ترے غم کو جاں کی تلاش تھی ترے جاں نثار چلے گئے
تری رہ میں کرتے تھے سر طلب سر رہ گزار چلے گئے
فیض احمد فیض –
Tire gham ko jaaN ki talaash thii tire jaaN-nisaar chale gaye
tiri rah meiN karte thae sar talab sar-e-rahguzaar chale gaye
– Faiz Ahmad Faiz
तिरे ग़म को जाँ की तलाश थी तिरे जाँ-निसार चले गए
तिरी रह में करते थे सर तलब सर-ए-रहगुज़ार चले गए
– फ़ैज़ अहमद फ़ैज़
Photo by Sébastien Goldberg on Unsplash
Your sorrows sought life, but those who would give it have gone away
the ones who openly offered sacrifices in your name have also gone away
This sher, when translated, loses the intricate charm it holds in its original form. Faiz Ahmad Faiz, a revolutionary poet, penned this verse in a ghazal that was included in a collection, Dast-e-Tah-e-Sang, published in 1946 in India that was on its way to freedom amidst the talks of the two-nation theory. Like any other literature, poetry often reflects the socio-political mood of the time it is written in, and this ghazal by Faiz is no different. What makes this sher remarkable is its timeless relevance, resonating with our contemporary world as strongly as it did in its historical context.
In essence, the poet laments that your heartache sought acknowledgment and recognition, but those capable of providing you solace have forsaken you. Even those who openly made sacrifices in your name have departed and have abandoned you. While this sentiment might be superficially applied to a lover, a more profound exploration reveals its connection to broader themes, such as a nation experiencing a brain drain, the erosion of genuine patriotism, the loss of faith, and the loss of humanity. Conveying such depth in just two lines proves challenging, hence this detailed explanation.