For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
یہ بچّہ کس کا بچّہ ہے ۔ شیر محمد خاں اِبنِ انشاءؔ
۱
یہ بچّہ کیسا بچّہ ہے
یہ بچّہ کالا کالا سا
یہ کالا سا مٹیالہ سا
یہ بچّہ بھوکا پھوکا سا
یہ بچّہ سوکھا سوکھا سا
یہ بچّہ کس کا بچّہ ہے
یہ بچّہ کیسا بچّہ ہے
۲
جو ریت پہ تنہا بیٹھا ہے
نہ اس کے پیٹ میں روٹی ہے
نہ اس کے تن پر کپڑا ہے
نہ اس کے سر پر ٹوپی ہے
نہ اس کے پیر میں جوتا ہے
نہ اس کے پاس کھلونوں میں
کوئی بھالو ہے کوئی گھوڑا ہے
۳
نہ اس کا جی بہلانے کو
کوئی لوری ہے کوئی جھولا ہے
نہ اس کی جیب میں دھیلا ہے
نہ اس کی امی ابو ہیں
نہ اس کے آپا خالہ ہیں
یہ سارے جگ میں تنہا ہے
یہ بچّہ کیسا بچّہ ہے
۴
یہ صحرا کیسا صحرا ہے
نہ اس صحرا میں بادل ہے
نہ اس صحرا میں برکھا ہے
نہ اس صحرا میں بالی ہے
نہ اس صحرا میں خوشہ ہے
نہ اس صحرا میں سبزہ ہے
نہ اس صحرا میں سایہ ہے
۵
یہ صحرا بھوک کا صحرا ہے
یہ صحرا موت کا صحرا ہے
یہ بچّہ کیسے بیٹھا ہے
یہ بچّہ کب سے بیٹھا ہے
یہ بچّہ کیا کچھ پوچھتا ہے
یہ بچّہ کیا کچھ کہتا ہے
۶
یہ دنیا کیسی دنیا ہے
یہ دنیا کس کی دنیا ہے
اِس دنیا کے کچھ ٹکڑوں میں
کہیں پھول کھلے ہیں سبزہ ہے
کہیں بادل گِھر گِھر آتے ہیں
کہیں چشمہ ہے کہیں دریا ہے
۷
کہیں اونچے محل اٹاریاں ہیں
کہیں محفل ہے کہیں میلا ہے
کہیں کپڑوں کے بازار سجے
یہ ریشم ہے یہ دیبا ہے
کہیں غلّے کے انبار لگے
سب گیہوں دھان مہیّا ہے
۸
کہیں دولت کے صندوق بھرے
ہاں تانبہ سونا روپا ہے
جو تم مانگو سو حاضر ہے
جو تم چاہو سو ملتا ہے
۹
اِس بُھوک کے دُکھ کی دنیا میں
یہ کیسا سُکھ کا سپنا ہے
وہ کس دھرتی کے ٹکڑے ہیں
یہ کس دنیا کا حِصّہ ہے
۱۰
ہم جِس آدم کے بیٹے ہیں
یہ اُس آدم کا بیٹا ہے
یہ آدم ایک ہی آدم ہے
وہ گورا ہے یا کالا ہے
۱۱
یہ دھرتی ایک ہی دھرتی ہے
یہ دنیا ایک ہی دنیا ہے
سب اِک داتا کے بندے ہیں
سب بندوں کا اِک داتا ہے
کچھ پورب پچھم فرق نہیں
اِس دھرتی پر حق سب کا ہے
۱۲
یہ تنہا بچّہ بیچارہ
یہ بچّہ جو یہاں بیٹھا ہے
۱۳
اس بچّے کی کہیں بھوک مِٹے ۔ کیا مشکل ہے ہو سکتا ہے
اِس بچّے کو کہیں دودھ ملے ۔ ہاں دودھ یہاں بہتیرا ہے
اس بچّے کا کوئی تن ڈھانکے ۔ کیا کپڑوں کا یہاں توڑا ہے
اس بچّے کو کوئی گود میں لے ۔ انسان جو اب تک زندہ ہے
۱۴
پھر دیکھے کیسا بچّہ ہے
یہ کتنا پیارا بچّہ ہے
۱۵
اس جگ میں سب کچھ رب کا ہے
جو رب کا ہے وہ سب کا ہے
سب اپنے ہیں کوئی غیر نہیں
ہر چیز میں سب کا ساجھا ہے
جو بڑھتا ہے، جو اُگتا ہے
وہ دانا ہے یا میوہ ہے
جو کپڑا ہے جو کمبل ہے
جو چاندی ہے جو سونا ہے
۱۶
وہ سارا ہے اس بچّے کا
جو تیرا ہے جو میرا ہے
۱۷
یہ بچّہ کس کا بچّہ ہے
یہ بچّہ سب کا بچّہ ہے
ये बच्चा किस का बच्चा है – शेर मोहम्मद ख़ां इब्न-ए इन्शा
१
ये बच्चा कैसा बच्चा है
ये बच्चा काला काला सा
ये काला सा मिटियाला सा
ये बच्चा भूखा भूखा सा
ये बच्चा सूखा सूखा सा
ये बच्चा किस का बच्चा है
ये बच्चा कैसा बच्चा है
२
जो रेत पे तन्हा बैठा है
ना उस के पेट में रोटी है
