An ode to the great Sahir...

Na To Caarvaan Ki Talaash Hai, Na To Humsafar Ki Talaash Hai
Mere Shauq-E-Khaana Kharaab Ko, Teri Rehguzar Ki Talaash Hai

Mere Naamuraad Junoon Ka Hai Ilaaj Koi To Maut Hai
Jo Dava Ke Naam Pe Zehar De Usi Chaaraagar Ki Talaash Hai

Tera Ishq Hai Meri Aarzoo, Tera Ishq Hai Meri Aabroo
Dil Ishq Jism Ishq Hai Aur Jaan Ishq Hai
Imaan Ki Jo Poochho To Imaan Ishq Hai
Tera Ishq Hai Meri Aarzoo, Tera Ishq Hai Meri Aabroo,
Tera Ishq Maein Kaise Chhod Doon, Meri Umra Bhar Ki Talaash Hai

Jaansoz Ki Haalat Ko Jaansoz Hi Samjhega
Maein Shamaa Se Kehta Hoon Mehfil Se Nahin Kehta Kyonki
Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq, Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq

Sahar Tak Sabka Hai Anjaam Jal Kar Khaak Ho Jaana,
Bhari Mehfil Mein Koi Shammaa Ya Parvaana Ho Jaye Kyonki
Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq, Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq

Vehshat-E-Dil Rasm-O-Deedaar Se Roki Na Gayi
Kisi Khanjar, Kisi Talvaar Se Roki Na Gayi
Ishq Majnu Ki Vo Aavaz Hai Jiske Aage
Koi Laila Kisi Deewaar Se Roki Na Gayi, Kyonki
Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq, Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq

Vo Hanske Agar Maangen To Hum Jaan Bhi Deden,
Haan Ye Jaan To Kya Cheez Hai Imaan Bhi Deden Kyonki
Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq, Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq

Naaz-O-Andaaz Se Kehte Hain Ki Jeena Hoga,
Zehar Bhi Dete Hain To Kehte Hain Ki Peena Hoga
Jab Maein Peeta Hoon To Kehten Hai Ki Marta Bhi Nahin,
Jab Maein Marta Hoon To Kehte Hain Ki Jeena Hoga
Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq, Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq

Mazhab-E-Ishq Ki Har Rasm Kadi Hoti Hai,
Har Kadam Par Koi Deewaar Khadi Hoti Hai
Ishq Aazad Hai, Hindu Na Musalmaan Hai Ishq,
Aap Hi Dharm Hai Aur Aap Hi Imaan Hai Ishq
Jis Se Aagaah Nahi Shekh-O-Barahaaman Dono,
Us Haqeeqat Ka Garajtaa Hua Ailaan Hai Ishq

Ishq Na Puchhe Deen Dharm Nu, Ishq Na Puchhe Jaataan
Ishq De Haathon Garam Lahu Vich, Doobiyaan Lakh Baraataan Ke
Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq, Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq

Raah Ulfat Ki Kathin Hai Ise Aasaan Na Samajh
Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq, Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq

Bahut Kathin Hai Dagar Panghat Ki
Ab Kya Bhar Laun Maein Jamuna Se Matki
Maein Jo Chali Jal Jamuna Bharan Ko
Dekho Sakhi Ji Maein Jo Chali Jal Jamuna Bharan Ko
Nandkishor Mohe Roke Jhaadon To
Kya Bhar Laun Maein Jamuna Se Matki
Ab Laaj Raakho More Ghoonghat Pat Ki

Jab Jab Krishn Ki Bansi Baaji, Nikali Raadha Saj Ke
Jaan Ajaan Ka Maan Bhula Ke, Lok Laaj Ko Taj Ke
Janak Dulaari Ban Ban Doli, Pahan Ke Prem Ki Maala
Darshan Jal Ki Pyaasi Meera Pi Gai Vishh Ka Pyaala
Aur Phir Araj Kari Ke
Laaj Raakho Raakho Raakho, Laaj Raakho Dekho Dekho,
Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq, Ye Ishq Ishq Hai Ishq Ishq

Allah Rasool Ka Farmaan Ishq Hai
Yaane Hafeez Ishq Hai, Quraan Ishq Hai
Gautam Kaa Aur Maseeh Ka Armaan Ishq Hai
Ye Kaaynaat Jism Hai Aur Jaan Ishq Hai
Ishq Sarmad, Ishq Hi Mansoor Hai
Ishq Moosa, Ishq Koh-E-Noor Hai
Khaaq Ko But, Aur But Ko Devta Karta Hai Ishq
Intaha Ye Hai Ke Bande Ko Khuda Karta Hai Ishq

Haan Ishq Ishq Tera Ishq Ishq
Tera Ishq Ishq, Ishq Ishq


Naaz-O-Andaaz Se Kehte Hain verse is just a small fragment of the fire that emanated from this revolutionery poet's writings.I still get goosebumps whenever I read this whole quawwali aloud...

