हिज्र करते या कोई (ग़ज़ल) ओबैदुल्ला अलीम

ओबैदुल्ला अलीम
(12 जून 1939 – 18 मई 1998)

हिज्र करते या कोई वस्ल गुज़ारा करते 

हम बहर-हाल बसर ख़्वाब तुम्हारा करते 

एक ऐसी भी घड़ी इश्क़ में आई थी कि हम 

ख़ाक को हाथ लगाते तो सितारा करते 

अब तो मिल जाओ हमें तुम कि तुम्हारी ख़ातिर 

इतनी दूर आ गए दुनिया से किनारा करते 

मेहव-ए-आराइश-ए-रुख़ है वो क़यामत सर-ए-बाम 

आँख अगर आईना होती तो नज़ारा करते 

एक चेहरे में तो मुमकिन नहीं इतने चेहरे 

किस से करते जो कोई इश्क़ दोबारा करते 

जब है ये ख़ाना-ए-दिल आप की ख़ल्वत के लिए 

फिर कोई आए यहाँ कैसे गवारा करते 

कौन रखता है अँधेरे में दिया आँख में ख़्वाब 

तेरी जानिब ही तिरे लोग इशारा करते 

ज़र्फ़-ए-आईना कहाँ और तेरा हुस्न कहाँ 

हम तेरे चेहरे से आईना सँवारा करते॥

(लिप्यांतरण: अनुराग शर्मा)

काव्य :: अनुवाद :: ग़ज़ल

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सेतु, मई 2024

Rang Mahal (A Palace of Colours) - A Novel By Tahir Aslam Gora

Tahir Aslam Gora

The most conspicuous and groundbreaking novel “Rang Mahal” (A Palace of Colours) appeared in Urdu in literary magazine “Aaj”, by a Canada based writer Tahir Aslam Gora. “Rang Mahal” is a riveting account of the lives of the Pakistani diaspora in Canada. Its diction is original, eloquent, absorbing and innovative. It has taken an Urdu fiction writer more than half a century, after Manto, to garner enough courage to express human sexuality in a popular idiom. It portrays the lives and psychological conflicts of Pakistanis based in Canada, with a rare insight into revealing glimpses of personal experiences. The story shuttles between the past and the present, bringing to life characters that follow their adopted country’s lifestyle alongside those whose insecurity in an alien world pushes them to seek refuge in extreme versions of religion. Unfortunately, the story ends rather abruptly but leaves enough room for a sequel. It is a blessing that religious zealots don’t read literary novels anymore, otherwise by now its publisher would have sought refuge in Canada along with Mr. Gora. –

Irfan Javed – A literary critic from The Friday Times, Lahore (Pakistan)

Tahir Aslam Gora (b. 1963)

Tahir is a prominent writer, novelist, poet, journalist, editor, translator, publisher and TV Host with over 30 years of experience in journalism and the world of Literature.

He is an author of five novels, three collections of short stories and three collections of poems in Urdu and Hindi languages. His three novels and a collection of poems have been translated and published in Hindi, Russian and Uzbek languages.

He is the recipient of Queen Diamond Jubilee Medal for his services to Multicultural Canadian Society.

He is also a founder of Multicultural TAG TV Channel. His shows in Urdu-Hindi languages got over 100 million views.

Rang Mahal {A Palace of Colours}

Urdu Novel by Tahir Aslam Gora
English Rendition: Eli Raza & Tahir Gora

 

Chapter 1

When suddenly, the dark, dense clouds began to rain like a thick splatter, the meandering roads of this big city looked like a valley wherein the headlights of the moving cars in a network of undulated roads appeared to be bright bulbs. The heavy rain and gale made the trees sway around the twirling roads, and they seemed to become a part of the traffic congestion. The lights of the sky touched the buildings behind the trees and lit up as the darkness of the clouds had awakened all the houses. While wandering around a meandering road, Shahzad glanced at a long queue of cars on the other side of the road, and he felt as if the roads of this city were like the veins spread in his body; the cars were like blood cells; the not to be seen flow of petrol was like the fast blood flow in his arteries. He parked his car in the parking lot of a plaza and sat there under a canopy outside of a cafe. The outside landscape and scenery were as beautiful as the attractive scenes he used to see in his dreams, but his heart did not feel the pleasure of any dream coming true. “America is so beautiful but why still does it not feel like back home”, he wondered.

Then he suddenly realized that he did not even remember Pakistan much. He did not remember those streets nor those chowks, nor did he remember the odor of the smoke emanating from the chimneys of the houses, nor did he feel the blowing dust coagulating on his lips or getting stuck in his throat. As he was engrossed in his observation that he no longer remembered Pakistan much, he started to recall the thought of a traffic jam at Lahore's Shahdarah Chowk. He began to think about the red dust that emerged from the brick kiln, that when mixed with brown soil caused the feces of buffaloes walking on the road--and of horses hitched to the wagon--to mingle with the black mud.

Shahzad did not even feel the desire to return to Pakistan. However, he could feel Pakistan. He could feel the gust of the wind, and the ambience of the mountainous regions embracing him, giving him utter exhilaration and tranquility. He began to recollect the thoughts about evenings in Nathia Gali where the mountains would look like they were in a state of sheer cheerfulness, beauty and joy. Places more beautiful than Nathia Gali in America couldn’t give him the same feeling, he thought. As the memory of those times came to his mind, he became overwhelmed with nostalgia. He used to walk on a narrow meandering street of foggy hill station Murry. While enjoying strolling in those foggy roads, he would also look at the bungalows of aristocrats on both sides with envious eyes. He loved the deep fog. He would feel as if he was not walking on the earth but flying with the wind and walking on the cloud as if he had escaped the impurity, smirch and darkness of this world. The thought of such pure and clean air made his nostrils swell with joy. While walking on these roads he would feel a sense of serenity and deep silence. He felt as though he could listen to the fog clouds whispering with each other, and he would relish the rhythmic music composed by wet droplets in fog. Wherever he went in the world--on whichever land he traveled, whichever weather he faced, wherever he would find the fog descending on the earth covering everything--he would feel as if he was in the fog's care and protection.

Shahzad started remembering a foggy winter night at Lahore Lakshmi Chowk. In that fog the 500-watt bulbs illuminated the large cauldrons, griddles and frying pans in the eateries which served mutton kadai, chicken chickpeas, kidneys and testicles curry that looked like beacons. How delighted he was to see so much fog on the streets of Lahore that night. The chefs at the kidneys and testicles eateries were hitting the pan with sharp slicers producing a shrill, constant and captivating rhythm.

