तक हिन्द की धरती पे असर है इस का
ज़र्रे-ज़र्रे से झलकता है निशान-ए उर्दू
८
ऐसा एहसास-ए मोहब्बत है ज़बान-ए उर्दू
जिस में गुंजाएश-ए नफ़्रत का तसव्वुर ही नहीं
जब से इस फ़न का ख़ज़ाना हुआ हासिल हम को
हो गया अपना वतन और हंसीं और हंसीं
९
अपने किर्दार-ए मोहब्बत को बचाने के लिए
ज़ुल्म से जब्र से हर दौर में टक्राई है
रास्ता बन के ज़बानों पे जो उर्दू बैठी
शम’अ-ए तख़’ईल ने किस दर्जा जिला पाई है
१०
कितने लोगौं ने इसे ख़ून-ए जिगर से सींचा
कितने फ़नकारौं से हासिल है इसे रा’नाई
अपनी फ़ितरत में सदाक़त ही सदाक़त ले कर
एक बोली से ये मे’यार-ए अदब तक आई
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. vijendra siNgh parvaaz (1943-living), fareedabad and meeraTh. MA (English Literature). Lecturer, KV Inter College meeraTh. I could not figure out what his family background was and how he came to urdu. A great lover of urdu and a staunch secularist. He has several collections of nazm to his credit and collection of odes to islamic religious figures. This is a collection of qat’aat in praise of the urdu language.
1
koochay-koochay1 ko mu’attar2 kiya yuN urdu ne
jaisay zulfoN3 meN saba4 buu-e chaman rakh jaa’e
yuN umiidoN5 se bandhay dil isi ek fun6 kay tufail7
sub’h jaisay kahiiN tinkoN pay kiran rakh jaa’e 1.every street 2.fragrant 3.hair 4.morning breeze 5.hopes 6.art form, discipline 7.because of
urdu has spread fragrance in every street like the morning breeze bringing the fragrance of the garden to the beloved’s hair. This one art-form (of writing verse in urdu) had given hope to many hearts, like the dawn laying down rays of light on leaves and grass.
2
dulhan-e mulk1 ka zevar2 hai kalaam3-e Khusro4
Khaak5-e bhaarat meN racha6 aur basa7 raNg-e nazeer8
kaisay kah duN keh yeh urdu hai musalmaanoN ki
fun9 ka baTvaara10 nahiN karte kabhi ahl11-e zameer12 1.country, homeland 2.jewelry 3.words, speech, poetry 4.amiir Khusro (1253–1325) 5.soil, earth 6.made, created 7.prospered, lived 8.exemplar, standard 9.art-form 10.division 11.people of 12.conscience, thinking
If the homeland is a bride then the words/poetry of amir Khusro is its jewelry. Made out of the soil of India, prospering and grown in India, it sets standards of style. How can I say that urdu belongs to muslims. Thinking people do not divide art and talent.
3
zulf1 o ruKhsaar2 lab3 o qad4 ke tasavvur5 ka mizaaj6
qaum7 o mazhab8 ka koi bojh9 nahiN Dho10 sakta
aadmiyyat11 ka taqaaza12 hai hamaara fun13 to
koi urdu ke liye Ghair14 nahiN ho sakta 1.hair 2.face, cheeks 3.lips 4.stature 5.imagination 6.disposition 7.community 8.religion 9.load, burden 10.carry 11.human-ness 12.demands 13.art, talent 14.other, foreign
The disposition (of urdu language) to appreciate beauty symbolized by the beloved’s features-hair, lips, face and stature, cannot be burdened with the baggage of any one community or religion. Our art/talent fills the demands of human-ness. No one can be the ‘other’ for urdu language.
