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Today we present a nazm by Makhdoom Moinuddin. Makhdoom 
is known to Indian film lovers through his award-winning song 
"aap kii yaad aatii rahii raat bhar", and his lovely compositions in 
Baazar ("phir chhii.Dii raat baat phuulo.n kii")


Today's nazm is titled "BaaGii" (Revolutionary)

raad huu.N barq huu.N bechain huu.N paaraa huu.N mai.n
Khud-parastaar, Khud-aagaah, Khud-aaraa huu.N mai.n
gardan-e-zulm kaTe jis se vo aaraa huu.N mai.n
Khirman-e-jaur jalaade vah sharaaraa huu.N mai.n

[raad = thunder; barq = lightning; paaraa = mercury]
[Khud-parastar = self-respecting; Khud-aagaah = self-knowing]
[Khud-aaraa = knowing one's will; aaraa = saw]
[Khirman = field; jaur = oppression; sharaaraa = spark]

merii fariyaad par ahal-e-davil a.ngusht bagosh
laa tabar Khuun ke dariyaa me.n nahaane de mujhe

[ahal-e-davil = rich and wealthy people; tabar = axe]
[a.ngusht bagosh = fingers in their ears]

sare pur naKhuvat-e-arbaab-e-zamaa.N to.Duu.Ngaa
shor-e-naalaa se dar-e-araz-o-samaa.N to.Duu.Ngaa
zulm paravar ravish-e-ahal-e-jahaa.N to.Duu.Ngaa
isharat aabaad amaarat kaa makaa.N to.Duu.Ngaa

(Mere meanings don't convey the full impact, so here is the 
English interpretation.)

I shall crack the heads of those who pride themselves on their estates
My shout of lamentation will brook no door, no wall, no gate
I shall halt the tyrannical ways of the people of this world
The houses of the pleasure-loving lords, these symbols I shall tear down 

[isharat = pleasure; aabaad = full of; amaarat = symbol; makaa.N = house]

to.D Daaluu.Ngaa mai.n za.njiire asiiraan-e-qafas
dahar ko pa.nj-e-asarat se chhu.Daane de mujhe

[asiir = prisoner; qafas = cage

barq ban kar but-e-maazii ko giraane de mujhe
rasm-e-kuhanaa ko tah-e-Khaak milaane de mujhe
tafriqe mazahab-o-millat ke miTaane de mujhe
Khvaab-e-fardaa ko bas ab haal banaane de mujhe

[but = idol; maazii = past; 

aag huu.N aag huu.N haa.N! dahakatii hu_ii aag
aag huu.N aag bas ab aag lagaane de mujhe


Makhdoom Moinuddin was a native of Hyderabad (Deccan). 
Makhdoom was a progressive writer and a devoted member 
of the Indian communist party. A great admirer of the Soviet 
Union, he adapted Russian eulogies of Stalin to Urdu. Some 
of his most touching poems describe the beauty of the 
landscape and the peasant women of his native 'Telangana'.

(Biographical sketch courtesy "An Anthology of Urdu Verse in 
English" by David Matthews)