Maa...

Here is one of my first poems. Written in 1999, when Hindi was still a new language for me.

These were the times when I first left my home and had gone to the engineering college.

Javed Akhtar's Poem for Mother Teresa

This poem completely reflects an ideology that a common man can identify with.

Javed Akhtar has to be appreciated for showing such amazing dexterity in Serious Social Poems, Romantic Movie songs as well as prose. Do buy a copy of "Quiver" his book containing this poetry. The book was also recited by him in a 2-cassette album called Tarkash.

My Favourite Poem From My favourite Album

Javed Akhtar at his best. I have loved this poem for years now.

Jo jo na sajavta kaanch na sapna tamari aankhon ma...

This one is for my friend Ram.

I remember Signing his autograph book with 4 lines, 2 of my own and 2 lines (I am not sure who wrote it) that made me think of poetry as a medium of expression.

The one that startedd my love for poetry is,

Koi Na Uday Ma Hu Thai Jau Asht, Evu Shadbhagya Hoi kyathi,
Pame na Koi Asht Mara Uday Na tane, Bas etluj chahu chhu.

(Kisi ke uday ke lie ho jau mein Asht, Kaha hogi itni sadnaseebi (meri),
Koi na ho jaye Asht Mere Uday ke samay pe, Bas itna hi chahta hu. )


And the 2 lines from me that I truly believe in were :

Jo Jo na Sajavta Kaach na Sapna tamari aankhon ma,
Jo tutse koi swapn to khuch se tamari aankhon ma.

(Dekho na sajana kaanch ke sapne tumhari aankhon mein,
Gar tuta jo koi sapna to khuchega tumhari aankhon mein).

Gani Dhaiwala - Gujarati Ghazals

For those who have liked the Gujarati Language for long but have not keenly followed the great works in the form of Poetry called Ghazals, here are 2 of very best of Gani Dahiwala :

(This song was originally sung by Mohd. Rafi)

(Have translated this in Hindi to keep the poetic essence alive)

Divaso Judai Na Jai Chhe
E Jase Jaroor Milan Sudhi,
Maro Haath Jali Ne Lai Jase,
Mujh Satruo J Swajan Sudhi.

(Din Judai ke ja rahe hai,
Zaroor Jayenge ye Milan Tak,
Mera Haath thaam ke le jayenge,
Mere Shatru hi (mere) Swajan tak)

Na Dhara Sudhi Na Gagan Sudhi,
Nahi Unnati Na Patan Sudhi,
Fakat Apne To Javu Hatu,
Are Ek Mek Na Man Sudhi.

(Na Dhara Tak Na hi Gagan tak,
Na Unnati Na Patan Tak,
Bas hum to jana chahte the,
Yuhi Ek Dusre ke Man tak.)

Tame Raank Na Chho Ratan Sama,
Na Malo Ey Aansoon Dhool Ma,
Jo Araj Kabool Ho Atli,
To Hriday thi Jao Nayan Sudhi

(Aap kisi gareeb ke ho ratno jaise,
Aye Aansoon Na Milo yu dhool Mein,
Agar itni si Araj kabool ho,
To Jao Hriday se Nayan Tak)

Tame Raaj-Rani Na Cheer Sam,
Ame Rank Naar Ni Chundadi,
Tame Tan Par raho ghadi-be-ghadi,
Ame Saath Daie Kafan Sudhi.

(Aap Ho Raaj Rani ke Kapdo Jaise,
Hum Chunari, gareeb naari ki,
Aap Tan pe rehte Ghadi-do-ghadi,
Hum saath Dete Kafan tak.)

Jo Hriday Ni Aag Vadhi Gani,
To Khud Eeshware J Krupa Kari,
Koi Shwaas Bandh Kari Gayu,
Ke Pawan Na Jaye Agan Sudhi.

(Gani, Jab Hriday ke aag itni badhi,
To Khud Eshwar ne hi ye Kripa Kari,
Koi Shwaas (Hamare) bandh Kar Gaya,
Ke Ye Hawa Na Jaye Us Aag tak)

(The second song that I like was sung by Hemant Kumar, very Romantic)

Tamara Ahi Aaj Pagla Thavana,
Chaman Ma Badha Ne Khabar Thayi Gayi Chhe,
Jhukavi Chhe Gardan Badhi Daaliyo E,
Phoolo Ni Ye Neechi Najar Thayi Gayi Chhe.