ना उस के तन पर कपढा है
ना उस के सर पर टोपी है
ना उस के पैर में जूता है
ना उस के पास खिलौनों में
कोई भालू है कोई घोड़ा है
३
ना उस का जी बहलाने को
कोई लोरी है कोई झूला है
ना उस की जेब में धेला है
ना उस की अम्मी अब्बू हैं
ना उस के आपा ख़ाला हैं
ये सारे जग में तन्हा है
ये बच्चा कैसा बच्चा है
४
ये सहरा कैसा सहरा है
ना इस सहरा में बादल है
ना इस सहरा में बरखा है
ना इस सहरा में बाली है
ना इस सहरा में खुशा है
ना इस सहरा में सब्ज़ा है
ना इस सहरा में साया है
५
ये सहरा भूख का सहरा है
ये सहरा मौत का सहरा है
ये बच्चा कैसे बैठा है
ये बच्चा कब से बैठा है
ये बच्चा क्या कुछ पूछता है
ये बच्चा क्या कुछ कहता है
६
ये दुनिया कैसी दुनिया है
ये दुनिया किस की दुनिया है
इस दुनिया के कुछ टुकढौं में
कहीं फूल खिले हैं सब्ज़ा है
कहीं बादल घिर घिर आते हैं
कहीं चश्मा है कहीं दरिया है
७
कहीं ऊँचे महल अटारियाँ हैं
कहीं महफ़िल है कहीं मेला है
कहीं कपढौं के बाज़ार सजे
ये रेशम है ये दीबा है
कहीं ग़ल्ले के अंबार लगे
सब गेहूँ धान मयस्सर है
८
कहीं दौलत के संदूक़ भरे
हाँ तांबा सोना रूपा है
जो तुम माँगो सो हाज़िर है
जो तुम चाहो सो मिलता है
९
इस भूख के दुख की दुनिया में
ये कैसा सुख का सपना है
वो किस धरती के टुकढे हैं
ये किस दुनिया का हिस्सा है
१०
हम जिस आदम के बेटे हैं
ये उस आदम का बेटा है
ये आदम एक ही आदम है
वो गोरा है या काला है
११
ये धरती एक ही धरती है
ये दुनिया एक ही दुनिया है
सब एक दाता के बंदे हैं
सब बंदों का एक दाता है
कुछ पूरब-पश्चिम फ़र्क़ नहीं
इस धरती पर हक़ सब का है
१२
ये तन्हा बच्चा बेचारा
ये बच्चा जो यहाँ बैठा है
१३
इस बच्चे की कहीं भूख मिटे – क्या मुश्किल है हो सकता है
इस बच्चे को कहीं दूध मिले – हाँ दूध यहाँ बहुतेरा है
इस बच्चे का कोई तन ढाँके – क्या कपढौं का यहाँ तोढा है
इस बच्चे को कोई गोद में ले – इंसान जो अब तक ज़िंदा है
१४
फिर देखे कैसा बच्चा है
ये कितना प्यारा बच्चा है
१५
इस जग में सब कुछ रब का है
जो रब का है वो सब का है
सब अपने हैं कोई ग़ैर नहीं
हर चीज़ में सब का साझा है
जो बढ़ता है, जो उगता है
वो दाना है या मेवा है
जो कपढा है, जो कम्बल है
जो चाँदी है, जो सोना है
१६
वो सारा है इस बच्चे का
जो तेरा है, जो मेरा है
१७
ये बच्चा किस का बच्चा है
ये बच्चा सब का बच्चा है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sher mohammad KhaaN ibn-e insha (1927-1978), poet, journalist, travelogue writer. A progressive with wide ranging subjects – romance, politics, deep humanism and self deprecating humour. He was deeply affected by the picture of a starving child used by UNICEF for famine relief (critical in Africa at the time) and wrote this nazm. I take the liberty to re-dedicate it to WCNSF ‘Wounded Child, No Surviving Family’ and link it to ‘filistiin’ on the Theme Index page.
