For Niyamat Ansari and many like him who are killed everyday across the world for daring to speak out the truth.
Ye Jang ruki thi kab
Ye jang to jaari hai
Ye jang hamaari hai
Ye jang hamee’at ki
Insaan ki qeemat ki
Har ahl-e-hawas se hai
Har ahl-e-hakam se hai
Har zuml-o-sitam se hai
Har jhoot se, nafrat se
Auhaam se dahshat se
Har rang ki zulmat se
Ye jang to jaari hai
Ye jang hamaari hai
Is jang se waabista
Har zinda sipahi ki
Shamsheer hai haq-goi
Aqdaar alam uska
Bebaak qalam uska
Bekhauf qadam uska
Har aan , har ek lamha
Aabad bayaabaN meiN
Barbaad khayaabaN meiN
Ye jang to jaari hai
Ye jang hamaari hai
Ye raah nahi aasaN
Har mod pe khatray haiN
Benaami ke teeshay haiN
Aur khoon ke qatray haiN
Bichday huay khwabooN ki
Posheeda kasak ismeiN
Sab kho kar paanay ki
Tabinda tadap ismeiN
Ye jang to jaari hai
Ye jang hamari hai
Woh din bhi aayega
Jab jang khatam hogi
Jab zulmat kam hogi
Benaam shaheedoN ki
Taareekh raqam hogi
Insaan se insaaN ki
Taqseem rukegi jab
Insaan pe insaan ki
Tahkeem rukegi jab
Ye jang to jaari hai
Ye jang hamari hai
Ye jang ruki thi kab
.
Monday 7 March 2011
Thursday 3 March 2011
Ghazal- Shaam hai koi gham
Shaam hai, koi gham nahi hai kya
Dard-e-dil aaj kam nahi hai kya
Usnay sun kar bhi an-suni kar di
Meri baatoN meiN dam nahi hai kya
Dil hai zinda to hai museebat meiN
Hasrat-e-chashm-e-nam nahi hai kya
Girtay jatay haiN saaray ahl-e-hakam
Zor-e-taygh-e-sitam nahi hai kya
Tum hi ho markaz-e-jahaan-e-wajood
Tum ko aisa waham nahi hai kya
Bik gaye saray bahr-o-dasht-o-jabal
Ab bhi duniya khatam nahi hai kya
Daagh aao saja leiN maathay par
Ahl-e-dil ka alam nahi hai kya
kyooN ho khamosh bazm mein Tanzil
paas uskay qalam nahi hai kya
Glossary:
Shaam: Evening, gham: pain, dard-e-dil: suffering of the heart/longing
An-suni: ignored, dam: strength
Zinda: alive, museebat: trouble,
Hasrat: Yearning, chashm: eyes, nam: tearful/wet, hasrat-e-chashm-e-nam: yearning for pain
Ahl-e-hakam: Tyrants
Zor: strength, taygh- sword, sitam: atrocity , zor-e-taygh-e-sitam: military might
Markaz: centre, jahaan-e-wajood: the world of being, waham:delusion/fallacy
Bahr- Ocean, dasht: forest, jabal: mountain,khatam:end
Daagh: scar,maatha(y): forehead, ahl-e-dil: people of the heart (lovers) alam: flag
Khamosh: silent, bazm: assembly/gathering, qalam:pen
Dard-e-dil aaj kam nahi hai kya
Usnay sun kar bhi an-suni kar di
Meri baatoN meiN dam nahi hai kya
Dil hai zinda to hai museebat meiN
Hasrat-e-chashm-e-nam nahi hai kya
Girtay jatay haiN saaray ahl-e-hakam
Zor-e-taygh-e-sitam nahi hai kya
Tum hi ho markaz-e-jahaan-e-wajood
Tum ko aisa waham nahi hai kya
Bik gaye saray bahr-o-dasht-o-jabal
Ab bhi duniya khatam nahi hai kya
Daagh aao saja leiN maathay par
Ahl-e-dil ka alam nahi hai kya
kyooN ho khamosh bazm mein Tanzil
paas uskay qalam nahi hai kya
Glossary:
Shaam: Evening, gham: pain, dard-e-dil: suffering of the heart/longing
An-suni: ignored, dam: strength
Zinda: alive, museebat: trouble,
