TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:
POET: AHMAD FARAZ:
Before we leave Faraz alone, there is this Gem that my Bangladeshi friend Selima Hossain would be very happy that we get this one in: It is titled
MUJH SI PEHLI SI MOHABAT: Translated by Ayesha Khanna
Mujh se pehli si mohabbat meray mehbub na maang
Don’t ask me for the love I once gave you, my love
Mein ne samjha tha kay tu hai to darakhshaan hai hayaat
I thought if I had you, life would shine eternally for me
Tera gham hai to gham-e-dahar ka jhagdra kya hai
With your heartaches, those of the universe would fade
Teri surat se hai aalam mein bahaaron ko sabaat
Your face would bring permanence to every spring
Teri aankhon ke sivaa duniya mein rakkha kya hai
What is there to treasure in this world but your eyes?
Tu jo mil jaaye to taqdir niguun ho jaaye
If I found you, my fate would bow down to me
Yun na tha mein ne faqat chahaa tha yun ho jaaye
It was not so, merely how I wished it to be
Aur bhii dukh hain zamaane mein mohabbat ke sivaa
The times hold sorrows besides those of love
Raahaten aur bhi vasl ki raahat ke sivaa
There is happiness other than the joy of union
Anaginat sadiyon ki taarik bahimanaa talism
The dreadful magic of uncountable dark years
Resham-o-atalas-o-kamkhvaab mein bunavaaye huye
Woven in silk, satin and brocade
Jaa-ba-jaa bikate huye kuuchaa-o-baazaar mein jism
Bodies sold in every corner of the market
Khaak mein lithade huye khuun mein nahalaaye huye
Covered in dust, bathed in blood
Laut jaati hai udhar ko bhi nazar kyaa kije
Still returns my gaze in that direction, what can be done?
Ab bhi dilkash hai tera husn magar kya kije
Even now your beauty is tantalizing, but what can I do?
Aur bhii dukh hain zamaane mein mohabbat ke sivaa
The times hold sorrows besides those of love
Raahaten aur bhi vasl ki raahat ke sivaa
There is happiness other than the joy of union
Mujh se pehli si mohabbat meray mehbub na maang
Don’t ask me for the love I once gave you, my love
Ahmad Faraz: