Yaad-e-Raftagan

wo koi dost tha achchhe dinon ka jo pichhli raat se yaad aa raha hai

mil hi jaega kabhi dil ko yaqin rahta hai

mil hi jaega kabhi dil ko yaqin rahta hai vo isi shahr ki galiyon men kahin rahta hai jis ki sanson se mahakte the dar-o-bam tire ai makan bol kahan ab vo makin rahta hai ik zamana tha ki sab ek jagah rahte the aur ab koi kahin koi kahin rahta hai roz milne pe bhi lagta tha ki jug biit gae ishq men vaqt ka ehsas nahin rahta hai dil fasurda to hua dekh ke us ko lekin umr bhar kaun javan kaun hasin rahta hai mil hi jaega kabhi dil ko yaqin rahta hai wo isi shahr ki galiyon mein kahin rahta hai jis ki sanson se mahakte the dar-o-baam tere ai makan bol kahan ab wo makin rahta hai ek zamana tha ki sab ek jagah rahte the aur ab koi kahin koi kahin rahta hai roz milne pe bhi lagta tha ki jug bit gae ishq mein waqt ka ehsas nahin rahta hai dil fasurda to hua dekh ke us ko lekin umr bhar kaun jawan kaun hasin rahta hai

jaane wale kabhi nahin aate jaane walon ki yaad aati hai

wo sahilon pe gane wale kya hue

vo sahilon pe gaane vaale kya hue vo kashtiyan chalane vaale kya hue vo subh aate aate rah gai kahan jo qafile the aane vaale kya hue main un ki raah dekhta huun raat bhar vo raushni dikhane vaale kya hue ye kaun log hain mire idhar udhar vo dosti nibhane vaale kya hue vo dil men khubne vaali ankhen kya huiin vo hont muskurane vaale kya hue imaraten to jal ke raakh ho gaiin imaraten banane vaale kya hue akele ghar se puchhti hai be-kasi tira diya jalane vaale kya hue ye aap ham to bojh hain zamin ka zamin ka bojh uthane vaale kya hue wo sahilon pe gane wale kya hue wo kashtiyan chalane wale kya hue wo subh aate aate rah gai kahan jo qafile the aane wale kya hue main un ki rah dekhta hun raat bhar wo raushni dikhane wale kya hue ye kaun log hain mere idhar udhar wo dosti nibhane wale kya hue wo dil mein khubne wali aankhen kya huin wo hont muskurane wale kya hue imaraten to jal ke rakh ho gain imaraten banane wale kya hue akele ghar se puchhti hai be-kasi tera diya jalane wale kya hue ye aap hum to bojh hain zamin ka zamin ka bojh uthane wale kya hue

wo raaten chand ke sath gain wo baaten chand ke sath gain ab sukh ke sapne kya dekhen jab dukh ka suraj sar par ho

main dhundta hun jise wo jahan nahin milta

main dhundta huun jise vo jahan nahin milta nai zamin naya asman nahin milta nai zamin naya asman bhi mil jaae nae bashar ka kahin kuchh nishan nahin milta vo teghh mil gai jis se hua hai qatl mira kisi ke haath ka us par nishan nahin milta vo mera gaanv hai vo mere gaanv ke chulhe ki jin men shole to shole dhuan nahin milta jo ik khuda nahin milta to itna matam kyuun yahan to koi mira ham-zaban nahin milta khada huun kab se main chehron ke ek jangal men tumhare chehre ka kuchh bhi yahan nahin milta main dhundta hun jise wo jahan nahin milta nai zamin naya aasman nahin milta nai zamin naya aasman bhi mil jae nae bashar ka kahin kuchh nishan nahin milta wo tegh mil gai jis se hua hai qatl mera kisi ke hath ka us par nishan nahin milta wo mera ganw hai wo mere ganw ke chulhe ki jin mein shole to shole dhuan nahin milta jo ek khuda nahin milta to itna matam kyun yahan to koi mera ham-zaban nahin milta khada hun kab se main chehron ke ek jangal mein tumhaare chehre ka kuchh bhi yahan nahin milta

