TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

In the year 1990 Jagjit Singh recorded Aadmi Aadmi Ko Kya Degaa in an album titled "Someone Somewhere"

He also sang this one at one of his memorable performance, at the Espalande in Singapore:

Aadmi Aadmi ko kya degaa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn7BjkjjSAE 

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

What do we know about The Poet: Sudarshan Faakir?

Sudarshan Faakir (1934 – 2008) was an Indian poet and lyricist whose ghazals and some nazms were sung by Begum Akhtar and Jagjit Singh.

Faakir belonged to the small and diminishing tribe of non-Muslim Urdu poets from East Punjab. Sudarshan Faakir is the first lyricist to have won a Filmfare Award for his very first song. Apart from the hits like Woh Kagaz Ki Kashti, he was famous for a religious number - Hey Ram... Hey Ram. He is the Writer of National NCC Song of India- Hum Sab Bhartiya Hain. Apart from Non-Film Music, Sudarshan Faakir has Penned Songs from various films also.

Sudarshan ‘Faakir’ was the favourite poet of ‘Mallika-e-ghazal’ Begum Akhtar in her last phase, She sang five of his ghazals. He was also the co-traveller of Jagjit Singh, an association that began with ‘Woh kagaz ki kishti, woh barish ka pani’ in 1982.

Faakir was an MA in political science and English from DAV College, Jalandhar. Active in dramatics and poetry right from his college days, he directed Mohan Rakesh’s play “Ashaar ka ek din” in his youth. He lent his voice to AIR, Jalandhar before he left for Bombay where he later wrote for music directorJaidev. His song ‘Zindagi, zindagi, mere ghar aana zindagi' from Bhim Sen’s ‘Dooriyan’ as well as dialogues for the film ‘Yalgaar’ are popular till date. It is also claimed that the song, “Hum sab Bhartiya hain”, which is sung at the NCC camps across the country, was penned by him.

A perfectionist to the core, he labored hard over his poetry. Faakir is perhaps one of the last of the tribe of vanishing poets who lived for poetry and it is noteworthy that he put together his poetry in an anthology and published his first ‘diwan’ only after he became a much-celebrated poet

Courtesy: Wikipedia

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

Some of Sudarshan Faakir Poems include

 Aadamii aadamii ko kyaa degaa
 Aaj ke daur mein ai dost ye manzar kyuun hai
 Aaj tum se bichhar rahaa huun
 Agar ham kahein aur vo muskuraa dein
 Ahal-e-ulfat ke havaalon pe hansii aatii hai
 Charaag-o-aaftaab Gum barii hasiin raat thii
 Dhal gayaa aafataab ai saaqii
 Dil ke diivaar-o-dar pe kyaa dekhaa
 Duniyaa se vafaa karake silaa Dhuundh rahe hain
 Falsafe ishq mein pesh aaye savaalon kii tarah
 Gam barhe aate hain qaatil kii nigaahon kii tarah
 Ham to yuun apanii zindagii se mile 
 Ishq mein Gairat-e-jazbaat ne rone naa diyaa
 Jab bhii tanhaaii se ghabaraake simaT jaate hain
 Jis mor par kiye the ham ne qaraar baraso.n
 Kisii ranjish ko havaa do ki main zindaa huun abhii
 Kuchh to duniyaa kii inaayaat ne dil to.D diyaa
 Mere dukh kii koii davaa na karo
 Merii zubaan se merii daastaan suno to sahii
 Patthar ke Khudaa patthar ke sanam
 Phir aaj mujhe tum ko bas itanaa bataanaa hai
 Saamane hai jo use log buraa kahate hain
 Shaayad main zindagii kii sahar leke aa gayaa
 ShaiKh jii thodii sii piikar aaiye
 Ulfat kaa jab kisii ne liyaa naam ro pa.De
 Us mor se shuruu karein phir ye zindagii
 Ye daulat bhii le lo ye shoharat bhii le lo
 Ye shiishe ye sapne ye rishte ye dhaage
 Zakhm jo aap kii inaayat hai 
 Zindagii tujh ko jiyaa hai koii afsos nahiin

We will select a few and give the translations. There are some that were done by Popular singers, will also try to get those in, if we can pinpoint the audio recordings. 

