aaj to besabab udaas hai jii
ishq hotaa to ko’ii baat bhii thii

Nasir Kazmi

apnii bekalii kaa sabab aaj tak
Khud bhii jaanaa nahiiN ke tujhse kaheN

Ahmed Faraz

This is the fourth and final part of Kahkashan. Here are the other parts: One, Two, Three.

19.) Aye Gham-E-Dil Kya Karoon

[See post to listen to audio]

shah’r kii raat aur maiN naashaad-o-naakaaraa phiruuN
jag-magaatii jaagtii saRakoN pe aavaaraa phiruuN
Ghair kii bastii hai kab tak dar badar maraa phiruuN

(naashaad-o-naakaaraa : sad and without any specific task; Ghair : stranger)

ai Gham-e-dil kyaa karuuN ai vahshat-e-dil kyaa karuuN

(Gham-e-dil : suffering of heart; vahshat-e-dil : madness of heart)

ye rupehalii chhaaNv ye aakaash par taaroN kaa jaal
jaise suufii kaa tasavvur jaise aashiq kaa Khayaal
aah lekin kaun jaane kaun samajhe jii kaa haal

(rupahelii : colorful; tasavvur : imagination)

ai Gham-e-dil kyaa karuuN ai vahshat-e-dil kyaa karuuN

raat haNs haNs kar ye kahtii hai ke maiKhaane meN chal
phir kisii shahnaaz-e-laalaaruKh ke kaashaane meN chal
ye nahiiN mumkin to phir ai dost viiraane meN chal

(shahnaaz-e-laalaaruKh : glorious and tupil faced; kaashaanaa : abode)

ai Gham-e-dil kyaa karuuN ai vahshat-e-dil kyaa karuuN

raaste meN ruk ke dam le luuN merii aadat nahiiN
lauT kar vaapas chalaa jaauuN merii fitrat nahiiN
aur ko’ii ham-navaa mil jaaye ye qismat nahiiN

(fitrat : nature, character; ham-navaa : companion)

jii meN aataa hai ye murdaa chaaNd-taare noch luuN
is kinaare noch luuN aur us kinaare noch luuN
ek do kaa zikr kyaa saare ke saare noch luuN

ai Gham-e-dil kyaa karuuN ai vahshat-e-dil kyaa karuuN

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Majaz Lucknawi

20.) Hijaab-E-Fitna Parwar

[See post to listen to audio]

hijaab-e-fitnaa-parvar ab uThaa letii to achhaa thaa
Khud apne husN ko pardaa banaa letii to achhaa thaa

(hijaab : veil; fitnaa-parvar : causing discord)

teiri niichii nazar Khud terii ismat kii muhaafiz hai
tu is nishtar kii tezii aazmaa letii to achhaa thaa

(ismat : pride; muhaafiz : protector; nishtar : dagger)

tere maathe kaa Tiikaa mard kii qismat kaa taaraa hai
agar tu saaz-e-bedaarii uThaa letii to achhaa thaa

(saaz-e-bedaarii : arms for vigilance)

teri maathe pe ye aaNchal bahut hii khuub hai lekin
tu is aaNchal se ik parcham banaa letii to achhaa thaa

(parcham : flag)

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Majaz Lucknawi

21.) Taskeen-E-Dil-E-Mehzoo Na Hui

[See post to listen to audio]

taskiin-e-dil-e-mehzoo na hu’ii vo sa’ii-e-karam farmaa bhii gaye
is sa’ii-e-karam ko kyaa kahiye behlaa bhii gaye taRpaa bhii gaye

(taskiin-e-dil : calm of heart; sa’ii-e-karam : efforts of generosity)

hum arz-e-vafaa bhii kar na sake, kuch keh na sake, kuch sun na sake
yaaN humne zubaaN hii kholii thii vaaN aaNkh jhukii sharmaa bhii gaye

(arz-e-vafaa : tale of love)

is mehfil-e-kaif-o-mastii meN, is anjuman-e-irfaanii meN
sab jaam-bakaf baithe hii rahe hum pii bhii gaye chhalkaa bhii gaye

(kaif : intoxication; anjuman-e-irfaanii : gathering for gnosis; jaam-bakaf : waiting for wine)

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Majaz Lucknawi

22.) Dekhna Jazb-e-Muhabbat Ka Asar

[See post to listen to audio]

dekhnaa jazb-e-muhabbat kaa asar aaj kii raat
mere shaane pe hai us shoKh kaa sar aaj kii raat

(jazb-e-muhabbat : passion of love; shaane : thighs; shoKh : playful)

nuur hii nuur hai kis simT uThauuN aankheN
husN hii husN hai taahadd-e-nazar aaj kii raat

(taahadd-e-nazar : as far as eyes see)

naGhmaa-o-mai kaa ye tuufaan-e-tarab kyaa kehnaa
meraa ghar ban gayaa Khayyaam kaa ghar aaj kii raat

(naGhmaa-o-mai : song of wine; tuufaan-e-tarab : storm of desire; Khayyaam : ?)

nargis-e-naaz meN vo niiNd kaa halkaa saa Khumaar
vo mere naGhmaa-e-sherii kaa asar aaj kii raat

(nargis-e-naaz : amorous eyes; Khumaar : intoxication; naGhmaa-e-sherii : song of poems)

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: ?

