Ahmed Faraz

Ahmed Faraz

Ahmed Faraz was born in Nowshera (Pakistan) on January 14, 1931. One of the leading contemporary poets, Ahmed Faraz has a simple style of writing with which the common man can identify with. Ethnically a Pathan, Ahmed Faraz studied Persian and Urdu at the Peshawar University. Outspoken about politics, he went into self-imposed exile during the Zia-ul-Haq regime after he was arrested for reciting certain poems at a mushaira. He stayed for three years in Britain, Canada and Europe before returning to Pakistan where he remained chairperson of the Islamabad-based Pakistan Book Foundation for several years. Maintaining a tradition established by his mentor, the revolutionary Faiz, he wrote some of his best poetry during those days in exile.

Phir Usi Raaguzar par

phir usii raahguzar par shaayad

ham kabhii mil sakeN, magar shaayad

(raahguzar : pathways)

jaan pehchaan se bhii kyaa hoga

aphir bhii ai dost Ghaur kar, shaayad

(Ghaur : attention)

muntazir jin ke ham rahe un ko

mil gaye aur ham-safar shaayad

(muntazir : waiting)
jo bhii bichhRe haiN kab mile haiN “Faraz”

phir bhii tuu intizaar kar shaayad

(intizaar : to wait)

Ahmed Faraz

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Ab Ke Jo Hum Bichhre to Shayad

ab ke ham bichhRe to shaayad kabhii KhvaaboN meN mileN

jis tarah suukhe hu’e phuul kitaaboN meN mileN

(bichhRe : part company; Khvaab : dreams; suukhe : dry)

DhuuNDh ujRe hu’e logoN meN vafaa ke motii

ye Khazaane tujhe mumkin hai KharaaboN meN mileN

(ujRe : ruined; motii : pearls; mumkin : possible; Kharaab : blemish)

tuu Khudaa hai na meraa ishq farishtoN jaisaa

donoN insaaN haiN to kyuN itne hijaaboN meN mileN

(farishtoN: angels; hijaab : veil)

Gham-e-duniyaa bhii Gham-e-yaar meN shaamil kar lo

nashaa baRhtaa hai sharabeN jo sharaaboN meN mileN

(Gham-e-duniyaa : mondane sufferings; Gham-e-yaar : sufferings due to beloved;

shaamil : incorporate; nashaa : intoxication; sharaabeN : wines)

aaj ham daar pe kheNche gaye jin baatoN par

kyaa ajab kal vo zamaane ko nisaaboN meN mileN

(daar : gallows; ajab : surprise; zamaane : era; nisaaboN : benchmarks )

ab na vo maiN huN na tuu hai na vo maazii hai “Faraaz”

jaise do saaye tamannaa ke saraaboN meN mileN

(maazii : past; saaye : shadows; tamannaa : desire; saraab : illusion, mirage)

Ahmed Faraz

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Hum To Yun Khush The ke

ham to yuN Khush the ke ek taar gariibaan meN hai

kyaa khabar thii ke bahaar uske bhi armaan meN hai

ek zarb aur bhii ai zindagii tesha-e-badast

saaNs lene kii sakat ab bhii merii jaan meN hai

maiN tujhe kho ke bhi zindaa huN, ye dekhaa tuune

kis qadar hoaslaa haare hue insaan meN hai

faasile qurb ke sholon ko havaa dete hain !

main tere shh’r se duur aur tuu mere dhyaan meN hai

sar diivaar farozaaN hai, hai abhii ek chiraaG

ai naseem-e-sahrii ! kuch tere imkaan meN hai

dil dhaRakne kii sadaa aatii hai gaahe gaahe

jaise ab bhii terii aavaaz mere kaan meN hai

khalqat-e-shah’r ke har zulm ke bawasaaf “Faraz”

haaye vo haath ke apne hii gariibaan meN hai

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