CONTRIBUTION: Syeda Ali’s original translation of Urdu poem
Poet: Faiz Ahmad Faiz
Singer: Mehdi Hassan
Genre: Ghazal Translation inspired by: Vineet Raj Kapoor
Translated by: Syeda Raadiyah Ali
Gulon mein rang bhare baad-e-naubahaar chale
Chale bhi aao ke gulshan ka karobaar chale
Qafas udaas hai yaaro saba se kuchh to kaho
Kahin to bahr-e-Khuda aaj zikr-e-yaar chale
Kabhi to subh tere kunj-e-lab se ho aaghaaz
Kabhi to shab sar-e-kaakul se mushkbaar chale
Bada hai dard ka rishta yeh dil ghareeb sahi
Tumhare naam pe aayenge gham gusar chale
Jo hum pe guzri so guzri magar shab-e-hijran
Humare ashk teri aqibat sanwar chale
Huzoor-e-yaar hui daftar-e-junoon ki talab
Girah mein le ke girebaan ka taar taar chale
Maqam “Faiz” koi raah mein jacha hi nahin
Jo ku-e-yaar se nikle to su-e-daar chale
–
May the early spring zephyr color the flowers as it flows.
Do return so that this garden can continue to grow.
This cage yearns for its inhabitant, do let the breeze know.
Somewhere, for God’s sake, my beloved will be mentioned.
Someday, may the dawn break from your lotus-like lips.
Someday, may the evening spread like your fragrant locks.
My ties with pain are rich, even though this heart is poor.
Hearing your name, sympathizers will rush to hear more.
Whatever I endured was irrevocable, but on the night of separation,
The tears that I shed wished you a better future.
In your presence, my lover, evidence of my passion was sought for
And I appeared with the remaining knots of shreds on my collar.
No destination attracted me as I departed my beloved’s street
and trudged on without stopping until I reached the gallows.
–
Hum “Gulon Mein Rang Bhare” shauq se sunte hain aur udaas ho jaate hain jab humare gulshan jaise mulk ka karobaar nahin chalta.
We fondly listen to “Gulon Mein Rang Bhare” and grieve when our flourishing homeland ceases to function.
#pakistanzindabad