23.) Ab Mere Paas Tum Aayee Ho

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ab mere paas tum aayii ho to kya aayii ho
maine maanaa ke tum ik paikar-e-raana’ii ho
chaman-e-daher meN ruuh-e-chamanara’ii ho
talat-e-mehr ho firdaus kii barnaa’ii ho
bint-e-mehtaab ho garduu se utar aayii ho
mujhse milne meN andeshaa-e-rusvaa’ii hai
maine Khud apne kiye kii ye sazaa paayii hai
ab mere paas tum aayii ho to kya aayii ho

(paikar-e-raanaii : paradigm of beauty; chaman-e-dahar : garden of earth; ruuh-e-chamanara’ii : soul of beautified garden; talat : ? ; mehr : Sun; firdaus : paradise; barnaa’ii : ?; bint-e-mehtaab : daughter of moon; garduuN : heavens; andeshaa-e-rusvaa’ii : possibility of humiliation)

un dino mujhpe qayaamat ka junuuN taarii thaa
sar pe sarshaari-o-ishrat ka junuuN taarii thaa
maahpaaroN se muhabbat ka junuuN taarii thaa
shahr-yaaroN se raqaabat ka junuuN taarii thaa
bistar-e-makhmal-o-sanjaab thii duniyaa merii
ek rangiin-o-hasiiN khvaab thii duniyaa merii

(sarshaari-o-ishrat : satisfaction and happiness; maahpaar : moon-faced; shahr-yaaroN : friends of the city; raqaabat : animosity; bistar-e-makhmal-o-sanjaab : bed of velvet and fur)

kyaa sunogii merii majhruuh javaanii kii pukaar
merii faryaad-e-jigar doz meraa naalaa-e-zaar
shiddat-e-karb meN duubii hu’ii merii guftaar
main ke Khud apne mazaak-e-tarab (?) ka shikaar
vo gudaaz-e-dil-e-marhuum kahan se laauuN
ab meiN vo jazba-e-maasuum kahan se laauuN
ab mere pass tum aayii ho to kya aayii ho

(majhruuh : wounded; naalaa-e-zaar : continuous tears; karb : grief; gudaaz : softness)

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Majaz Lucknawi

24.) Jaanewale Sipahi Se Poocho

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jaane vaale sipaahii se puuchO vo kahaaN jaa rahaa hai
kaun dukhiyaa hai jo gaa rahii hai
bhuukhe bachhoN ko behlaa rahii hai
laash jalne kii buu aa rahii hai
zindagii hai ke chillaa rahii hai

kitne sehme hu’e haiN nazaare
kaisaa dar-dar ke chalte hain taare
kya javaanii kaa khuuN ho raha hai
surKh haiN aanchaloN ke kinaare

gir rahaa hai siyaahii kaa deraa
ho rahaa hai merii jaaN saveraa
ovatan chhoR kar jaane vaale
khul gayaa inquilaabii farera (?)

Singer: Kumar Sanu
Lyrics: Makhdoom Mohiuddin

25.) Sham-e-Gham Kuch

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shaam-e-Gham kuch us nigaah-e-naaz kii baateN karo
bekhudii baRhTii chalii hai raaz kii baateN karo

ye sukuut-e-naaz ye dil kii ragoN ka TuuTnaa
khamoshi meN kuch shikast-e-saaz kii baateN karo

(sukuut : tranquil; shikast-e-saaz : defeat of the song)

kuch qafas ki tiiliyoN se chhan rahaa hai nuur saa
kuch fazaa kuch hasrat-e-parvaaz kii baateN karo

(qafas : prison; hasrat-e-parvaaz : desire of flight)

nakhat-e-zulf-e-pariishaaN, daastaaN-e-shaam-e-Gham
subh hone tak isii andaaz kii baateN karo

(nakhat-e-zulf-e-pariishaaN : smell of carefree tresses; daastaaN-e-shaam-e-Gham : story of the evening of suffering)

Singer: Vinod Sehgal
Lyrics: ?

26.) Yeh Jo Qaul-o-Qaraar Hai

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ye jo qaul-o-qaraar hai kyaa hai
shak hai yaa aitbaar hai kyaa hai

(qaul-o-qaraar : words and contract; shak : doubt)

ye jo uThtaa hai dil meiN rah rah kar
abr hai yaa Ghubaar hai kyaa hai

(abr : clouds; Ghubaar : dust)

zer-e-lab ik jhalak tabassum kii
barq hai yaa sharaar hai kyaa hai

(zer-e-lab : on the lips; tabassum : smile; barq : lightening; sharaar : fire)

ko’ii dil ka muqaam samjhaao
ghar hai yaa rehguzaar hai kyaa hai

(rehguzaar : pathway)

na khulaa ye ke saamnaa teraa
diid hai, intizaar hai kyaa hai

(diid : seeing)

Singer: Vinod Sehgal
Lyrics: ?

27.) Kisika Yun To Hua Kaun

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kisii kaa yuuN to hu’aa kaun umr bhar phir bhii
ye husN-o-ishq to dhokhaa hai magar phir bhii

hazaar baar zamaanaa idhar se guzraa hai
nayii nayii si hai kuch terii rehguzaar phir bhii

terii nigaah se bachNe meN umR guzrii hai
utar gayaa rag-e-jaaN meN ye nishtar phir bhii

(rag-e-jaaN : vein of life)

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: ?

28.) Ghazal Ka Saaz Uthao

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Ghazal kaa saaz uthaao baRii udaas hai raat
navaa-e-niir sunao baRii udaas hai raat

(saaz : song; navaa-e-niir : cry of ? )

kaheN na tumse to phir aur kis se jaa ke kaheN
siyaah-zulf ke saayo baRii udaas hai raat

sunaa hai pehle bhi aise meN bujh gaye haiN chiraaGh
diloN kii Khair manaao baRii udaas hai raat

diye raho tum yuuN hii kuch der aur haath meN haath
abhii na paas se jaao baRii udaas hai raat

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: ?

