Rejuvenation

It’s been a long time since I translated any shers so during this month of April (Fools), let me do just that. (There is no prank here, though!) Now you realize that the title of this post makes perfect sense. It is about rejuvenating oneself through the brilliant & piercing Ghazals of Waseem Barelvi! [Obviously, read the tab titled ‘Shayari’ above before continuing.]

इरादा छोड़िए अपनी हदों से दूर जाने का
ज़माना है ज़माने की निगाहों में न आने का

Iraada chhodiye apni hadon se door jaane ka
Zamaana hai zamaane ki nigaahon mein na aane ka

Let go of the thoughts of surpassing your limits
This is the world of not catching the world’s eyes

कहाँ की दोस्ती, किन दोस्तों की बात करते हो
मियां! दुश्मन नहीं मिलता कोई अब तो ठिकाने का

Kahan ki dosti, kin doston ki baat karte ho
Miyan! dushman nahin milta koi ab to thikaane ka

What friendship, what friends do you talk about
Sir! There are not even worthy enemies around

निगाहों में कोई भी दूसरा चेहरा नहीं आया
भरोसा ही कुछ ऐसा था तुम्हारे लौट आने का

Nigaahon mein koi bhi doosra chehra nahin aaya
Bharosa hi kuch aisa tha tumhaare laut aane ka

Never did any other face distract me
Such was my belief that you’ll return

ये मैं ही था बचाके खुद को ले आया किनारे तक
समंदर ने बहुत मौका दिया था डूब जाने का

Ye main hi tha bachaake khud ko le aaya kinaare tak
Samandar ne bahut mauka diya tha doob jaane ka

It was me, who brought myself back to the shore
The sea did present a lot of opportunities to drown

-वसीम बरेलवी (Waseem Barelvi)

Let’s have some more shers – shers about (over-)confidence.

तू क्या समझा तुझसे बिछड़ कर बिखरुंगा?
देख ये मैं हूँ, मुझको संभलना आता है!

Tu kya samjha tujhse bichhad kar bikhrunga?
Dekh ye main hun, mujhko sambhalna aata hai!

Did you think I will fade away without you?
Look it is I, I know how to remain unfazed.

तुम क्या सोच रहे हो मेरे बारे में?
चेहरे से ही अंदाज़ा हो जाता है!

Tum kya soch rahe ho mere baare mein?
Chehre se hi andaaza ho jaata hai!

What are you thinking about me?
Your face gives away all the ideas.

-वसीम बरेलवी (Waseem Barelvi)

These are all the shers that I found interesting AND could translate from this source video:

Waseem Barelvi

His voice as always lifts your spirits up and listening to his shers is (as usual) a hair-raising & spine-shivering experience.

I end this post by linking to some poetry of

Hastimal Hasti