(Aapke kadam aaj Yaha Padenge,
Sab Ko Chaman mein Khabar Ho Chali Hai,
Jhukadi Hai Gardan Harek Dali ne,
Phoolo Ki bhi neechi Nazar ho chali hai)

Sharam Ne Kahi Do Saghalu Juey Chhey
Kadi Paandiyon Na Padde Rahi Ney
Kharu Jo Kahi Daun To Vaatavaran Par
Tamaara Nayan Ni Asar Thayi Gayi Chhey

(Sharm Ko Kehdo ke Sab kuch Dekhti hai,
Kali aur Patto ka Parda bana kar,
Sach agar jo Kehdu to Mausam pe,
Aapki Aankhon ki Asar ho chali hai)

Upasthit Tamey Chho To Laage Chhey Upavan
Kalakaar Nu Chitra Sampoorna Jaaney
Tamey Jo Na Ho To Badha Kahi Uthe Ke
Vidhaata To Koi Kasar Thayi Gayi Chhey

(Aap Ke hone se lagta hai ye Gulshan,
Kalakar ka jaise Koi Sampoorna Chitra,
Agar Aap na ho to Sab Keh uthenge,
Vidhaata se koi Kasar reh gai hai )

Maa..... Nida Fazli

Yesterday I had gone to a poetry recitation which turned out to be a disaster for me as i had to listen to 150 min of Marathi poetry without understanding a single word of it. But for 30 min my favourite Hindi / Urdu shayar Nida Fazli and a Gujarati poet Meghbindu were on stage and they talked about "Mother", Liked their poetry and would like to put the one by Nida Fazli over here.
(Pankaj Udhas has sung this in one of his albums):


Besan ki sondhi roti par,
Khatti Chatni Jaisi Maa,
Yaad Aati hai Chauka-baasan,
Chimta Fukani jaisi Maa...

Baas Ki Khurri khaat ke upar,
Har Aahat pe kaan dhare,
Aadhi Soi, Aadhi Jaagi,
Thaki Dopahari jaisi Maa.

Chidiyo ke chehkar mein gunje,
Radha-Mohan Ali Ali,
Murge ki aawaz se khulti,
Ghar ki kundi jaisi Maa.

Biwi, Beti Behan Padosan,
Thodi Thodi si sab mein,
Din bhar ek rassi ke upar,
Chalti Natni jaisi Maa.

Baant ke apna Chehra Maatha,
Aankhen Jane kahan gai,
Fate Purane Ek Aalbum mein,
Chanchal ladki jaisi Maa.


Another song that I am getting reminded of, thinking of "Maa" is the one by Sagarika, I thought this too had great lyrics :(I think lyricist for this too is Nida Fazli)

Dhoop Mein Chaaya Jaise,
Pyaas Mein Dariya Jaise,
Tan Mein Jeevan Jaise,
Man Mein Darpan Jaise,

Haath Duaaon Waale Roshan Kare Ujaale,
Phool Pe Jaise Shabnam, Saans Mein Jaise Sargam,
Prem Ki Moorat Daya Ki Surat ,
Aise Aur Kahaan Hai ,Jaisi Meri Maa Hai...

Jab Bhi Andhera Cha Jaye
Woh Deepak Ban Jaaye ,
Jab Ik Akeli Raat Sataye,
Woh Sapna Ban Jaaye,
Andar Neer Bahaye ,
Baahar Se Muskaye,
Kaaya Woh Paavan Si,Mathura-Vrindavan Jaisi,
Jiske Darshan Mein Ho Bhagwan ,
Aisi Aur Kahaan Hai,Jaisi Meri Maa Hai....

If anyone has heard this, he would agree that it has been beautifully sung by Sagarika.

Another two lines Doha on how Mothers know how there children is (by Nida Fazli saab again) says :

Main Roya Pardes Mein,
Bhiga Maa Ka Pyaar,
Dukh ne Dukh Se Baat Ki,
Bin Chhiti Bin Taar.