29.) Ab Aksar Chup Chup Se Rahe Hain

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ab aksar chup chup se rahe haiN yuuN hii kabhuu lab khole haiN
pehle “Firaq” ko dekhaa hotaa ab to bahut kam boleN haiN

(kabhuu : rarely)

din meN humko dekhne vaaloN apne apne haiN auqaat
jaao na tum in Khushk aankhoN ko hum raatoN ko ro le haiN

(auqaat : duration)

Gham kaa fasaanaa sunne-vaalo aakhir-e-shab aaraam karo
kal bhii kahanii phir chheReNge hum bhii zaraa ab so le haiN

(aakhir-e-shab : towards the end of night)

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Firaq Gorakhpuri

30.) Raat Bhar Deeda-e-Namnaak

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raat bhar diida-e-namnaak meN lehraate rahe
saaNs kii tarah se aap aate rahe jaate rahe

(diida-e-namnaak : misty eyed)

Khush the hum apnii tamaannao kaa khvaab aayegaa
apnaa armaaN baraf-gandaa naqaab aayegaa

(baraf-ganda : ?)

aa gayii thii dil-e-muztar meN shakebaa’ii sii
baj rahii thii mere Gham-Khaane meN shehnaa’ii sii

(dil-e-muztar : impatient heart; shakebaa’ii : ?)

shab kii jaagii hu’ii taaro ko bhii niiNd aane lagii
aap ke aane kii ik aas thii ab jaane lagii

subh ne sej se uThTe hu’e lii angRa’ii
o sabaa tuu bhii jo aayii to akelii aayii

(sabaa : morning breeze)

Singer: Jagjit Singh and Asha Bhosale
Lyrics: Makhdoom Mohiuddin

31.) Ik Chameli Ke Mandwe Tale

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ek chamelii ke manDve tale
maikade se zaraa duur us moR par
do badan pyaar kii aag meN jal gaye

(manDvaa : tree)

pyaar harf-e-vafaa
pyaar unkaa Khudaa
pyaar unkii chitaa
do badan pyaar kii aag meN jal gaye

(harf-e-vafaa : words of fidelity)

humne dekhaa unheN
din meN aur raat meN
nuur-o-zulmaat meN
do badan pyaar ki aag meN jal gaye

(nuur-o-zulmaat : light and darkness)

masjiDoN ke minaaroN ne dekhaa unheN
mandiroN ke kivaaRoN ne dekhaa unheN
maikade kii daraaRoN ne dekhaa unheN
do badan pyaar ki aag meiN jal gaye

az-azal-taa-abad ye bataa chaaragar
terii zambiir meN
nusKhaa-e-kiimiyaa-e-muhabbat bhii hai
kuch ilaaj-o-mudaavaa-e-ulfat bhii hai
do badan pyaar kii aag meN jal gaye

(az-azal-taa-abad : from the beginning of time to the end; chaaragar : physician; nusKhaa-e-kiimiyaa-e-muhabbat : prescription for love; ilaaj-o-mudaavaa-e-ulfat : cure that is administed for love)

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Makhdoom Mohiuddin

32.) Ishq Ke Shole Ko

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ishq ke shole ko bhaRkaaO ke kuch raat kaTe
dil ke angaar ko dehkaao ke kuch raat kaTe

hijr meN milne shab-e-maah ke Gham aaye haiN
chaarasaazoN ko bhii bulvaao ke kuch raat kaTe

chasm-o-ruKhsaar ke azgaar ko jaarii rakkho
pyaar ke naGhme ko duhraao ke kuch raat kaTe

(chasm-o-ruKhsaar : eyes and face; azgaar : ?)

koh-e-Gham aur gaRaaN aur gaRaaN aur gaRaaN
Ghamzaa-o-teshe ko chamkaao ke kuch raat kaTe

(koh-e-Gham : mountain of suffering; garaaN : intense; Ghamzaa-o-teshe : sword of a glance)

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Makhdoom Mohiuddin

din guzaaraa thaa baRii mushkil se
phir teraa vaada-e-shab yaad aayaa

With much difficulty I scraped through the day
and then I remembered your promise for the night.

Nasir Kazmi

After a longish break, here is the third part of Kahkashan. Enjoy!

Here are the other parts: One, Two, Four.

13.) Roshan Jamal-E-Yaar Se Hai

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roshan jamaal-e-yaar se hai anjuman tamaam
dahkaa hu’aa hai aatish-e-gul se chaman tamaam

(roshan : glowing; jamaal-e-yaar : beauty of the beloved; anjuman : assembly; dahkaa : burning; aatish-e-gul : fire of the flower; chaman : garden; tamaam : entire)

hairat Ghuruur-e-husn se, shoKhii se iztiraab
dil ne bhii tere siikh liye haiN chalan tamaam

(hairat : amazement; Ghuruur : pride; husn : beauty; shoKhii : playfulness; iztiraab : restlessness; chalan manners)

Allaah re husn-e-yaar kii Khuubii ke Khud-ba-Khud
rangiiniyoN meN Duub gayaa pairahan tamaam

(husn-e-yaar : beauty of the beloved; Khud-ba-Khud : by oneself; rangiin : colorful; pairahan : robe, attire)

dekho to husn-e-yaar kii jaaduu-nigaahiyaaN
behosh ek nazar meN hu’ii anjuman tamaam

(jaaduu-nigaahiyaaN : bewitching glances; behosh : unconscious)

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Hasrat Mohani

14.) Shayer-e-Fitrat Hoon

[See post to listen to audio]

shaayar-e-fitrat huuN maiN jab fikr farmaataa huuN maiN
ruuh ban kar zarre-zarre meN samaa jaataa huuN maiN

(shaayar-e-fitarat : poet of nature; fikr farmaanaa : to think)

aa ki tujh bin is tarah ai dost ghabraataa huuN maiN
jaise har shai meN kisii shai kii kamii paataa huuN maiN

(shai : being)

haaye rii majabuuriyaaN tark-e-mohabbat ke liye
mujh ko samjhaate haiN vo aur un ko samjhaataa huuN maiN

(tark-e-mohabbat : to give up love)

terii mehfil, tere jalve, phir taqaazaa kyaa zaruur
le uThaa jaataa huuN zaalim, le chalaa jaataa huuN maiN

ek dil hai aur tuufaan-e-havaadis ai “Jigar”
ek shiishaa hai ke har patthar se Takraataa huuN maiN

