Sahir Ludhianvi's Urdu Poetries

raju · 08-11-2012, 02:06 PM

Sahir Ludhianvi's Urdu Poetries

Sahir Ludhianvi (8 March 1921 – 25 October 1980) was a popular Urdu poet and Hindi lyricist, who worked extensively in Hindi films. Sahir Ludhianvi is his pseudonym. He won the Filmfare Award twice, in 1964 and 1977, and in 1971 was awarded the Padma Shri.

"मै पल दो पल का शायर हूँ, पल दो पल मेरी कहानी है

पल दो पल मेरी हस्ती है, पल दो पल मेरी जवानी है

मुझसे पहले कितने शायर आए और आकर चले गए,

कुछ आहें भरकर लौट गए, कुछ नग़मे गाकर चले गए

वो भी एक पल का किस्सा थे, मै भी एक पल का किस्सा हूँ

कल तुमसे जुदा हो जाऊँगा, जो आज तुम्हारा हिस्सा हूँ"

A colossus amongst film lyricists, Sahir Ludhianvi was slightly different from his contemporaries. A poet unable to praise Khuda (God), Husn (Beauty) or Jaam (Wine), his pen was, at its best, pouring out bitter but sensitive lyrics over the declining values of society, the senselessness of war and politics, and the domination of materialism over love. Whenever he wrote any love songs, they were tinged with sorrow, due to realisation that there were other, starker concepts more important than love. He could be called the underdog's bard; close to his heart were the farmer crushed by debt, the soldier gone to fight someone else's war, the woman forced to sell her body, the youth frustrated by unemployment, the family living on the street and other victims of society. His lyric from Pyaasa when lead actor Guru Dutt (Vijay) was passing through a red light area by singing this song, moved even Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Honourable Prime minister of India that time.

"ये कूचे, ये नीलामघर दिलकशी के,
ये लुटते हुए कारवां ज़िंदगी के,
कहाँ है कहाँ है मुहाफ़िज़ खुदी के?
जिन्हें नाज़ है हिंद पर,वो कहाँ हैं?"

Sahir Ludhianvi's poetry had a "Faizian" quality. Like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he too gave Urdu poetry an intellectual element that caught the imagination of the youth of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He helped them discover their spine. Sahir asked questions and was not afraid of calling a spade, a spade; he roused people from an independence-induced smugness. He would pick on the self-appointed custodian of religion, the self-serving politician, the exploitative capitalist, and the war-mongering super-powers.

Sahir's poetry reflected the mood of the age. Whether it was the arrest of progressive writers in Pakistan, the launch of the satellite Sputnik or the discovery of Ghalib by a government lusting after minority votes, Sahir reacted with a verve not seen in many writers' work. Kahat-e-Bangal ("The Famine of Bengal"), written by a 25-year-old Sahir, bespeaks maturity that came early. His Subah-e-Navroz ("Dawn of a New Day"), mocks the concept of celebration when the poor exist in squalor.

Perhaps Sahir is the first renowned Urdu poet, who, could express his view towards The Tajmahal in a complete different way. He wrote

"मेरे महबूब कहीं और मिला कर मुझसे, बज़्म- ए-शाही में ग़रीबों का गुज़र क्या माने. सबत जिन राहों पर है सतबते शाही के निशां उसपे उल्फत भरी रूहों का गुज़र क्या माने?"-

The poet asks his lover to meet him anywhere else but Tajmahal. A tomb which has been a symbol of luxurious monarchy for years, there is no need to make journey of love by two beautiful but not famous hearts there.

