True love

इस भीड़ में हम नज़र ना आयेंगे तुम्हें, यह सच हैं मेरे दोस्त |
पर अपनी हर पूरी होती तमन्ना में, हमारी दुआओं का असर तुम पाओगे ज़रूर |
- शून्यांकीत

It is true my friend, you will not see me in this crowd. But, in every dream of yours that comes true, you will feel the impact of my well wishes!

Des Hoyaa Pardes

"Darshan, you are an Indian, a proud Indian!"

Yes.. I am! I am proud of my country, the beautiful colors, the culture, the natural beauty.. :Unity in Diversity!" The first sentence imprinted on my mind from the history book. All the history I was taught was baout how India has suffered and how we have peacefully fought it back, won our freedom! What I am taught is to love my motherland and turn a blind eye towards her fallacies.. And, this is where I miss the other side of the coin. In my love for my mother land, I forget it is the same country that has instilled innumerable instances of injustice on it's own citizens!

Ain't it the same India where Hindu's killed Muslim's and Muslim's killed Hindu? Did they forget "Vasudhaiva Kutmbakam"? Ain't it the same India where temples and mosques are demolished? Ain't it the same land where a old soul wearing one piece of cloth, was shot while walking to prayers, and they took pride in it? The India where "under-the-table" phrase rules the bureaucracy. The India, where people go missing, never to return!

For all fanatically proud Indians like me is the movie, "Des Hoyaa Pardes." If you can see it in one go, let me know!
(http://www.veoh.com/search/videos/q/des+hoyaa+pardes#watch%3Dv15652007mNzEqhC3)

I was proud to meet the top official of one of the Indian police services, that takes pride in protecting Indian land in 1985! I was in awe, inspired, the typical "me" reaction! After watching this movie, and listening to a few who have been through the tyranny of Indian Police, I am not sure which of my reaction is right? The one I felt then, or the one I feel right now?

I am not denying the greatness of my mother land, neither the potential to be one of the places for humanity to thrive. Pride and love for one's country is great, but not at the cost of reality. Because the moment I blind myself of reality, I loose all the opportunities to improve that can be improved!

I find answer in a sher by Mirza Ghalib..
ज़िन्दगी के सफ़र में किसी को इतना मत चाहो, के वो तुम्हारी चाहतों का कातिल, वफाओं का सौदागर बन जाये | - मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब

I would not love my country blind folded, that it would kill my love, and deal my integrity. I'd rather love my country with open eyes, so that I do not miss upon the opportunities to make it better!

P.S.: This article represents only one side of the coin, the dark one. India has a huge positive side, that I love, and would ever do! I love my India!

Mohabbat..

मोहब्बत इक जज्बा है, नग्मा जिसका अनजान
कुदरत की इस गुफ़्तगू ने हमें किया नादान |
- शून्यांकीत

(Some Sher's find me incapable of translation.. A Sher usually has three meanings, the apparent one, the subtle one, and the spiritual one.. Not all can be encompassed in an English translation.)

If anyone of you can translate this one, I would love to read the same!

Mohabbat

मोहब्बत इक जज्बा है, नग्मा जिसका अनजान
कुदरत की इस गुफ़्तगू ने हमें किया नादान |
- शून्यांकीत

(Some Sher's find me incapable of translation.. A Sher usually has three meanings, the apparent one, the subtle one, and the spiritual one.. Not all can be encompassed in an English translation.)

If anyone of you can translate this one, I would love to read the same!

dariyaaein..

दरिया ए मोहब्बत में हमनें जो छलांग लगायी
आपको भी तोह कुछ बूँदों ने सरमाया होगा |
- शून्यांकीत

When I plunged in the ocean of love,
a few drops (of love, from the splash) might have embraced you too!

दुनिया ऐ कलाम

करिश्मा ए कुदरत का अफसाना प्यार है
मोहब्बत ए इश्क पर तो दुनिया कलाम है |
- शून्यांकीत

What do you think it means??

Shama..

शमा में वो मस्ती कहाँ जो कि परवाने में है,
मज़ा जलने में नहीं, जल जल के मर जाने में है |

Does the candle have the carefree exuberance of the moth?
Fun lies not in burning to stay alight, but in dying for love..

(thanks to Manish Modi)

Ilahi..

