Home | October '98 Index

A Gazal by Firaq Gorakhpuri. This has been sung by Chitra 
Singh in the album which established their reputation and 
popularity as Gazal singers in India - The Unforgettables.
Of course Chitra Singh sings only a few ashaar.


raat bhii nii.nd bhii kahaanii bhii
haa_e! kyaa chiiz hai javaanii bhii

ek paiGaam-e-zi.ndaganii bhii
aashiqii marg-e-naagahaanii bhii

[paiGaam = message; marg-e-naagahaanii - sudden death]

is adaa kaa terii javaab nahii.n
meharabanii bhii saragaraanii bhii

[saragaraanii = anger]

dil ko apane bhii Gam the duniyaa me.n
kuchh balaaye.N thii aasmaanii bhii

ma.nsab-e-dil Khushii luTaataa hai
Gam-e-pi.nhaa.N bhii paasabaanii bhii

[ma.nsab = stature]

dil ko sholo.n se karatii hai sairaab
zi.ndagii aag bhii hai paanii bhii

[sairaab = to water/irrigate]

shaad-kaamo.n ko ye nahii.n taufiiq
dil-e-Gamagii.n kii shaadamaanii bhii

[shaad-kaamo.n = fortunate people; taufiiq = capability]
[Gamagii.n = immersed in sorrow; shaadamaanii = joy]

laakh husn-e-yaqii.n se ba.Dakar hai
in nigaaho.n kii badagumaanii bhii

ta.nganaa-e-dil-e-malaal me.n hai
behr-e-hastii kii bekaraanii bhii

[ta.nganaa-e-dil-e-malaal = within the limited space of a sad heart]
[behr-e-hastii = ocean of life; bekaraanii = unbounded/limitless]

ishq-e-naakaam kii hai parachhaa_ii
shaadamaanii bhii kaamaraanii bhii

[ishq-e-naakaam = failed love/unrequited love]
[shaadamaanii = happiness; kaamaraanii = success]

dekh dil ke nigaar-Khaane me.n
zaKhm-e-pi.nhaa.N kii hai nishaanii bhii

[nigaar-Khaanaa = studio (art)/also a place where many 
beautiful girls collect]
[zaKhm = wound; pi.nhaa.N = hidden/buried]

Khalq kyaa-kyaa mujhe nahii.n kahatii
kuchh sunuu.N mai.n terii zabaanii bhii

[Khalq = world]

aaye taariiKh-e-ishq me.n sau baar
maut ke daur-daramiyaanii bhii

[taariiKh-e-ishq = history of love; daur = age/era]
[darmiyaanii = in between]

apanii maasuumiyo.n ke parde me.n
ho ga_ii vo nazar sayaanii bhii

[maasuumiyaa.N = innocence; sayaanii = grown up]

din ko suuraj-mukhii hai vo naugul
raat ko vo hai raat-raanii bhii

[suuraj-mukhii = sunflower; naugul = new flower]
[raat-raanii = a flower known for its heady fragrance]

dil-e-badanaam tere baare me.n
log kahate hai.n ik kahaanii bhii

nazm karate ko_ii na_ii duniyaa
ki ye duniyaa hu_ii puraanii bhii

[nazm = reconstruct/build again]

dil ko aadaab-e-ba.ndagii bhii na aaye
kar gaye log hukmaraanii bhii

[aadaab-e-ba.ndagii = ways of servitude]

**perhaps the fist misra should end in "aa_ii" instead of aaye.
IMHO, it is more appropriate. However, 'Sargam' gives the sher 
as quoted above.**

jaur-e-kam-kam kaa shukriyaa bas hai
aap kii itanii meharabaanii bhii

[jaur = oppression]

dil me.n ik huuk bhii uThe ai dost
yaad aa_ii terii javaanii bhii

sar se paa tak sapurdagii kii adaa
ek a.ndaaz-e-turkamaanii bhii

[paa = feet; sapurdagii = to give in; turkamaanii = rebellious]

paas rahanaa kisii kaa raat kii raat
mehamaanii bhii mezabaanii bhii

[mezabaan = host]

jo na aks-e-jabiin-e-naaz ki hai
dil me.n ik nuur-e-kahakashaanii bhii

[aks-e-jabiin-e-naaz = image of one's beloved's forehead]
[nuur = light; kahakashaa.N = Milky Way]

zi.ndagii ain diid-e-yaar "Firaq"
zi.ndagii hijr kii kahaanii bhii

[ain = in reality; (ain has many meanings, this is one)]
[diid-e-yaar = a look at one's beloved; hijr = separation]