Yesterday,was 25th Death Anniversary of Faiz Ahmed Faiz,the poet seer,who took Urdu to international arena after Ghalib and Iqbal.
During my discussions with my friend,I said once,in some thoughtful moments that If you have to learn life, you have to learn Urdu poetry’s history.
You need to be Ghalib (Overpowering) first to achieve the level of Iqbal (Excellence) and only then you can attain the status of a sage Faiz (Influential).
In simple Urdu,I’ll state it as;
“Aaapko pehlay Ghalba haasil karna hota hay,takay aapka iqbal aur izzat buland ho aur jab yeh donoon mumkin ho jaein tou tab he insaan faiz denay aur bantanay kay qabil hota hay…
For me these three poets were originally one holy soul…which came to the world again and again…in different bodies…but I don’t know had the cycle broke now or we have still someone after Faiz among us…….
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Following three poems and their translation I am sharing from the OldPoetry.com website.
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Original Urdu
Raat yunh dil mein teri khoee hui yaad aayee
Jaise veeraaney mein chupkey sey bahaar aa jaye
Jaisey sehra on mein howley se chaley baadey naseem
Jaisey beemaar ko bey wajhey Qaraar aa jaaye
English Translation
Last night, your lost memories crept into my heart
as spring arrives secretly into a barren garden
as a cool morning breeze blows slowly in a desert
as a sick person feels well, for no reason.
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Meray dil meray musafir
hua phir sey hukm sadir
k watan badar hon hum tumdein gali gali sadain
karein rukh nagar nagar ka
ke suraagh koi paein
kisi yar e nama bar ka
har ik ajnabi sey poochein
jo pata tha apney ghar ka
sar e kooey nashenayan
hamein din sey raat karna
kabhi iss sey baat karna
kabhi us sey baat karna
tumhein kya kahoon key kya hey
shab e gham buri balaa hey
hamein yeh bhi tha ghaneemat
jo koi shumaar hota
hamein kya bura tha marna
agar eik baar hota
English translation:
My heart, my fellow traveler
It has been decreed again
That you and I be exiled,
go calling out in every street,
turn to every town.
To search for a clue
of a messenger from our Beloved.
To ask every stranger
the way back to our home.
In this town of unfamiliar folk
we drudge the day into the night
Talk to this stranger at times,
to that one at others.
How can I convey to you, my friend
how horrible is a night of lonliness *
It would suffice to me
if there were just some count
I would gladly welcome death
if it were to come but once.
Notes
Translation by Hamid Rahim Sheikh www.ece.utexas.edu/~sheikh/poetry/faiz
(London 1978. Taken from the collection My Heart, My Traveler )
* adapted from a couplet by Ghalib
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Ku’ch Ishaq Ki’ya Ku’ch Kaam Ki’ya.
Who Log Bohat Khush Qismat Th’ay,
Jo Ishaq Ko Kam Samujhty Th’ay,
Ya Kam Say Aashqi Karty Th’ay,
Hum Jeety Jee Masroof Ra’hay,
Kuch Ishaq Kiya Kuch Kam Kiya,
Kam Ishaq Kay Aary Aata Ra’ha,
Or Ishaq Say Kam Uljh’ta Ra’ha,
Ph’ir Aakh’er Tang Aaker Hum Nay,
Dono Ko Adhoora Cho’d Diya’.
English Translation.
Loved a little, Worked a little…
Those were very fortunate people,
Who considered Love an obligation,
Or they just loved their task,
I remained busy all my life,
Loved a little, worked a little,
Sometimes love was a snag in the way of my work,
While sometimes duty didn’t allow me to love with passion,
Ultimately I got upset of the situation,
And left both my love and my work incomplete.