इलाही उनके हिस्से के भी ग़म मुझ को अता कर दे
कि उन मासूम आँखों में नमी देखी नहीं जाती |
- सीमाब अकबराबादी

O lord, allow me to take on her share of sorrow too,
For I cannot bear to see wetness in those innocent eyes..!!
- Simaab Akbarabadi

(Thanks to Manish Modi)

Emotions..

If it would not had been for last night, possibly my last post would have continued further today.. The last night being propped in, I am gonna take a while before I sort out.. That to which I relate, and that to which I am alien..

Incidentally, I find the following two creations, that, as of now, resonate with the turnover in my mind.. Metta, lots to discuss! :)

हम कहाँ जायेंगे जज़्बात का शीशा लेकर
लफ़्ज़ पत्थर का तो हर शख़्स चला देता है|
- एन. पी. बजाज

(Where do we take these feelings, fragile as glass; each person deals in flint sharp words.. - N. P. Bajaj)

दूर जाना है बहुत्, मत देख आईना अभी से
अभी तो रुख़सार पे बहुत से रँग आने बाक़ी हैं|
- हबीब हाशमी

(You have many miles to go, do not glance at the mirror now; Your cheeks will turn several colours before you are through.. Habib Hashmi)

The caravan..

वही कारवां, वही रास्ते, वही ज़िन्दगी के मरहले
मगर अपने-अपने मक़ाम पर, कभी तुम नहीं, कभी हम नहीं |
-शकील बदायुनी

vahii caaravaan, vahii raaste, vahii zindagii ke marhale
magar apne-apne maqaam par, kabhii tum nahiin, kabhii hum nahiin
-Shakil Badayuni

The same caravan, the same roads, the same vicissitudes of life
But sometimes you don't reach your destination, sometimes I don't..!

(From the email of Mr. Manish Modi)

Relative pleasure..!

मसरूर निगाहों को काँटा भी गुलिस्तां है,
मायूस निगाहों में गुलशन भी है वीराना !

masruur nigaahon ko kaantaa bhii gulistaan hai
maayuus nigaahon mein gulshan bhii hai viiraanaa

When the beholder is delighted, even a thorn appears to be a pleasure glade,
When the beholder is melancholy, even spring in its blossom appears forlorn!

(Sher contributed by Vijayalaxmi Modi)

Pain of Seperation..

इश्क़ की राहों में ये ज़माना
हिज्र के काँटे बोता क्यों है
-इनायत ख़ान परदेसी

ishq kii raahon mein ye zamaanaa
hijr ke kaante botaa kyun hai
-Inayat Khan Pardesi

Why are the streets of love
Strewn with the thorns of separation?

(Sher, thanks to Manish Modi)

Seperation

पास अगर तू नहीं शहर है वीरां तमाम
तू है तो आबाद हैं उजड़े हुए काख़-ओ-कू
-इक़बाल

paas agar tuu nahiin shahar hai viiraan tamaam
tuu hai to aabaad jain ujade hue kaakh-o-kuu
-Iqbal

Without you, the city is desolate,
With you, even deserted cities are full of life!

Love-Life-Death

ख़ुद फँसी फ़न्दे में बुलबुल क्या ख़ता सय्याद की,
गुल पे आशिक़ होके अपनी ज़िन्दगी बरबाद की!

khud phansii fande mein bulbul kyaa khataa saiyaad kii
gul pe aashiq hoke apnii zindagii barbaad kii

The lover got caught in the web on his own, why blame the hunter?
He fell in love with the flower and ruined his own life!

NB In Urdu poetry bulbul, meaning nightingale, is used symbolically to
denote the lover. Gul is the beloved one. The hunter could mean the
world / adverse circumstances.

Sher contributed by Vijayalaxmi Modi

Pain..

तर झरसी ऊपर गरी कज्जल जल छिरकाइ
पिय पाती बिन हीं लिखी बाँची बिरह बलाइ
-बिहारी

tar jharsii uupar garii kajjal jal chhirakaai
piya paatii bin hiin likhii baanchii birah balaai
-Bihari

Heat-singed below, and tinged above with tearful stains;
He reads her note’s unwritten tale, of parting’s pains!

Bihari Satsai, trans. Rupert Snell