1
ye bachcha kaisa bachcha hai
ye bachcha kaala kaala sa
ye kaala sa maTiyaala1 sa
ye bachcha bhookha bhookha sa
ye bachcha sookha sookha sa
ye bachcha kis ka bachcha hai
ye bachcha kaisa bachcha hai 1.dust covered
What child is it that sits here?
So dark of skin, so dim in glow,
Unwashed, covered in dust,
So hungry, and famished,
dry, thin and dry, a hollow stare,
Whose child is this, does no one know?
What child is it that sits here?
2
jo ret1 pe tanha2 baiTha hai
na us ke peT meN roTi hai
na us ke tan3 par kapRa hai
na us ke sar par Topi hai
na us ke pa’er4 meN joota hai
na us ke paas khilonoN meN
koi bhaaloo5 hai koi ghoRa hai 1.sand 2.alone 3.body 4.feet 5.bear
Who sits alone upon the sand
No food to fill his stomach,
No clothes to drape his body,
No cap to cover his head,
No shoes to shield his feet so bare,
No toys to play,
No dancing bear, no wooden mare.
3
na us ka jee1 bahlaane2 ko
koi lori3 hai koi jhoola4 hai
na us ki jeb5 meN dhela6 hai
na us ki ammi abbu haiN
na us ke aapa Khaala haiN
ye saare jag7 meN tanha8 hai
ye bachcha kaisa bachcha hai 1.heart, mind 2.console 3.lullaby 4.swing 5.pocket 6.coin 7.world 8.alone
None to console his heart,
No comforting lullaby, no swing to sway,
No coin within his pocket lies,
No mother’s hand, no father’s gaze,
No sister, aunt, to soothe his cries
All alone in this wide world
What child is this, sitting alone?
4
ye sahra1 kaisa sahra hai
na us sahra meN baadal2 hai
na us sahra meN barkha3 hai
na us sahra meN baali4 hai
na us sahra meN Khosha5 hai
na us sahra meN sabza6 hai
na us sahra meN saaya7 hai 1.desert 2.cloud 3.rain, drizzle 4.ear of wheat 5.fruit cluster 6.greenery 7.shade
What desert that stretches all around
No cloud hovering overhead
No drizzle, no blessed rain,
No stalk, no grain, no ear of wheat
No boughs laden with leaves green,
No branch with a cluster of fruit,
No shade anywhere in this desert.
5
ye sahra bhookh ka sahra hai
ye sahra maut1 ka sahra hai
ye bachcha kaise baiTha hai
ye bachcha kab se baiTha hai
ye bachcha kya kuchh poochhta hai
ye bachcha kya kuchh kahta2 hai 1.death 2.speak, say
This desert is the desert of hunger,
This is the desert ruled by death,
Why is this child sitting here?
How long has he been sitting so?
Does he ask why with every breath?
Or speak of sorrow in his depths?