(tuufaan-e-havaadis : storm of misfortunes)

Singer: Vinod Sehgal
Lyrics: Jigar Moradabadi

15.) Tabiyat In Dinon

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tabiiyat in dinoN begaanaa-e-Gham hotii jaatii hai
mere hisse kii goyaa har Khushii kam hotiii jaatii hai

vahii hai shaahid-o-saaqii, magar dil bujhtaa jaataa hai
vahii hai shammaa lekin roshnii kam hotii jaatii hai

qayaamat kyaa ye ai husn-e-do-aalam hotii jaatii hai
ke mehfil to vahii hai, dil-kashii kam hotii jaatii hai

vahii maikhaana-o-sehbaa, vahii saaGhar vahii shiishaa
magar aavaaz-e-noshaanosh maddham hotii jaatii hai

vahii hai zindagii lekin “Jigar” ye haal hai apnaa
ke jaise zindagii se zindagii kam hotii jaatii hai

Singer: Vinod Sehgal
Lyrics: Jigar Moradabadi

16.) Todkar Ahd-E-Karam

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toR kar ahd-e-karam naa-aashnaa ho jaaiye
bandaa-parvar jaaiye, achchhaa Khafaa ho jaaiye

raah meN miliye kabhii mujh se to azraah-e-sitam
hoNT apne kaaT kar fauran judaa ho jaaiye

jii meN aataa hai ke us shoKh-e-taGhaaful kesh se
ab na miliye phir kabhii aur bevafaa ho jaaiye

haaye re be-iKhtiyaarii ye to sab kuchh ho magar
us saraapaa naaz se kyuuN kar Khafaa ho jaaiye

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Hasrat Mohani

17.) Tujhse Rukhsat Ki

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tujhse ruKhsat kii vo shaam-e-ashq-afshaaN haaye haaye
vo udaasii vo fizaa-e-giryaa-saamaaN haaye haaye

yaaN kaf-e-paa chuum lene kii bhiNchii sii aarzuu
vaaN bagal-giirii kaa sharmaayaa saa armaaN haaye haaye

vo mere hoNToN pe kuch kahne kii hasrat vaaye shauq
vo terii aaNkhoN meN kuch sunne kaa armaaN haaye haaye

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Hasrat Mohani

18.) Ya Rasool Allah

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Khayaal-e-Ghair ko dil se miTaa de yaa rasuulallah
Khirad ko apnaa diivaanaa banaa do yaa rasuulallah

tajallii Tur par jis nuur kii Musa ne dekhi thii
hameN bhii ek jhalak uskii dikhaa do yaa rasuulallah

Hussain ib-e- Ali ke sabr ne jiske maze luuTe
hameN bhii us balaa kaa hauslaa do yaa rasuulallah

Singer: Vinod Sehgal
Lyrics: Hasrat Mohani

Poignant. That is Nasir Kazmi for you. Sorrow is pervasive throughout Urdu poetry but one striking feature of Kazmi’s poetry is the absolute lack of lament. He suffers but he hardly complains. Kazmi wrote a lot of musalsal Ghazals in which even though each couplet is unique, they are still based on a single theme.

Here is one of his very best musalsal Ghazals to which Ghulam Ali has done full justice while rendering it to music. In this Ghazal, Kazmi produces one of the most beautiful matlaas ever.

dukh kii lehar ne chheRaa hogaa
yaad ne kankaR pheNkaa hogaa

A ripple is different from a wave. A ripple can only be formed in a stand-still body of water. Silent and serene, cut-off from the rest of the world. Like a heart that has learnt to live alone. And then suddenly, as ripples appear when careless boys throw pebbles in the pond, an event triggers a memory. The memory didn’t come alone. It led to a chain of thoughts that are painful but precious. Note how he uses the term chheRaa in the first line. chheRnaa is different from dukhaanaa. In chheRnaa both sides are equally complicit in the act.

aaj to meraa dil kahtaa hai
tuu is vaqt akelaa hoga

The lover knows his beloved well and it is highly unlikely that she would be lonely. When he says aaj to meraa dil kahtaa hai, it implies that he has given thought to the idea many times before but the heart never found it credible. But today, as we say, dil se dil ko raah hotii hai, the lover’s heart believes that the beloved would be lonely as the lover.

mere chuume hue haathoN se
auroN ko Khat likhtaa hogaa

Possesiveness comes with intense love. It is difficult for the lover to accept the fact that his beloved is not with him anymore and the hands that he used to kiss are writing letters to somebody else. Here too, Kazmi is just stating it as a matter of fact than actually complaining about it.

bhiig chaliiN ab raat kii palkeN
tuu ab thak kar soyaa hogaa

The metaphor in the first misraa is breath-taking. The analogy of dew-drops as tears has been used beautifully by many poets but Kazmi takes it to a different level altogether in this couplet. Also the phrase raat kii plakeN is simply amazing. The emphasis is on thak kar in the second misraa and Kazmi is alluding to a lot of things in that one simple statement.

rel kii gahrii siiNTii sun kar
raat kaa jangal guuNjaa hogaa

Rail sirens are loudest in the night and a person who is lonely and sad, and for whom the night is wilderness personified, it just adds to the loneliness feeling.

shah’r ke Khaalii isTeshan par
ko’ii musaafir utraa hogaa

Imagine the hubbubb and chaos of railway stations during the daytime. Imagine the same station in the dead of night with a single passenger getting down on the platform. Now imagine the difference the time makes to the same place. Kazmi is trying to relate it to his own condition and how time has changed his mood and appearance.

aaNgan meN phir chiRiyaaN boleN
tuu ab so kar uThThaa hogaa

Birds are singing in the yard signalling the morning and it reminds the lover of his beloved who would be getting up now. Remeber her night was restless.

