Sudhir on email -

For AB,

The location of Taj is a reminder of the terrorist attack. For one moment I step into the shoes of that terrorist and imagine myself carrying ammunition and standing on that terrace, occupied by the thought of blowing myself up… I look at the Gate way edifice, the ocean, the teaming trawlies, the seagulls…

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Uff ye bedard siyaahi, ye havaa ke noahe
Kaun jaane iss raát ki sehar ho k na ho

... ... ... Ufff this unfeeling blackness, this bristly breeze
... ... ... Who knows if this night would have a dawn ever

Ik nazar tere dareeche ki taraf dekh to lun
Doobati aankho mein phir taab-e-nazar ho k na ho

... ... ... Let me take a look at your abode once
... ... ... Fading eyes may not have this strength again

Sard hoti hui batti ke dhuein ke humraah
Haath phaailaaye badhe aate hain bojhal saaye

... ... ... Companions of the smoke of a dying flicker
... ... ... Growing shadows loom foward with spread arms

Kaun ponchhe meri aankho ke sulagte aansoo
Kaun uljhe hue baalo ki girah suljhaaye

... ... ... Who'll clear these burning tears from my eyes
... ... ... Who'll sort out this hair thats in a disarray

Aah ye ghaar halaakat, ye diye ka mahbas
Umr apni inhin taareek makaanon mein kati

... ... ... Aah this ruined cave, this fire place
... ... ... My life is spent in these dark shelter

Zindagi fitrat-e-behis ki puraani taqseer
Ik haqeeqat thi magar chand fasaanon si kati

... ... ... Life is an old folly in an absurd disposition
... ... ... Though a reality, it was spent on some yarn

Kitni aasaaishein hansti rahin aivaano mein
Kitne dar meri javaani pe sadaa band rahe

... ... ... How many comforts laugh in the palaces
... ... ... How many doors were closed to my youth

Kitne haathon ne bunaa atlas -o-kamkhwaab magar
Mere malboos ki taqdeer mein paiwand rahe

... ... ... How many hands weave this silken clothes but
... ... ... My garb is destined to have these patches

Zulm sahte hue insaanon ke is maqtal mein
koi fardaa k tasavvur se kahaan tak bahle

... ... ... Enduring persecution in this people's slaughter house
... ... ... How long can one be consoled by dreams of tomorrow

Umr bhar raingte rahne ki sazaa hai jeenaa
Ek do din ki azeeyat ho to koii sah le

... ... ... Living is a punishment to crawl for a lifetime
... ... ... One might stand the pain if for a day or two

Vahi zulmat hai fazaao pe abhi tak taarii
Jaane kab Khatm ho insaaN ke lahoo ki taqteer

... ... ... The same oppression is still in the ambience
... ... ... Wonder when people's blood will stop flowing

Jaane kab bikhre siya-posh fazaa kaa joban
Jaane kab jaage sitam Khurdah bashr ki taqdeer

... ... ... Wonder when this dark ambience will be broken
... ... ... Wonder when the destiny of the trodden awaken

Abhi roshan hain tere garm shabistaan ke diye
Aaj main maut ke ghaaron mein utar jaaoungaa

... ... ... The lights are still bright in your warm resting place
... ... ... I shall step into the dark world of death today

Aur dum todti batti ke dhuein ke humraah
Sarhad-e-marg-e-musalsal se guzar jaaounga

... ... ... Companions of the smoke of a dying flicker
... ... ... I shall cross the frontier of this endless road

—Sahir, Ludhianvi

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Was it necessary? How did we ever reach this point of no return?

Love

Sudhir

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