Hasrat: Yearning, chashm: eyes, nam: tearful/wet, hasrat-e-chashm-e-nam: yearning for pain
Ahl-e-hakam: Tyrants
Zor: strength, taygh- sword, sitam: atrocity , zor-e-taygh-e-sitam: military might
Markaz: centre, jahaan-e-wajood: the world of being, waham:delusion/fallacy
Bahr- Ocean, dasht: forest, jabal: mountain,khatam:end
Daagh: scar,maatha(y): forehead, ahl-e-dil: people of the heart (lovers) alam: flag
Khamosh: silent, bazm: assembly/gathering, qalam:pen
Sunday 20 February 2011
Phir nigaah ho roshan- Ghazal
Phir nigaah ho roshan, phir tera khyaal aaye
Hai giraaN ye tanhaayi, phir shab-e-wisaal aaye
Jaam-e-jam se mit jaaeiN talkhiyaaN zamaane ki
Jab jawaaN ho ra’anayi , jab tera Jamaal aaye
Is tarah to usnay hi saaray rabt today haiN
Aur kaisay baat uththay , aur kya sawaal aaye
Sab pata haiN hamko bhi, sabr-o-shukr ki baateiN
Phir bhi uskay jaanay ka kis qadar malaal aaye
Kuhr meiN chhipa jab se , khwab ka shahar saara
Gardish-e-lahoo jaamid, nafs meiN ubaal aaye
Ek sawaal hai maazi, ek sawaal mustaqbil
Jaanay koi aisay meiN , kaisay mast-haal aaye
Ja-ba-ja saraaboN ke aabju rawaaN Tanzil
Jaanay phir bhi tum kaisay jism-o-jaaN sanbhal aaye
Glossary:
Nigaah: vision, Roshan: illuminated, khyaal: thoughts, giraaN: difficult, shab: night, wisaal: union
tanhayii: loneliness, ra’anayi: Beauty, Jamaal: Beauty
Jaam-e-jam: Cup of Jamsheid filled with elixir of immortality , TalkhiyaaN: Bitterness
Rabt: relationship, sabr-o-shukr: perseverance and thanksgiving, malaal: grief
Kuhr: Fog, Khwab: dream, shahar: city, gardish-e-lahoo: blood circulation, jaamid: frozen
Nafs: temptations, ubaal: boiling, maazi: past, mustaqbil: future, mast-haal: happy with the present
Saraab: mirage, aabju: rivulet, rawaaN: flowing, jism-o-jaaN: body and soul
Hai giraaN ye tanhaayi, phir shab-e-wisaal aaye
Jaam-e-jam se mit jaaeiN talkhiyaaN zamaane ki
Jab jawaaN ho ra’anayi , jab tera Jamaal aaye
Is tarah to usnay hi saaray rabt today haiN
Aur kaisay baat uththay , aur kya sawaal aaye
Sab pata haiN hamko bhi, sabr-o-shukr ki baateiN
Phir bhi uskay jaanay ka kis qadar malaal aaye
Kuhr meiN chhipa jab se , khwab ka shahar saara
Gardish-e-lahoo jaamid, nafs meiN ubaal aaye
Ek sawaal hai maazi, ek sawaal mustaqbil
Jaanay koi aisay meiN , kaisay mast-haal aaye
Ja-ba-ja saraaboN ke aabju rawaaN Tanzil
Jaanay phir bhi tum kaisay jism-o-jaaN sanbhal aaye
Glossary:
Nigaah: vision, Roshan: illuminated, khyaal: thoughts, giraaN: difficult, shab: night, wisaal: union
tanhayii: loneliness, ra’anayi: Beauty, Jamaal: Beauty
Jaam-e-jam: Cup of Jamsheid filled with elixir of immortality , TalkhiyaaN: Bitterness
Rabt: relationship, sabr-o-shukr: perseverance and thanksgiving, malaal: grief
Kuhr: Fog, Khwab: dream, shahar: city, gardish-e-lahoo: blood circulation, jaamid: frozen
Nafs: temptations, ubaal: boiling, maazi: past, mustaqbil: future, mast-haal: happy with the present
Saraab: mirage, aabju: rivulet, rawaaN: flowing, jism-o-jaaN: body and soul
Thursday 9 December 2010
Who is afraid of Julian Assange?
