Here’s another very popular nazm by Sahir:

pahloo-e-shaaH meiN ye duKhtar-e-jumhoor ki qabr
kitne gumgashta fasaanoN ka pataa detii hai
kitne KhuuNrez haqaaiq se uThaati hai naqaab
kitni kuchli hui jaanoN ka pataa deti hai
kaise maGhroor shahanshaahoN ki taskiiN ke liye
saal-ha-saal haseenaaoN ke baazaar lage
kaise bahkii hui nazroN ke ta’ayyush ke liye
surKh mahloN meiN jawaaN jismoN ke ambaar lage
kaise har shaaKh se muNh-baNd mahakti kaliyaaN
noch lii jaatii thiiN taz’iin-e-haram kii Khaatir
aur murjha ke bhi aazaad na ho saktii thiiN
zill-e-subhaan  kii ulfat ke bharam kii Khaatir
kaise ik fard ke hoNToN ki zaraa sii jumbish
sard kar saktii thii be-laus wafaaoN ke chiraaGh
looT saktii thii damakte hue haathoN ka suhaag
toR saktii thii mai-e-ishq se labrez ayaaGh

sahmi-sahmi si fazaaoN meiN ye veeraaN marqad
itna Khaamosh hai, faryaad-kunaaN ho jaise
sard shaakhoN meiN havaa cheeKh rahii hai aise
rooh-e-taqdees-o-wafaa marsiyaa KhwaaN ho jaise

tu meri jaan! mujhe hairat-o-hasrat se na dekh
ham meiN koi bhi jahaaNnoor-o-jahaaNgeer nahiiN
tu mujhe chhoR ke Thukraa ke bhi jaa sakti hai
tere haathoN meiN mire haath haiN, zanjeer nahiiN

Glossary

pahloo-e-shaaH = at the side of the emperor
duKhtar-e-jumhoor = the daughter of the masses
qabr = grave
gumgashta fasaanoN = forgotten stories
KhuuNrez haqaaiq = bloody realities, blood dripping stories
naqaab = veil
maGhroor = proud
taskeeN = comfort
saal-ha-saal = year after year
ta’ayyush = pleasant life
ambaar = piles
taz’iin-e-haram = to decorate their harem
zill-e-subhaan = the emperor
fard = a person, man, an individual
jumbish = movement
be-laus = uncontaminated, pure, unselfish
labrez ayaaGh = filled glasses
marqad = graves
faryaad-kunaaN = asking for justice, lamenting
rooH-e-taqdees-o-wafaa = the soul of love and purety, the soul of sanctity and love
marsiyaa KhwaaN = wailing, lamenting, lamenter

Here’s another beautiful nazm entitled Ma’azoori (which means helplessness)

Khalwat-o-jalwat meiN tum mujhse mili ho baarahaa
tumne kya dekha nahiiN, maiN muskuraa saktaa nahiiN
maiN ki maayoosi miri fitrat meiN daaKhil ho chuki
jabr bhi Khud par karouN to gungunaa saktaa nahiiN

mujh meiN kyaa dekha ki tum ulfat ka dam bharne lagiiN
maiN to Khud apne bhi koii kaam aa saktaa nahiiN
rooh-afzaa haiN juunuun-e-ishq ke naGhme magar
ab maiN in gaaye hue geetoN ko gaa saktaa nahiiN

maiN ne dekha hai shikast-e-saaz-e-ulfat ka samaaN
ab kisii tahreek par barbat uThaa saktaa nahiiN
dil tumhaari shiddat-e-ahsaas se waaqif to hai
apne ehsaasaat se daaman chhuRaa saktaa nahiiN

tum mirii hokar bhi begaanaa hi paaogii mujhe
maiN tumhaaraa hoke bhi tum meiN samaa saktaa nahiiN
gaaye haiN maiN ne Khuloos-e-dil se bhi ulfat ke geet
ab riyaakaarii se bhi chaahouN to gaa saktaa nahiiN

kis tarah tumko banaa louN maiN shareek-e-zindagii
maiN to apni zindagii kaa baar uThaa saktaa nahiiN
yaas ki taareekiyoN meiN Doob jaane do mujhe
ab maiN sha’ma-e-aarzoo ki lau baRhaa saktaa nahiiN

Glossary

ma’ajoorii = helplessness
Khalwat-o-jalwat = alone and in public
baarahaa = again and again
fitrat = nature
jabr = coerce, force
rooh-afzaa = elevating
juunuun-e-ishq = passion, craziness of love
shikast-e-saaz-e-ulfat ka samaaN = the view of a broken music instrument of love
tahreek = Inspiration
barbat = musical instrument
shiddat-e-ehsaas = the intensity of feelings
waaqif = knowing, aware
Khuluus-e-dil = pure hearted
riyaakari = pretending
shareek-e-zindagi = part of life
baar= weight
yaas = disheartened, sad
taareekiyoN = darkness
sham’a-e-arzoo = candle of desire, light of desire