One more similar short but great work of Nidaji says :


Ghaas Pe khelta ek bachha,
Paas Maa Muskurati Hai,
Mujhko Hairat hai Kyo Duniya,
Kaaba aur Somnath Jaati hai.

My favourite verses By Mariz...

Aaje aa kem swarg ma gamtu nathi mane!!
Avya hase kadach e mari kabar sudhi.

(why am i not liking to be in heaven today?
I think she has visited my grave)

----------
Man dukh thase jarama ke urmi pradhan chhu,
Tari Badhiye vaat mane janva na de.

(Being sentimental my heart might get hurt,
Please dont let me know all your secrets)

----------------

Mohabbat na dukh ni e antim had chhe,
Mane mari premad maa yaad avi.

( That was the end of the sorrow of love for me,
I remembered my kind mother.)

-------------

Ghana varsh pachhi avya chho, eno e puravo chhe,
Je mehandi haath ane pag par hati te kesh par lagi.

(You have come to me after years, has a proof,
the Heena that i saw last in your hands, is now on your hairs)

--------------

Tode vade chhe koini diwangee upar,
duniya ma lok keva milansaar hoi chhe.

( See, everyone is mobbing for his madness (for you),
how Sociableare the people of this world? )


--------------

kalpana ma rakhde chhe jetli rekha roop ni,
jya karu chhu sangathit, tari chaabi thai jai chhe.

(All the roaming lines of beauty in my mind,
when i try to bring together, forms your picture).

---------------

Duniya ma e ne sodh, itihaas ma na jo,
farta rahe chhe kaik paygambar kahya vina.

(search him in the world and not in the history,
Many paigambars are moving around (you)quietly )

--------------

Vastuo bin jaroor ni sobhe chhe tari yaad ma,
vyarth samay nu naam prem ma intezar chhe

(useless things looks beautiful remembering you,
Idle time in love is known as longing. )

Lambi chhe jindagi chhata tuki banine rahi gai,
be tran prasang ma ahi aakha jeevan no saar chhe.

(Life has been long still it has become a shorter (describe)
The crux of my life lies in two or three incidences)

------------------

Mujh par sitam kari gaya mari Gazal na sher,
Vaanchi ne rahe chhe e bija na khayal ma.

(The verses of my Gazal have been tormenting me,
Reading it, she keeps on thinking about someone else)

-------------------

rubaru ma eni same em jovayu nahi,
jevi rite jovu chhu hu emni tasveer ne.

(In person, i could not look at her in that way,
the way in which i keep on looking at her picture)

-----------

daad no abhar kintu ek shikayat chhe mane,
mara dil ni vaat ne te shayari samji lidhi.

(Thanks afor the appreciation but i have one complain,
you misunderstood the feelings of my heart as poetry).


Koik veda kaik muddat ne kashi mani nathi,
koi veda ek pad ne jindagi samji lidhi.

(at times, i did not think anything about even a period of time ,
at times i thought that single moment to be my life)

-----------------------

chhe ek mashkari eni, kuran hoi ke geeta,
Samay vachvano na de keetab aapi ne.

(It is mockery of it, whether it be Qoran or Geeta,
Give the book and not the time to read )

------------------------

ho gurjari ni oath ke urdu ni O mariz,
Gazalo fakat lakhay chhe dilni zaban ma

(Whether Mariz swears on it in Gujarti or Urdu,
Gazals are written only in the language of heart)

--------------

Gagan ma aa jagah khali nathi ema lapaya chhe,
chamakva ni raja madti nathi je aftabo ne.

(This space in the sky, is not empty but it has hid,
the suns who where not permitted to shine )

Banavat roop ni pan roop no aadhar mange chhe,
sughad ane swatchh kagad joi nakali gulab ne.

(Imitation of beauty also asks for the base of beauty,
artificial roses also wants clean papers to make itself)

hasino ne mein hamesha joya chhe evi udasi thi,
rasik je rite joya kare chhe monghi kitabo ne.

(I have always looked gloomily at beautiful females,
In a way which Admirer looks at costly books)

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