Sitting under the canopy outside the cafe in a Chicago City Centre Plaza, he had finished his coffee and could not decide whether to have more.  He felt that the patter of the heavy rain on the canopy was reminiscent of the shrill rhythmic sound produced by the chefs at the kidneys and testicles eateries at Lakshmi Chowk. He was fond of the heavy rain too. Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds caused the trees to sway back and forth. In the car lights' illumination, the rainfall resembled a balloon light luminaire. He was lost in his deep thoughts and the evening had softly turned into night. This America: the world’s greatest superpower, has become a habitat for people across the world: the Chinese, Blacks, Russians, Arabs, Indians, Pakistanis, and Europeans. Everyone’s eyes are towards America, and everyone is looking up to it. Then at last he started to wonder why he didn't like these beautiful landscapes, the valley-like cities filled with wide highways and people, like the way he adored the mountainous region of Pakistan. “I think I prefer to dwell in the past,” he contemplated; or the huge constructions built here around valleys, mountains, trees, rivers, seas, and social life; everything seems artificial to him. His own perception of his nostalgia could be the reason that he had never felt a tremble in his heartstrings.

Shahzad would tell himself, “But I am an immigrant here.” Then he would think, who is not an immigrant here, everyone is an immigrant or a refugee here, even these Europeans are immigrants here. People traveled to this land from Germany, France, Ukraine, Belarus, India, China, Iran, Africa and all over the world. He kept pondering, “Is there someone who isn't an immigrant or a refugee on this land?” “Some are new immigrants, and some are from a few generations,” he sorts of established his thoughts.

Shahzad decided to go on a walk around his neighborhood on his day off from work. As soon as he entered the main road from his street, he realized that his residential area was quite vibrant and full of splendor. He got angry with himself that there was no need to wander off to far-flung areas to find a nice cafe since there were so many nice cafes in his own area. To cheer himself up and to brighten up his mood he went to a coffee house. He sat by the window adjacent to the footpath and from there, he could also see his apartment building. There was a chain of shops lined up as far as he could see. With the incessant flow of traffic on the roads and with the hustle-bustle of people everywhere, life appeared to be moving at a great speed as if he was watching a film.

While casting a glance out of the window at the pavement, black pitch road made of coal tar and the bricks of the shopping plaza in front of him he wondered, is this the same America that seems like a very magic land from Pakistan? It’s land, bricks, coal tar, sky and everything is the same as in Pakistan. Now he felt as if he had been living here since childhood. It seemed like these are the buildings where he was raised, these are the houses where he was cradled, and these are the same streets where he had played.

He glanced at the people sitting around. The Iranian owner of the coffee house was standing at the counter, a Filipino girl was working on the cash register, a Pakistani boy was seen making doughnuts in the kitchen, and some Chinese people were sitting around the tables. Two Sikh men along with two kids were sitting eating donuts and sipping tea in the far corner, in the other corner four white schoolgirls were smoking cigarettes under the pretense of having coffee. He was feeling at peace among these different kinds of people. He realized that he panicked when going to the Pakistani restaurants because in Pakistani restaurants he found people confused like him. Nevertheless, his craving for Pakistani bread and curries and kebabs would take him every other day to a Pakistani eatery. He used to think that he could separate himself from everything from Pakistan, but he could not separate himself from his language and his fondness for spicy food. While sitting in that coffee house, he was looking at the coffee houses on the other side of the road.  He was wondering if he would just get out of here and walk towards any of those coffee houses.

While smoking, he took out Salman Rushdie's novel Satanic Verses from his bag and started reading it. When the Islamic world screamed against this novel, he had tried hard to find it in Pakistan. Finally, with great difficulty, he had managed to borrow the novel, but he had to return it after two days as it was in great demand. Thus, he could only read the opening pages of it. One of the reasons that he did not go to work today was so that he could read this novel that he was unable to read for years. The moment he opened the book he looked around suddenly to make sure that no one was staring at him. He immediately wondered who cares here. The girls sitting at the next table would not be aware that such a novel exists. In their constant conversations, they did not go beyond repeating again and again "f**k you” and “f**king as**ole." Even the Sikh patrons did not seem to be concerned about anything in the coffee house. At the table where the Chinese customers were sitting, he knew that it was unlikely that they would know Rushdie's name. He laughed at the thought that only the Iranian owner of the coffee house or his Pakistani work or even would be aware of Rushdie' name. With the thought of hitting the novel on a Pakistani face, he closed the novel and tapped it lightly on his cheeks while smiling furtively. Then while turning the pages of the novel he looked at the Iranian owner of the coffee house, he did not seem to be supportive of the current religious government of Iran. The poor Pakistani boy was toiling in the kitchen just to earn 6 dollars per hour.  With great enthusiasm, he managed to finish the first fifty pages of the novel. He usually gets a bit tired after reading thirty-forty pages. He bookmarked the page he had read so far, closed the novel, and began to ponder that no matter how important and interesting the book is, he cannot read more than fifty-sixty pages in one go.  After closing the novel, he got lost in deep thoughts about the characters of Rushdie’s unique novel. 

At that time, he wished to see the angel Gabriel floating like a descending airplane in front of him on the road and everyone sitting inside the coffee house applauding with wonder. At that moment he felt as if whatever little layer of faith and religious devotion he had, had suddenly flown away from his mind. In the coffee house, he wanted to shout out that the people who consider the rest of humanity as infidels and worthy of hellfire are only oppressing themselves. He once again observed the diversity of the coffee shop patrons and reassured himself that he was in a safe place.

Shahzad contemplated the reality that had he been in Pakistan, he would have been declared an apostate simply for having such liberal thoughts and in Pakistani culture executing an apostate is considered a virtuous act. Images such as Blood, swords, beards, bullets, guns, jihad, turbans, martyrs, massacres, rewards and booty started appearing in his mind. “Singing is forbidden, dancing is forbidden, it is forbidden for a man to look at the face of a female stranger, forbidden for a woman to look at a male stranger (non-mahram), contempt for the Jews, aversion for the Christians, rebuke the Hindus” ….and he began to remember all the lessons of his textbook at once. In the meantime, he remembered a porn magazine that featured the Bible lying in the lap of a naked girl. She seemed like an innocent person who had been exonerated from her sins and the religious book was lying on her naked body as if everything else had been sanctified. He laughed at the word’s ‘sin’ and ‘religious books.’ He was surprised by how meaningless and absurd these terms seemed to him.