Sahir will always be remembered as a poet who made his creation a lesson for all ages of Urdu poetry to come. In this way he contradicts his own creation: "kal aur aayenge naghmo ki khilti kalian chunnewale, mujhse behtar kehnewale, tumse behtar sunne wale; kal koi mujhko yaad kare, kyun koi mujhko yaad kare, masroof zamana mere liye kyun waqt apna barbad kare?" Translation: Tomorrow there will be more who will narrate the love poems. May be someone narrating better than me. May be someone listening better than you. Why should anyone remember me? Why should anyone remember me? Why should the busy age waste it’s time for me?

raju · 08-11-2012, 02:08 PM

aao ki ko_ii Khvaab bune.n

aao ki ko_ii Khvaab bune.n kal ke vaaste
varanaa ye raat aaj ke sangiin daur kii
Das legii jaan-o-dil ko kuchh aise ki jaan-o-dil
taa-umr phir na ko_ii hasii.n Khvaab bun sake.n

[bunanaa = to weave; sangiin daur = hard/difficult times]
[Das lenaa = to bite; taa-umr = entire life]

go ham se bhaagatii rahii ye tez-gaam umr
Khvaabo.n ke aasare pe kaTii hai tamaam umr

[tez-gaam = fleet-footed]

zulfo.n ke Khvaab, ho.nTho.n ke Khvaab, aur badan ke Khvaab
meraaj-e-fan ke Khvaab, kamaal-e-suKhan ke Khvaab

[meraaj-e-fan = (to reach) summit of art; kamaal-e-suKhan = perfection in poetry]

tahaziib-e-zindagii ke, faroG-e-vatan ke Khvaab
zindaa.N ke Khvaab, kuuchaa-e-daar-o-rasan ke Khvaab

[tahaziib-e-zindagii = civilized life; faroG-e-vatan = nation's progress/upliftment]
[zindaa.N = prison; kuuchaa-e-daar-o-rasan = road leading to the gallows]

ye Khvaab hii to apanii javaanii ke paas the
ye Khvaab hii to apane amal ke asaas the
ye Khvaab mar gaye hai.n to be-rang hai hayaat
yuu.N hai ki jaise dast-e-tah-e-sang hai hayaat

[amal = work; asaas = foundation; hayaat = life]
[dast-e-tah-e-sang = hands crushed under a stone (helpless)]

aao ki ko_ii Khvaab bune.n kal ke vaaste
varanaa ye raat aaj ke sangiin daur kii
Das legii jaan-o-dil ko kuchh aise ki jaan-o-dil
taa-umr phir na ko_ii hasii.n Khvaab bun sake.n

raju · 08-11-2012, 02:09 PM

Ab aaye.n yaa na aaye.n

ab aaye.n yaa na aaye.n idhar puuchhate chalo
kyaa chaahatii hai un kii nazar puuchhate chalo

ham se agar hai tark-e-ta'alluq to kyaa huaa
yaaro ko_ii to un kii Khbabar puuchhate chalo

jo Khud ko kah rahe hai.n ki ma.nzil shanaas hai.n
un ko bhii kyaa Khabar hai magar puuchhate chalo

kis ma.nzil-e-muraad kii jaanib ravaa.N hai.n ham
ai rah-ravaan-e-Khaak-ba-sar puuchhate chalo

raju · 08-11-2012, 02:11 PM

ahal-e-dil aur bhii hai.n ahal-e-vafaa aur bhii hai.n

ahal-e-dil aur bhii hai.n ahal-e-vafaa aur bhii hai.n
ek ham hii nahii.n duniyaa se Khafaa aur bhii hai.n

[ahal-e-dil = dil vaale; Khafaa = angry (with)]

kyaa huaa gar mere yaaro.n kii zabaane.n chup hai.n
mere shaahid mere yaaro.n ke sivaa aur bhii hai.n

[shaahid = one who bears witness]

ham pe hii Khatm nahii.n maslak-e-shoriidaa_sarii
chaak-e-dil aur bhii hai chaak-e-qabaa aur bhii hai.n

[maslak-e-shoriidaa_sarii = rebellious ways; qabaa = long gown]

sar salaamat hai to kyaa sang-e-malaamat kii kamii
jaan baaqii hai to paikaan-e-qazaa aur bhii hai.n

[sang-e-malaamat = stones of accusations/reproach]
[paikaan = arrow; qazaa = death]

munsif-e-shahar kii vahadat pe na harf aa jaaye
log kahate hai.n ke arabaab-e-jafaa aur bhii hai.n

[munsif = judge; vahadat = oneness, unity]

