Naya Shiwala
A New Altar
Sach Keh Doon Ae Barhman! Gar Tu Bura Na Mane
Tere Sanam Kadon Ke Butt Ho Gye Purane
I’ll tell you truth, oh Brahmin, if I may make so bold!
These idols in your temples—these idols have grown old,
Apnon Se Bair Rakhna Tu Ne Button Se Se Sikha
Jang-o-Jadal Sikhaya Waaiz Ko Bhi Khuda Ne
To hate your fellow‐mortals is all they teach you, while
Our God too sets his preachers to scold and to revile;
Tang Aa Ke Main Ne Akhir Dair-o-Haram Ko Chora
Waaiz Ka Waaz Chora, Chore Tere Fasane
Sickened, from both your temple and our shrines I have run,
Alike our preachers’ sermons and your fond myths I shun.
Pathar Ki Mootraton Mein Samjha Hai Tu Khuda Hai
Khak-e-Watan Ka Mujh Ko Har Zarra Devta
—In every graven image you fancied God: I see
in each speck of my country’s poor dust, divinity.
Aa, Ghairiat Ke Parde Ek Baar Phir Utha Dain
Bichron Ko Phir Mila Dain, Naqsh-e-Dooi Mita Dain
Come, let us lift suspicion’s thick curtains once again,
Unite once more the sundered, wipe clean division’s stain.
Sooni Pari Huwi Hai Muddat Se Dil Ki Basti
Aa, Ek Naya Shiwala Iss Dais Mein Bana Dain
Too long has lain deserted the heart’s warm habitation—
Come, build here in our homeland an altar’s new foundation,
Dunya Ke Teerathon Se Ucha Huwa Apna Teerath
Damaan-e-Asman Se Iss Ka Kalas Mila Dain
And rise a spire more lofty than any of this globe,
With high pinnacle touching the hem of heaven’s robe!
Har Subah Uth Ke Gayen Mantar Woh Meethe Meethe
Sare Pujariyon Ko Mai Peet Ki Pila Dain
And there at every sunrise let our sweet chanting move
The hearts of all who worship, pouring them wine of love:
Shakti Bhi, Shanti Bhi Bhagton Ke Geet Mein Hai
Dharti Ke Basion Ki Mukti Pareet Mein Hai
Firm strength, calm peace, shall blend in the hymns the votary sings—
For from love comes salvation to all earth’s living things.
A New Altar
Sach Keh Doon Ae Barhman! Gar Tu Bura Na Mane
Tere Sanam Kadon Ke Butt Ho Gye Purane
I’ll tell you truth, oh Brahmin, if I may make so bold!
These idols in your temples—these idols have grown old,
Apnon Se Bair Rakhna Tu Ne Button Se Se Sikha
Jang-o-Jadal Sikhaya Waaiz Ko Bhi Khuda Ne
To hate your fellow‐mortals is all they teach you, while
Our God too sets his preachers to scold and to revile;
Tang Aa Ke Main Ne Akhir Dair-o-Haram Ko Chora
Waaiz Ka Waaz Chora, Chore Tere Fasane
Sickened, from both your temple and our shrines I have run,
Alike our preachers’ sermons and your fond myths I shun.
Pathar Ki Mootraton Mein Samjha Hai Tu Khuda Hai
Khak-e-Watan Ka Mujh Ko Har Zarra Devta
—In every graven image you fancied God: I see
in each speck of my country’s poor dust, divinity.
Aa, Ghairiat Ke Parde Ek Baar Phir Utha Dain
Bichron Ko Phir Mila Dain, Naqsh-e-Dooi Mita Dain
Come, let us lift suspicion’s thick curtains once again,
Unite once more the sundered, wipe clean division’s stain.
Sooni Pari Huwi Hai Muddat Se Dil Ki Basti
Aa, Ek Naya Shiwala Iss Dais Mein Bana Dain
Too long has lain deserted the heart’s warm habitation—
Come, build here in our homeland an altar’s new foundation,
Dunya Ke Teerathon Se Ucha Huwa Apna Teerath
Damaan-e-Asman Se Iss Ka Kalas Mila Dain
And rise a spire more lofty than any of this globe,
With high pinnacle touching the hem of heaven’s robe!
Har Subah Uth Ke Gayen Mantar Woh Meethe Meethe
Sare Pujariyon Ko Mai Peet Ki Pila Dain
And there at every sunrise let our sweet chanting move
The hearts of all who worship, pouring them wine of love:
Shakti Bhi, Shanti Bhi Bhagton Ke Geet Mein Hai
Dharti Ke Basion Ki Mukti Pareet Mein Hai
Firm strength, calm peace, shall blend in the hymns the votary sings—
For from love comes salvation to all earth’s living things.
love the last one, a complement from a special person
ReplyDeleteA BEAUTIFUL POEM BY A LEGEND
ReplyDeleteSALUTE U ALLAMA IQBAL :)
its a wonderful work comparable to ghalib and meer but i know most wont mention these ghazals as works of iqbal and only present his political works
ReplyDeleteA great thought, a great poem by a legend. But the same legend bacame supporter of two nation theory which resulted in hindustan and Pakistan. Though, he could not be alive to see his dream fructify. He couldn't walk his talk. He was talking someting and walking something. A legendry gap. What he told in his poetry is ideal, what he supported is real. Anyway this poem is only solution for peace all around.
ReplyDeleteA worshipper of this Shivala
Sorry dear allow me to say you,for ur kind of information he was not divider of the India, however in 1931 in Allahabad he he had delivered his thoughts on two nation theory, but notable thing is that that was not on the basis of two separate country but two different religion followers , and morever, when a English journalist asked him, do you believe in divide the country, Iqbal replied him I don't want to divide the country but I want some India state should be under Muslim control and its ruled by Muslim under the federal government system, as like today's Indian Punjab,what he talked he walked , this poem is his earlier poem when he was a school boy and a philosopher, his knowledge and experience and understanding was limt, after doctorate and come through bitter experience from the majority he changed his mind and thought, he gives a universal brotherhood philosophy without boundaries and visa, anyone any person should have right to Seattle in any area of the world, without any discrimination,
DeleteTRULY GREAT AND LESSON FOR THOSE FIGHTING FOR RELIGION
ReplyDeleteIt is a feeling of a great poet around 100 years ago. But it is still a lesson for us that how to live in peace
ReplyDeleteThe excellence of writing n with feel
ReplyDeleteThis poem is from an earlier period of his evolution. He writes about living in peace and harmony despite the differences. Iqbal was a sage and had great insight. Later in life he experienced and observed that the Muslims should be autonomous, whether in a federation or as an independent nation. He died in 1938. The events that followed culminated in the partition of the sub-continent in 1947.
ReplyDelete