Shahzad came out of the coffee house and started walking on the roads aimlessly.  He was awestruck by how strange this world is that changes every minute. Pakistanis have their own ghettoes; they are scattered in different parts of this city. Their grocery stores, restaurants, and other places to fulfill the necessities of life, are found near their residential buildings. Most people preferred to live within their own circles. Those who mingled well with the Sikhs and other Indian groups had a yet different world. He had also visited many other areas of this city where he realized that for a while, he had escaped the mess and perplexity of his own community. There used to be a lot of arguments on religion and politics in the Pakistani community and if he visited the Indian people then there would be an exchange of artificial love. While living in the Pakistani community, he would always be mentally disturbed and in a state of constant dilemma. The only hobby of the editors and writers of the local Urdu newspapers was to prove that Pakistan is a great country. These newspapers used to show their love to Pakistan's atomic bomb and nuclear scientists. It was common to read hateful writings by Pakistani journalists, writers, and intellectuals against Hindus, Christians, and Jews. For him, his nuclear country Pakistan, whose foreign exchange reserves did not exceed a few billion dollars, looked like a set prepared for a Hollywood movie scene. At a recent event, a Pakistani diplomat had told him secretly that the resources in the country's treasury were not more than a few billion dollars, but that the army's budget was immense. “The money for the army comes from drugs, jihadi donations, Arab countries and counterfeit currency and when needed, Western countries also generously help,” the diplomat had told him while swaying in ecstasy.

---

Setu, July 2023

सज्जाद ज़हीर (1899-1973)

सैयद सज्जाद ज़हीर

उर्दू के लेखक, अनुवादक, मार्क्सवादी चिंतक और प्रगतिशील लेखक संघ के संस्थापक एवं रहनुमा, सज्जाद ज़हीर का जन्म 5 नवम्बर 1899 में लखनऊ में हुआ था। आरंभिक शिक्षा लखनऊ में हुई। ऑक्सफ़ोर्ड विश्वविद्यालय से क़ानून की डिग्री प्राप्त की। 1935 में सज्जाद ज़हीर और मुल्क राज आनंद ने पैरिस में आयोजित ‘इंटरनेशनल कांग्रेस फ़ॉर डिफ़ेन्स ऑफ़ कल्चर’ में भाग लिया और उससे प्रभावित होकर लन्दन में भारतीय प्रगतिशील लेखक संघ की स्थापना की। भारत आकर उन्होंने प्रगतिशील लेखक संघ की पहली कांफ्रेंस 9 अप्रैल 1936 में आयोजित की और उसके महासचिव हो गये। यहीं से भारत में प्रगतिशील आन्दोलन की शुरुआत हुई। भारत विभाजन के बाद सज्जाद ज़हीर पाकिस्तान चले गए और वहाँ कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी ऑफ़ पाकिस्तान के संस्थापकों में से थे। 1951 में रावलपिंडी षडयंत्र केस में, जिसमें कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी ऑफ़ पाकिस्तान द्वारा हुकूमत का तख़्ता पलटने की कोशिश की गई थी, गिरफ़्तार हुए और चार वर्ष तक जेल में रहे। रिहा होने पर उनको भारत के प्रधानमंत्री जवाहरलाल नेहरू ने भारत की नागरिकता प्रदान की।

सज्जाद ज़हीर के साहित्यिक जीवन की शुरुआत “अंगारे” की पाँच कहानियों से हुई। यह संग्रह 1932 में प्रकाशित हुआ, जिसमें कुल दस कहानियों में से पाँच के लेखक सज्जाद ज़हीर थे। इस संग्रह ने भारत में हलचल मचा दी थी और ब्रतानवी सरकार ने इसपर प्रतिबन्ध लगा दिया था क्योंकि इससे कुछ मुसलामानों की धार्मिक भावना आहत हुई थी।  इसके अलावा सज्जाद ज़हीर ने एक उपन्यास “लन्दन की एक रात” (1935) भी लिखा। “रोशनाई” इनका संस्मरण है जो प्रगतिशील आन्दोलन के आरंभिक दिनों के बारे में है। जेल से अपनी बेगम और उर्दू की मशहूर लेखिका रज़िया सज्जाद ज़हीर को लिखे हुए पत्र “नुक़ूश-ए-ज़िन्दां” के नाम से 1944 में प्रकाशित हुए। सज्जाद ज़हीर ने फ़ारसी के शायर हाफ़िज़ शीराज़ी पर एक आलोचनात्मक रचना लिखी। इसके अलावा उन्होंने कई भाषाओं से उर्दू में अनुवाद भी किया, जैसे रवीन्द्र नाथ टैगोर का उपन्यास “गोरा”, शेक्सपियर का नाटक “ओथेलो” और फ़्रांसीसी लेखक व दार्शनिक वोल्टेयर की रचना “कान्दीद”। ग्यारह सितम्बर 1973 में उनकी मृत्यु कज़ाख़िस्तान में हुई, जहाँ वे एक साहित्य सम्मेलन में भाग लेने गए हुए थे।

लेखकवृंद

Tahir Aslam Gora

Tahir Gora is an author, journalist and political activist. He is the founder of Canadian Thinkers’ Forum (CTF) and TAG TV Channel. Some of his shows in Urdu-Hindi languages got over 200 million views in South East Asia. He is a fierce critic of Islamists’ Jihadi ideology. He is a co-author of the book, ‘Submission – Threats of Political Islam to Canada and the United States.’His Novel (Urdu/Hindi) ‘Rung Mahal’ portraits dilemma of multiculturalism in the west. He is working on a new novel that is depicting ISI role in terrorism in Afghanistan, Kashmir and around the globe. He is a strong proponent of freedom of speech. He calls himself a Hindu born in Muslim faith and a Canadian Punjabi of Indian heritage born in political Pakistan.

He is a winner of the Setu Special Award for Excellence (2019).

Authors A-Z

मुश्ताक़ अहमद यूसुफ़ी

मुश्ताक़ अहमद यूसुफ़ी
(04 सितम्बर 1923- 20 जून 2018)

- आफ़ताब अहमद

मुश्ताक़ अहमद यूसुफ़ी समकालीन युग में उर्दू गद्य के सबसे प्रतिष्ठित हास्य-लेखक माने जाते हैं। उर्दू आलोचक डॉक्टर ज़हीर फ़तेहपुरी ने लिखा है “ हम उर्दू हास्य के यूसुफ़ी-युग में जी रहे हैं।” उर्दू के हास्य-कवि सैयद ज़मीर जाफ़री ने उन्हें “उर्दू साहित्य का मुस्कराता हुआ दार्शनिक” और आलोचक मुहम्मद हसन ने “सतरंगे लम्हों का ताजदार” कहा है। उनकी रचनाओं के अंश साहित्यिक गोष्ठियों व निजी महफ़िलों  में पढ़े जाते हैं। मित्रगण फ़ोन पर उनके वक्तव्यों का आदान-प्रदान करते हैं। उनके जुमलों को बार-बार दोहराकर कविता की मानिंद उनका आनंद लिया जाता। पाठकों के दिलों में अपने प्रति जितना प्रेम और सम्मान मुश्ताक़ अहमद यूसुफ़ी ने पैदा किया है संभवतः किसी अन्य उर्दू हास्य लेखक ने नहीं किया। उन्हें पाकिस्तान के सबसे बड़े साहित्यिक सम्मानों, सितारा-ए-इम्तियाज़ (1999) और हिलाल-ए-इम्तियाज़ (2002) से सम्मानित किया जा चुका है। सन 2014 में पाकिस्तान जियो-न्यूज़ ने “बज़बान-ए-यूसुफ़ी” नामक एक धारावाहिक शुरू किया जिसमें यूसुफ़ी अपनी रचनाओं के अंश पढ़कर दर्शकों को सुनाते हैं। उनकी लोकप्रियता के कारण ही यह धारावाहिक बनाया गया क्योंकि साहित्य प्रेमी अपने प्रिय लेखक की रचनाओं को उनकी आवाज़ में सुनने के इच्छुक थे।  

