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…

===

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

====

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

Love

Sudhir

=

साहिर - २७ अक्टूबर २००९

Lab pe paabandi nahin, ehsaas pe pehraa to hai
phir bhi ahal-e-dil ko ahavaal-e-bashar kehnaa to hai
… … … Speech is not restricted though feelings are
… … … Nonetheless my heart must report the state of Man

Apni gairat bech daalen apna masalaq chhod de
Rahnumaaon mein bhi kuchh logon ko ye manshaa to hai
… … … Sell my self respect, forsake my beliefs
… … … Some of my ushers have this intention

Hai jinhen sab se zyaadaa daavaa-e-hubb-e-vatan
Aaj un ki vajah se hubb-e-vatan rusavaa to hai
… … … Them who proclaim the greatest love for the nation
… … … Yet they have caused the nation to be disgraced

Bujh rahe hain ek ek kar ke aqeedon ke diye
iss andhere ka bhi lekin saamna karnaa to hai
… … … Flames of the doctrines of faith die one by one
… … … This darkness has to be faced at some point

Jhooth kyun bolen farog-e-maslahat ke naam par
Zindagi pyaari sahi lekin hamen maranaa to hai
… … … Why perjure in the name of prudence
… … … Life may be lovely but death is inevitable
—-Sahir, Ludhianvi

Untiteled and to Unknown Receipent - Sudhir

अपने सीने से लगाए हुए उम्मीद की लाश
मुद्दतों जीस्त को नाशाद किया है मैं ने

तू ने तो एक ही सदमे से किया था दो-चार
दिल को हर तरह से बरबाद किया है मैं ने
जब भी राहों में नज़र आए हरीरी मलबूस
सर्द आहों में तुझे याद किया है मैंने

… … … Carrying this corpse of desires in my chest
… … … I have saddened my life for ages;

… … … You suffered but one wound and broke up
… … … I ruined my heart in every way
… … … Every time I see a silken attire on the way
… … … I have remembered you with a sigh;

और अब जब के मेरी रूह की पहनाई में
एक सुनसान सी मघ्मूम घटा छाई है…
तू दमकते हुए ‘आरिज़ की श’उअया’एं ले कर
Gulshudah shamaa’ein jalaane ko chali aai hai

… … … And now when the tresses of my spirit
… … … Are sated with this ethereal sadness…
… … … You come again with your radiance
… … … To light this extinguished candle;

मेरी महबूब, ये हंगामा-ऐ-तजदीद-ऐ-वफ़ा
मेरी अफ्सुर्दः जवानी के लिए रास नहीं
मैंने जो फूल चुने थे तेरे क़दमों के लिए
उन का धुंधला सा तसव्वुर भी मेरे पास नहीं

… … … लव! This mayhem of rekindled fidelity
… … … Is not good for my broken youth;
… … … Those flowers that I picked for your pleasure
… … … I haven’t even their vague likeness in memory

एक याख्बस्ता उदासी है दिल-ओ-जान पे मुहीत
अब मेरी रूह में बाक़ी है न उम्मीद न जोश
रह गया दब के गिरांबार सलासिल के टेल
मेरी दरमान्दा जवानी की उमंगों का खरोश

… … … A sad stillness has filled my heart and life
… … … My spirit now has neither hopes nor verve;
… … … Interred in the tumult of this intense bondage
… … … The voice of desires of my helpless youth

रेग्जारो में बगुलों के सिवा कुछ भी नहीं
साया-ऐ-अब्र-ऐ-गुरेज़ाँ से मुझे क्या लेना
बुझ चुके हैं मेरे सीने में मुहब्बत के कँवल
अब तेरे हुस्न-ऐ-पशेमान से मुझे क्या लेना

… … There is nothing in this desert but stray birds
… … … What have I to gain from shades of passing clouds;
… … … The lotus-petals of Love in my heart are worn dead
… … … What have I to gain from your blushing loveliness

तेरे ‘आरिज़ पे ये ढलके हुए सीमीं आंसू
मेरी अफ्सुर्दगी-ऐ-ग़म का मुदावा तो नहीं
तेरी महजूब निगाहों का पयाम-ऐ-तजदीद
इक तलाफी ही सही —- मेरी तमन्ना तो नहीं!