6
ye duniya kaisi duniya hai
ye duniya kis ki duniya hai
is duniya ke kuch tukRoN1 meN
kahiN phool khile2 haiN sabza3 hai
kahiN baadal ghir-ghir4 aate haiN
kahiN chashma5 hai kahiN dariya6 hai 1.pieces, patches (of land) 2.blossoming 3.greenery 4.circling, rising 5.spring 6.river
What kind of a world is this,
Whose world is it, where
In some corners
Flowers bloom, grass is green,
In some lands clouds come drifting in,
Where rivers run and fountains flow
7
kahiN ooNche1 mahal2 aTaariyaaN3 haiN
kahiN mahfil4 hai kahiN mela5 hai
kahiN kapRoN ke bazaar saj’e6
ye resham7 hai ye diiba8 hai
kahiN Ghall’e9 ke ambaar10 lag’e
sab gehuN11 dhaan12 muhayya13 hai 1.tall, high 2.mansions 3.terraces 4.gatherings 5.fair 6.arranged 7.silk 8.brocade 9.provisions 10.heaps, mounds 11.wheat 12.rice 13.available
Grand mansions and terraces here,
Festive gatherings and village fairs,
Bazaars with fine clothes arranged around
Markets rich with brocade and silk,
With provisions in mound heaped high,
Wheat and rice available on demand.
8
kahiN daulat1 ke sandooq2 bhar’e3
haaN taamba4, sona5, roopa6 hai
jo tum maaNgo7 so haazir8 hai
jo tum chaaho so milta hai 1.treasure 2.chests, boxes 3.filled 4.copper 5.gold 6.silver rupee 7.demand 8.presented
Where treasure chests are brimming full,
With copper, silver, gold in hand
Whatever you demand is supplied,
Whatever you wish, is available.
9
is bhookh ke dukh1 ki duniya meN
ye kaisa sukh2 ka sapna3 hai
voh kis dharti4 ke TukRe haiN
ye kis duniya ka hissa hai 1.sorrow, pain 2.pleasure, joy 3.dream 4.land
In this harsh world of hunger’s pain,
What dream of joy is shining here?
What corner of the earth is that?
What world is this, so far, so near?
10
hum jis aadam1 ke beTe haiN
ye us aadam ka beTa hai
ye aadam ek hi aadam hai
voh gora hai ya kaala hai 1.Adam, human
The human, whose children we are,
This is the child of the same human,
He is just as human as we are
Be he dark skinned or light.
11
ye dharti1 ek hi dharti hai
ye duniya ek hi duniya hai
sab ek daata2 ke band’e3 haiN
sab bandoN ka ek daata hai
kuch poorab4 pachchhim5 farq6 nahiN
is dharti par haq7 sab ka hai 1.earth, land 2.lord 3.creatures 4.west 5.east 6.difference
The earth is one and the same,
There in only one world,
The same lord sustains all creatures
No East or West divides this earth,
Everyone has the same rights over this land.
12
ye tanha1 bachcha bechaara2
ye bachcha jo yahaaN baiTha hai 1.alone 2.helpless
This helpless child, alone, afraid,
Who sits upon the ground and waits.
13
is bachche ki kahiN bhookh miT’e – kya mushkil hai ho sakta hai
is bachche ko kahiN doodh mil’e – haaN doodh yahaaN bahutera1 hai
is bachche ka koi tan2 DhaaNke3 – kya kapRoN ka yahaaN toRa4 hai
is bachche ko koi go’d5 meN le – insaan jo ab tak zinda hai 1.plenty 2.body 3.cover 4.scarcity 5.lap, embrace
Let this child’s hunger be satisfied – it can be done, not too difficult
Let this child get a cup of milk – there is plenty of milk here
Let this child’s body be covered – there is no scarcity of cloth
Let this child be picked up and held – a human heart must still beat here.
14
phir dekhe kaisa bachcha hai
ye kitna pyaara bachcha hai Then see the wonder in his eyes,
How sweet and loving this child is.
15
is jag1 meN sab kuchh rab2 ka hai
jo rab ka hai voh sab ka hai
sab apn’e haiN koi Ghair3 nahiN
har cheez meN sab ka saajha4 hai
jo baRhta hai, jo ugta hai
voh daana5 hai ya meva6 hai
jo kapRa hai jo kambal7 hai
jo chaandi hai jo sona hai 1.world 2.lord 3.other, foreign 4.share 5.grain 6.fruit 7.blanket
All in this world belongs to the lord,
And that which belongs to the lord belongs to all.
Everyone belongs here, there is no ‘other’,
In every good, everyone has a share
That which germinates, that which grows
Be it grain or be it fruit,
Cloth or blanket
Silver or gold, we all share
16
voh saara1 hai is bachche ka
jo tera hai jo mera hai 1.all, total
All that is, also belongs to this child
That that is yours and all that is mine
17
ye bachcha kis ka bachcha hai
ye bachcha sab ka bachcha hai Whose child is he, can we still ask?