jinhen hum dekh kar jite the 'nasir' wo log aankhon se ojhal ho gae hain

ab wo ghar ek virana tha bas virana zinda tha

ab vo ghar ik virana tha bas virana zinda tha sab ankhen dam tod chuki thiin aur main tanha zinda tha saari gali sunsan padi thi bad-e-fana ke pahre men hijr ke dalan aur angan men bas ik saaya zinda tha vo jo kabutar us mukhe men rahte the kis des ude ek ka naam navazinda tha aur ik ka bazinda tha vo dopahr apni rukhsat ki aisa-vaisa dhoka thi apne andar apni laash uthae main jhuta zinda tha thiin vo ghar raten bhi kahani vaade aur phir din ginna aana tha jaane vaale ko jaane vaala zinda tha dastak dene vaale bhi the dastak sunne vaale bhi tha abad mohalla saara har darvaza zinda tha piile patton ko sah-pahr ki vahshat pursa deti thi angan men ik aundhe ghade par bas ik kavva zinda tha ab wo ghar ek virana tha bas virana zinda tha sab aankhen dam tod chuki thin aur main tanha zinda tha sari gali sunsan padi thi baad-e-fana ke pahre mein hijr ke dalan aur aangan mein bas ek saya zinda tha wo jo kabutar us mukhe mein rahte the kis des ude ek ka nam nawazinda tha aur ek ka bazinda tha wo dopahr apni rukhsat ki aisa-waisa dhoka thi apne andar apni lash uthae main jhuta zinda tha thin wo ghar raaten bhi kahani wade aur phir din ginna aana tha jaane wale ko jaane wala zinda tha dastak dene wale bhi the dastak sunne wale bhi tha aabaad mohalla sara har darwaza zinda tha pile patton ko sah-pahr ki wahshat pursa deti thi aangan mein ek aundhe ghade par bas ek kawwa zinda tha

ab yaad-e-raftagan ki bhi himmat nahin rahi yaron ne kitni dur basai hain bastiyan the couplet mourns how time and distance weaken even the courage to revisit the past. “remembering the departed” is shown as an act that itself needs stamina, because it reopens wounds. the far-off “settlements” of friends become a metaphor for emotional and life-distance: people have moved on, leaving the speaker stranded with loss and helpless longing.

hum aandhiyon ke ban mein kisi karwan ke the

ham andhiyon ke ban men kisi karvan ke the jaane kahan se aae hain jaane kahan ke the ai jan-e-dastan tujhe aaya kabhi khayal vo log kya hue jo tiri dastan ke the ham tere astan pe ye kahne ko aae hain vo khaak ho gae jo tire astan ke the mil kar tapak se na hamen kijiye udaas khatir na kijiye kabhi ham bhi yahan ke the kya puchhte ho nam-o-nishan-e-musafiran hindostan men aae hain hindostan ke the ab khaak ud rahi hai yahan intizar ki ai dil ye bam-o-dar kisi jan-e-jahan ke the ham kis ko den bhala dar-o-divar ka hisab ye ham jo hain zamin ke na the asman ke the ham se chhina hai naf-piyala tira miyan goya azal se ham saf-e-lab-tishnagan ke the ham ko haqiqaton ne kiya hai kharab-o-khvar ham khvab-e-khvab aur guman-e-guman ke the sad-yad-e-yad 'jaun' vo hangam-e-dil ki jab ham ek gaam ke na the par haft-khvan ke the vo rishta-ha-e-zat jo barbad ho gae mere guman ke the ki tumhare guman ke the hum aandhiyon ke ban mein kisi karwan ke the jaane kahan se aae hain jaane kahan ke the ai jaan-e-dastan tujhe aaya kabhi khayal wo log kya hue jo teri dastan ke the hum tere aastan pe ye kahne ko aae hain wo khak ho gae jo tere aastan ke the mil kar tapak se na hamein kijiye udas khatir na kijiye kabhi hum bhi yahan ke the kya puchhte ho nam-o-nishan-e-musafiran hindostan mein aae hain hindostan ke the ab khak ud rahi hai yahan intizar ki ai dil ye baam-o-dar kisi jaan-e-jahan ke the hum kis ko den bhala dar-o-diwar ka hisab ye hum jo hain zamin ke na the aasman ke the hum se chhina hai naf-piyala tera miyan goya azal se hum saf-e-lab-tishnagan ke the hum ko haqiqaton ne kiya hai kharab-o-khwar hum khwab-e-khwab aur guman-e-guman ke the sad-yaad-e-yaad 'jaun' wo hangam-e-dil ki jab hum ek gam ke na the par haft-khwan ke the wo rishta-ha-e-zat jo barbaad ho gae mere guman ke the ki tumhaare guman ke the