… … … These silvery tears perched on your cheeks
… … … Are not a cure for healing my wounds and sorrow;
… … … Your mortified message of appeal for a revival
… … … May be an amend - but surely not my desire!

—–Sahir, Ludhianvi

Ovid Who?? - Sudhir

For Ovid,

… … … I am conscious of this vehicle that carries me through my life
… … … Sleep is just a state; I love to live, in peace, in battle and strife

… … … Unbidden desires sing like tramps in the wilderness of temptations
… … … Unsolicited feelings are nursed by subliminal yearning

… … … I do not fight the flames of passion, nor dismiss them randomly
… … … For my heart does not hold the fire; it is the fire, it is the flare!

… … … I shall gladly hang on a gallow; or chisel my own crucifix
… … … For I care not for love & peace that is subdued by tyranny

… … … I possess Love and Love possesses me; the twain are but one
… … … I can never submit this jewel of mine for anyone’s scrutiny

… … … Venus, you shyster, had Mars not been gracious you’d be unloved
… … … But I am done with both; for now I aspire to the glory of Jupiter

… … … My arms fight a new war, on a new battlefield, for a new goa
l… … … Where conquests are not captives; where Love is not a conquest

… … … This new victory shall not shame; this war shall not destroy values
… … … No one shall fear no one; For once Love shall rejoice in freedom

… … … Troops shall not overcome troops; they shall join and merge in harmony
… … … A son shall not be crowned by his mother; he shall seek her divine blessings

… … … I do not seek symbols of richness and pride; I dwell in hearts and minds
… … … I do not come to heal wounds that I do not cause; I release the spirit of fire

… … … For once, God will witness a new form of conquest, one without infernos
… … … The Ganges will be conquered again, by love and devout affection

… … … Caesar shall not be stabbed again; nor Brutus perish in penitence
… … … For this Love conquers the spirit through release; not possession

Love
Sudhir

Momin khan Momin

Dar to mujhe kiskaa hai ke mai.n kuchh nahii.n kahataa
par haal ye afshaa.N hai ke mai.n kuchh nahii.n kahataa

naaseh ye gilaa hai ke mai.n kuchh nahii.n kahataa
tuu kab merii sunataa hai ke mai.n kuchh nahii.n kahataa

kuchh Gair se ho.nTho.n me.n kahe hai pe jo puuchho
to vahii.n mukarataa hai ke mai.n kuchh nahii.n kahataa

naaseh ko jo chaahuu.N to abhii Thiik banaa duu.N par
Khauf Khudaa kaa hai ke mai.n kuchh nahii.n kahataa

chupake se tere milane kaa ghar vaalo.n me.n tere
is vaaste charchaa hai ke mai.n kuchh nahii.n kahataa

ai chaaraagaro qabil-e-daramaa.N nahii.n ye dard
varnaa mujhe saudaa hai ke mai.n kuchh nahii.n kahataa

har vaqt hai dushnaam har ek baat pe taanaa
phir is pe bhii kahataa hai ke mai.n kuchh nahii.n kahataa

"Momin" baa-Khudaa sihar bayaanii kaa jabhii tak
ek ko daavaa hai ke mai.n kuchh nahii.n kahataa

Atharva Veda Hymn for AB family - Sudhir

For AB,
Following is a hymn from the Atharva Veda for you and your family, jaya ji, Abhi, Shweta, Aishwarya, Grand kids and in-laws -

Samastvaagna hrtvo, vardha yantu samvatsara, hrishayo yaani satya
sam divten deedihi, rochaneyna vishwa aa bhaahi pradishashchtastra

O learned person, may months, season, years, knowers of Vedic interpretation and all the verities strengthen thee. May thou shine with celestial effulgence, and illumine all the four efficacious regions

Sam chedhyasvaagne pra cha vardheyemamuchch tistha mahate saubhagya
ma te rishannup sattaro agne bramhanaste yashasa santu manye

Shine thou, advance this seeker of knowledge, rise up erect for a great and happy fortune. Be those uninjured who adore thee, let thy learned association attain glory, and not the ignorant, voluptous people

—Atharva veda, Ch. (Anuväka) 2; Hymn VI
Love
Sudhir

The show must go on..