He is our child, yours and mine.
sher mohammad KhaaN ibn-e insha (1927-1978), poet, journalist, travelogue writer. A progressive with wide ranging subjects – romance, politics, deep humanism and self deprecating humour. He was deeply affected by the picture of a starving child used by UNICEF for famine relief (critical in Africa at the time) and wrote this nazm. I take the liberty to re-dedicate it to WCNSF ‘Wounded Child, No Surviving Family’ and link it to ‘filistiin’ on the Theme Index page.
1
ye bachcha kaisa bachcha hai
ye bachcha kaala kaala sa
ye kaala sa maTiyaala1 sa
ye bachcha bhookha bhookha sa
ye bachcha sookha sookha sa
ye bachcha kis ka bachcha hai
ye bachcha kaisa bachcha hai
1.dust covered
What child is it that sits here?
So dark of skin, so dim in glow,
Unwashed, covered in dust,
So hungry, and famished,
dry, thin and dry, a hollow stare,
Whose child is this, does no one know?
What child is it that sits here?
2
jo ret1 pe tanha2 baiTha hai
na us ke peT meN roTi hai
na us ke tan3 par kapRa hai
na us ke sar par Topi hai
na us ke pa’er4 meN joota hai
na us ke paas khilonoN meN
koi bhaaloo5 hai koi ghoRa hai
1.sand 2.alone 3.body 4.feet 5.bear
Who sits alone upon the sand
No food to fill his stomach,
No clothes to drape his body,
No cap to cover his head,
No shoes to shield his feet so bare,
No toys to play,
No dancing bear, no wooden mare.
3
na us ka jee1 bahlaane2 ko
koi lori3 hai koi jhoola4 hai
na us ki jeb5 meN dhela6 hai
na us ki ammi abbu haiN
na us ke aapa Khaala haiN
ye saare jag7 meN tanha8 hai
ye bachcha kaisa bachcha hai
1.heart, mind 2.console 3.lullaby 4.swing 5.pocket 6.coin 7.world 8.alone
None to console his heart,
No comforting lullaby, no swing to sway,
No coin within his pocket lies,
No mother’s hand, no father’s gaze,
No sister, aunt, to soothe his cries
All alone in this wide world
What child is this, sitting alone?
4
ye sahra1 kaisa sahra hai
na us sahra meN baadal2 hai
na us sahra meN barkha3 hai
na us sahra meN baali4 hai
na us sahra meN Khosha5 hai
na us sahra meN sabza6 hai
na us sahra meN saaya7 hai
1.desert 2.cloud 3.rain, drizzle 4.ear of wheat 5.fruit cluster 6.greenery 7.shade
What desert that stretches all around
No cloud hovering overhead
No drizzle, no blessed rain,
No stalk, no grain, no ear of wheat
No boughs laden with leaves green,
No branch with a cluster of fruit,
No shade anywhere in this desert.
5
ye sahra bhookh ka sahra hai
ye sahra maut1 ka sahra hai
ye bachcha kaise baiTha hai
ye bachcha kab se baiTha hai
ye bachcha kya kuchh poochhta hai
ye bachcha kya kuchh kahta2 hai
1.death 2.speak, say
This desert is the desert of hunger,
This is the desert ruled by death,
Why is this child sitting here?
How long has he been sitting so?
Does he ask why with every breath?
Or speak of sorrow in his depths?
6
ye duniya kaisi duniya hai
ye duniya kis ki duniya hai
is duniya ke kuch tukRoN1 meN
kahiN phool khile2 haiN sabza3 hai
kahiN baadal ghir-ghir4 aate haiN
kahiN chashma5 hai kahiN dariya6 hai
1.pieces, patches (of land) 2.blossoming 3.greenery 4.circling, rising 5.spring 6.river
What kind of a world is this,
Whose world is it, where
In some corners
Flowers bloom, grass is green,
In some lands clouds come drifting in,
Where rivers run and fountains flow
7
kahiN ooNche1 mahal2 aTaariyaaN3 haiN
kahiN mahfil4 hai kahiN mela5 hai
kahiN kapRoN ke bazaar saj’e6
ye resham7 hai ye diiba8 hai
kahiN Ghall’e9 ke ambaar10 lag’e
sab gehuN11 dhaan12 muhayya13 hai
1.tall, high 2.mansions 3.terraces 4.gatherings 5.fair 6.arranged 7.silk 8.brocade 9.provisions 10.heaps, mounds 11.wheat 12.rice 13.available
Grand mansions and terraces here,
Festive gatherings and village fairs,
Bazaars with fine clothes arranged around
Markets rich with brocade and silk,
With provisions in mound heaped high,
Wheat and rice available on demand.