Julian Assange, the founder of whistleblowing website Wikileaks has been finally arrested by London Police on an Interpol warrant for alleged sexual misconduct in Sweden. The arrest comes in the backdrop of the release of thousands of confidential diplomatic cables by the website. The hunt for Assange has been gathering steam ever since the leaks started to appear in the media and on the website. He has been accused by United States of being irresponsible bordering on criminal for putting innocent lives at risk. United States has initiated criminal investigation against Wikileaks while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been talking to the World leaders whose names have appeared in the leaks in bid to limit the diplomatic fallout. A US Army Intelligence Analyst Bradley Manning is already under arrest and being investigated for being one of the main sources for Wikileaks. In the last few days, US has been trying frantically to shut down the website. Several US Internet service providers have refused to provide service and companies such as Amazon, PayPal, MasterCard and Visa have stopped their services.
But what exactly are these leaks saying that has apparently upset so many. Whatever has been released so far in public domain seems to suggest the following. The American are still active playing their imperial games around the world managing their interests through vassals, clients and properties fighting wars, both overt and covert in far corners of the World. Sunni royal families of the Arabian Peninsula revile Iran and have been urging their American masters for an immediate attack. Pakistani nuclear arsenal is not safe and may fall in the hands of terrorists. British soldiers were a disaster in Helmand. Hamid Karzai is weak and paranoid. Vladimir Putin is an alpha-dog etc.
Although there have been some specific information such as list of strategic US owned site and the details of US snooping on UN leadership, hardly any of these seem to have come as a shock to people . Yet, there must be some reason for such an anxiety that made all those who claim to stand for freedom, democracy and free speech to go after the whistleblower with utmost ferocity. There has been a hot pursuit by the US authorities to block the website and the hunter and the hunted have been playing Tom and Jerry ever since. Wikileaks has been resurfacing with newer domain extensions and using mirrors to stay afloat. Why is it that they are trying to go after Wikileaks with the same alacrity as they would go after a terrorist organization and brand Assange as an anarchist in the same fashion others have been branded international terrorists?
The answer seems to be quiet evident. Empires since the beginning of time feed on secrets. The secrets which are kept, shared, sold, bartered and betrayed. The secrets that are about enemies, friends, clients, vassals, subjects and citizens. Even though the generic nature of these secrets may be a common knowledge, yet the establishment would go to any length protecting it. For example who doesn’t know that the Saudis are not so fond of Iran or vice versa, yet releasing a document which captures the Saudi King saying something to that effect has a dramatic impact. There are a number of reasons why this should happen. First of all, the expose’ in black and white directly contradicts the officially stated reasons for the existence of the empire and its machinery. For example, United States has undermined United Nations which is the world’s representative body for years, taking unilateral actions and yet it claims to stand for freedom and democracy in the world and the dichotomy doesn’t affect the official US pronouncements one single bit. However, this claim would start biting the dust in the official utterances, the moment the very same officials are seen to be spying on the UN leadership. As a result, the official language changes overnight and some realism comes into it, for example, Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently remarked while responding to a question on the fallout of the leaks on the US foreign policy “The fact is, governments deal with the United States because it’s in their interest, not because they like us, not because they trust us, and not because they believe we can keep secrets. Many governments – some governments deal with us because they fear us, some because they respect us, most because they need us. We are still essentially, as has been said before, the indispensable nation.”
Second, it makes them vulnerable. How could a nondescript website get into the vaults and coffers of a superpower with the help of few junior officials and smuggle every bit of information out while pretending to listen to Lady Gaga. This has the very similar psychological impact on the establishment as a bunch of terrorists striking the safe cityscapes considered to be far from the foreign wars. That is why the familiar connotations are invoked to describe those behind the leaks.
And finally, it undermines the personal credibility of those in the positions of power. It makes them look like the ordinary people squabbling with each other and scrambling to get ahead. It takes out the façade of humanitarian concerns and ideological commitment s and shows the workings of unadulterated power politics. They are afraid of Julian Assange for the dangerous dissidence he represents. For he uses, free speech and open government, some of the favorite catchphrases of the Western leaders to undermine their credibility.
Therefore, all the familiar tactics are employed to quell the dissidence. Shoot the messenger or get him trapped in unfavorable circumstances. Brand him the public enemy and enemy of the state, an anarchist who is playing into the hands of terrorists. Meanwhile, all the sermons on the freedom of expression are kept for another day.
