Faiz’s Aaj bazaar mein pa-bajo-lan chalo … translated & explained
Another translation of Faiz rendered by a Toronto based poet – Anis Zuberi. This is a timeless poem or nazm, aaj bazaar main pa ba jolan chalo has been translated and explained below. I am also posting a video that shows Faiz reciting the poem followed by a beautiful rendition by Nayyara Noor.
Aaj bazaar main pa ba jolan chalo
aaj bazaar main pa bajolan chalo
let us walk in bazaar in shackles
Chashm-e-nam, jaan-e-shoreeda kafi nahin
wet eyes and restless soul is not enough
Tohmat-e-ishq-posheeda kafi nahin
being charged for nurturing concealed love is not enough
aaj bazaar main pa-bajolan chalo
let us walk in bazaar in shackles
Dast afshan chalo, mast-o-raqsan chalo
let us go with afshan in hand, in trance and dancing
Khak bar sar chalo, khoon badaman chalo
go with dust on head and blood on garb
Rah takta hai sub shehr-e-janaan chalo
Go as the city of my beloved is waiting
Hakim-e-shehr bhi, majma-e-aam bhi
City’s ruler and crowd of commoners
Teer-e-ilzam bhi, sang-e-dushnam bhi
arrow of false charge, stone of accusation
Subh-e-nashaad bhi, roz-e-naakaam bhi
morning of sorrow, day of failure
Unka dum-saaz apnay siwa kaun hai
who is their friend except me
Shehr-e-janaan main ab baa-sifa kaun hai
who is untainted in the city of beloved
Dast-e-qatil kay shayan raha kaun hai
who deserve the killers or executioners hand
Rakht-e-dil bandh lo, dil figaro chalo
get ready for the journey of heart, go wounded heart
Phir hameen qatl ho aain yaro chalo
let me go to be executed
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ara199ZUiKQ]
In addition to vocabulary, Urdu poetry has also acquired its richness from Persian. Perhaps similarities in culture and religion also helped our poetry to absorb Persian traditions. As an example see following Persian couplet:
Mayan-e ma o zahid een qadur ber farq daa
Ke mun der ko chau bazaar o der khana me raqsadi
Translation: (The only difference between me and zahid (a pious man) is that I dance in bazaar and streets and he dances within the four walls of his home).
Here the word raqs includes all those acts that society regards as sin. However, the real beauty lies in the meaning that is beyond words. We both are sinners; the difference is that I sin openly and he (who is called pious) sins quietly. One can also say that he is admitting that he is a sinner but zahid is not only a sinner but also a hypocrite. He is saying that the world knows what he is but does not know what zahid is. No matter how you try to understand the poet is expressing a deep disdain for munafiqat and deceitfulness.
I do no know Persian but have quoted it as an example as to how Urdu poetry has borrowed depth and rich traditions from Persian. There are two words in the Persian couplet that I have quoted that Faiz’s has also used: Bazaar and raqs. Incidentally both words symbolize more or less similar meaning in Urdu as well as Persian verses.
The poem’s literal meaning is easy to appreciate. If someone does not understand a word or two then dictionary would help. However, the poem’s beauty is wrapped in a language of symbols, references, metaphors and similes. The theme of the poem is defiance as against compliance and submissiveness. There is a burning desire in a confined soul to be free of restrictions, exploitation and injustice.
In the first seven lines he is referring to love that could be a personal affair and nothing to do with the society at large. But a little reflection would reveal that the real meaning is different then superficial meaning. He is willing to face public ridicule and wrath of the powerful for his love. Wet eye and restive soul are the symbol of endurance in silence as against walking in shackles, dancing in bazaar and blood on garb is a sign of defiance. As if he can not endure to suffer in silence any more. He is sick and tired of the restraints and limits placed by the society and by those who have power; political masters, social order, age old traditions, the religious establishment and the society at large.
The poet’s path takes an obvious turn from the eighth line when he talks of the ruler and the crowd; a symbol of power, established order and manipulation of commoners by ruler or moulvi. The imagery is extremely powerful. How he is made a target of falsehood. Though he fights, he is also full of sadness because he knows that truth will not prevail. That is why he talks of morning of sorrow and of day full of grief in the tenth line.
However, he does not let his sorrow overcome the purpose he has set for himself: to fight for the dispossessed. Here it is important to keep in mind who is he referring to when he said unka in eleventh line; clearly unka includes all downtrodden, exploited and deprived. When he says who is their friend except me, he is in fact grieving that all those who could take a stand are now corrupted and he does not find a single pure soul (ba-sifa). Hence, he feels that he is left to fight against injustice. Finally he gets ready to offer the supreme sacrifice.
References to concealed love and city of beloved should not be confused with poetry of ordinary love in the traditional sense. As love is symbol of purity and a true lover can not be a hypocrite that is why he has used that symbol. His main theme is to fight against injustice and repressive forces of the society.
