We shall see
it is certain that we will
the day that was promised
the day which is destined
When the mountains of tyranny and oppression
will float away like cotton balls
we the ruled and oppressed will hear
our heartbeats pounding under the earth
and the sky over the heads of our oppressors
will echo with thunder and lightening
When from the home of God
silent spectators and icons of falsehood are dismissed
we who are pure of hearts, and who were denied the holy sanctuary
will be given a high platform
The crowns will be seized
and the thrones will be overturned
There will be only one name that of almighty
the one who can not be seen but is everywhere
He is the spectacle and He is the spectator
A cry of “I am the truth” will rise
Which you are, and so am I
The sons of God will rule this land
which you are, and so am I
Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Member of the Order of the British Empire, Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Lenin Peace Prize awardee, was an influential left-wing intellectual, revolutionary poet, and one of the most regarded poets of the Urdu language, being considered four times for the Nobel Prize in poetry. (Source : Wikipedia)
He wrote ‘Aaj baazar mein pa ba jaulan chalo’ in 1959 when he was imprisoned under Ayub Khan’s martial law. He was taken to the Lahore fort’s torture cell passing through the streets of Lahore in a horse driven cart with his fetters on. Here’s the complete Nazm along with meanings.
Aaj baazar mein paa-ba-jaulan chalo (paa-ba-jaulan – shackles on feet, like a prisoner)
Chashm-e-nam, jaan-e-shoreeda kaafi nahin (Chashm-e-nam-saltiness of tears, jaan-e-shoreeda – distressed soul )
Tohmat-e-ishq-e-posheeda baqi nahin (posheeda – hidden)
Aaj baazar mein paa-ba-jaulan chalo
Dast-e-afshaan chalo, mast-o-raqsaan chalo (dast-e-afshaan – swinging hans, mast-o-raqsaan – dancing in trance)
Khaak-bar-sar chalo, khoon-ba-damaan chalo (khaak bar sar – kicking the dust, khoon-ba-daman- blood on sleeves)
Raah takta hai sab shahr-e-janaan chalo (shahar-e-jaana – beloved city)
Aaj baazar mein paa-ba-jaulan chalo
Haakim-e-shahar bhi, majma-e-aam bhi
Teer-e-ilzaam bhi, sang-e-dushnaam bhi (sang-e-dushnam – the stones on road)
Subh-e-nashaad bhi, roz-e-nakaam bhi (roz-e-nakaam -unsucessful day)
Aaj baazar mein paa-ba-jaulan chalo
In ka damsaaz apne siwa kaun hai (damsaaz – friend)
Shahr-e-jaanan mein ab ba-safa kaun hai (ba-safa – sincere)
Dast-e-qaatil ke shaayan raha kaun hai (dast – hand, shaayan – extending)
Rakht-e-dil baandh lo, dil figaaro chalo (dil figara – broken hearted)
Phir hamin qatl ho aayen yaaro chalo.
Aaj baazar mein paa-ba-jaulan chalo
— Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Here’s a rough translation of the Nazm
Stride today in the bazaar despite shackled feet
Salty tears in eyes and a distressed soul is not enough
Accusations of a clandestine love are not enough
Stride today in the bazaar despite shackled feet
Swing your arms, Stride merrily, feet dancing
head and hair covered with dust, clothes stained with blood
Come, your beloved city is waiting for you
Stride today in the bazaar despite shackled feet
Rulers and common people (do if for the rulers and commoners of your beloved city)
(arrows of) slanders and (stones of) insult (so what if you get slanders and insult)
depressing mornings, unsuccessful day (do it despite depressing mornings and unproductive day)
Stride today in bazaar despite shackled feet
Who is there for them if not you?
who in your beloved city can still be trusted?
who is capable of murder?
stop the rhythm of the heart, walk broken hearted
let us be murdered (martyrs), come my friend,
Stride today in the bazaar despite shackled feet
There was a movie called “In Custody” based on a novel by Anita Desai which used Faiz’s ghazals and Nazms. Here’s a video from the movie.