yaadoN kii jaltii shabnam se
phuul saa mukhRaa dhoyaa hogaa

After getting up from bed, people normally wash their faces. In this case, as dew drops appears on the flowers in the morning thus washing their petals, the beloved is washing her flowery face with the burning dew drops of memories. Such imagination!

motii jaisii shakl banaakar
aa’iine ko taktaa hogaa

The pearly white face is lonely in the mirror and the vacant expression is evident. The face is staring at the mirror with disbelief.

shaam hu’ii ab tuu bhii shaayad
apne ghar ko lauTaa hogaa

It is evening and people are returning home after a day’s work and the lover is thinking the same about his beloved.

niilii dhundhlii Khaamoshii meN
taaroN kii dhun suntaa hogaa

The stars are beginning to appear at the horizon and are rhyming in the blue haze of silence.

meraa saathii shaam kaa taaraa
tujh se aaNkh milaataa hogaa

This couplet is awesome. The lover has been spending restless lonely nights of separation which actually start at dusk. Kazmi calls the first star as a friend of the lover as it stays with him night-long. But the beloved would also be seeing the same star, especially if she is restless too, and hence a connection has been made between the lover and the beloved through that evening star.

shaam ke chalte haath ne tujh ko
meraa salaam to bhejaa hogaa

As the evening is growing into night, the long hands of would have surely conveyed greetings to the beloved. Please note that in order to offer salaam, one needs to move one’s hands and Kazmi has used that analogy so beautifully here.

pyaasii kurlaatii kuunjoN ne
meraa dukh to sunaayaa hogaa

Historically it has been believed that cranes mate for life and this has been symbolically used in poetry to express intense love. The lover thinks that only the cranes could have understood his pain and suffering and it would surely have been resonated in the cries of cranes.

maiN to aaj bahut royaa huuN
tuu bhii shaayad royaa hogaa

The lover has wept unconsolably today and he thinks that his beloved would have done the same. But he is not sure about that and hence the word shaayad.

“Nasir” teraa miit puraanaa
tujh ko yaad to aataa hogaa

The maqtaa summarizes the whole Ghazal that the lover is separated from his beloved and he still has not been able to forget her. It has been written in such a way as if a friend is talking to a friend and is more of an assertion with yaad to aataa hogaa than a question.

Thanks for reading this far. I hope my rambling makes some sense. And here is the Ghulam Ali rendition I was talking about.

Without much ado here goes the second part of Kahkashan. The other parts are: One, Three, Four.

7.) Bol Ik Tare Jhan Jhan

[See post to listen to audio]

bol iktaare jhaN jhaN jhaN jhaN
kahkashaaN hai merii sumran
shaam kii surkhii meraa kundan
nuur ka taRkaa merii chilman
toR chukaa huuN saare bandhan
puurab pachham uttar dakkhhan
bol iktaare jhaN jhaN jhaN jhaN

(iktaaraa : a stringed musical instrument; kahkashaaN : galaxy; sumran : chant; kundan : pure; chilman : blinds)

mere tan meN gulshan sabke
mere mann meN joban sabke
mere ghaT meN saachan sabke
merii surat darshan sabke
sabkii surat meraa darshan
bol iktaare jhaN jhaN jhaN jhaN

sabkii jholii merii jholii
sabkii Tolii merii Tolii
sabkii holii merii holii
sabkii bolii merii bolii
sabkaa jiivan meraa jiivan
bol iktaare jhaN jhaN jhaN jhaN

sabke kaajal mere paare
sabkii aankheN mere taare
sabkii saanse merii dhaare
saare insaan mere pyaare
saarii dhartii meraa aangan
bol iktaare jhaN jhaN jhaN jhaN

Lyrics: Josh Malihabadi
Singer: Jagjit Singh

8.) Chupke Chupke Raat Din

[See post to listen to audio]

chupke chupke raat din aaNsuuN bahaanaa yaad hai
humko ab tak aashiquii kaa vo zamaanaa yaad hai

tujh se kuch milte hii vo be-baak ho jaanaa meraa
aur teraa daanton tale vo unglii dabaanaa yaad hai

(be-baak : bold)

khiinch lenaa vo meraa parde kaa konaa dafatan
aur dupaTTe se teraa vo muuNh chupaanaa yaad hai

(dafatan : at once)

do-paher kii dhuup meN, mere bulaane ke liye
vo teraa koThe pe nange paaNv aanaa yaad hai

(koThaa : upper chamber)

Lyrics: Hasrat Mohani
Singer: Jagjit Singh

9.) Kisko Aati Hai Masihai

[See post to listen to audio]

kis ko aatii hai masiihaa’ii kise aavaaz duuN
bol ai KhuuNKhaar tanahaa’ii kise aavaaz duuN

(masiihaa : messiah)

chup rahuuN to har nafas Dastaa hai naagan kii tarah
aah bharane meN hai rusavaa’ii kise aavaaz duuN

(naagan : snake)

uff Khaamoshii kii ye aaheN dil ko barmaatii hu’ii
uff ye sannaaTe kii shehanaa’ii kise aavaaz duuN

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Josh Malihabadi

10.) Kya Hind Ka Zindan

[See post to listen to audio]

kyaa hind kaa zindaaN kaaNp rahaa hai
kyaa guunj rahii hai takbiireN
uktaaye haiN shaayad kuch qaidii
aur toR raheN haiN zanziireN

(zindaaN : jail; takbiireN : battle cries)

diivaaroN ke niiche aa aakar
yuuN jamaa hu’e haiN zindaanii
siinoN meN talaatum bijlii kaa
aakhoN meiN jhalakti shamshiireN

(zindaanii : captives; talaatum : darkness; shamshiireN : swords)

kyaa unko Khabar thii hoNToN par
jo mohreN lagaayaa karte the
ik roz isi khaamoshi se
Tapkegii dahaktii taqriireN

(mohreN : seals; taqriireN : oratory)

sambhalo ke vo zindaaN guuNj uThaa
jhapTo ke vo qaidii chhuuT gaye
uTTho ke vo baithii diivaaReN
dauRo ke vo TuuTii zanziireN