ek zamana tha ki sab ek jagah rahte the aur ab koi kahin koi kahin rahta hai

us sham wo rukhsat ka saman yaad rahega

us shaam vo rukhsat ka saman yaad rahega vo shahr vo kucha vo makan yaad rahega vo tiis ki ubhri thi idhar yaad rahegi vo dard ki uttha tha yahan yaad rahega ham shauq ke shole ki lapak bhuul bhi jaaen vo sham-e-fasurda ka dhuan yaad rahega haan bazm-e-shabana men hama-shauq jo us din ham the tiri janib nigaran yaad rahega kuchh 'mir' ke abyat the kuchh 'faiz' ke misre ik dard ka tha jin men bayan yaad rahega ankhon men sulagti hui vahshat ke jilau men vo hairat o hasrat ka jahan yaad rahega jan-bakhsh si us barg-e-gul-e-tar ki taravat vo lams-e-aziz-e-do-jahan yaad rahega ham bhuul sake hain na tujhe bhuul sakenge tu yaad rahega hamen haan yaad rahega us sham wo rukhsat ka saman yaad rahega wo shahr wo kucha wo makan yaad rahega wo tis ki ubhri thi idhar yaad rahegi wo dard ki uttha tha yahan yaad rahega hum shauq ke shole ki lapak bhul bhi jaen wo sham-e-fasurda ka dhuan yaad rahega han bazm-e-shabana mein hama-shauq jo us din hum the teri jaanib nigaran yaad rahega kuchh 'mir' ke abyat the kuchh 'faiz' ke misre ek dard ka tha jin mein bayan yaad rahega aankhon mein sulagti hui wahshat ke jilau mein wo hairat o hasrat ka jahan yaad rahega jaan-bakhsh si us barg-e-gul-e-tar ki tarawat wo lams-e-aziz-e-do-jahan yaad rahega hum bhul sake hain na tujhe bhul sakenge tu yaad rahega hamein han yaad rahega

sab kahan kuchh lala-o-gul mein numayan ho gain khak mein kya suraten hongi ki pinhan ho gain ghalib reflects on the cycle of life and death, suggesting that the beautiful flowers blooming from the earth are actually remnants of beautiful people buried underground. he implies that while we see some beauty manifesting in nature, an infinite number of lovely faces remain lost and concealed within the soil.

gali gali aabaad thi jin se kahan gae wo log

gali gali abad thi jin se kahan gae vo log dilli ab ke aisi ujdi ghar ghar phaila sog saara saara din galiyon men phirte hain bekar raton uth uth kar rote hain is nagri ke log sahme sahme se baithe hain raagi aur fankar bhor bhae ab in galiyon men kaun sunae jog jab tak ham masruf rahe ye duniya thi sunsan din dhalte hi dhyan men aae kaise kaise log 'nasir' ham ko raat mila tha tanha aur udaas vahi purani baten us ki vahi purana rog gali gali aabaad thi jin se kahan gae wo log dilli ab ke aisi ujdi ghar ghar phaila sog sara sara din galiyon mein phirte hain bekar raaton uth uth kar rote hain is nagri ke log sahme sahme se baithe hain ragi aur fankar bhor bhae ab in galiyon mein kaun sunae jog jab tak hum masruf rahe ye duniya thi sunsan din dhalte hi dhyan mein aae kaise kaise log 'nasir' hum ko raat mila tha tanha aur udas wahi purani baaten us ki wahi purana rog

bichhde logon se mulaqat kabhi phir hogi dil mein ummid to kafi hai yaqin kuchh kam hai