  

यूसुफ़ी की रचनाएँ

मुश्ताक़ अहमद यूसुफ़ी की सबसे उत्कृष्ट रचनाएँ आब-ए-गुम (1990)  और ज़र्गुज़श्त (1976) हैं। उनकी पहली दो रचनाएँ 'चिराग़ तले' ( 1961) और 'ख़ाकम बदहन' (1969) हैं। 'चिराग़ तले पहली रचना है। यह तेरह हास्य-निबंधों और रेखाचित्रों का संग्रह है जो 1961 में प्रकाशित हुआ। विषयवस्तु की दृष्टि से यह हल्की-फुल्की और साधारण रचना है। लेकिन कलात्मकता की दृष्टि से यह संग्रह उर्दू के हास्य साहित्य के क्षितिज पर एक नए सूर्य का उदय था। इसने अतिशीघ्र आलोचकों का ध्यान अपनी ओर आकृष्ट कराया। उस समय के उर्दू के प्रख्यात आलोचक मजनूँ गोरखपुरी “चिराग़ तले” और यूसुफ़ी की दूसरी पुस्तक “ख़ाकम बदहन*” (1969) के सन्दर्भ में लिखते हैं : 

“यूसुफ़ी की लेखनी जिस चीज़ को भी छूती है उसमें नई उपज और उठान पैदा कर देती है। उनका कोई वाक्य या वाक्यांश ऐसा नहीं होता जो पढ़ने वाले के विचार और दृष्टि को नई रोशनी न दे जाता हो। यूसुफ़ी एक हास्य-लेखक की हैसियत से एक नई पाठशाला हैं और उनके दोनों संग्रह हास्य-लेखन में एक नया अध्याय हैं। समकालीन हास्य-लेखकों को यूसुफ़ी की रचनाओं में उर्दू हास्य-लेखन के लिए नए शुभ-शगुन मिलेंगे। “

क्रिकेट

यह एक हास्य निबंध है जो मुश्ताक़ अहमद यूसुफ़ी की पहली पुस्तक ‘चिराग़-तले’ के तेरह खटमिट्ठे निबंधों में शामिल है। यह मिर्ज़ा (अब्दुल वदूद बेग) का रेखाचित्र भी है, जिसमें मिर्ज़ा के क्रिकेट प्रेम और इस खेल के पक्ष में और दूसरे खेलों के ख़िलाफ़ उनकी दलीलों से हँसी और व्यंग्य की फुलझड़ियाँ छोड़ी गई हैं। यहाँ यह सूचना महत्वपूर्ण हो सकती है कि मिर्ज़ा अब्दुल वदूद बेग और प्रोफ़ेसर क़ाज़ी अब्दुल क़ुद्दूस एम.ए.बी.टी. गोल्डमेडलिस्ट, जिन्हें लेखक ‘मिर्ज़ा’ और ‘प्रोफ़ेसर’ के नाम से उद्धृत करते हैं, यूसुफ़ी साहब के मित्र या हमज़ाद (छायापुरुष) के रूप में उनकी हर रचना में मौजूद होते हैं। यूसुफ़ी साहब अपनी टेढ़ी-मेढ़ी व उलटी-सीधी दलीलें, अनोखे विचार, उत्तेजक व अकथनीय बातें मिर्ज़ा और प्रोफ़ेसर के मुँह में रखकर कहते हैं। ये दोनों किरदार हमें हमारी परंपरा के सुप्रसिद्ध किरदार मुल्ला नसरुद्दीन की याद दिलाते हैं। इस निबंध में यूसुफ़ी की रचना शैली की चमक हर क़दम पर उजाला किये हुए है और हम इसके प्रकाश में अपने समय के मानव मन की झलकियाँ देख सकते हैं। मज़ाक़ की फुलझड़ियों के बीच बहुत से दार्शनिक संकेत छोड़े हैं जो यूसुफ़ी साहब का ख़ास रंग है।

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*ख़ाकम बदहन: अर्थात मेरे मुँह में ख़ाक - कोई बड़ी या गुस्ताख़ीपूर्ण बात बोलने से पहले विनम्रता के तौर पर यह बोलते हैं।

लेखकवृंद

ग़ज़ल - ओबैदुल्ला अलीम

ओबैदुल्ला अलीम
(12 जून 1939 – 18 मई 1998)

दिल ही थे हम दुखे हुए, तुम ने दुखा लिया तो क्या
तुम भी तो बेअमाँ हुए हम को सता लिया तो क्या

आप के घर में हर तरफ़, मंज़र-ए-माह-ओ-आफ़ताब
एक चिराग़-ए-शाम अगर मैं ने जला लिया तो क्या

बाग़ का बाग़ आप की, दस्तरस-ए-हवस में है
एक ग़रीब ने अगर फूल उठा लिया तो क्या

लुत्फ़ ये है कि आदमी आम करे बहार को
मौज-ए-हवा-ए-रंग में आप नहा लिया तो क्या

अब कहीं बोलता नहीं,  ग़ैब जो खोलता नहीं
ऐसा अगर कोई ख़ुदा तुम ने बना लिया तो क्या

जो है ख़ुदा का आदमी, उस की है सल्तनत अलग
ज़ुल्म ने ज़ुल्म से अगर हाथ मिला लिया तो क्या

आज की है जो कर्बला, कल पे है उस का फ़ैसला
आज ही आप ने अगर जश्न मना लिया तो क्या

लोग दुखे हुए तमाम, रंग बुझे हुए तमाम
ऐसे में अहल-ए-शाम ने शहर सजा लिया तो क्या

पढ़ता नहीं है अब कोई, सुनता नहीं है अब कोई 
हर्फ़ जगा लिया तो क्या शेर सुना लिया तो क्या 

(लिप्यांतरण: अनुराग शर्मा)

काव्य :: अनुवाद :: ग़ज़ल

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सेतु, सितम्बर 2017

Shagufta Naj

Dr. Shagufta Naj, M.Phil, Ph.D, is a bilingual poet, translator and a short story writer. She writes in English and Urdu. She got published her poems and research papers in several national and international print and e-journals. Most of her poems depict the strength and suffering of women. She belongs to Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Presently, she is working as an Assistant professor in the Department of English, B.R.A. Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar.