The show must go on…
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आओ की कोई ख्वाब बुने कल के वास्ते
वरना ये रात आज के संगीन दौर की
डस लेगी जान-ओ-दिल को कुछ ऐसे की जान-ओ-दिल
ता-उम्र फिर न कोई हसीं ख्वाब बुन सकें
Aao ki koi khvaab bune kal ke vaaste
Varna ye raat aaj ke sangeen daur ki
D’ss legi jaan-o-dil ko kuchh aise ki jaan-o-dil
Ta-umr phir na koi haseen khvaab bun sake
… … … Come, lets knit some dreams for tomorrow
… … … Lest this night of todays trying time
… … … Stings the life & heart such that, they
… … … Might never make a lovely wish again

गो हम से भागती रही ये तेज़-गाम उम्र
ख्वाबो के आसरे पे कटी है तमाम उम्र
Goh hum se bhaagti rahi ye tez-gaam umr
Khvaabo ke aasre pe kati hai tamaam umr
… … … This rapid age runs away from my life
… … … My life is fended by just my dreams

जुल्फों के ख्वाब, होंठों के ख्वाब और बदन के ख्वाब
मेराज-ऐ- फेन के ख्वाब, कमाल-ऐ-सुखन के ख्वाब
Zulfo ke Khvaab, honthon ke Khvaab, aur badan ke Khvaab
Meraaj-e-fan ke khvaab, kamaal-e-suKhan ke Khvaab
… … … Dreams of shade, dreams of love, dreams of passion
… … … Dreams of aesthetic feats, dreams of precision in verse

तहजीब-ऐ- ज़िन्दगी के फरोग-ऐ-वतन के ख्वाब
जिंदा के ख्वाब, कूचा-ऐ-दार- ओ-रसन के ख्वाब
Tehazeeb-e-zindagi ke, farog-e-vatan ke Khvaab
zinda ke khvaab, kuuchaa-e-daar-o-rasan ke khvaab
… … … Of a civilized life, of a nations uprising
… … … Of prisons, dreams of paths to martyrdom

ये ख्वाब ही तो अपनी जवानी के पास थे
ये ख्वाब ही तो अपने अमल के असास थे
ये ख्वाब मर गए है तो बे-रंग है हयात
यूँ है की जैसे दस्त-ऐ-तह-ऐ-संग है हयात
Ye Khvaab hi to apni javaani ke paas the
Ye Khvaab hi to apne amal ke asaas the
Ye Khvaab mar gaye hai to be-rang hai hayaat
yun hai ki jaise dast-e-tah-e-sang hai hayaat
… … … My youth had only these dreams to live by
… … … These dreams were the basis for my work
… … … Colorless would be my life if these dreams die
… … … Like hands crushed under the weight of stones

आओ की कोई ख्वाब बुने कल के वास्ते
वरना ये रात आज के संगीन दौर की
डस लेगी जान-ओ-दिल को कुछ ऐसे की जान-ओ-दिल
ता-उम्र फिर न कोई हसीं ख्वाब बुन सकें
Aao ki koi khvaab bune kal ke vaaste
Varna ye raat aaj ke sangeen daur ki
D’ss legi jaan-o-dil ko kuchh aise ki jaan-o-dil
Ta-umr phir na koi haseen khvaab bun sake
… … … Come, lets knit some dreams for tomorrow
… … … Lest this night of todays trying time
… … … Stings the life & heart such that, they
… … … Might never make a lovely wish again

--- साहिर लुधियानवी
—-Sahir, Ludhianvi
---Sahir from Ludhiyana