koi mausam ho bhale lagte the

koi mausam ho bhale lagte the din kahan itne kade lagte the khush to pahle bhi nahin the lekin yuun na andar se bujhe lagte the roz ke dekhe hue manzar the phir bhi har roz nae lagte the un dinon ghar se ajab rishta tha saare darvaze gale lagte the rah samajhti thiin andheri galiyan log pahchane hue lagte the jhilen paani se bhari rahti thiin sab ke sab ped hare lagte the shahr the unchi fasilon vaale dar zamane ke pare lagte the bandh rakkha tha zamin ne 'alvi' ham magar phir bhi ade lagte the koi mausam ho bhale lagte the din kahan itne kade lagte the khush to pahle bhi nahin the lekin yun na andar se bujhe lagte the roz ke dekhe hue manzar the phir bhi har roz nae lagte the un dinon ghar se ajab rishta tha sare darwaze gale lagte the rah samajhti thin andheri galiyan log pahchane hue lagte the jhilen pani se bhari rahti thin sab ke sab ped hare lagte the shahr the unchi fasilon wale dar zamane ke pare lagte the bandh rakkha tha zamin ne 'alwi' hum magar phir bhi ade lagte the

yunhi kisi ke dhyan mein apne aap mein gati do-pahren

yunhi kisi ke dhyan men apne aap men gaati do-pahren narm gulabi jadon vaali baal sukhati do-pahren saare ghar men shaam dhale tak khel vo dhuup aur chhanv ka lappe patte kachche angan men lot lagati do-pahren jivan-dor ke pichhe hairan bhagti toli bachchon ki galiyon galiyon nange paanv dhuul udati do-pahren sargoshi karte parde kundi khatkata nat-khat din dabe dabe qadmon se tapti chhat par jaati do-pahren kamre men hairan khade aina jaise hanste din khud se lad kar gaurayya si shor machati do-pahren vahi muzafaton ke bhed bhare sannaton vaale ghar gudiyon ke lab si kar un ka byaah rachati do-pahren khidki ke tuute shishon par ek kahani likhti hain mandhe hue piile kaghhaz se chhan kar aati do-pahren niim tale vo kachche dhage rangti hui purani yaad ghera daale chhoti chhoti haath batati do-pahren phati-purani kathri odhe dhuup senkte budhe din peshani tak pallu khinche chilam banati do-pahren paani ki taqsim ke pichhe jalte khet sulagte ghar aur kheton ki zard munderon par kumlati do-pahren purvai se ladte kitne varaq purani yadon ke saughhaton ke sanduqon ko dhuup dikhati do-pahren dukhti ankhen zakhmi poren uljhe dhagon jaise din badal jaisi odhniyon par phuul khilati do-pahren odhniyon ke udte badal rangon ke bazaron men chudi ki dukanon se vo hamen bulati do-pahren sunte hain ab un galiyon men phuul sharare khilte hain khuun ki holi khel rahi hain rang nahati do-pahren ye to mere khvab nahin hain ye to mera shahr nahin kis janib se aa nikli hain ye gahnati do-pahren yunhi kisi ke dhyan mein apne aap mein gati do-pahren narm gulabi jadon wali baal sukhati do-pahren sare ghar mein sham dhale tak khel wo dhup aur chhanw ka lappe patte kachche aangan mein lot lagati do-pahren jiwan-dor ke pichhe hairan bhagti toli bachchon ki galiyon galiyon nange panw dhul udati do-pahren sargoshi karte parde kundi khatkata nat-khat din dabe dabe qadmon se tapti chhat par jati do-pahren kamre mein hairan khade aaina jaise hanste din khud se lad kar gaurayya si shor machati do-pahren wahi muzafaton ke bhed bhare sannaton wale ghar gudiyon ke lab si kar un ka byah rachati do-pahren khidki ke tute shishon par ek kahani likhti hain mandhe hue pile kaghaz se chhan kar aati do-pahren nim tale wo kachche dhage rangti hui purani yaad ghera dale chhoti chhoti hath batati do-pahren phati-purani kathri odhe dhup senkte budhe din peshani tak pallu khinche chilam banati do-pahren pani ki taqsim ke pichhe jalte khet sulagte ghar aur kheton ki zard munderon par kumlati do-pahren purwai se ladte kitne waraq purani yaadon ke saughaton ke sanduqon ko dhup dikhati do-pahren dukhti aankhen zakhmi poren uljhe dhagon jaise din baadal jaisi odhniyon par phul khilati do-pahren odhniyon ke udte baadal rangon ke bazaron mein chudi ki dukanon se wo hamein bulati do-pahren sunte hain ab un galiyon mein phul sharare khilte hain khun ki holi khel rahi hain rang nahati do-pahren ye to mere khwab nahin hain ye to mera shahr nahin kis jaanib se aa nikli hain ye gahnati do-pahren