Courtesy Junaid.
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Beautiful poetry…
Absolutely wonderful. This is another poem that I love, and here so beautifully expalined! thanks Raza for bringing so much beauty and thoughtfulness in to our lives.
“Rakht-e-dil bandh lo, dil figaro chalo” ….. what a beautiful thought rendered !
Thanks Raza !
this poetry by faiz is just awesome
Dear All: Many thanks for visiting.
I am actually thankful to Junaid who shares these translations and rather interesting explanations that put the poem and verses in context.
While I post it here, I refresh my memory as well learn about the nuances that one is likely to miss
Vanity and sensitivity .. a revolutionary
This is one of my all time favourite Nazms. In Merchant Ivory’s movie ‘In Custody’, this was picturised beautifully. I don’t remember who sung it but Shashi Kapoor acting as veteran poet Noor Shahjehanabadi did great justice. Have you seen that movie?
Thanks Raj
Adnan: Yes I have seen the Merchant Ivory film. It was a good film. However, the best rendition of this poem is by Nayyara Noor – I have added that to the post. Hope you will like it.
cheers
Raza
Dear Raza, Thank you so very much ….. Faiz has the ability to hit the right chords..the subject matter and the way he hadles it simply bowls one over. Each time I read his poetry I learn something from it … I had requested Zuberi sb for translation and bit of explanation alongside because I know of people who are actually interested in poetry but find it difficult to understand, grasp and get there. I am most thankful to you for posting it on your beautiful site…that way this work has reached out and enriched so many lives.
cheers jz
Translation:
The crying eyes, the clamorous spirit – not enough;
the incrimination of concealed love – not enough;
lets walk in the bazaar with shackles around,
dancing and flapping hands up an down,
with a dusty head and sleeves blood-stained,
everyone awaits in the land of my beloved.
The ruler of the city, the masses imbued,
the arrow of accuse, the stone of abuse;
the saddening day, the failing time,
who besides us is their true friend?
Who is dignified in my beloved’s land?
Whose worthy of being beheaded by the executioner’s hand?
Pick up your encumbered hearts, sad ones,
the time for our execution beckons.
Hassaan bin Shaheen!
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Hi,
I think you’ve accidentally switched the lines “Teer e Ilzam” and “Subh e Nashaad”
Hi. Tried my hand at translating this amazingly beautiful nazm. Here it is.
Wet eyes and a soul in turmoil are no longer enough
Nor is a quiet, hidden acceptance of the charge of loving
Today, walk the streets boldly with your feet in chains
Walk with your hands spread, walk entranced, dance your way through
Let there be dust on your head and blood on your hem
Walk, for the whole city of the beloved has turned out to watch you
The high and the mighty, the commoners and the poor
The unhappy morn, and a dispiriting day
The arrows of slander, and the stones of slurs
Who is their friend but me
Who is left pure in this city of the beloved
Who else so right for the sword of the executioner
Gather up then the burdens of the heart, O wounded-hearted
Let us offer ourselves, again, for the ultimate sacrifice.
well sung,to address multitudes of voice less.At least it is enough to create anew social and political conciousness.
Hard worked trnslation,but then’languages are jealous, they do not give theit treasure unless you court them by heart’
Faiz you are alive!
[...] undertaken by Mr. Anis Zuberi and contributed by JZ for this blog. Earlier posts can be found here here and [...]
[...] 83-612-… http://www.gladescountyedc.com/Newsletters/ENewsletter.pdf [Encontrado en Google] Faiz's Aaj bazaar mein pa-bajo-lan chalo… 19 Mar 2008 … undertaken by Mr. Anis Zuberi and contributed by JZ for this blog. … Published [...]
[...] ??ो— ?़ै?़ ???? ?़ै?़Check Jahane Rumi's webpage for translation and explanation;Video Weblink of the Poetry Reading by Faiz [...]
[...] ma o zahid een qadur ber farq daaKe mun der ko chau bazaar o der khana me raqsadi http://www.razarumi.com/2008/03/19/aaj-bazaar-main-pa-ba-jolan-chalo-translated-explained/ [...]
[...] based poet – Anis Zuberi. … Comment on Basant Moods – Lahore and Beyond by naeem naeem … [ http://www.razarumi.com [...]
[...] Open the original page [...]
[...] Heavily Persianized Urdu….for a reasonable translation, click here. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Aaj bazaar main pa ba jolan chalo [...]
A very very wholesome and comprehensive of Faiz Sb’s AAJ BAZAAR MAIN PABAJOLAN CHALO. I liked this poetry a lot and also liked the way it has been sung by Nayyara Noor. However, I never understood it more clearly before n sure now with its translation it goes straight deep in my heart and takes me to the cosmic world.
Thanks, love n best wishes Raza Rumi Sahib
[...] Lyrics via here: [...]
Salmaan Taseer Shaheed’s supreme sacrifice has made this poem eternal.