Mazhub – a voice for peaceful South Asia

In 2006, I read this brilliant poem by Brijinder”Sagar (found here on Adnan’s brilliant site). I had kept it with me for an adequate translation. I have been unable to do justice and therefore I will rework my draft to post here. In the meantime, this poem will be accessible to Urdu-Hindustani speakers.

This poem is about bigotry and extremism in the name of religion that has overtaken India as well as other South Asian countries. Pakistan is no exception and Bangladesh is also witnessing the rise of Islamism, though not as alarming as India and Pakistan. Sri Lanka has also seen ethnic warfare, different in its manifestation but akin to the violence and death that comes in its wake. In such a charged environment, voices for peace are delightful.

Mazhub

Har haath main mazhub kay parcham

Har aaNkh main wehshat ka junooN

Lub pay haiN nafratoN kay sholay

KhyaaloN pay ik aawaaraa fusooN

Ik zehar ka baadal fazaa pay chaayaa hai

Khumaar-e-ghaphlat phir zehanoN pay aayaa hai

Har nighaah main bus ik swaal ki bu

Hindu ki aulaad hai ya muslim hai tu

Tarak subnay kiyay viraasat kay khazaanay

Woh Nanak ki wehdat Kabir kay taraanay

KahiN talwaaraiN to kahiN trishool aayaay

 SadioN ki pehchaanaiN sub bhool aayaay

Bhai ko bhai kay qatl ki pyaas

NamooN har samt yahi ghurbat-e-ahsaas

Lahu phir apnay hi lahu say laraa hai

Waqt phir sehmaa saa ik aur ja kharaa hai

Abhi to bhray bhi na thay Zakhm tam_ddun kay

Abhi to bhoolay bhi na thay woh aleel ayaam

DariNda insaaN main uthaa tha yeh abhi kal ki baat hai

Aadam khud bika tha yeh abhi kal ki baat hai

Aur aaj phir utraa hai afreet-e-wehshat

Aur phir say lagaayay hai chehraa mazhub ka

Phir say hai hujoomoN pay ik shauq-e-bekaar

Phir say banaa mazhub bahaanaa nafrat ka

Kab talak paighaMbar yooN neelaam karogay?

Kab talak latkaingay masihay saleeb-e-yaas par?

Kab talak pinhaaN insaaN qattl hogaa?

Kab talak pashymaaN karogay apnaa wazood?

Kab talak?