Lyrics: Josh Malihabadi
Singer: Chorus

11.) Muddat Mein Woh Phir

[See post to listen to audio]

muddat meN vo phir taazaa mulaaqaat kaa aalam
Khaamosh adaaoN meN vo jazbaat kaa aalam

(aalam : state, beauty)

Allah re vo shiddat-e-jazbaat kaa aalam
kuch kah ke vo bhuulii hu’ii har baat kaa aalam

(shiddat-e-jazbaat : intensity of emotions)

aariz se Dhalakte hu’e shabnam ke vo qatre
aaNkhoN se jhalaktaa hu’aa barsaat kaa aalam

(aariz : cheeks)

vo nazroN hii nazroN meN savalaat kii duniyaa
vo aaNkhoN hii aaNkhoN meN javaabaat ka aalam

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Jigar Moradabadi

12.) Nazar Woh Hai Ke Jo

[See post to listen to audio]

nazar vo hai ke jo kaun-o-makaaN ke paar ho jaaye
magar jab ruuh-e-taabaN par paRe bekaar ho jaaye

(kaun-o-makaaN : the earth and the heavens; ruuh-e-taabaN : the radiant soul)

nazar us husn par Thahre to aakhir kis tarah Thahre
kabhii jo phuul ban jaaye kabhii rukhsaar ho jaaye

(ruKhsaar : face)

chalaa jaataa huun haNstaa kheltaa mauj-e-havaadis se
agar aasaaniyaaN ho zindagii dushvaar ho jaaye

(mauj-e-havaadis : stream of accidents; dushvaar : difficult)

Singer: Jagjit Singh
Lyrics: Asghar Gondvi

Here is a list of 25 of my favorite Jagjit Singh Ghazals in alphabetical order. Please note that these are Jagjit Singh Ghazals therefore neither duets nor nazms are included. It started with 10 Ghazals then quickly expanded to 20 and then I had to finally stop myself at 25. I didn’t knew I was such an ardent Jagjit Singh fan. Obviously this is a very a personal listing and has developed over a long period of time. Some Ghazals I loved 5 years ago do not even figure here.

Now, have you had a chance to listen to all these Ghazals? Did I miss out on one of your absoulte favorites? Please share your views on this. If you haven’t listened to a Ghazal but are interested, please drop me a comment and I will try to upload the audio. Links to lyrics will be added over time.

1. aankhoN meN jal rahaa hai bujhtaa nahiiN dhuaaN
2. ai Khudaa ret ke sehraa ko samandar kar de
3. aap aaye janaab barsoN meN
4. baaziichaa-e-atfaal hai duniyaa mere aage
5. daastaan-e-Gham-e-dil unko sunaayii na gayii
6. dhuup meN niklo ghaTaaoN meN nahaa kar dekho
7. hazaaroN KhvaaisheN aisii ke har Khvaaish pe dam nikle
8. kisii kaa yuuN to kaun hu’aa umr bhar phir bhii
9. kisko qaatil maiN kahuuN kisko masiihaa samjhuuN
10. na keh saaqii bahaar aane ke din haiN
11. nazar nazar se milaa kar sharaab piite haiN
12. pareshaaN raat saarii hai sitaaroN tum to so jaao
13. phir kuch is dil ko beqaraarii hai
14. phir usii raahguzar par shaayad
15. roshan jamaal-e-yaar se hai anjuman tamaam
16. sadmaa to hai mujhe bhii ke tujhse judaa huuN maiN
17. saraktii jaaye hai ruKh se naqaab aahistaa aahistaa
18. shaam se aaNkh meN namii sii hai
19. shaayad maiN zindagii kii saher le ke aa gayaa
20. sholaa huuN bhaRakne kii guzaarish nahiiN kartaa
21. tujhse ruKhsat kii vo shaam-e-ashk-afshaaN haaye haaye
22. tum itnaa jo muskuraa rahe ho
23. tumko dekhaa to ye Khayaal aayaa
24. tum nahiiN Gham nahiiN sharaab nahiiN
25. vo Khat ke purze uRaa rahaa thaa

I hate to exclude these Ghazals but unfortunately there can be only 25 Ghazals in a list of 25.

1. abhii vo kamsin ubhar rahaa abhii hai us par shabaab aadhaa
2. dil-e-naadaaN tujhe hu’aa kyaa hai
3. dost ban bane ke mile mujhko miTaane vaale
4. ko’ii chaudaviiN raat kaa chaand ban kar tumhaare tasavvur meN aayaa to hogaa
5. Thukraao ab ke mujhe pyaar karo maiN nashe meN huuN

A lot of music connoisseurs consider Kahkashan to be Jagjit Singh’s finest album. Kahkashan was a TV serial telecasted on Doordarshan in the early 90s and was based on the lives of famous Urdu poets including Hasrat Mohani, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Jigar Moradabadi among others. It was produced by none other than Ali Sardar Jafri and was directed by Jalal Agha. Apart from Jagjit Singh there are numbers sung by Vinod Sehgal, Chitra Singh, Ram Kumar, Asha Bhosale and Kumar Sanu. To the frustration of Urdu lovers this album is not available on the net in its complete form. Starting with this post I will try to post the entire album along with the lyrics. Here goes the first six compositions.

