Rambles, Rants and Ripostes...Alfa-Petti-Quely

A Stanza from a Gulzar Poem -

2007-01-13T10:03:00.000-08:00

This appeared originally on Zulm.net

Din Kuch Aisey Guzarta Hai Koi
Jaisey Ehsaan Utarta Hai Koi
Aaina Dekh Kar Tasal-li Hui
Humko Is Ghar Mein Janta Hai Koi
Paak Gaya Hai Sajar Pe Fal Shayed
Phir Se Patthar Uchaltaa Hai Koi
Der Se Gunj-tte Hain Sannate
Jaisey Humko Pukarta hai Koi

Days, weeks and months pass,
Repaying a lifelong debt, in a trance.
A chance encounter with one's own reflection,
Is reassuring knowledge of another acquaintance,
Perhaps the fruit has ripened in its branch,
That it hath become a target to stones,
The echoes of silence take their time in ringing,
As though someone called out in afterthought.

Dhoondo Ge Agar Mulkon Mulkon - A Translation

2007-01-13T07:10:00.000-08:00

This originally appeared on Zulm.net

Dhoondo Ge Agar Mulkon Mulkon
Milne Ke Nahin Nayaab Hain Hum
Tabeer Hai Jiski Hasrat-0-Gham
Aye Humnafaso Woh Khwaab Hain Hum

Aye Dard Bata Kuch Tu Hi Pata
Ab Tak Yeh Mu’ammya Hal Na Hua
Hum Mein Hain Dil-E-Betaab Nihan
Yah Aap Dil-E-Betaab Hain Hum

Main Hairat-O-Hasrat Ka Maara
Khamosh Khada Hoon Sahil Par
Dariya-E-Mohabbat Kehta Hai
“Aa Kuch Bhi Nahin Payaab Hain Hum”

Lakhon Hi Musafir Chalte Hain
Manzil pohunchte Hain Do Ik
Aye Ahl-E-Zamana Qadr Karo
Nayaab Na Hon Kamyaab Hain Hum

Murghan-E-Qafas Ko Phoolon Ne
Aye Shaad Ye Kahla Bheja Hai
Aa Jao Jo Tum Ko Aana Ho
Aise Mein Abhi Shadaab Hain Hum

Set forth a search party, village, county, nation-wide,
Without a yield returned, thus rare an entity,
Found but within desire and grief,
My companions, I am but a dream.

Sweet agony pray show me the way,
This muddle of a riddle, lies unsolved,
Does inside me beat a restless heart?
Or is my entire being simply restive?

Worn down by grief, here I am so glum,
On the quietened shores of love,
Beckoning encouragement, simply,
‘Come swim with me, where ‘tis yet shallow’.

Millions of travellers set out,
An odd couple make their destiny,
Hark upon my very being,
Not yet extinct, just a rarefied kind.

Even to birds in captivity,
O Shaad, this message the blossoms send,
Come along if you will,
Find freshness galore.

Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaayen - A Translation

2007-01-13T07:03:00.000-08:00

Appeared originally on Zulm.net

Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye
Sanjh Ki Dulhan Badan Churaye
Chupke Se Aaye
Mere Khayalon Ke Aangan Mein
Koi Sapnon Ke Deep Jalaye

Kabhi Yun Hi Jab Hui Bojhal Sansen
Bhar Aai Baithe Baithe Jab Yun Hi Aankhen
Kabhi Machal Ke Pyar Se Chal Ke
Chhuye Koi Mujhe Par Nazar Na Aaye
Kahin Door...

Kahin To Yeh Dil Kabhi Mil Nahin Paate
Kahin Pe Nikal Aaye Janmon Ke Naate
Thami Thi Uljhan Bairi Apna Man
Apna Hi Hoke Sahe Dard Paraye
Kahin Door...

Dil Jane Mere Saare Bedh Yeh Gehre
Hogaye Kaise Mere Sapne Sunehre
Yeh Mere Sapne Yehi To Hai Apne
Mujhse Juda Na Hoge Inke Yeh Saaye
Kahin Door...

Into the horizon, as the day retires,
The Evening bride, steps gingerly inside,
Tiptoeing into the verandah,
Of my lonely thoughts,
Quietly igniting dreams alight.

Without reason the breath grows heavier,
Then teardrops welled, for no reason or rhyme,
Featherweight pranced, someone into my mind,
Fleetingly touched, left no footprint behind.

Once every while, when hearts did'nt unite,
Reincarnated relationships, appeared generations later,
Problems stood still, but the fickle mind,
Picked up grievings, of a life left beind.

This heart it holds, secrets rather deep,
In the know of hues golden , that dreams turned
After all these are what, I can call my own,
Their shadows shall linger, long after.

Kar Chale Hum Fida Jaan-o-tan Saathiyon - A Translation

2007-01-12T22:34:00.000-08:00

Orignially appeared on Zulm.net

1) kar chale ham fidaa jaan-o-tan saathiyoN
ab tumhaare havaale vatan saathiyoN

(kar chale ham fidaa jaan-o-tan saathiyoN
ab tumhaare havaale vatan saathiyoN) -2

2) saaNs thamti gayee nabz jamti gayee
phir bhi baDhte kadam ko na rukne diyaa
kaT gaye sar hamaare to kuchh Gham nahin
sar himaalay kaa hamne na jhukne diyaa
marte marte rahaa baaNkpan saathiyoN
ab tumhaare havaale vatan saathiyoN
kar chale ham...