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

CHARAAG AFTAAB GUM BARI HASEEN RAAT THI: Was done by Jagjit Singh from the album "Khumaar"

CHARAAG AFTAAB GUM BARI HASEEN RAAT THI

http://link.songspk.info/ghaza...d/ghazals.php?id=175

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

2) CHARAAG AFTAAB GUM BARI HASEEN RAAT THI

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

Charaag aaftaab gum, bari haseen raat thee
The lamp and the sun disappeared, what a beautiful night it was
Shabaab ki naqaab gum, bari haseen raat thee
The Beauty was suddenly unveiled, what a beautiful night it was

Mujhe pila rahe the wo ke khud hi shamma bujh gayee
I was served drinks by her, suddenly the candle was extinguished
Gilaas gum, sharaab gum, bari haseen raat thee
The glass and alcohol disappeared what a beautiful night it was

Likha tha jis kitaab mein ke ishq to haraam hai
It is written in the holy book that "To Love" is sin
Huyee wohi kitaab gum, bari haseen raat thee
Well that book disappeared, what a beautiful night it was

Labon se lab jo mil gaye, labon se lab hi sil gaye
When my Lips touches hers, the lips became inseparable
Sawaal gum, jawaab gum, bari haseen raat thee
No need for questions and answers what a beautiful night it was

Trans:Ranjana

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

CHARAAG AFTAAB GUM BARI HASEEN RAAT THI: Was done by Jagjit Singh from the album "Khumaar"

CHARAAG AFTAAB GUM BARI HASEEN RAAT THI

http://link.songspk.info/ghaza...d/ghazals.php?id=175

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

SINGER: JAGJIT SINGH:
ALBUM : KHUMAAR

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

3) DHAL GAYAA AAFATAAB AI SAAQII

Dhal gayaa aafataab ai saaqii

It is now sunset beloved bartender
Laa pilaa de sharaab ai saaqii

C'mon my dear make me a drink

Yaa suraahii lagaa mere muunh se

Either let me put the bottle to my lips 
Yaa ulat de naqaab ai saaqii

Or unveil and get me drunk from your beauty

Maikadaa chhod kar kahaan jaauun

Where should I go if I leave the tavern
Hai zamaanaa Kharaab ai saaqii

The world out there is a very bad place

Jaam bhar de gunaahagaaron ke

Top up the drinks for us sinners 
Ye bhii hai ik savaab ai saaqii

That is also a kind reward my dear

Aaj piine de aur piine de

Let me drink today just let me drink 
Kal karenge hisaab ai saaqii

Tomorrow we shall do the accounting

Trans: Ranjana

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

SINGER: JAGJIT SINGH

POET   :  SUDARSHAN FAAKIR
ALBUM : KHUMAAR

DHAL GAYA AAFATAAB AE SAAQI

http://link.songspk.info/ghaza...d/ghazals.php?id=180

(Dhal Gaya Aaftaab Ae Saaqi)2
It is now sunset beloved Bartender

(Usually a beautiful female)
La Pila De Sharaab Ae Saaqi
Come on my dear, make me a drink
Dhal Gaya Aaftaab Ae Saaqi
It is now sunset beloved Bartender

(Ya Suraahi Laga Mere Mooh Se)3
Either let me put the bottle to my lips
Ya Ulat De Naqaab Ae Saaqi
Or unveil and allow me to get drunk from your beauty

(Dhal Gaya Aaftaab Ae Saaqi)2
It is now sunset, beloved Bartender
La Pila De Sharaab Ae Saaqi
Come on my dear, make me a drink
Dhal Gaya Aaftaab Ae Saaqi
It is now sunset, beloved Bartender