08-11-2012, 02:06 PM	#1
raju Diligent Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,398 Rep Power: 17	Sahir Ludhianvi's Urdu Poetries Sahir Ludhianvi's Urdu Poetries Sahir Ludhianvi (8 March 1921 – 25 October 1980) was a popular Urdu poet and Hindi lyricist, who worked extensively in Hindi films. Sahir Ludhianvi is his pseudonym. He won the Filmfare Award twice, in 1964 and 1977, and in 1971 was awarded the Padma Shri. "मै पल दो पल का शायर हूँ, पल दो पल मेरी कहानी है पल दो पल मेरी हस्ती है, पल दो पल मेरी जवानी है मुझसे पहले कितने शायर आए और आकर चले गए, कुछ आहें भरकर लौट गए, कुछ नग़मे गाकर चले गए वो भी एक पल का किस्सा थे, मै भी एक पल का किस्सा हूँ कल तुमसे जुदा हो जाऊँगा, जो आज तुम्हारा हिस्सा हूँ" A colossus amongst film lyricists, Sahir Ludhianvi was slightly different from his contemporaries. A poet unable to praise Khuda (God), Husn (Beauty) or Jaam (Wine), his pen was, at its best, pouring out bitter but sensitive lyrics over the declining values of society, the senselessness of war and politics, and the domination of materialism over love. Whenever he wrote any love songs, they were tinged with sorrow, due to realisation that there were other, starker concepts more important than love. He could be called the underdog's bard; close to his heart were the farmer crushed by debt, the soldier gone to fight someone else's war, the woman forced to sell her body, the youth frustrated by unemployment, the family living on the street and other victims of society. His lyric from Pyaasa when lead actor Guru Dutt (Vijay) was passing through a red light area by singing this song, moved even Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Honourable Prime minister of India that time. "ये कूचे, ये नीलामघर दिलकशी के, ये लुटते हुए कारवां ज़िंदगी के, कहाँ है कहाँ है मुहाफ़िज़ खुदी के? जिन्हें नाज़ है हिंद पर,वो कहाँ हैं?" Sahir Ludhianvi's poetry had a "Faizian" quality. Like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he too gave Urdu poetry an intellectual element that caught the imagination of the youth of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He helped them discover their spine. Sahir asked questions and was not afraid of calling a spade, a spade; he roused people from an independence-induced smugness. He would pick on the self-appointed custodian of religion, the self-serving politician, the exploitative capitalist, and the war-mongering super-powers. Sahir's poetry reflected the mood of the age. Whether it was the arrest of progressive writers in Pakistan, the launch of the satellite Sputnik or the discovery of Ghalib by a government lusting after minority votes, Sahir reacted with a verve not seen in many writers' work. Kahat-e-Bangal ("The Famine of Bengal"), written by a 25-year-old Sahir, bespeaks maturity that came early. His Subah-e-Navroz ("Dawn of a New Day"), mocks the concept of celebration when the poor exist in squalor. Perhaps Sahir is the first renowned Urdu poet, who, could express his view towards The Tajmahal in a complete different way. He wrote "मेरे महबूब कहीं और मिला कर मुझसे, बज़्म- ए-शाही में ग़रीबों का गुज़र क्या माने. सबत जिन राहों पर है सतबते शाही के निशां उसपे उल्फत भरी रूहों का गुज़र क्या माने?"- The poet asks his lover to meet him anywhere else but Tajmahal. A tomb which has been a symbol of luxurious monarchy for years, there is no need to make journey of love by two beautiful but not famous hearts there. Sahir will always be remembered as a poet who made his creation a lesson for all ages of Urdu poetry to come. In this way he contradicts his own creation: "kal aur aayenge naghmo ki khilti kalian chunnewale, mujhse behtar kehnewale, tumse behtar sunne wale; kal koi mujhko yaad kare, kyun koi mujhko yaad kare, masroof zamana mere liye kyun waqt apna barbad kare?" Translation: Tomorrow there will be more who will narrate the love poems. May be someone narrating better than me. May be someone listening better than you. Why should anyone remember me? Why should anyone remember me? Why should the busy age waste it’s time for me?