Email: shaguftanaaz86@gmail.com

Authors A-Z

S L Peeran

Dr SL Peeran hails from an illustrious family of erstwhile Mysore State. His great grandfather was a renowned Arabic, Persian & Urdu scholar & poet and was bestowed with the title of Siraj-ul Ulma (Sun among Scholars). His grand father received the title of Moin-ul-vizarath (Pillar of Ministry) from late Maharaja of Mysore for his services to the State. His father was an engineer and also Sajjada-Nishin of Darga of Saint Hz-Qader awaliya Srirangapatna.

Peeran had his graduation from St. Joseph’s College, Bengaluru during 1969 in Natural Sciences, completed Law from Govt. Law College, Bengaluru and Post-Graduate Diploma in Social Service Administration from National Institute of Social Sciences, Bengaluru. After a short stint in the industrial field as Labour Welfare & Personnel Officer, he joined a firm of Industrial Law & Personnel Management Consultants. Later, he entered the legal profession in 1976. Subsequently, he became part-time Professor of Law for eight years in Havanur Law College, Bengaluru. He had a very successful legal career before being selected as Member of Judicial of Customs, Excise & Gold (Control) Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi in 1989. He was transferred to Southern Bench, Chennai in March, 1998; and in March 2004 to Bengaluru where he took voluntary retirement in July 2009.

Dr Peeran has been deeply interested in Sufism, in study of human growth & development, Urdu & English Poetry. He published his first book The Essence of Islam & Sufism & Its Impact on India (1998). He started penning his experiences initially in Urdu poems in 1997 and from Dec. 1997, he started writing poems in English as well. He has completed 15 volumes of poems in English: ''In Golden Times', 'In Golden Moments', 'A Search From Within', 'In Silent Moments', 'A Ray of Light', 'A Call From The Unknown', 'New Frontiers', 'Fountains of Hope', 'In Rare Moments', 'In Sacred Moments' , 'Glittering Love' , ‘Garden of bliss’ ‘Eternal Quest', Ever Green Pastures, Perfumed Garden of Love, Scattered Gems .

Dr Peeran is Trustee of International Sufi Centre, Editor of Sufi World (a journal on Sufi Culture, Philosophy and Literature) (Islamic Spiritualism, Tasawwuf). He is author of the books Islam and Sufism; Fundamentals of Sufism; and A Journey of a Sufi. Dr Peeran is inspired to write poetry in search of truth and to discover his own self. He is inspired by the theory and practice of Sufism.

He has won the Literary Prize 2017 of ‘Naji Naaman’ of Lebanon. Poets International Bengaluru has anominated him as “Best Poet for 2003”. International Poetry Academy, Chennai has also awarded him with “Best Poet” award for 2009.

Email: slpeeran@gmail.com

Authors A-Z

Translation: From Urdu and Kashmiri by Master Showkat Ali

EDUCATION

Original poem in Urdu by Shah Zoor Kashmiri
Translated by Master Showkat Ali

The council of eye, ear and the impatient heart,
In the language of colorful Nature- this is education.

Under its decree is the hexa-dimensional cosmos,
Under its eternal power are the seven continents.

And its constructs are the mind, thought and conscience
By its fire kindles the lamp of sound intellect.

With this key the door of Nature’s mysteries,
Opens for all the firm determination.

The intellect’s supremacy is its clear grace,
And its want is the wont of submission in you.

For your knowledge is mere information,
When the primordial condition is effort and vision.

Your garden is no different than a desert,
It has neither green, nor dew, nor bud nor morning breeze.

One knowledge bends double the back of slaves,
And another makes serve the crowns and counsels.

On the shore you are engaged in futile fathoming.
For, the priceless pearl falls in hands of the diver.

By God, bereft of the light of wisdom, is-
This monastery, this school and this academy of sage.

Shahzor Kashmiri
Ghulam Mohammed Malik (1915-1990) hailing from Distt. Shopian of Kashmir and known by his pen name Shahzor Kashmiri is one of the good poets in Urdu. His two collections are available in the market by the tiltles of Joshe Jenoon and Jazbeye Daroon. He has written best poetry in Urdu language based on varied themes mainly showing his social commitment and scientific temper. Farid Parbati a well known scholar of Kashmir has written a critical book Shahzor Kashmiri: Shaks aur Shair analyzing the aesthetics and art of the poet.

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A Ghazal

Original poem in Kashmiri by Mahjoor
Translated by Master Showkat Ali

I wandered everywhere like a bee
And sought nectar only for thee

Be my guest and let me wait on
Love! I yearn to sacrifice just for thee

I woke all the night in your love
And wilted away, picking saffron for thee

Watch in the moonlight my artistry
Love! I yearn to sacrifice just for thee

For how long will Mehjoor tarry?
Waiting since aeons had been he

Alas! Heartless friend has turned cold
Love! I yearn to sacrifice just for thee

Mahjoor

Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad (1887-1952) better known by the pen name Mahjoor, is the National Poet of Jamuu of Kashmir. He is specially known for introducing a new style into Kashmiri poetry and for expanding its thematic realms. He is also noted for his poetic compositions in Persian and Urdu. Mahjoor worked as a patwari (regional administrator) in Kashmir. He started with writing in Persian and Urdu, but determined to write in his native language, used the simple diction of traditional folk storytellers in writing. He revolutionized the traditional forms of nazm and ghazal in Kashmiri language. Two of his poetic collections are  Poems of Mahjoor. New Delhi: Sahitya Academi, 1988 and  The Best of Mahjoor: Selections from Mahjoor's Kashmiri Poems (translated by Triloki Nath Raina). Srinagar, India: J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, 1989.

Setu Anniversary, June 2017

Master Showkat Ali

Master Showkat Ali is a lover and student of Literature. He is teaching in one of the Degree Colleges of Kashmir, J&K higher Education Dept. as an Asst Professor in the subject of English.

Presently pursuing his PhD from University of Kashmir as a teacher-fellow under UGC-FIP. He is not a writer but has deep love in his heart and soul of the writers of literature across the world.

Authors A-Z

Wani Nazir

Wani Nazir

Author’s Short Bio 

A Kashmir University Gold medallist (2002) in English Literature, Wani Nazir, from Pulwama J&K India, is an alumnus of the University of Kashmir, Srinagar. Presently working as Lecturer in the Department of Education, J&K, he has been writing both prose and poetry in English, Urdu and in his mother tongue Kashmiri. He is a voracious and wild reader and a reviewer. He contributes his brain-children-his poetry and prose in Kashur Qalm, The Significant League, Muse India e-Journal, Setu-a bilingual e-journal published from Pittsburgh, USA, Langlit & Literary Herald -  both UGC approved journal, and Learning and Creativity – a Silhouette Magazine, and has been receiving laurels for his beautiful writings.