(Maikada Chod Kar Kahan Jaaoon)3
Where should I go if I leave the tavern
Hai Zamana Kharaab Ae Saaqi
The world out there is a very bad place

Dhal Gaya Aaftaab Ae Saaqi
It is now sunset beloved Bartender
La Pila De Sharaab Ae Saaqi
Come on my dear, make me a drink
Dhal Gaya Aaftaab Ae Saaqi
It is now sunset, beloved Bartender

(Jaam Bhar De Gunaahgaaron Ke)3
Top up the drinks for us sinners
Ye Bhi Hai Ik Sawaab Ae Saaqi
That also is a kind of reward, my beloved Bartender

(Dhal Gaya Aaftaab Ae Saaqi)2
It is now sunset beloved Bartender
La Pila De Sharaab Ae Saaqi
Come on my dear, make me a drink
Dhal Gaya Aaftaab Ae Saaqi
It is now sunset beloved Bartender

(Aaj Peene De Aur Peene De)2
Let me drink today, just let me drink
Kal Karenge Hisaab Ae Saaqi
Tomorrow we shall do the accounting beloved Bartender

(Dhal Gaya Aaftaab Ae Saaqi)2
It is now sunset beloved Bartender
La Pila De Sharaab Ae Saaqi
Come on my dear, make me a drink
Dhal Gaya Aaftaab Ae Saaqi
It is now sunset beloved Bartender

Trans:Ranjana

Ranjana's Note:
THIS GHAZAL REFLECTS THE TIMES OF NAWABS SITTING IN THE MEHFILS, WHERE THEY
WERE SERVED ALCOHOL BY BEAUTIFUL COURTESANS AND ENJOYED THE MUSICAL TALENTS
AMONGS'T OTHER THINGS. THINK OF PAKEEZA-- (CHALTE-CHALTE, YUN HI KOI MIL GAYA
THA-) THERE THE COURTESAN WAS SINGING AND HERE YOU HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF
HER CLIENT. ENJOY

This one is so cool, soul stirring, even my good buddy who is not so keen on Jagjit, will tell you that this one is heavenly.
When a man indulges in so much sharab, the words and the thoughts comes naturally, even the voice is so soothing and appears to be pulling a string of one's heart.
A favorite of mine and I am sure that many will like this one.

Trans: Ranjana

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

SINGER: JAGJIT SINGH

POET   :  SUDARSHAN FAAKIR
ALBUM : KHUMAAR

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

4) YE DAULAT BHI LELO YE SHOHARAT BHI LELO

Ye daulat bhii le lo, ye shoharat bhii le lo

Take this wealth, take this fame as well
Bhale chhiin lo mujhase merii javaanii

Snatch the youth from me if you so wish
Magar mujhako lautaa do bachapan kaa saavan

But return to me those memories of  childhood
Vo kaagaz kii kashtii, vo baarish kaa paanii

Of the paper boats in the downpour of rains

Muhalle kii sabase nishaanii puraanii

The oldest signs of the area still remains
Vo budhiyaa jise bachche kahate the naanii

That old lady, the children used to call Naani
Vo naanii kii baaton mein pariyon kaa Deraa

That camp of fairies in granny's talk
Vo chahare kii jhuriryon mein sadiyon kaa pheraa

That guard of ages in the wrinkles of  the face
Bhulaaye nahiin bhuul sakataa hai koi

Even if one try to forget they will not be able to
Vo chhotii sii raatein vo lambii kahaanii

The small nights with tall stories

Kadii dhuup mein apane ghar se nikalanaa

Going out of the house when the sun is strong
Vo chidiyaa vo bul-bul vo titalii pakadanaa

The catching of birds and nightingales and butterflies
Vo gudiyaa kii shaadii mein ladanaa jhagadanaa

The fighting that takes place on dolls wedding
Vo jhuulon se giranaa vo gir ke sambhalanaa