08-11-2012, 02:08 PM	#2
raju Diligent Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,398 Rep Power: 17	Re: Sahir Ludhianvi's Urdu Poetries aao ki ko_ii Khvaab bune.n aao ki ko_ii Khvaab bune.n kal ke vaaste varanaa ye raat aaj ke sangiin daur kii Das legii jaan-o-dil ko kuchh aise ki jaan-o-dil taa-umr phir na ko_ii hasii.n Khvaab bun sake.n [bunanaa = to weave; sangiin daur = hard/difficult times] [Das lenaa = to bite; taa-umr = entire life] go ham se bhaagatii rahii ye tez-gaam umr Khvaabo.n ke aasare pe kaTii hai tamaam umr [tez-gaam = fleet-footed] zulfo.n ke Khvaab, ho.nTho.n ke Khvaab, aur badan ke Khvaab meraaj-e-fan ke Khvaab, kamaal-e-suKhan ke Khvaab [meraaj-e-fan = (to reach) summit of art; kamaal-e-suKhan = perfection in poetry] tahaziib-e-zindagii ke, faroG-e-vatan ke Khvaab zindaa.N ke Khvaab, kuuchaa-e-daar-o-rasan ke Khvaab [tahaziib-e-zindagii = civilized life; faroG-e-vatan = nation's progress/upliftment] [zindaa.N = prison; kuuchaa-e-daar-o-rasan = road leading to the gallows] ye Khvaab hii to apanii javaanii ke paas the ye Khvaab hii to apane amal ke asaas the ye Khvaab mar gaye hai.n to be-rang hai hayaat yuu.N hai ki jaise dast-e-tah-e-sang hai hayaat [amal = work; asaas = foundation; hayaat = life] [dast-e-tah-e-sang = hands crushed under a stone (helpless)] aao ki ko_ii Khvaab bune.n kal ke vaaste varanaa ye raat aaj ke sangiin daur kii Das legii jaan-o-dil ko kuchh aise ki jaan-o-dil taa-umr phir na ko_ii hasii.n Khvaab bun sake.n

08-11-2012, 02:09 PM	#3
raju Diligent Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,398 Rep Power: 17	Re: Sahir Ludhianvi's Urdu Poetries Ab aaye.n yaa na aaye.n ab aaye.n yaa na aaye.n idhar puuchhate chalo kyaa chaahatii hai un kii nazar puuchhate chalo ham se agar hai tark-e-ta'alluq to kyaa huaa yaaro ko_ii to un kii Khbabar puuchhate chalo jo Khud ko kah rahe hai.n ki ma.nzil shanaas hai.n un ko bhii kyaa Khabar hai magar puuchhate chalo kis ma.nzil-e-muraad kii jaanib ravaa.N hai.n ham ai rah-ravaan-e-Khaak-ba-sar puuchhate chalo

08-11-2012, 02:11 PM	#4
raju Diligent Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,398 Rep Power: 17	Re: Sahir Ludhianvi's Urdu Poetries ahal-e-dil aur bhii hai.n ahal-e-vafaa aur bhii hai.n ahal-e-dil aur bhii hai.n ahal-e-vafaa aur bhii hai.n ek ham hii nahii.n duniyaa se Khafaa aur bhii hai.n [ahal-e-dil = dil vaale; Khafaa = angry (with)] kyaa huaa gar mere yaaro.n kii zabaane.n chup hai.n mere shaahid mere yaaro.n ke sivaa aur bhii hai.n [shaahid = one who bears witness] ham pe hii Khatm nahii.n maslak-e-shoriidaa_sarii chaak-e-dil aur bhii hai chaak-e-qabaa aur bhii hai.n [maslak-e-shoriidaa_sarii = rebellious ways; qabaa = long gown] sar salaamat hai to kyaa sang-e-malaamat kii kamii jaan baaqii hai to paikaan-e-qazaa aur bhii hai.n [sang-e-malaamat = stones of accusations/reproach] [paikaan = arrow; qazaa = death] munsif-e-shahar kii vahadat pe na harf aa jaaye log kahate hai.n ke arabaab-e-jafaa aur bhii hai.n [munsif = judge; vahadat = oneness, unity]