For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
یہ سال اچھا ہے ۔ احمد فراز
۱
نہ شب و روز ہی بدلے ہیں نہ حال اچّھا ہے
کس برہمن نے کہا تھا کہ یہ سال اچّھا ہے
۲
ہم کہ دونوں کے گرفتار رہے جانتے ہیں
دامِ دُنیا سے کہیں زلف کا جال اچّھا ہے
۳
میں نے پوچھا تھا کہ آخر یہ تغافل کب تک
مسکراتے ہوئے بولے کہ سوال اچّھا ہے
۴
دل نہ مانے بھی تو ایسا ہے کہ گاہے گاہے
یارِ بے فیض سے ہلکا سا ملال اچّھا ہے
۵
لذّتیں قرب و جدائی کی ہیں اپنی اپنی
مستقل ہجر ہی اچّھا نہ وصال اچّھا ہے
۶
رہروانِ رہِ اُلفت کا مقدّر معلوم
اُن کا آغاز ہی اچّھا نہ مآل اچّھا ہے
۷
دوستی اپنی جگہ پر یہ حقیقت ہے فرازؔ
تیری غزلوں سے کہیں تیرا غزال اچّھا ہے
ये साल अच्छा है – अहमद फ़राज़
१
न शब ओ रोज़ हि बदले हैं न हाल अच्छा है
किस बरहमन ने कहा था के ये साल अच्छा है
२
हम के दोनों के गिरफ़्तार रहे जानते हैं
दाम-ए दुनिया से कहीं ज़ुल्फ़ का जाल अच्छा है
३
मैं ने पूछा था के आख़र ये तग़ाफ़ुल कब तक
मुस्कुराते हुए बोले के सवाल अच्छा है
४
दिल न माने भी तो ऐसा है के गाहे गाहे
यार-ए बे-फ़ैज़ से हल्का सा मलाल अच्छा है
५
लज़्ज़तें क़ुर्ब ओ जुदाई की हैं अपनी अपनी
मुस्तक़िल हिज्र हि अच्छा न विसाल अच्छा है
६
रहरवान-ए रह-ए उल्फ़त का मुक़द्दर मा’लूम
उन का आग़ाज़ हि अच्छा न म’आल अच्छा है
७
दास्ती अपनी जगह पर ये हक़ीक़त है फ़राज़
तेरी ग़ज़लौं से कहीं तेरा ग़ज़ाल अच्छा है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ahmad faraz (1931-2008) popular love and romance poet as well as a substantial contributor to progressive themes. This Ghazal is modeled after Ghalib’s “ye Khayaal achchha hai” with a pun on his misra about a prediction by an astronomer/brahman.
1
na shab1 o roz2 hi badle haiN na haal achcha hai
kis barahman3 ne kahaa tha keh ya saal achcha hai 1.night 2.day 3.used here to imply priest/astrologer
This is a pun on Ghalib’s “ek barahman ne kahaa hai ke ye saal achchha hai”. faraaz asks, which brahman/astrologer was it that said this was going to a good year – neither the days and nights are better nor is our condition improved.
2
hum keh donoN ke giraftaar1 rahe, jaante haiN
daam2-e duniya se kahiiN zulf3 ka jaal4 achcha hai 1.captive 2.net, web 3.hair, beloved’s locks 4.tangles, web
We have been a captive of both. We know and can say that the web of the beloved’s hair is a lot better than the web of the world (daily struggle).
3
maiN ne poochha tha keh aaKhir ye taGhaaful1 kab tak
muskuraate hue bole ke savaal achchha hai 1.forgetfulness, indifference, ignoring
I asked the beloved, how long will she will be indifferent to me. She smiled and replied, ‘it is a good question’.
4
dil na maane bhi to aisa hai keh gaahe gaahe1
yaar2-e be-faiz3 se halka sa malaal4 achchha hai 1.on and off, sometimes 2.beloved 3.unkind, ungenerous 4.anger, annoyance
Even if the heart isn’t quite inclined sometimes it is good to be a littled annoyed with the unkind/indifferent beloved.