The falling from swings and be on your feet again
Vo piital ke chhallon ke pyaare se tohafe

The lovely gifts of rings made out of brass 
Vo TuuTii huii chuudiyon kii nishaanii

The souvenirs of broken Bangles

Kabhii ret ke uunche Tiilon pe jaanaa

Sometimes going on the high sand hills
Gharonde banaanaa banaake mitaanaa

Making sand castles and destroying them
Vo maasuum chaahat kii tasviir apanii

The picture of the innocent face of love 
Vo Khvaabon khilaunon kii jaagiir apanii

The estate of dreams and  toys
Na duniyaa kaa Gam thaa na rishton ke bandhan

Neither there was the sorrow of worlds or bonds of relationship
Badii khuubasuurat thii vo zindagaanii

It was all so beautiful, such was life

Trans:

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

SINGER: JAGJIT SINGH

POET   :  SUDARSHAN FAAKIR
ALBUM : PARWAAZ

WO KAGAZ KI KASHTI WOH BARISH KA PAANI

http://link.songspk.info/ghaza...d/ghazals.php?id=207

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

SINGER: JAGJIT SINGH

POET   :  SUDARSHAN FAAKIR
ALBUM : PARWAAZ

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

5) SHAYAD MAIN ZINDAGI KI SAHAR LEKE AA GAYA

Shayad main zindagi ki sahar le ke aa gaya
Perhaps I have come back with the new dawn of my life
Qaatil ko aaj apne hi ghar le ke aa gaya
I have brought my murderer to my home

Taa umr dhoondta raha manzil main ishq ki
My entire life I kept looking for my love's fulfillment
Anjaam ye ke garde safar le ke aa gaya
And the result was that I came back empty handed

Nashtar hai mere haath mein kaandhon pe maikada
I have a dagger (drink) in my hand and my body is like a bar
(An alcoholic carrying the burden of their body till they die)
Lo main ilaaje dard-e-zigar le ke aa gaya
There, I have come back with a treatment for my pained heart

Faakir sanam maikade mein na aata main lautkar
Faakir, my friend, I would not have come back to the bar
Ik zakhm bhar gaya tha idhar le ke aa gaya
But one of my many wounds had healed, I am back for a new one

Trans: Ranjana

The poet is saying amongs't other things is that he has brought

his "Sharaab" home and he referred to this as his murderer

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

SINGER: JAGJIT SINGH

ALBUM : KHUMAAR

5) SHAYAD MAIN ZINDAGI KI SAHAR LEKE AA GAYA

http://link.songspk.info/ghaza...d/ghazals.php?id=184

Shayad main zindagi ki sahar le ke aa gaya
Perhaps I have come back with the new dawn of my life
Qaatil ko aaj apne hi ghar le ke aa gaya
I have brought my murderer to my home

Taa umr dhoondta raha manzil main ishq ki
My entire life I kept looking for my love's fulfillment
Anjaam ye ke garde safar le ke aa gaya
And the result was that I came back empty handed

Nashtar hai mere haath mein kaandhon pe maikada
I have a dagger (drink) in my hand and my body is like a bar
(An alcoholic carrying the burden of their body till they die)
Lo main ilaaje dard-e-zigar le ke aa gaya
There, I have come back with a treatment for my pained heart

Faakir sanam maikade mein na aata main lautkar
Faakir, my friend, I would not have come back to the bar
Ik zakhm bhar gaya tha idhar le ke aa gaya
But one of my many wounds had healed, I am back for a new one

Trans: Ranjana

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

SINGER: JAGJIT SINGH

ALBUM : KHUMAAR

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: SUDARSHAN FAAKIR

So far we have looked at Poems by the Poet Sudarshan Faakir viz:

1) Aadamii aadamii ko kyaa degaa

What can one man gives to another? 