Authors A-Z

सीमा गुप्ता

जन्म: 11 अक्टूबर, अम्बाला
शिक्षा: एम कॉम
सम्पर्क ईमेल: seemagupta9@gmail.com

साहित्य लेखन: हिंदी, उर्दू, तथा अंग्रेजी, तीनों भाषाओं में लेखन

प्रकाशन: गीत, ग़ज़ल, नज्म और कविता संग्रह:

• 'विरह के रंग' (हिन्दी) - शिवना प्रकाशन सीहोर (मई 2010)
• 'दर्द का दरिया' (हिन्दी और उर्दू) - एआईपीसी खुर्जा (नवंबर 2010)
• गुफ्तगू के मार्च-2013 अंक में परिशिष्ट: सीमा गुप्ता

====================================================रचना, आलेख, व समीक्षा का प्रकाशन:
पत्रिका: सुखनवर, युध्भूमि, वांग्मय पत्रिका, गुंजन, काफिया, हृदय तारों का स्पंदन, समर्था, गुफ्तगू
अलाहबाद, पंखुड़ी, हंस, अर्पिता, काफिया, अभिनव प्रयास, आलमी सहारा इ-पत्रिका, बज़्म-ए -सहारा (उर्दू), दावत-ओ-तबलीग़ उर्दू, पंजाबी संस्कृति, सदार इंडिया, सृजक, संस्कार सारथि, रहनुमा तालीम ज़दीद दिल्ली (उर्दू), आबशार-ए-ग़ज़ल (उर्दू), अनहद कृति कंटेम्पररी लिटरेरी रिव्यू इंडिया, प्रेरणा अंशु, हस्तक्षेप, आदि =====================================================================
ऑनलाइन वेबसाइट:
हिंद युग्म, साहित्य कुंज, स्वर्गविभा, अनुभूति, नवभारत टाइम, इंडियाटाइम.कॉम, वांग्मय पत्रिका,
कवि मंच, कथा व्यथा, रचनाकार, आखर कलश, नारायण कुञ्ज, मंथन, वोइस . नेट, पोएम हंटर आलमी
सहारा इ- पत्रिका, इंडियन रिव्यु, दैट्स मी , “ आदि
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अखबार:
हरयाणा जगत, रेपको न्यूज़, वेब वार्ता, विशारद टाइम्स, एक्शन इंडिया दैनिक, राउंड द वीक दिल्ली, हमारा मेट्रो, हमारा समाज, इन्कलाब ,हरी भूमि , गल्फ टुडे दुबई, इन्कलाब उर्दू, राष्ट्रीय सहारा उर्दू, अवधनामा लखनऊ, अखबारे मशरिक़, हिंदुस्तान टाइम्स एचटीलाइव, खबरयार, हमवतन, उत्कर्ष मेल, अज़ीज़ुलहिंद, जनवाणी' ' गुडगाँव टुडे ' आदि अनेकानेक
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विदेशी पत्रिकाएँ:

• पाकिस्तानी पत्रिका ' 'निखार इंटरनेशनल' मिआवली एक्सप्रेस ' में काव्य संग्रह 'दर्द का दरिया ' की समीक्षा और ग़ज़लों और नज्मो का लगातार प्रकाशन
• मशहूर अखबार 'डेली पाकिस्तान' में कविताओं और साहित्यिक परिचय का लगातार प्रकाशन
• पाकिस्तान की मशहूर तिमाही पत्रिका 'अस्लीब' में 'दर्द का दरिया ' की समीक्षा, लेख, साक्षात्कार और रचनाओ का प्रकाशन
• पाकिस्तानी पत्रिका 'सह माहि अल ज़ुबैर, भावलपुर अंक (2-3) पृष्ठ (137-140) में डॉ नुसरत जहाँ द्वारा लिखे गये आलेख 'उर्दू नज़्म निगारी का नुमाया नाम सीमा गुप्ता ' का प्रकाशन
• लाहौर से प्रकाशित अदबी पत्रिका अदब -ए - मौला के सिल्वर जुबली शुमारे में ग़ज़लों का प्रकाशन
• ऑस्ट्रिलिया विक्टोरिया से प्रकाशित हिंदी पत्रिका 'हिंदी पुष्प' में कविताओं का प्रकाशन
• न्यूयॉर्क से प्रकाशित पत्रिका 'शब्दागुच्छा' में अंग्रेजी कविता का प्रकाशन
• वूडस्टोन पीटरबर्ग यु.के से प्रकाशित पत्रिका 'द एंथोलोजी' (कलेक्शन ऑफ़ पोएट्री) में अंग्रेजी कविता का प्रकाशन
• ढाका बांग्लादेश से प्रकशित होने वाले लिटरेरी जर्नल 'नतूनबरता.कॉम' में अंग्रेजी कविताओं का प्रकाशन
• नीदरलैंड एम्स्टडर्म: से प्रकाशित होने वाली 'एम्स्टल गंगा' पत्रिका में हिंदी कविता और ग़ज़लों का प्रकाशन
• इंडियाना यूनाइटेड स्टेट्स के मशहूर इंग्लिश राइटर माइकल डी. हॉल के 'इलियास टोबियास' अंग्रेजी जर्नल में अंग्रेजी कविताओं का प्रकाशन
• पिट्सबर्ग, अमेरिका से प्रकाशित सेतु में ग़ज़लें प्रकाशित

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विशिष्ट उपलब्धियां:

• 21 वीं सदी की 111 शीर्ष हिन्दी महिला लेखकों के बीच में मान्यता प्राप्त 'रविवार भारतीय हिंदी' अगस्त 2011 में प्रकाशित
• बीबीसी रेडियो पर 'आप की पसंद' गीतमाला में गजलों और नज्मो का लगातार सस्वर पाठ और एक मशहूर नाम
• दिल्ली से प्रसारित होने वाले आल इंडिया रेडियो उर्दू 'बज़्म ए ख्वातीन ' में गजलों और नज्मो का सस्वर पाठ.
• इग्‍नू दिल्ली के इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मीडिया उत्पादन केंद्र द्वारा प्रसारित 'ओपन चैनल' से साक्षात्कार का प्रसारण।यह साहित्य और कविता में योगदान के बारे में एक प्रश्न उत्तर सत्र था जिसे डॉ. वारिस अहमद खान इग्‍नू इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मीडिया उत्पादन केंद्र के उप निदेशक और श्री मोहम्मद तारिक फैजी, महासचिव उर्दू प्रेस क्लब द्वारा आयोजित किया गया यह कार्यक्रम 18 जुलाई को डीडी नेशनल पर 6 बजे और ज्ञानदर्शन पर 18 जुलाई को 9.30 बजे प्रसारित किया गया था (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGROf2RM1L4)
• 'जी सलाम' चैनल से प्रसारित होने वाले ' सलाम-ए-महफ़िल' में ग़ज़ल पाठ का प्रसारण