4
shaa’eri1 hi nahiN voh nasr2 ka maidaan3 sahi
sanf4-dar-sanf KhayaaloN5 ko munavvar6 dekho
bhed7 khul jaa’e ga kahtay haiN kisay urdu adab8
aek markaz9 peh adeeboN10 ko bulaa kar dekho 1.poetry 2.prose 3.field 4.discipline 5.thoughts, imagination 6.bright 7.secret 8.literature 9.point, centre, focus 10.literati, writers, poets
Not just poetry, but also in the field of prose, look at the brilliance of discipline after discipline. Just bring literati together and see how the secret of what is called urdu literature will be revealed.
5
eKhtelafaat1 ka is fun2 se nahiN milta mizaaj3
vaaqe’ii4 aek sadaaqat5 hi sadaaqat urdu
raNg-dar-raNg6 taGhazzul7 ke tasalsul8 ka qayaam9
lafz-dar-lafz10 mohabbat hi mohabbat urdu 1.conflict 2.art, talent 3.disposition, character 4.in truth 5.truth, veracity 6.style after style 7.harmonious verse 8.continuity 9.standing, staying 10.word after word
In the disposition of this art-form you cannot find any trace of conflict/hatred. In truth, urdu is the embodiment of veracity/sincerity. It is a place where you find continuous harmony of style, word after word of love.
6
kokh1 se hind ki urdu ne liya aisa janam2
asmaanoN peh zamiinoN ki duaa’eN rakh diiN
aabshaaroN3 meN hai ash’aar4 ka partau5 raushan
pattharon meN inhiiN lafzoN6 ne sadaa’eN7 rakh diiN 1.womb 2.birth 3.waterfalls 4.poetic couplets 5.reflection, image 6.words 7.sound, voice
Born out of the womb of India, the hopes and desires of the people of the soil, reached the skies through urdu. It reflects the harmony and music of gurgling rivers and thundering waterfalls. Its words have place sound in stones and given them a voice.
7
jis se chhan-chhan1 ke yahaaN sharm o haya qaa’em2 haiN
rooh3-e bhaarat peh voh parda hai zabaan4-e urdu
rooh tak hind ki dharti5 peh asar6 hai is ka
zarray-zarray7 se jhalakta8 hai nishaan9-e urdu 1.filtered through 2.standing, steadfast 3.soul 4.language 5.land 6.effect 7.every grain of soil 8.shine 9.mark, sign
In cultural convention the ‘parda’ or covering maintains the dignity of women. In much the same way, urdu language serves to maintain the dignity of the soul of bhaarat-maata. The dignity of India filters through (can be seen through) the language. It touches the very sould of India. Every grain of the soil of India shines with signs of urdu.
8
aisa ehsaas1-e mohabbat hai zabaan2-e urdu
jis meN gunjaa’esh3-e nafrat4 ka tasavvur5 hi nahiN
jab se is fun6 ka Khazaana7 hua haasil8 hum ko
ho gaya apna vatan aur hasiiN9 aur hasiiN 1.feelings 2.language 3.room, accommodation 4.hatred 5.concept 6.art, discipline 7.treasure 8.available 9.beautiful
urdu language is such a feeling of love that in it there is no room even for the concept of hatred. Ever since the treasure of this art-form has become available to us, out homeland has become more and more beautiful.
9
apnay kirdaar1-e mohabbat ko bachaanay2 ke liye
zulm3 se jabr4 se har daur5 meN Takraaii6 hai
raasta ban kay zabanoN peh jo urdu baiThi
sham’a-e taKhiil7 ne kis darja8 jila9 paaii hai 1.character, nature 2.save 3.cruelty, torture 4.oppression 5.times, period 6.collided, faced 7.imagination 8.to such an extent 9.brilliance, light
To save its character of love (equality, harmony) urdu has faced down cruelty and oppression during all times. O, to want extent has the lamp of imagination acquired brilliance, ever since urdu has shown the way of expressing ourselves.