Here’s a beautiful nazm by Sahir entitled “Ek Tasveer-e-Rang”

main ne jis waqt tujhe pahle-pahal dekha thaa
tu jawaani ka koi khwaab nazar aayii thii
husn ka naghma-e-jaaved huii thii ma’aloom
ishq ka jazbaa-e-betaab nazar aayii thii

aie tarbazaar-e-jawaani ki pareshaaN titli
tu bhi ek buu-e-giraftaar hai, ma’aloom na thaa
tere jalvoN meiN bahaareiN nazar aayiiN thiiN mujhe
tu sitam-Khurdah-e-adbaar hai, ma’aloom na thaa

tere naazuk se paroN par ye zaro-seem kaa bojh
teri parwaaz ko aazaad na hone dega
tuune raahat ki tamannaa meiN jo Gham paalaa hai
vo tirii rooh ko aabaad na hone degaa

tuune sarmaaye ki chhaoN meiN panapne ke liye
apne dil, apni muhabbat ka lahoo bechaa hai
din ki taz’een-e-fasurdaa ka asaasaa lekar
raat ki shoKh masarrat ka lahoo bechaa hai

is se kyaa faaydaa rangeen labaadoN ke tale
rooh jalti rahe, galti rahe, pazmurda rahe
hoNT haNste hoN dikhaave ke tabassum ke liye
dil Gham-e-zeest se bojhil rahe, aazurdaa rahe

dil ki taskeeN bhii hai aasaaish-e-hastii ki daleel
zindagii sirf zaro-seem ka paimaanaa nahiiN
zeest ahsaas bhi hai, shauq bhi hai, dard bhi hai
sirf anfaas ki tarteeb ka afsaanaa nahiiN

umr bhar raiNgte rahne se kahiiN behtar hai
ek lamhaa jo teri rooh meiN vus’at bhar de
ek lamhaa jo tere geet ko shoKhii de de
ek lamhaa jo teri lai meiN masarrat bhar de

Glossary

naGhma-e-jaaved = everlasting song
jazba-e-betaab = a longing feeling
tarbazaar-e-jawaani = the industry (market) of youth
buu-e-giraftaar = captured perfume
sitam-Khurdah-e-adbaar = tormented by destiny
zaro-seem = gold and silver
parwaaz = flight
sarmaaye = richess
taz’een-e-fasurdaa = sad decoration — fake happiness
asaasaa = goods, property
masarrat = happiness
labaadoN = clothes
pazmurda = withered
tabassum = smile
Gham-e-zeest = sadness in life
aazurda = worried
taskeeN = satisfaction
aasaaish-e-hasti = life’s happiness
daleel = proof
zeest = life
anfaas = breath
tarteeb = arrangment
afsaana = story
vus’at = large space.. largeness, grandness

Here’s a beautiful nazm I made a recitation video for, hope you guys enjoy it.

To read this nazm, click here

Today’s Nazm, a beautiful nazm entitled “maadaam” (or english word Madam pronounced in Hindi/Urdu, phonetically to fit the meter of the nazm)

aap bewajah pareshaan sii kyoN haiN maadaam
log kahte haiN to phir Theek hi kahte hoNge
mere ahbaab ne tahzeeb na seekhi hogi
mere maahaul meiN insaan na rahte hoNge

noor-e-sarmaayaa se hai roo-e-tamaddun ki jilaa
ham jahaaN haiN vahaaN tahzeeb nahiiN pal sakti
muflisii his_se-lataafat ko miTaa deti hai
bhook aadaab ke saaNche meiN nahiiN Dhal sakti

log kahte haiN to logoN pe ta’azzub kaisaa
sach to kahte haiN ki naadaaroN kii izzat kaisi
log kahte haiN — magar aap abhi tak chup haiN
aap bhi kahiye GhariboN meiN sharaafat kaisi

nek maadaam! bahut jald vo daur aayega
jab hameiN zeest ke advaar parakhne hoNge
apni zillat ki qasam, aapki azmat ki qasam
hamko ta’azeem ke mayyaar parakhne hoNge

hamne har daur meiN tazleel sahii hai lekin
hamne har daur ke chehre ko ziyaa baKhshii hai
hamne har daur meiN mehnat ke sitam jhele haiN
hamne har daur ke haathoN ko hina baKhshii hai

lekin in talKh mubaahis se bhalaa kyaa haasil
log kahte haiN to phir Theek hi kahte hoNge
mere ehbaab ne tahzeeb na seekhii hogi
maiN jahaaN rahtaa houN insaan na rahte hoNge

Glossary
ehbaab = friends, society
tahzeeb = manners, good manners
maahaul = surroundings
noor-e-sarmaaya = from the light of wealth
roo-e-tamaddun = the face of civilization
jilaa = Sparkle, brilliance
muflisi = poverty
his_se-lataafat = soft emotions
aadaab = manners, civilized manners
ta’azzub = surprised, shock
naadaaroN = poor people
izzat = goodwill, good reputation, respect
zeest = life
advaar = value
zillat = insult
azmat = greatness
taa’zeem = respect
mayyar = levels
tazleel = insult
ziyaa = brilliance
talKh = bitter
mubaahis = debates