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सम्मान और पुरस्कार

• अखिल भारतीय कवयित्री सम्मेलन जनवरी 2011 बड़ौदा में हिंदी और उर्दू काव्य संग्रह 'दर्द का दरिया ' के लिए 'जहान आरा” एजाज से सम्मानित
• ताशकंद (Tashkant) में छठे अंतर्राष्ट्रीय अखिल भारतीय कवयित्री सम्मेलन में नवम्बर 2010 में WOMAN OF THE EAST (पूर्व की नारी) एजाज से सम्मानित
• संयुक्त अरब अमीरात (Dubai) में सातवें अंतर्राष्ट्रीय अखिल भारतीय कवयित्री सम्मेलन मई 2011 में 'MISS BEAUTY WITH BRAIN’ और 'EVE OF THE ERA' ('युग की नारी ') एजाज से सम्मानित
• साउथ अफ्रीका में आठवें अखिल भारतीय कवयित्री सम्मेलन में अप्रैल 2012 में “LADY OF HOPE” (आशा की देवी) एजाज से सम्मानित
• आगरा में प्रजापति अशोक सम्राट तथा डा बाबासाहेब आंबेडकरजयंती के उपलक्ष में 'अशोक स्तम्भ के लोकार्पण' के भव्य समारोह में 18/03/2012 को 'अशोक काव्यभूषण पुरस्कार'
• उर्दू साहित्य के लिये गालिब अकादमी में 12 मई 2012 को 'फ़रोग ए उर्दू फ़ाउंडेशन महनामा खातून ए मशरिक़' का 'तौफ़ीक़ फ़ारूक़ी अवार्ड' 2012, से सम्मानित 
• साहित्य दर्पण फरीबाद द्वारा 2013 में 'साहित्य रत्न' से सम्मानित
• प्रथम प्रकाशन पठानकोट द्वारा 2013 में 'काव्य शिरोमणि दुष्यंत यादगारी सम्मान'
• 22 अप्रैल 2013 को इंडिया हैबीटेट सेंटर में आयोजित 'जश्न ए अबुल कलाम आजाद' में पूर्व राष्ट्रपति श्रीमती प्रतिभादेवीसिंह पाटिल जी द्वारा 'फ़ख्र-ए-हिन्द' सम्मान .
• बिनाई बाग वाराणसी में आयोजित 'इंडो पाक मुशायरे' 2012 में 'राजीव गांधी एक्सेलेंसी' सम्मान
• बिनाई बाग वाराणसी में आयोजित 'इंडो पाक मुशायरे' 2013 में '' शमीम मेमन' सम्मान

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प्रबंधन सम्बंधी लेखन:

GUIDELINES INTERNAL AUDITING FOR QUALITY SYSTEM (May 2000)
GUIDELINES FOR QUALITY SYSTEM AND MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE (Jan 2001)

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लेखकवृंद

चुप - ओबैदुल्ला अलीम

ओबैदुल्ला अलीम
(12 जून 1939 – 18 मई 1998)

तू अपनी आवाज़ में गुम है, मैं अपनी आवाज़ में चुप
दोनों बीच खड़ी है दुनिया, आइना ए अल्फ़ाज़ में चुप

अव्वल-अव्वल बोल रहे थे, ख्वाब भरी हैरानी में
फिर हम दोनों चले गये, पाताल से गहरे राज़ में चुप

ख्वाब सराय ज़ात में ज़िंदा, एक तो सूरत ऐसी है
जैसे कोई देवी बैठी हो उज्राए राज़ों नियाज़ में चुप

अब कोई छू के क्यों नहीं आता उधर सिरे का जीवन अंग
जानते हैं पर क्या बतलाएँ लग गई क्यूँ परवाज़ में चुप

फिर ये सारा खेल तमाशा किस के लिये और क्यूँ साहब
जब इसके अंजाम में चुप है, जब इसके आग़ाज़ में चुप

नींद भरी आँखों से चूमा दीये ने सूरज को और फिर
जैसे शाम को अब नहीं जलना खेंच ली इस अंदाज़ में चुप

ग़ैब समय के ज्ञान में पागल कितनी तान लगायेगा
जितने सुर हैं सात से बाहर, उससे ज़्यादा साज़ में चुप

तू अपनी आवाज़ में गुम है, मैं अपनी आवाज़ में गुम है
दोनों बीच खड़ी है दुनिया, आइना ए अल्फ़ाज़ में चुप।

(लिप्यांतर: अनुराग शर्मा)

काव्य :: अनुवाद :: ग़ज़ल

अनुक्रमणिका, अप्रैल 2017

Na Kisi Ki Aankh ka Noor Hoon - Bahadur Shah Zafar

 Ghazal by Bahadur Shah Zafar – A Translation by Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy

Padmaja Iyengar 'Paddy'

न किसी की आँख का नूर हूँ
न किसी के दिल का करार हूँ
जो किसी के काम न आ सका
मैं वो एक मुश्त-ए-गुबार हूँ

Neither am I the light of anyone’s eyes
Nor am I the peace for any heart’s sighs
I am just that fistful of mud
Of no use to anyone, a dud

न तो मैं किसी का हबीब हूँ
न तो मैं किसी का रकीब हूँ
जो बिगड़ गया वो नसीब हूँ
जो उजड गया वो दयार हूँ

Neither am I anyone’s pal
Nor am I anyone’s rival
I am a destiny gone haywire
I am a place deserted entire

मेरा रंग रूप बिगड़ गया
मेरा यार मुझसे बिछड़ गया
जो चमन  खिज़ा में उजड गया
मैं उसी की  फसले-बहार हूँ

Disfigured is my appearance
Separated am I from friends
I am that garden’s spring-bloom
That’s ruined by autumn’s gloom

पए फातिहा कोई आये क्यूँ
कोई चार फूल चड़ाए क्यूँ
कोई आके शम्मा जलाये क्यूँ
में वो बेकसी का मज़ार हूँ

Why should anyone at my grave pray
Why should anyone on it flowers spray
Why should anyone on it a lamp light
For I am a tomb of such a blight

Table of Contents, March 2017 :: अनुक्रमणिका, मार्च 2017

Faiz Ahmad "Faiz": Vinita Agrawal

Born in Sialkot in 1911, Faiz Ahmed Faiz was a renowned Pakistani poet who wrote primarily in Urdu. His poetry has been acknowledged by critics and readers as embracing a spectrum of emotions - from patriotic fervor to social injustice to intense romantic love to gut-wrenching loneliness.  The luminous arc of his writings is a reflection of his own restless life - for Faiz was sent to jail twice because of his political leanings.