Here's another one..

Fanakaar.(Artist)

mai.n ne jo geet tere pyaar kii Khaatir likkhe
aaj un geeto.n ko baazaar me.n le aayaa huu.N

aaj dukaan pe niilaam uThegaa un kaa
tuune jin geeto.n pe rakkhii thii muhabbat kii asaas
aaj chaa.Ndii kii taraazuu me.n tulegii har chiiz
mere afakaar merii shaayarii meraa ehasaas

[asaas=foundation; afakaar=creations (writings)]

jo terii zaat se manasuub the un giito.n ko
muflisii jins banaane pe utar aa_ii hai
bhuuk tere ruKh-e-rangii.n ke fasaano.n ke ivaz
cha.nd aashiyaa-e-zaruurat kii tamannaa_ii hai

[zaat=personality; manasuub=related to; muflisii=poverty]
[jins=article/things; ivaz=in exchange]

dekh is arsaagah-e-mehanat-o-sarmaayaa me.n
mere naGme.n bhii mere paas nahii.n rah sakate
tere jalve kisii zaradaar kii miiraas sahii
tere Khaake bhii mere paas nahii.n rah sakate

[arsaagah-e-mehanat-o-sarmaayaa=in the battlefield of labour and wealth]
[zaradaar=rich man; miiraas=estate/legacy; Khaake=sketches]

aaj un geeto.n ko baazaar me.n le aayaa huu.N
mai.n ne jo geeit tere pyaar kii Khaatir likkhe


One may find his tone a tad bit masochistic..but hey he belonged to an era of distress and political turmoil...not to mention the constant ups and downs in his own personal life...These lines of his may give us a better perspective about him...

maiN pal do pal ka shayar hooN
pal do pal meri kahaani hai

kal aur aayenge nagHmoN ki khilti kaliyaaN chun ne waale
mujh se behtar kahne waale tum se behtar sun ne waale

None and i mean NONE of his verses even in surrender of the utmost form ever became wussy...for eg..

Pyaar par bas to nahin hai mera lekin phir bhi
Tu bataade main tujhe pyaar karun ya na karun

One can see the touch of arrogance in this kind of surrender too.
OR..

Tum mujhe bhool bhi jaao to ye haq hai tumko
Meri baat aur hai maine to mohabbat ki hai..

While most of his poetry spoke about revolution,angst and lost love..It would be mistake to think that romance would not be his strong point.Infact romanticism was his forte and this romanticism was not restricted to man-woman relationships alone,but it was seen in everythhing he wrote including patriotic or political verses.

Pesh - e - khidmat hain...

hum aapakee aankho me, is dil ko basaa de to
hum moond ke palakon ko, is dil ko sajaa de to


hum aapako khwaabon me, laa laa ke sataayenge
hum aapakee aakhon se ninde hee udaa de to

Can you beat this?And again..
abhee naa jaao chhodakar, ke dil abhee bharaa nahee

abhee abhee to aayee ho, bahaar ban ke chhaayee ho
hawaa jaraa mahak to le, najar jaraa bahak to le
ye shaam dhal to le jaraa, ye dil sanbhal to le jaraa
mai thodee der jee to loo, nashe ke ghoont pee to loo
abhee to kuchh kahaa nahee, abhee to kuchh sunaa naheen ..


Pathos..

Ashkon me jo paya hai, woh geeton me diya hai...

Secularism..

Tu na hindu banega na musalman banega..
Insaan ki aulad hai insaan banega...

and..
Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam Sabko Sanmati de Bhagwan

Today's candy floss yarn spinners who make sachrine sweet romantic films far from reality could learn a lesson or two from..

Zindagi Sirf Mohabbat Nahin Kuch Aur Bhi Hai
Zulf-o-Rukhsaar ki Jannat Nahi Kuch Aur Bhi Hai
Bhookh Aur Pyaas ki Maari Hui Is Duniya Mein
Ishq Hi Ek Haqeeqat Nahin Kuch Aur Bhi Hai.

Profound philosophy...

Khali Botal Le Le Mere Yaar Khali se Mat Nafrat Karna, Khali Sab Sansar.

and of course..

Man re tu kahe na dheer dhare..
utna hi upkaar samajh koi
jitna saath nibhaa de
janam maran ka mel hai sapna
yeh sapna bisraa de
koi na sang mare
man re tu kaahe na dheer dhare
o nirmohi moh na jaane jinka moh kare
ho man re tu kaahe na dheer dhare..

Such was the brillance of this man.Calling him just a poet would be undermining the magnitude of his contribution to the thinking of the people of this nation.

To end..
Nafraton ke jahan mein humko pyaar ki bastiyaan basaani hain
Door rehna koi kamaal nahin, paas aao to koi baat bane