8
kahiN daulat1 ke sandooq2 bhar’e3
haaN taamba4, sona5, roopa6 hai
jo tum maaNgo7 so haazir8 hai
jo tum chaaho so milta hai
1.treasure 2.chests, boxes 3.filled 4.copper 5.gold 6.silver rupee 7.demand 8.presented
Where treasure chests are brimming full,
With copper, silver, gold in hand
Whatever you demand is supplied,
Whatever you wish, is available.
9
is bhookh ke dukh1 ki duniya meN
ye kaisa sukh2 ka sapna3 hai
voh kis dharti4 ke TukRe haiN
ye kis duniya ka hissa hai
1.sorrow, pain 2.pleasure, joy 3.dream 4.land
In this harsh world of hunger’s pain,
What dream of joy is shining here?
What corner of the earth is that?
What world is this, so far, so near?
10
hum jis aadam1 ke beTe haiN
ye us aadam ka beTa hai
ye aadam ek hi aadam hai
voh gora hai ya kaala hai
1.Adam, human
The human, whose children we are,
This is the child of the same human,
He is just as human as we are
Be he dark skinned or light.
11
ye dharti1 ek hi dharti hai
ye duniya ek hi duniya hai
sab ek daata2 ke band’e3 haiN
sab bandoN ka ek daata hai
kuch poorab4 pachchhim5 farq6 nahiN
is dharti par haq7 sab ka hai
1.earth, land 2.lord 3.creatures 4.west 5.east 6.difference
The earth is one and the same,
There in only one world,
The same lord sustains all creatures
No East or West divides this earth,
Everyone has the same rights over this land.
12
ye tanha1 bachcha bechaara2
ye bachcha jo yahaaN baiTha hai
1.alone 2.helpless
This helpless child, alone, afraid,
Who sits upon the ground and waits.
13
is bachche ki kahiN bhookh miT’e – kya mushkil hai ho sakta hai
is bachche ko kahiN doodh mil’e – haaN doodh yahaaN bahutera1 hai
is bachche ka koi tan2 DhaaNke3 – kya kapRoN ka yahaaN toRa4 hai
is bachche ko koi go’d5 meN le – insaan jo ab tak zinda hai
1.plenty 2.body 3.cover 4.scarcity 5.lap, embrace
Let this child’s hunger be satisfied – it can be done, not too difficult
Let this child get a cup of milk – there is plenty of milk here
Let this child’s body be covered – there is no scarcity of cloth
Let this child be picked up and held – a human heart must still beat here.
14
phir dekhe kaisa bachcha hai
ye kitna pyaara bachcha hai
Then see the wonder in his eyes,
How sweet and loving this child is.
15
is jag1 meN sab kuchh rab2 ka hai
jo rab ka hai voh sab ka hai
sab apn’e haiN koi Ghair3 nahiN
har cheez meN sab ka saajha4 hai
jo baRhta hai, jo ugta hai
voh daana5 hai ya meva6 hai
jo kapRa hai jo kambal7 hai
jo chaandi hai jo sona hai
1.world 2.lord 3.other, foreign 4.share 5.grain 6.fruit 7.blanket
All in this world belongs to the lord,
And that which belongs to the lord belongs to all.
Everyone belongs here, there is no ‘other’,
In every good, everyone has a share
That which germinates, that which grows
Be it grain or be it fruit,
Cloth or blanket
Silver or gold, we all share
16
voh saara1 hai is bachche ka
jo tera hai jo mera hai
1.all, total
All that is, also belongs to this child
That that is yours and all that is mine
17
ye bachcha kis ka bachcha hai
ye bachcha sab ka bachcha hai
Whose child is he, can we still ask?
He is our child, yours and mine.