uth gai hain samne se kaisi kaisi suraten roiye kis ke liye kis kis ka matam kijiye

jis ki sanson se mahakte the dar-o-baam tere ai makan bol kahan ab wo makin rahta hai

phul se logon ko mitti mein mila kar aaegi

phuul se logon ko mitti men mila kar aaegi chal rahi hai jo hava sab kuchh fana kar jaegi zindagi guzregi mujh ko raund kar pairon tale maut lekin mujh ko siine se laga kar jaegi vo kisi ki yaad men jalti hui sham-e-firaq khud bhi pighlegi miri ankhon ko bhi pighlaegi aane vaale mausamon ki sar-phiri pagal hua ek din teri judai ke tarane gaegi aane vaala vaqt bhi roega mere vaste aane vaale mausamon ko yaad meri aaegi ai mire sathi ye tere chhod jaane ki kasak mujh ko dimak ki tarah andar hi andar khaegi ye husul-e-zar ki khvahish ek laanat ki tarah akhir ik din tujh ko apnon se juda kar jaegi zindagi ik bad-chalan avara ladki hai 'sarosh' dekh lena ek din ye bhi tujhe thukraegi phul se logon ko mitti mein mila kar aaegi chal rahi hai jo hawa sab kuchh fana kar jaegi zindagi guzregi mujh ko raund kar pairon tale maut lekin mujh ko sine se laga kar jaegi wo kisi ki yaad mein jalti hui sham-e-firaq khud bhi pighlegi meri aankhon ko bhi pighlaegi aane wale mausamon ki sar-phiri pagal hua ek din teri judai ke tarane gaegi aane wala waqt bhi roega mere waste aane wale mausamon ko yaad meri aaegi ai mere sathi ye tere chhod jaane ki kasak mujh ko dimak ki tarah andar hi andar khaegi ye husul-e-zar ki khwahish ek lanat ki tarah aakhir ek din tujh ko apnon se juda kar jaegi zindagi ek bad-chalan aawara ladki hai 'sarosh' dekh lena ek din ye bhi tujhe thukraegi

wo log apne aap mein kitne azim the jo apne dushmanon se bhi nafrat na kar sake

ai ham-daman bhulao na tum yaad-e-raftagan

ai ham-daman bhulao na tum yad-e-raftagan vamandgan ko hai yahi irshad-e-raftagan jo ghhuncha na-shagufta hi jhad jaae shakh se hai is chaman men vo dil-e-nashad-e-raftagan chashm-o-dil-o-jigar ke liye ashk-e-dard-o-daghh ham paas hai ye tohfa-e-imdad-e-raftagan is karvan-sara men ye bang-e-jaras nahin hai ye sada-e-nala-o-faryad-e-raftagan asida-o-ravinda se puchha bahut 'muhib' daryaft par na kuchh hui rudad-e-raftagan ai ham-daman bhulao na tum yaad-e-raftagan wamandgan ko hai yahi irshad-e-raftagan jo ghuncha na-shagufta hi jhad jae shakh se hai is chaman mein wo dil-e-nashad-e-raftagan chashm-o-dil-o-jigar ke liye ashk-e-dard-o-dagh hum pas hai ye tohfa-e-imdad-e-raftagan is karwan-sara mein ye bang-e-jaras nahin hai ye sada-e-nala-o-faryaad-e-raftagan aasida-o-rawinda se puchha bahut 'muhib' daryaft par na kuchh hui rudad-e-raftagan

rasto kya hue wo log ki aate-jate mere aadab pe kahte the ki jite rahiye

zindagi jin ke tasawwur se jila pati thi hae kya log the jo dam-e-ajal mein aae

hae wo log jo dekhe bhi nahin yaad aaen to rula dete hain

udas sham ki yaadon bhari sulagti hawa hamein phir aaj purane dayar le aai

we suraten ilahi kis mulk bastiyan hain ab dekhne ko jin ke aankhen tarastiyan hain

jinhen ab gardish-e-aflak paida kar nahin sakti kuchh aisi hastiyan bhi dafn hain gor-e-ghariban mein

kitne achchhe log the kya raunaqen thin un ke sath jin ki rukhsat ne hamara shahr suna kar diya

wo waqt bhi aata hai jab aankhon mein hamari phirti hain wo shaklen jinhen dekha nahin hota