5
lazzateN1 qurb2 o judaaii3 ki haiN apni apni
mustaqil4 hijr5 hi achchha na visaal6 achchha hai 1.pleasure 2.nearness 3.separation 4.permanent 5.separation 6.union
Nearness and distance, each has its own pleasure. Neither permanent separation is good nor permanent union.
6
rahravaan1-e rah2-e ulfat3 ka muqaddar4 maa’loom
un ka aaGhaaz5 hi achchha na m’aal6 achchha hai 1.travelers 2.path 3.love 4.fate 5.beginning 6.end, result
We know the fate of the travelers on the path of love. Neither is their beginning any good nor the end.
7
dosti apni jagah par ye haqiiqat1 ha faraaz2
teri GhazloN se kahiN tera Ghazaal3 achchha hai 1.truth 2.pen-name of poet 3.deer
Here “Ghazaal” is used to depict the beauty of the beloved – its graceful leap and is large beautiful eyes are often used as metaphors for her beauty. Friendship aside, but this much is true O, faraaz. The beloved’s beauty far exceeds the beauty of your Ghazal.
ahmad faraz (1931-2008) popular love and romance poet as well as a substantial contributor to progressive themes. This Ghazal is modeled after Ghalib’s “ye Khayaal achchha hai” with a pun on his misra about a prediction by an astronomer/brahman.
1
na shab1 o roz2 hi badle haiN na haal achcha hai
kis barahman3 ne kahaa tha keh ya saal achcha hai
1.night 2.day 3.used here to imply priest/astrologer
This is a pun on Ghalib’s “ek barahman ne kahaa hai ke ye saal achchha hai”. faraaz asks, which brahman/astrologer was it that said this was going to a good year – neither the days and nights are better nor is our condition improved.
2
hum keh donoN ke giraftaar1 rahe, jaante haiN
daam2-e duniya se kahiiN zulf3 ka jaal4 achcha hai
1.captive 2.net, web 3.hair, beloved’s locks 4.tangles, web
We have been a captive of both. We know and can say that the web of the beloved’s hair is a lot better than the web of the world (daily struggle).
3
maiN ne poochha tha keh aaKhir ye taGhaaful1 kab tak
muskuraate hue bole ke savaal achchha hai
1.forgetfulness, indifference, ignoring
I asked the beloved, how long will she will be indifferent to me. She smiled and replied, ‘it is a good question’.
4
dil na maane bhi to aisa hai keh gaahe gaahe1
yaar2-e be-faiz3 se halka sa malaal4 achchha hai
1.on and off, sometimes 2.beloved 3.unkind, ungenerous 4.anger, annoyance
Even if the heart isn’t quite inclined sometimes it is good to be a littled annoyed with the unkind/indifferent beloved.
5
lazzateN1 qurb2 o judaaii3 ki haiN apni apni
mustaqil4 hijr5 hi achchha na visaal6 achchha hai
1.pleasure 2.nearness 3.separation 4.permanent 5.separation 6.union
Nearness and distance, each has its own pleasure. Neither permanent separation is good nor permanent union.
6
rahravaan1-e rah2-e ulfat3 ka muqaddar4 maa’loom
un ka aaGhaaz5 hi achchha na m’aal6 achchha hai
1.travelers 2.path 3.love 4.fate 5.beginning 6.end, result
We know the fate of the travelers on the path of love. Neither is their beginning any good nor the end.
7
dosti apni jagah par ye haqiiqat1 ha faraaz2
teri GhazloN se kahiN tera Ghazaal3 achchha hai
1.truth 2.pen-name of poet 3.deer
Here “Ghazaal” is used to depict the beauty of the beloved – its graceful leap and is large beautiful eyes are often used as metaphors for her beauty. Friendship aside, but this much is true O, faraaz. The beloved’s beauty far exceeds the beauty of your Ghazal.
