Across the border, closer to the heart

Pakistan. The way Jaaved Akhtar calls it - mere dushman, mere bhai, mere hum-saaye - My foe, my brother, my neighbour. There might be a freeze on peace process with Pakistan and hatred might be at the boiling point, I will not be able to talk about Shaayari without a few Pakistani names dropping in. And when I say that the pain that people feel on both sides of the border have a lot of similarity, I am not trying to say "the right thing". Just to demonstrate my point, to draw attention to the anguish of people who live across the border and to see that our plight is not so dissimilar, ladies and gentleman, I give you - Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

The nation of Pakistan has seen more than it's fair share of corrupt, abominable and dictatorial leaders. The mass-media has not been really free and powerful, and has not become the voice of its people. In such scenarios, word-smiths have taken the baton and given a vent to the feelings of the avaam, the populace. Among these shaayars, the tallest name is that of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. He challenges the status quo, he fights for his people, he dreams for his people and he takes on suffering for his people. Time and again he has been the guest of the government. And that has never stopped him for doing what he believes in. In his own words - "Mataa-e-loh-o-kalam chhin gayi hai to kya, ke khun-e-dil me dubo li hai ungaliyaan maine" - what if they have robbed me off my pen, paper and ink, I have dipped my fingers in the blood of my heart (and with that, I will go on writing what I need to write.)

This particular poem was born out of this incident - once a shackled Faiz was being taken from one prison to another through a public place. And he bleeds his pain in to a wonderful poetry -

चश्म-ऐ-नम जान-ऐ-शोरीदा काफ़ी नही, तहोमत-ऐ-इश्क-ऐ-पोशीदा काफ़ी नही, आज बाज़ार में पा-बजौला चलो

Chashme-nam jaan-e-shorIdA kaafi nahi
tauhmat-e-ishq-e-poshIdA kaafi nahi
aaj bAzAr me paa-ba-jhaulA chalo

Tear-filled eyes or screaming heart is not enough, claim of clandestine love is not enough, walk with your legs tied in shackles today. (get yourself arrested by opposing the status-quo)

दस्त-अफशां चलो, मस्त-ओ-रक्सां चलो, ख़ाक-बर-सर चलो, खूं-ब-दामाँ चलो, राह तकता है सब शहर-ऐ-जानां चलो

dasht afshaaN chalo mast-o-raksa chalo
khaak-bar-sar chalo, khUN-b-daamaaN chalo
raah taktA hain sab shaher-e-jaanaa chalo

(While your feet are shackled) swing your arms and walk as if you are 'drunk on dancing', walk with dirt in your hair (because you will be pushed and shoved) and blood on your clothes (because they will beat you bad, real bad), (but we shall still walk becuase) the beloved city (or the city of beloved) awaits us.

हाकिम-ऐ-शहर भी, मजमा-ऐ-आम भी, तीर-ऐ-इल्ज़ाम भी, संग-ऐ-दुश्नाम भी; सुब्ह-ऐ-नाशाद भी, रोज़-ऐ-नाकाम भी

haakim-e-shahar bhI majm-e-aam bhI
tIr-e-ilzaam bhI sang-e-dushnaam bhI
subh-e-naashaad bhI roz-e-naakaam bhI

(Let's make a list, who are waiting for us?) the powers-that-be and the common populace, arrow of blame and stones of infamy, the dawn - that has lost the hope and the day - that has failed. (Appreciate the beauty of this careful comparison - blame comes like an arrow, when you are not suspecting and infamy can result in stoning.)

इनका दम-साज़ अपने सिवा कौन है? शहर-ऐ-जानां में अब बासिफा कौन है? दस्त-ऐ-कातिल के सायाँ रहा कौन है?

inkaa dam-saaz apne siwaa kaun hai.n?
shahar-e-jaanaa mein ab baa-safaa kaun hain?
dasht-e-kaatil ke saayaa rahaa kaun hain

(Ok. But so why are we going, again?) Who else? Who else empathizes with their pain? Who else is sacrosanct in this city of beloved? Who else is worthy of falling at the hands of tormentor?

रख्त -ऐ-दिल बाँध लो, दिल फिगारों चलो; अब हमीं कत्ल हो आयें यारों चलो.

rakht-e-dil baandh lo dil figaaron chalo
phir hamI katl ho aaye yaaron chalo

(So... let's get ready..) collect pieces of your heart and pull yourselves together (we have a long journey ahead of us) Friends, let's go and become martyrs.

This being a very famous poem of Faiz is available on Youtube, and one has even rendition by Faiz. Here is the link.

PS - I thank Adnan Dharra from LUMS for sharing a wonderful video of Faiz's biography. He visited IIMB on student exchange program along with 3 other friends in 2007-08. It was fun watching T20 WC Indo-Pak Finals seating across these 4 Pakistanis.