10
kitnay logoN ne usay Khoon-e jigar1 se siiNcha
kitnay fankaaroN2 se haasil3 hai usay ra’naaii4
apni fitrat5 meN sadaaqat6 hi sadaaqat le kar
aek boli7 se yeh me’aar8-e adab9 tak aaii 1.liver/heart 2.artists, poets, writers 3.available 4.grace, beauty 5.nature 6.veracity, truth 7.colloquial speak 8.standards 9.literature
How many people have nurtured it with the blood of their heart. From how many artists has it obtained/acquired grace and beauty. Along with its nature of truth and veracity, it has acquired the standards of high literature, rising from a colloquial spoken language.
vijendra siNgh parvaaz (1943-living), fareedabad and meeraTh. MA (English Literature). Lecturer, KV Inter College meeraTh. I could not figure out what his family background was and how he came to urdu. A great lover of urdu and a staunch secularist. He has several collections of nazm to his credit and collection of odes to islamic religious figures. This is a collection of qat’aat in praise of the urdu language.
1
koochay-koochay1 ko mu’attar2 kiya yuN urdu ne
jaisay zulfoN3 meN saba4 buu-e chaman rakh jaa’e
yuN umiidoN5 se bandhay dil isi ek fun6 kay tufail7
sub’h jaisay kahiiN tinkoN pay kiran rakh jaa’e
1.every street 2.fragrant 3.hair 4.morning breeze 5.hopes 6.art form, discipline 7.because of
urdu has spread fragrance in every street like the morning breeze bringing the fragrance of the garden to the beloved’s hair. This one art-form (of writing verse in urdu) had given hope to many hearts, like the dawn laying down rays of light on leaves and grass.
2
dulhan-e mulk1 ka zevar2 hai kalaam3-e Khusro4
Khaak5-e bhaarat meN racha6 aur basa7 raNg-e nazeer8
kaisay kah duN keh yeh urdu hai musalmaanoN ki
fun9 ka baTvaara10 nahiN karte kabhi ahl11-e zameer12
1.country, homeland 2.jewelry 3.words, speech, poetry 4.amiir Khusro (1253–1325) 5.soil, earth 6.made, created 7.prospered, lived 8.exemplar, standard 9.art-form 10.division 11.people of 12.conscience, thinking
If the homeland is a bride then the words/poetry of amir Khusro is its jewelry. Made out of the soil of India, prospering and grown in India, it sets standards of style. How can I say that urdu belongs to muslims. Thinking people do not divide art and talent.
3
zulf1 o ruKhsaar2 lab3 o qad4 ke tasavvur5 ka mizaaj6
qaum7 o mazhab8 ka koi bojh9 nahiN Dho10 sakta
aadmiyyat11 ka taqaaza12 hai hamaara fun13 to
koi urdu ke liye Ghair14 nahiN ho sakta
1.hair 2.face, cheeks 3.lips 4.stature 5.imagination 6.disposition 7.community 8.religion 9.load, burden 10.carry 11.human-ness 12.demands 13.art, talent 14.other, foreign
The disposition (of urdu language) to appreciate beauty symbolized by the beloved’s features-hair, lips, face and stature, cannot be burdened with the baggage of any one community or religion. Our art/talent fills the demands of human-ness. No one can be the ‘other’ for urdu language.
4
shaa’eri1 hi nahiN voh nasr2 ka maidaan3 sahi
sanf4-dar-sanf KhayaaloN5 ko munavvar6 dekho
bhed7 khul jaa’e ga kahtay haiN kisay urdu adab8
aek markaz9 peh adeeboN10 ko bulaa kar dekho
1.poetry 2.prose 3.field 4.discipline 5.thoughts, imagination 6.bright 7.secret 8.literature 9.point, centre, focus 10.literati, writers, poets
Not just poetry, but also in the field of prose, look at the brilliance of discipline after discipline. Just bring literati together and see how the secret of what is called urdu literature will be revealed.