Each one of these songs is amazing and worth listening to. I don’t know the author of the beautiful couplet in the title music and any information regarding that will be highly appreciated. The Ghazal ab to uTh saktaa nahiiN is a window into the beautiful world of Hasrat’s poetry. The zamiin of the Ghazal is really difficult baar-e-intizaar, bahaar-e-intizaar et al but he has plucked beautiful roses from a rocky garden. I especially like this couplet and the usage of kaarobaar-e-intizaar.

unke Khat kii aarzuu hai, unkii aamad kaa Khayaal
kis qadar pailaa hu’aa hai kaarobaar-e-intizaar

Josh’s nazm ae Malihabad ke rangiiN gulsitaaN alvidaa is a hauntingly poignant nazm and has been done justice by Jagjit’s sombre rendition. Josh Malihabadi, as we all know didn’t really want to migrate to Pakistan but circumstances eventually forced him to do. He died a broken man in Pakistan. This nazm has really touched a raw nerve in me as I sit here thousands of miles away from Lucknow writing this post. Josh talks about things in Malihabad that he will miss out and most of them are unique to his homeland like the mango groves, the ground of Amani Ganj and the shade of babuul. In the end hopes to be buried in his homeland but it was not to be.

Josh’s other nazm ae vatan mere vatan is another beautiful piece of poetry representing the pain of migration which millions of people experienced after the partition. Then there are two Ghazals by Jigar Moradabadi. Personally I find Jigar’s poetry a celebration of beauty which is pristine and pure. Vinod Sehgal has sung both the Ghazals adequately.

Enough rambling. Please feel free to point out mistakes in the lyrics and in the meanings.

1.) Title Music

[See post to listen to audio]

hamdam yahii hai rahguzar-e-yaar-e-khushkhiraam
guzre haiN laakh baar isii kahkashaaN se ham

(hamdam : companion; rahguzar-e-yaar-e-khushkhiraam : pathway of the joyous and graceful gait of the beloved; kahkashaaN : galaxy)

Lyrics: Majaz Lucknawi (Thanks Alok)
Singer: Chorus

2.) Ab To Uth Sakta Nahin

[See post to listen to audio]

ab to uTh saktaa nahiiN aankhoN se baar-e-intizaar
kis tarah kaaTe ko’ii lail-o-nahaar-e-intizaar

(baar-e-intizaar : burden of waiting; lail-o-nahaar-e-intizaar : the night and days of waiting)

unkii ulfat kaa yaqiiN ho unke aane kii ummiid
hoN ye dono suuraten tab hai bahaar-e-intizaar

(ulfat : love; suuraten : conditions; bahaar-e-intizaar : the spring of waiting)

merii aaheN naa-rasaa, merii duaaeN naa-qubuul
yaa ilaahii kyaa karuuN maiN sharmsaar-e-intizaar

(aaheN : sighs; naa-rasaa : without sight; naa-qubuul : unacceptable; sharmsaar-e-intizaar : ashamed of waiting)

unke Khat kii aarzuu hai, unkii aamad kaa Khayaal
kis qadar pailaa hu’aa hai kaarobaar-e-intizaar

(aarzuu : desire; aamad : arrival; kaarobaar-e-intizaar : business of waiting)

Lyrics: Hasrat Mohani
Singer: Chitra Singh

3.) Ae Malihabad Ke Rangeen Gulistan

[See post to listen to audio]

ae Malihabad ke rangiiN gulsitaaN alvidaa
alvidaa ae sarzamiin-e-subh-e-KhandaaN alvidaa
alvidaa ae kishvar-e-sher-o-shabistaaN alvidaa
alvidaa ae jalvaa-gaah-e-husn-e-jaanaaN alvidaa
tere ghar se aik zindaa laash uTh jaane ko hai
aa gale mil le ke aavaaz-e-jaras aane ko hai

(gulsitaaN : garden; alvidaa : adieu; sarzamiin-e-subh-e-KhandaaN : land of morning laughter; kishvar-e-sher-o-shabistaaN : land of poetry and ?; jalvaa-gaah-e-husn-e-jaanaaN : house of splendour and beauty of the beloved)

haaye kyaa kyaa nemateN mujhko milii thii be-bahaa
ye khamoshii ye khule maidaan ye ThanDii havaa
vaaye ye jaaNbaKsh bustaaN haaye ye rangiin fazaa
mar ke bhii inko na bhuulegaa dil-e-dard-aashnaa
mast koyal jab dakkan ki vaadiyoN meN gaayegii
ye subuk chaaNv babuloN kii bahut yaad aayegii

(nemateN : blessings; be-bahaa : ?; jaaNbaKsh bustaaN : ?; dil-e-dard-aashnaa : heart acquainted with pain; dakkan : alluding to Karachi; subuk : delicate)

kal se kaun is baaGh ko rangiiN banaane aayegaa
kaun phuulon ki haNsii par muskuraane aayegaa
kaun is sabze ko sote se jagaane aayegaa
kaun in paudhoN ko siine se lagaane aayegaa
kaun jaagega qamar ke naaz uThaane ke liye
chaandni raatoN ko zaanoN par sulaane ke liye

(sabzaa : plant; qamar : moon; zaanoN : on thighs)

aam ke baagoN meN jab barsaat hogi purKharosh
meri furqat meN lahuu royegii chasm-e-mai-farosh
ras kii buuNde jab uRaa deNgii gulsitaanoN ke hosh
unj-e-rangiineN pukaareNgii havaae Josh Josh
sun ke meraa naam mausam Gham-zadaa ho jaayegaa
ek mahshar saa gulsitaaN meiN bapaa ho jaayegaa

(purKharosh : passionate; furqat : separation; chasm-e-mai-farosh : sight looking for wine; unj-e-rangiineN : ?; mahshar : day of judgement)

aa gale mil le Khudaa haafiz gulsitaan-e-vatan
ae Amani Ganj ke maidaan ae jaan-e-vatan
alvidaa ai laalazaar-o-sumbulistaan-e-vatan
as salaam ae sohbat-e-rangiin-e-yaaraaN-e-vatan
hashr tak rahne na denaa tum dakkan ki Khaak meN
dafn karnaa apne shaayar ko vatan kii Khaak meN

(gulsitaan-e-vatan : garden of the native country; laalazaar-o-sumbulistaan-e-vatan : tulips and musks of the native country; sohbat-e-rangiin-e-yaaraaN-e-vatan : colorful company of the friends in the native country; hashr : day of judgement; dafn : bury)

