Ab Tum Hi Kaho Kya Karna Hai
[by Faiz Ahmad Faiz]
Jab dukh ki nadiya mein humne
jeevan ki naao daali thi
tha kitna kas bal baahon mein
lahu mein kitni laali thi
yun lagta tha do haath lage
aur naao pooram paar lagi
Aisa na hua- har dhaare mein
kuchh andekhi majdhaarein theen
kuchh maajhi the anjaan bohot
kuchh be-parkhi patwaarein theen
Ab jo bhi chaaho chhaan karo
ab jitney chaaho dosh dharo
nadiya bhi wahi hai, naao wahi
ab tum ki kaho kya karna hai
ab kaise paar utarna hai
Jab apni chhaati mein humne
is des ke ghaao dekhey the
tha khud par bhi vishwaas bohot
aur yaad bohot se nuskhey the
yun lagta tha bas kuchh din mein
saari bipta kat jaayegi
aur sab ghaao bhar jaaenge
Aisa na hua- ke rog apne
kuchh itne dher puraane the
ved unki toh ko paa na sake
aur totke sab bekaar gaye
Ab jo bhi chaaho chhaan karo
ab jitne chaaho dosh dharo
chhati bhi wahi hai, ghaao wahi
ab tum hi kaho kya karna hai
ye ghaao kaise bharna hai...
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6 comments:
This is strikingly different from what little of Faiz I have read, in terms of both, choice of expressions and vocabulary.
Are you aware of the context in which it was written ?
Arfi: It is indeed different from classical Faiz. I couldn't find the specific events or context that led Faiz to write it yet- perhaps some Faiz experts here will illuminate us...
However, this ghazal came to my mind given the catastrophic events at that time in the subcontinent, for which their seems no solution but to learn to co-exist. I read the poem that way. Perhaps Faiz was writing in a similar context full of unending conflict.
Arfi: I couldnt believe it was Faiz when i heard it, in fact i almost skipped it a number of times in the album i was hearing before i decided to hear it out.If you find out the context, i"d like to know it too.
Siyaah, Sadia :
I couldn't find the context but I heard some more of Faiz which is in a similar vein, particularly a poem Utho ab maati se utho ..., also sung by Nayyara Noor - a lamentation by a mother for her fallen son.
And by a 'similar vein', of course I mean the choice of vocabulary and expression.
Illusionist:
Yes I had a similar experience on first hearing it.
Arfi:
Thanks for sharing that. I think I've heard that one too "ab utho.." sounds familiar. Seems like there was clearly more than one dimension to Faiz's style. Though there is so much to appreciate by him, I try not to translate too much since he is one of the well translated poets. Agha Shahid Ali did a good job of it. Also just found this:
http://books.google.com/books?id=taSGbCRIW5cC&pg=PA198&dq=ab+tum+hi+kaho+kya+karna+hai#PPA194,M1
BTW Arfi, where's "In first person"?!
Dear Kids,
This is a classical example of expression on pain and anguish felt by millions on either side of LOC when the country was divided very abruptly and I must say erratically,
Faiz Sb is expressing his pain through these lines.
You need not to be Einsteen to understand the context,a bit of knowledge about Partition and events prior and later to it is sufficient,
But you guys really are doing good job,
God Bless,
Adil
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