But what exactly are these leaks saying that has apparently upset so many. Whatever has been released so far in public domain seems to suggest the following. The American are still active playing their imperial games around the world managing their interests through vassals, clients and properties fighting wars, both overt and covert in far corners of the World. Sunni royal families of the Arabian Peninsula revile Iran and have been urging their American masters for an immediate attack. Pakistani nuclear arsenal is not safe and may fall in the hands of terrorists. British soldiers were a disaster in Helmand. Hamid Karzai is weak and paranoid. Vladimir Putin is an alpha-dog etc.
Although there have been some specific information such as list of strategic US owned site and the details of US snooping on UN leadership, hardly any of these seem to have come as a shock to people . Yet, there must be some reason for such an anxiety that made all those who claim to stand for freedom, democracy and free speech to go after the whistleblower with utmost ferocity. There has been a hot pursuit by the US authorities to block the website and the hunter and the hunted have been playing Tom and Jerry ever since. Wikileaks has been resurfacing with newer domain extensions and using mirrors to stay afloat. Why is it that they are trying to go after Wikileaks with the same alacrity as they would go after a terrorist organization and brand Assange as an anarchist in the same fashion others have been branded international terrorists?
The answer seems to be quiet evident. Empires since the beginning of time feed on secrets. The secrets which are kept, shared, sold, bartered and betrayed. The secrets that are about enemies, friends, clients, vassals, subjects and citizens. Even though the generic nature of these secrets may be a common knowledge, yet the establishment would go to any length protecting it. For example who doesn’t know that the Saudis are not so fond of Iran or vice versa, yet releasing a document which captures the Saudi King saying something to that effect has a dramatic impact. There are a number of reasons why this should happen. First of all, the expose’ in black and white directly contradicts the officially stated reasons for the existence of the empire and its machinery. For example, United States has undermined United Nations which is the world’s representative body for years, taking unilateral actions and yet it claims to stand for freedom and democracy in the world and the dichotomy doesn’t affect the official US pronouncements one single bit. However, this claim would start biting the dust in the official utterances, the moment the very same officials are seen to be spying on the UN leadership. As a result, the official language changes overnight and some realism comes into it, for example, Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently remarked while responding to a question on the fallout of the leaks on the US foreign policy “The fact is, governments deal with the United States because it’s in their interest, not because they like us, not because they trust us, and not because they believe we can keep secrets. Many governments – some governments deal with us because they fear us, some because they respect us, most because they need us. We are still essentially, as has been said before, the indispensable nation.”
Second, it makes them vulnerable. How could a nondescript website get into the vaults and coffers of a superpower with the help of few junior officials and smuggle every bit of information out while pretending to listen to Lady Gaga. This has the very similar psychological impact on the establishment as a bunch of terrorists striking the safe cityscapes considered to be far from the foreign wars. That is why the familiar connotations are invoked to describe those behind the leaks.
And finally, it undermines the personal credibility of those in the positions of power. It makes them look like the ordinary people squabbling with each other and scrambling to get ahead. It takes out the façade of humanitarian concerns and ideological commitment s and shows the workings of unadulterated power politics. They are afraid of Julian Assange for the dangerous dissidence he represents. For he uses, free speech and open government, some of the favorite catchphrases of the Western leaders to undermine their credibility.
Therefore, all the familiar tactics are employed to quell the dissidence. Shoot the messenger or get him trapped in unfavorable circumstances. Brand him the public enemy and enemy of the state, an anarchist who is playing into the hands of terrorists. Meanwhile, all the sermons on the freedom of expression are kept for another day.
