Aaj baazaar mein...

An amazing nazam by Faiz Ahmed Faiz:

Chashm-e-nam (teary eyes), jaan-e-shoreeda (distressed soul) kaafi nahin;
Tohmat-e-ishq (accusation of love) posheeda (covered) kaafi nahin;
Aaj baazaar mein paa-ba-jaulaan (cuffed feet) chalo!

Dast afshaan (hands swinging) chalo!
mast-o-raqsaan (carefree and dancing) chalo!
Khaak bar-sar (dust on the head) chalo!
khoon ba-daamaan (blood on the clothes) chalo!
Raah taktaa hai sab shehar-e-jaanaan (city of the beloved) chalo!
Aaj baazaar mein paa-ba-jaulaan chalo!

Haakim-e-shehar (ruler of the city) bhi,
majmaa-e-aam (common crowd) bhi;
Subh-e-naashaad (sad morning) bhi,
roz-e-naakaam (unsuccessful day) bhi;
Teer-e-ilzaam bhi (arrows of accusation),
sang-e-dushnaam (stones of abuse) bhi;
Inka damsaaz (sympathizer) apne siwa kaun hai?
Shehar-e-jaanaan (city of the beloved) mein ab ba-safaa (sincere) kaun hai?
Dast-e-qaatil (murderer's hands) ke shaayaan (worthy) raha kaun hai?
Rakht-e-dil (heartbeats) baandh lo,
dil-figaaron (broken-hearted) chalo!
phir humiin (hum hi) qatl ho aayen yaaron chalo!

Once Faiz was taken out from a prison in an open horse-drawn cart. The intention of the government was to ridicule him, but it inspired him to write this awesome poem. Here's he reciting the nazam.

And here is a video of the same nazm sung beautifully by Nayyara Noor.



Hum ke thehre ajnabi...

Here's one of my most favorite ghazals. Written by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The best thing about this ghazal is that though it sounds like a sad romantic song, the original context is very different. Apart from being one of the greatest poets of our times, Faiz was a political activist and had been involved in Pakistani politics during Zia-ul-Haque's dictatorship and had also spent many years in exile. This particular ghazal was his reaction to what pakistanis call as the 'Fall of Dhaka', which marked the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan.

The ghazal beautifully explains Faiz's disappointment on losing Bangladesh and the trust of Bangladeshi people in Pakistan. Listen to it twice; once as a sad romantic ghazal and again as for what it was written. How amazingly it fits in both contexts. Thats poetry at its best!

Hum ke thehre ajnabi itni madaaraaton(exchange of civilities) ke baad

Phir banenge aashnaa(acquainted) kitni mulaaqaaton ke baad

Kab nazar mein aayegi be-daagh(spotless) sabze(greenery) ki bahaar

Khoon ke dhabbe dhulenge kitni barsaaton ke baad

Dil to chaaha, par shikast-e-dil(defeated heart) ne mohlat(respite) hi na di

Kuchh gile-shikwe(complaints) bhi kar lete, munajaaton(pleadings) ke baad

The bahut bedard(cruel) lamhe(moments) khatm-e-dard-e-ishq(end <of the pain> of love) ke

Thin bahut be-meher(unkind) subhein, meherbaan(kind, generous) raaton ke baad

Unse jo kehne gaye the 'Faiz' jaan sadqa(with great courage*) kiye

Ankahi(unsaid) hi reh gayi wo baat sab baaton ke baad

Poet: Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Singer: Nayyara Noor

*jaan sadqa = to be ready to sacrifice one's life (for something)