Faiz is often seen playing with complex metaphors in whatever he writes. He is a master of double entendre. Lines loaded with meanings that go far deeper than the obvious. For example, in the relatively simpler but extremely popular ghazal raaz e ulfat, he writes:

aas us dar se TuuTatii hii nahii.n

jaa ke dekhaa, na jaa ke dekh liyaa

My hopes are perpetually anchored to that threshold

Irrespective of my surrender or abstinence

**

One may interpret the threshold as representing the lover's door or the divine doorway leading to God, in both cases, hopes stay alive at there and simply refuse to perish.

Fascinated by the poetry of Faiz, I embarked upon translating his choicest fifty creations with the intention of  invoking his artistry for the contemporary readers, a couple of years ago. Working on Faiz's poetry was an absolute labor of love. Any translator will empathize that it is challenge to reproduce the alluring qualities in a poet's work. The nuances of a particular language often cannot be replicated in English. More so in in Faiz's lyrics—the bold lines, the taut narratives, and the carefully chosen rhetoric. Keeping this in mind, it would be more appropriate to call my work on Faiz as trans creations rather than translations.

Also, it is impossible to translate gazals because if their unique form. But that does not mean that the contemporary English reader should be denied the pleasure of enjoying Faiz's poetry.

My trans creations of Faiz's works titled Faiz Once More, will be released in 2017. Meanwhile here are two trans creations compiled especially for SETU readers.

Vinita Agrawal

Ghazal

Tum  aaye ho na shab-e-intazaar guzarii hai

talaash me.n hai sahar baar baar guzarii hai

junuu.N me.n jitanii bhii guzarii bakaar guzarii hai

agarche dil pe Kharaabii hazaar guzarii hai

huii hai hazarat-e-naaseh se guftaguu jis shab

wo shab zaruur sar-e-kuu-e-yaar guzarii hai

wo baat saare fasaane me.n jisakaa zikr na thaa

wo baat unako bahot naa-gavaar guzarii hai

na gul khile hai.n, na unase mile, na mai pii hai

ajiib rang me.n ab ke bahaar guzarii hai

chaman me.n Gaarat-e-gulachii.N se jaane kyaa guzarii

qafas se aaj sabaa beqaraar guzarii hai

**

Trans Creation

Neither have you arrived nor has the night of waiting ended

the morning is looking for you, it has come and gone several times

Whatever occurred in my state of utter frenzy kept me on my toes

although it did prove to be tough on my heart

Those nights that I spent talking to my well meaning advisors

were the nights that I spent in my beloved's street

That which I did not touch upon in my story at all

that omitted bit was extremely unacceptable to the listeners

Neither have flowers blossomed, nor have I met her nor have I drunk wine

spring has been colored in a strange hue this year

How ruthlessly the flower plucker pillaged the blossoms in the garden today

the breeze that touches my body seems so tortured and restless.

*********

Nazm

ye daaG daaG ujaalaa, ye shab_gaziidaa sahar

wo intazaar thaa jis kaa, ye wo sahar to nahii.n

ye wo sahar to nahii.n jis kii aarazuu lekar

chale the yaar ki mil jaayegii kahii.n na kahii.n

falak ke dasht me.n taro.n kii aaKharii ma.nzil

kahii.n to hogaa shab-e-sust mauj kaa saahil

kahii.n to jaa ke rukegaa safinaa-e-Gam-e-dil

jawaa.N lahuu kii pur-asaraar shaaharaaho.n se

chale jo yaar to daaman pe kitane haath pa.De

dayaar-e-husn kii be-sabr Khwaab-gaaho.n se

pukaratii rahii.n baahe.n, badan bulaate rahe

bahut aziiz thii lekin ruKh-e-sahar kii lagan

bahut qarii.n thaa hasiinaan-e-nuur kaa daaman

subuk subuk thii tamannaa, dabii dabii thii thakan

sunaa hai ho bhii chukaa hai firaq-e-zulmat-e-nuur

sunaa hai ho bhii chukaa hai wisaal-e-ma.nzil-o-gaam

badal chukaa hai bahut ahl-e-dard kaa dastuur

nishaat-e-wasl halaal-o-azaab-e-hijr-e-haraam

jigar kii aag, nazar kii uma.ng, dil kii jalan

kisii pe chaaraa-e-hijraa.N kaa kuchh asar hii nahii.n

kahaa.N se aaii nigaar-e-sabaa, kidhar ko gaii

abhii chiraaG-e-sar-e-rah ko kuchh Khabar hii nahii.n

abhii garaani-e-shab me.n kamii nahii.n aaii

najaat-e-diida-o-dil kii gha.Dii nahii.n aaii

chale chalo ki wo ma.nzil abhii nahii.n aaii

**

Trans Creation

A blemished dawn, a morning bitten by the night

This can't be the daybreak that we'd been waiting for

This can't be the dawn whose desire we cherished

and in whose search our friends set out hoping to find it someday

The ultimate destination of stars lies in the desert of the skies

These dreary waves of nights too must have their shores somewhere

Somewhere the sorrowed boat of the heart must dock

When friends set out on the mysterious highways of young fiery blood

They were pulled back by countless hands

Arms kept beckoning from thresholds of the restless bedrooms of beauty

Bodies kept calling

But the yearning to see the face of a new dawn was more intense

Even though the lissome beauties were well within reach

And buoyant was desire, slight the weariness.

I've heard that the distinction between darkness and light has been made

I've heard that destinations have been united with footsteps

And that the definition of suffering lovers has altered drastically

That delightful nights of unions have been sanctioned for slaughter

and torments of separation rendered unlawful

The passions of the mind, the excitement of glances, the fire of hearts

Have no impact on being the solutions of separation for anyone anymore.

From where did the morning breeze blow, where did it go

The lamps lining the path do not know as yet

The heaviness of the night has not lessened by any means

The moment that will liberate the eyes and the heart is not here yet

Keep walking, the destination is not in sight yet.

*********

Bio: Author of Words Not Spoken (Brown Critique/Sampark) and The Longest Pleasure (Finishing Line Press, USA) and The Silk Of Hunger (AuthorsPress, Delhi), Vinita is a Mumbai based, award winning poet and writer. She is Senior Editor for the women based website www.thewomaninc.com. She is the recipient of the Gayatri GaMarsh Memorial Award USA, 2015. Her poems have appeared in Asiancha, Constellations, The Fox Chase Review, Pea River Journal, Mithila Review, Open Road Review, Stockholm Literary Review, Poetry Pacific and other national and international journals. Her poems have been widely anthologized in Indo-Australian compilations. She was nominated for the Best of the Net Awards 2011, awarded first prize in the Wordweavers Contest 2014, commendation prize in the All India Poetry Competition 2014 and won the 2014 Hour of Writes Contest thrice.  She has read at SAARC events in Delhi and Agra at the U.S. Consulate, Hyderabad,  at Delhi for Delhi Poetree, and at Mumbai for Cappucino Readings. She can be reached at https://www.pw.org/content/vinita_agrawal or at www.vinitawords.com

Setu, November 2016