Lyrics: Josh Malihabadi
Singer: Jagjit Singh

4.) Ae Watan Mere Watan

[See post to listen to audio]

ae vatan mere vatan ruuh-e-ravaan-e-ahraar
ae ke zarroN meN tere buu-e-chaman rang-e-bahaar
rez-e-almaas ke tere khaso-Khaashaaq meN hai
haDDiyaaN apne buzurgoN kii terii Khaak meN hai
tujhse muuNh moR ke muuNh apnaa dikhaayeNge kahaaN
ghar jo choReNge to phir chaavnii chaayeNge kahaaN
bazm-e-aGhyaar meN aaraam ye paayeNge kahaaN
tujhse ham ruTh ke jaayeNge to jaayeNge kahaaN

(ruuh-e-ravaan-e-ahraar : ?; zarroN : dust particles; buu-e-chaman : smell of the garden; rang-e-bahaar : colors of the spring; rez-e-almaas : piece of diamond; khaso-Khaashaaq : ?; chaavnii : camp; bazm-e-aGhyaar : gathering of the strangers)

Lyrics: Josh Malihabadi
Singer: Jagjit Singh

5.) Agar Na Zohrajabeeno Ke

[See post to listen to audio]

agar na zohraa-jabiinoN ke darmiyaaN guzre
to phir ye kaise kaTe zindagii kahaaN guzre

(zohraa-jabiinoN : ones with beautiful foreheads)

mujhe ye vahm rahaa muddatoN ke jurrat-e-shauq
kahiiN na khaatir-e-maasuum par giraaN guzre

(vahm : doubt; jurrat-e-shauq : audacity of desire; khaatir-e-maasuum : sake of the innocence; giraaN : unpleasent)

Khataa muaaf zamaane se badgumaaN hokar
terii vafaa pe bhii kyaa kyaa hameN gumaaN guzre

(badgumaaN : distrust; vafaa : fidelity; gumaaN : doubts)

mujhe tha shikvaa-e-hijraaN ke ye hu’aa mehsuus
mere qariib se hokar vo naagahaaN guzre

(shikvaa-e-hijraaN : complaint of separation; naagahaaN : accidentally)

Lyrics: Jigar Moradabadi
Singer: Vinod Sehgal

6.) Bangal Ki Main Sham-O-Saher

[See post to listen to audio]

bangaal kii maiN shaam-o-saher dekh rahaa huuN
har chand ke huuN duur magar dekh rahaa huun

(bangaal : Bengal; shaam-o-saher : dawn and the dusk)

iflaas kii maarii hu’ii maKhluuk sar-e-raah
be-gor-o-kafan Khaak basar dekh rahaa huun

(iflaas : poverty; maKhluuk : mankind; be-gor-o-kafan : without grave and shroud)

insaan ke hote hu’e insaan kaa ye hashr
dekhaa nahiiN jaataa hai magar dekh rahaa huuN

rahmat kaa chamakne ko hai phir nayyar-e-taabaaN
hone ko hai is shab kii saher dekh rahaa huuN

(nayyar-e-taabaaN : a bright Sun)

Lyrics: Jigar Moradabadi
Singer: Vinod Sehgal

Here are the other parts: Two, Three, Four.

Curiosity + Internet = Interesting Stuff.

I have this nazm by some singer Rochna from an album Izhaar. I don’t know anything else about either the singer or the poet. But it is a great nazm and the singer has done full justice to it.

Here follows the nazm:

apnii naakaamiyoN se Dartaa huuN
jab tere shah’r se guzartaa huuN

tere dilkash salaam aate the
zindagii ke payaam aate the
maiN masarrat se jhuum jaataa thaa
aise rangiiN muqaam aate the
us zamaane ko yaad kartaa huuN
jab tere shah’r se guzartaa huuN

ab kisii Ghair kii tuu kismat hai
phir bhii dil meN terii muhabbat hai
yaad rakhnaa ke tere kuuche meN
merii naakaamiyoN kii turbat hai
aur maiN huuN ke tujh pe martaa huuN
jab tere shah’r se guzartaa huuN

hamne Khaake hayaat ke khiiNche
sabz mehNdii kii baaRh ke piiche
ret ke ghar banaaye the jitne
aa gaye tere paaNv ke niiche
maiN vahiiN do ghaRii Thehartaa huuN
jab tere shah’r se guzartaa huuN

And click below to listen:

[See post to listen to audio]

Searching more about the singer and the poet I googled ‘jab tere shaher se guzarta hoon’ and found another amazing piece of poetry by Saifuddin Saif in the same zamiin and echoing similar emotions. I especially liked the last two lines:

kis tamannaa se tujh ko chaahaa thaa
kis muhabbat se haar maanii hai

As luck would have it the great Amanat Ali Khan has rendered this nazm in his own inimitable style. But I am not sure about the one by Rochna. Who is Rochna and who is the author of the nazm? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

aane vaalii nasleN tum par rashk kareNgii ham-asro
jab unko ye Khayaal aayegaa tumne “Firaq” ko dekhaa tha

Raghupati Sahay “Firaq” Gorakhpuri is one of the most popular Urdu poets of the latter half of 20th century. Born in Gorakhpur, he qualified for the Provincial Civil Service but eventually joined Allahabad University as a Lecturer in English. His Urdu poetry is known for its brilliant metaphors and non-Persianized diction. He was awarded the Jnanpeeth award in 1969, the highest literary award in India. He passed away on 3rd March 1982.

Many of his Ghazals have been sung by popular Ghazal singers like Begum Akhtar (sar meN saudaa bhii nahiiN dil meN tamannaa bhii nahiiN), Jagjit Singh – Chitra Singh (bahut pahle se un qadmoN kii aahaT jaan lete haiN, raat bhii niiNd bhii kahaanii bhii, ye to nahiiN ke Gham nahiiN) and others.

Read more of Firaq here and here.