Monday 4 October 2010
Raah-e-wafa meiN shayd madaraat
Raah-e-wafa meiN shayd madaraat ho na ho
Apni tarah hi unkay bhi jazbaat ho na ho
SholoN meiN ishq ke yuhiN khamosh mar mito
Kahnay ko umr bhar kahiN koi baat ho na ho
Kuch to hua usay ke mere khat haiN be-jawab
Naa’ma bari ke shahr meiN haalaat ho na ho
Sab jaam us kay naam isee sham pi gaye
Ham hoN, ye bazm ho ke ye raat ho na ho
Hoti hai ashk-e-khoon se sairab ye zameeN
Ab kya khabar ke phir wahi barsaat ho na ho
Guzray haiN roz-o-shab mere jis intezaar meiN
Dast-e-falak ke paas woh khairaat ho na ho
Tanzil unkay saaray sitam ab bhoool jaeeyay
Ba’ad-e-shab-wesaal mulaaqaat ho na ho
Apni tarah hi unkay bhi jazbaat ho na ho
SholoN meiN ishq ke yuhiN khamosh mar mito
Kahnay ko umr bhar kahiN koi baat ho na ho
Kuch to hua usay ke mere khat haiN be-jawab
Naa’ma bari ke shahr meiN haalaat ho na ho
Sab jaam us kay naam isee sham pi gaye
Ham hoN, ye bazm ho ke ye raat ho na ho
Hoti hai ashk-e-khoon se sairab ye zameeN
Ab kya khabar ke phir wahi barsaat ho na ho
Guzray haiN roz-o-shab mere jis intezaar meiN
Dast-e-falak ke paas woh khairaat ho na ho
Tanzil unkay saaray sitam ab bhoool jaeeyay
Ba’ad-e-shab-wesaal mulaaqaat ho na ho
Tuesday 31 August 2010
Shab-e-siyah meiN sitaray
Shab-e-siyah meiN sitaray talash karta hai
Woh shakhs jhootay saharay talash karta hai
ban gayaa khud woh raushni apni
Jo noor-e-haq kay shararay talash karta hai
Bahut azeez hai aazadi-e-samandar bhi
Ye dil magar phir kinaaray talash karta hai
bin kahay baat jis say pahunchay unhay
Woh kuch aisay ishaaray talaash karta hai
Aa kay ham dil jaloN ki basti meiN
Chara-gar dil kay maaray talash karta hai
Chashm-e-jaaN hi nahi rahi jismeiN
Be-wajah kyooN nazaaray talash karta hai
Woh shakhs jhootay saharay talash karta hai
ban gayaa khud woh raushni apni
Jo noor-e-haq kay shararay talash karta hai
Bahut azeez hai aazadi-e-samandar bhi
Ye dil magar phir kinaaray talash karta hai
bin kahay baat jis say pahunchay unhay
Woh kuch aisay ishaaray talaash karta hai
Aa kay ham dil jaloN ki basti meiN
Chara-gar dil kay maaray talash karta hai
Chashm-e-jaaN hi nahi rahi jismeiN
Be-wajah kyooN nazaaray talash karta hai
Ishq-e-dereena
Sheesha-e-dil meiN kisi ka aks madhdham ho gaya
Jaanay kaisay be-asar woh ishq-e-paiham ho gaya
Sozish-e-dil ki abhi tak yaad haiN teesaiN hameiN
Kuch hawaa aisi chali har zakhm marham ho gaya
Tha chaman bhi un dinoN furqat meiN apna ghamgusaar
Waqt jab guzra to bas marhoon-e-mausam ho gaya
Shaam se har daagh-e-dil ashk-e-khooN rota raha
Raat jab gahri huyi har daagh shabnam ho gaya
Kuch to aisi baat thi uski nigah-e-naaz meiN
Jo bhi uskay paas pahuncha pal meiN bedam ho gaya
Uski qurbat meiN jisay kuch aur dikhta hi na tha
Uskay jaatay hi yehaN har shakhs mahram ho gaya
Woh raha har anjuman meiN ham se yuNhi be-nayaaz
Ham se hi ahd-e-wafa ka baab qayam ho gaya
Kya bataeiN dil ko aisi ulfatoN meiN kya mila
Reit ka chota sa zarra maah-o-anjum ho gaya
Jaanay kaisay be-asar woh ishq-e-paiham ho gaya
Sozish-e-dil ki abhi tak yaad haiN teesaiN hameiN
Kuch hawaa aisi chali har zakhm marham ho gaya
Tha chaman bhi un dinoN furqat meiN apna ghamgusaar
Waqt jab guzra to bas marhoon-e-mausam ho gaya
Shaam se har daagh-e-dil ashk-e-khooN rota raha
Raat jab gahri huyi har daagh shabnam ho gaya
Kuch to aisi baat thi uski nigah-e-naaz meiN
Jo bhi uskay paas pahuncha pal meiN bedam ho gaya
Uski qurbat meiN jisay kuch aur dikhta hi na tha
Uskay jaatay hi yehaN har shakhs mahram ho gaya
Woh raha har anjuman meiN ham se yuNhi be-nayaaz
Ham se hi ahd-e-wafa ka baab qayam ho gaya
Kya bataeiN dil ko aisi ulfatoN meiN kya mila
Reit ka chota sa zarra maah-o-anjum ho gaya
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