3) zindaa rahne ke mausam bahut hain magar
jaan dene ki rut roz aati nahin
husn aur ishq donoN ko rusvaa kare
vo javaani jo khooN mein nahaati nahin
aaj dharti bani hai dulhan saathiyoN
ab tumhaare havaale vatan saathiyoN
kar chale ham...

4) raah qurbaaniyoN ki na veeraan ho
tum sajaate hi rahnaa naye kaafile
fatah kaa jashn is jashn ke baad hai
zindagi maut se mil rahi hai gale
baaNdh lo apne sar se kafan saathiyoN
ab tumhaare havaale vatan saathiyoN
kar chale ham...

5) kheench do apne khooN se zamin par lakeer
is taraf aane paaye na raavaN koi
toD do haath agar haath uThne lage
chhoone paaye na Sitaa kaa daaman koi
Ram bhi tum tumhin lakshmaN saathiyoN
ab tumhaare havaale vatan saathiyoN
kar chale ham fidaa jaan-o-tan saathiyoN
ab tumhaare havaale vatan saathiyoN -3

Here's an attempt at conveying what the lyrics try to say. Needless to say, liberties have been taken with the feelings that the original words evoked, but hopefully the original thought remains. Many thanks are due to this online Urdu dictionary - http://www.learningurdu.com, for an explanation of many difficult words.

Thus did we set off friends,
Having sacrificed life & limb,
The freedom now, of this land,
Is but within your hands.

The breath grew shorter, the pulse weaker,
We didn't tarry though, for respite or rest.
Countless heads rolled little did that matter,
Ultimately the Himalaya stood solidly propped up.
Though we lay dying, a smart salute was in place.
The freedom now, of this land,
Is but within your hand.

The're Springs aplenty to live & rejoice,
Yet the Winter of sacrifice cometh just the once.
'Tis a disgrace to love & beauty, youth unbathed in blood,
From never having protected a tender one.
This day when our land is an endangered bride.
The freedom now, of this land,
Is but within your hands.

Let not sacrifices idle by the wayside,
Of desperate desolate roads.
Keep redecorating the caravans,
Celebration on victory's path, is soon after.
When life & death do embrace,
Wear now then, this headband of death.
The freedom now, of this land,
Is but within your hands.

Strike unto the ground a moat in crimson red,
Lest a monster dare think trespass again.
Break his limbs, dare he extend it our way,
Let no woman think her honor's unprotected.
You are both the protector and shield dear friends,
The freedom now, of this land,
Is but within your hands.

The Poetry of Kabhi Kabhi - A Translation

2007-01-12T22:15:00.000-08:00

Translation of Kabhi Kabhi's poetry...originally posted on Zulm.net

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai
Ke zindagi teri zulfon ki naram chhaon mein
Guzarne paati to shadaab ho bhi sakti thi
Yeh teergi jo meri zeest ka muqaddar hai
Teri nazar ki shu'aon mein kho bhi sakti thi

Ajab na tha ke main begana-e-alam ho kar
Tere jamal ki re'naiyon mein kho rahta
Tera gudaaz badan teri neem-baaz aankhen
Inhi haseen fasano mein maho rahta

Pukarti mujhe jab talkhiyan zamane ki
Tere labon se halawat ke ghoont pee leta
Hayat cheekti phirti barhena sar aur main
Ghaneri zulfon ke saaye mein chhup ke jee leta

Magar yeh ho na saka aur ab yeh aalam hai
Ke too nahin tera gham teri justuju bhi nahin
Guzar rahi kuch is tarah zindagi jaise
Ise kisike sahare ki arzoo bhi nahin

Zamane bhar ke dhukhon ko laga chuka hoon gale
Guzar raha hoon kuch anjaani rahguzaron se
Muhib saaye meri simt bharte aata hai
Hayat-o-maut ke pur haul khar zaron se

Na koi jadah na manzil na roshni ka suraag
Bhatak rahi hai khyalon mein zindagi meri
Inhi khyalon mein rah jaoonga kabhi kho kar
Main janta hoon meri humnafas magar yunhi
Kabhi kabhie mere dil mein khayal aata

Ok, here's an attempt at picking the gauntlet :

Please note however, I am NO expert at Urdu. I have relied heavily on the translations provided......hence errors and omissions are to be expected......

Once in every while, a thought ambles over,
Had life under your shadowed tresses,
Been allowed to pass, would it not have been delightful,
The darkness that envelops my very being as prophesied,
Could perhaps have melted in the heat of your blazing gaze.

It would'nt have been strange, that a grief-struck me,
Would have been immersed in the glow of your beauty,
Your playful eyes, your proportioned body,
Absorbed and fascinated by details, would I have been.

And whenever life's bitter truths came a calling,
I would drink from your lips the very drops of relish,
And as ugly realities of life uncovered its head,
Lead a quiet existence under the gentle shadow of your tresses.

Alas none of that happened, such is my woe,
I have'nt you, your grief, nor the search for you,
Hours, minutes and seconds go by as though,
They have not even the thought of need for company.

It seems I have embraced the sorrows of a generation,
I traverse through unknown pathways,
Dreadful shadows seem to emerge from every direction,
Bringing the message of death, thorn laden.

There seems no hope of destination or light,
My life seems to wander in arbitrary thoughts,
It appears I might one day be lost in this maze,
I realise my companion these thoughts are futile,
Once in every while, a thought ambles over.