5
eKhtelafaat1 ka is fun2 se nahiN milta mizaaj3
vaaqe’ii4 aek sadaaqat5 hi sadaaqat urdu
raNg-dar-raNg6 taGhazzul7 ke tasalsul8 ka qayaam9
lafz-dar-lafz10 mohabbat hi mohabbat urdu
1.conflict 2.art, talent 3.disposition, character 4.in truth 5.truth, veracity 6.style after style 7.harmonious verse 8.continuity 9.standing, staying 10.word after word
In the disposition of this art-form you cannot find any trace of conflict/hatred. In truth, urdu is the embodiment of veracity/sincerity. It is a place where you find continuous harmony of style, word after word of love.
6
kokh1 se hind ki urdu ne liya aisa janam2
asmaanoN peh zamiinoN ki duaa’eN rakh diiN
aabshaaroN3 meN hai ash’aar4 ka partau5 raushan
pattharon meN inhiiN lafzoN6 ne sadaa’eN7 rakh diiN
1.womb 2.birth 3.waterfalls 4.poetic couplets 5.reflection, image 6.words 7.sound, voice
Born out of the womb of India, the hopes and desires of the people of the soil, reached the skies through urdu. It reflects the harmony and music of gurgling rivers and thundering waterfalls. Its words have place sound in stones and given them a voice.
7
jis se chhan-chhan1 ke yahaaN sharm o haya qaa’em2 haiN
rooh3-e bhaarat peh voh parda hai zabaan4-e urdu
rooh tak hind ki dharti5 peh asar6 hai is ka
zarray-zarray7 se jhalakta8 hai nishaan9-e urdu
1.filtered through 2.standing, steadfast 3.soul 4.language 5.land 6.effect 7.every grain of soil 8.shine 9.mark, sign
In cultural convention the ‘parda’ or covering maintains the dignity of women. In much the same way, urdu language serves to maintain the dignity of the soul of bhaarat-maata. The dignity of India filters through (can be seen through) the language. It touches the very sould of India. Every grain of the soil of India shines with signs of urdu.
8
aisa ehsaas1-e mohabbat hai zabaan2-e urdu
jis meN gunjaa’esh3-e nafrat4 ka tasavvur5 hi nahiN
jab se is fun6 ka Khazaana7 hua haasil8 hum ko
ho gaya apna vatan aur hasiiN9 aur hasiiN
1.feelings 2.language 3.room, accommodation 4.hatred 5.concept 6.art, discipline 7.treasure 8.available 9.beautiful
urdu language is such a feeling of love that in it there is no room even for the concept of hatred. Ever since the treasure of this art-form has become available to us, out homeland has become more and more beautiful.
9
apnay kirdaar1-e mohabbat ko bachaanay2 ke liye
zulm3 se jabr4 se har daur5 meN Takraaii6 hai
raasta ban kay zabanoN peh jo urdu baiThi
sham’a-e taKhiil7 ne kis darja8 jila9 paaii hai
1.character, nature 2.save 3.cruelty, torture 4.oppression 5.times, period 6.collided, faced 7.imagination 8.to such an extent 9.brilliance, light
To save its character of love (equality, harmony) urdu has faced down cruelty and oppression during all times. O, to want extent has the lamp of imagination acquired brilliance, ever since urdu has shown the way of expressing ourselves.
10
kitnay logoN ne usay Khoon-e jigar1 se siiNcha
kitnay fankaaroN2 se haasil3 hai usay ra’naaii4
apni fitrat5 meN sadaaqat6 hi sadaaqat le kar
aek boli7 se yeh me’aar8-e adab9 tak aaii
1.liver/heart 2.artists, poets, writers 3.available 4.grace, beauty 5.nature 6.veracity, truth 7.colloquial speak 8.standards 9.literature
How many people have nurtured it with the blood of their heart. From how many artists has it obtained/acquired grace and beauty. Along with its nature of truth and veracity, it has acquired the standards of high literature, rising from a colloquial spoken language.
Your standards and your selection of Poetry has gone down considerably.