2) Charaag aaftaab gum, bari haseen raat thee
The lamp has disappeared, what a beautiful night it was

3) Dhal gayaa aafataab ai saaqii

It is now sunset beloved bartender

4) Ye daulat bhii le lo, ye shoharat bhii le lo

Take this wealth, take this fame as well

5) Shayad main zindagi ki sahar le ke aa gaya
Perhaps I have come back with the new dawn of my life

Sudarshan Faakir has written over two dozen poems, we

can delve into more but will not do so now, as we want

to showcase other Poets and their Poetry.

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: AHMAD FARAZ

Our next feature will be on Ahmad Faraz and like Sudarshan

Faakir, we will showcase five of his Poetry.

TRANSLATIONS OF URDU POETRY:

POET: AHMAD FARAZ

Ahmad Faraz was born Syed Ahmad Shah  on January 12, 1931 in Kohat, was a Pakistani Urdu Poet. He was considered one of the great modern Urdu poets of the last century. 'Faraz' is his pseudonym (takhalus) in Urdu. Faraz died in Islamabad on August 25, 2008.

Faraz has been compared with Faiz Ahmad Faiz, holds a unique position as one of the best poets of current times, with a fine but simple style of writing. Even common people can easily understand his poetry. Ethnically a Hindkowan, Ahmed Faraz studied Persian and Urdu at the Peshawar University. He later became lecturer at the Peshawar University. He was awarded Hilal e Imtiaz, Sitara i Imtiaz and after his death Hilal e Pakistan by the government of Pakistan.

Faraz was born in Kohat, Pakistan to Syed Muhammad Shah Barq. His brother is Syed Masood Kausar. In an interview with Rediff he recalls how his father, once bought clothes for him on Eid. He didn't like the clothes meant for him, but preferred the ones meant for his elder brother. This lead him to write his first couplet:

Sab kay waste laye hein kaprye sale se

Laye hein mere liye qaidi ka kambal jail se

(He brought clothes for everybody from the sale)

(For me he brought a blanket from jail)

 His parents asked him once to learn mathematics from a class fellow during the summer vacation. But he was weak in mathematics and geography, he didn't remember maps and roads.

He was from a respectable family of Syed, descendents of ''Haji Bahadar" a famous saint of Kohat, he moved to Peshawar with entire family. Studied in famous Edwards College, Peshawar and then did his Masters in Urdu and Persain from Peshawar University.

Literary and Political life

Outspoken about politics, he went into self-imposed exile during the Zia ul Haq era after he was arrested for reciting certain poems at a Mushaira criticizing the military rule. He stayed for 6 years in Britain, Canada and Europe before returning to Pakistan where he was initially appointed Chairman Academy of Letters and later chairperson of the Islamabad-based National Book Foundation for several years. He has been awarded with numerous national and international awards.

He was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2004, in recognition of his literary achievements. He returned the award in 2006 after becoming disenchanted with the government and its policies.

"My conscious will not forgive me if I remained a silent spectator of the sad happenings around us. The least I can do is to let the dictatorship know where it stands in the eyes of the concerned citizens whose fundamental rights have been usurped. I am doing this by returning the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (civil) forthwith and refuse to associate myself in any way with the regime..." a statement issued by the poet.

About his current writings he says: "I now only write when I am forced to from the inside." Maintaining a tradition established by his mentor, the revolutionary Faiz Ahmad Fiaz, he wrote some of his best poetry during those days in exile. Famous amongst poetry of resistance has been "Mahasara". Faraz was also mentioned by actor Shahzada Ghaffar in the Pothwari/Mirpuri telefilm "Khai Aye O".

Despite his deteriorating health, he was quite active in the Judicial Crisis, in 2007. He joined personally the lawyers to protest against the government, and also encouraged his colleagues to do the same.

Death

Faraz died from kidney failure in a local Islamabad hospital on 25 August 2008. His funeral was held on the evening of 26th, by many admirers and government officials at H-8 Graveyard, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Courtesy: Wiki the Free Enclyclopedia