Ham to hain pardes main - Jagjit Singh ghazal with translation


Ham to hain pardes main 

A Ghazal by Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza 

ham to haiñ pardes meñ des meñ niklā hogā chāñd 
apnī raat kī chhat par kitnā tanhā hogā chāñd 

jin āñkhoñ meñ kājal ban kar tairī kaalī raat 
un āñkhoñ meñ aañsū kā ik qatra hogā chāñd 

raat ne aisā peñch lagāyā TuuTī haath se Dor 
āñgan vaale niim meñ jā kar aTkā hogā chāñd 

chāñd binā har din yuuñ biitā jaise yug biite 
mere binā kis haal meñ hogā kaisā hogā chāñd 


हम तो हैं परदेस में, देस में निकला होगा चाँद
अपनी रात की छत पर कितना तनहा होगा चाँद

जिन आँखों में काजल बन कर तैरी काली रात
उन आँखों में आँसू का इक क़तरा होगा चाँद

रात ने ऐसा पेंच लगाया टूटी हाथ से डोर
आँगन वाले नीम में जाकर अटका होगा चाँद

चाँद बिना हर दिन यूँ बीता जैसे युग  बीते
मेरे बिना किस हाल में होगा कैसा होगा चाँद

-राही मासूम रज़ा



I am away from home,
Overseas all alone.
A silver moon must have risen
Like a radiant bride
Over my countryside.
Standing all alone
On the dark roof forlorn
Of an ink blue night.

Staying away from my moon
Each day passes as if eons.
Wonder how he has fared without me.
I hope my moon is alright
Standing all alone
On the dark roof forlorn
Of an ink blue night.

The night would plot a conspiracy.
The kite string would break free.
The kite-like moon would be stuck on the Neem tree,
Growing on my courtyard’s boundary.

Those eyes smeared dark
with the kohl of the night,
The moon would be but a spark,
A teardrop in their fading light.

I am away from home
Overseas all alone.
A silver moon must have risen
Like a radiant bride
Over my countryside.

P.S: 'The moon' is a term often used for a beloved. In this poem too the physical moon often interchanges with the poet's loved one.

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