They could be a blink of an eye, a lifetime, or a pure unadulterated hell! Regardless, today is the 5th anniversary of the death of Dr. Rahat Indori. I have written about his book and translated his Shers on this blog. It feels like it hasn’t been that long since I wrote of his demise but it it hard to believe it has already been 5 years! In his memory, I listen to him and try my hand at translating his Shers, as usual. Here is my effort this time (from 3 different Ghazals):
हमसे पूछो की ग़ज़ल मांगती है कितना लहू
सब समझते हैं ये धंधा बड़े आराम का है!
Hamse puchho ki Ghazal maangti hai kitna lahu
Sab samajhte hain ye dhandha bade aaraam ka hai!
Ask me Ghazal requires how much blood
Everyone else thinks this is a cushy job!
प्यास अगर मेरी बुझा दे तो मैं जानूँ, वरना
तू समंदर है तो होगा मेरे किस काम का है!
Pyaas agar meri bujha de to main jaaunun, warna
Tu samandar hai to hoga mere kis kaam ka hai!
If my thirst gets quenched, I’ll believe you, else
You may be an ocean, but are of no use to me!
हमें तो सिर्फ जगाना है सोने वालों को
जो दर खुला है वहाँ हम सदा नहीं देंगे!
Hamein to sirf jagaana hai sone waalon ko
Jo dar khula hai wahan ham sada nahin denge!
I aim to awaken only those who are asleep
At the open doors I do not intend to call!
एक हुकूमत है जो इनाम भी दे सकती है
एक क़लंदर है जो इंकार भी कर सकता है!
Ek hukuumat hai jo inaam bhi de sakti hai
Ek qalandar hai jo inkaar bhi kar sakta hai!
An authority exists who can reward too
An ascetic exists who can refuse too!
“जागते रहिये” की आवाज लगाने वाला
लूटने वालों को होशियार भी कर सकता है!
“Jaagte Rahiye” ki aawaaj lagaane waala
Lootne waalon ko hoshiyaar bhi kar sakta hai!
The one who shouts “stay awake”
Can alert those who are looting too!
–राहत इंदोरी (Rahat Indori)
Recently, the season 2 of Sandman ended which had an overarching theme of death and its last special episode, specifically, deals with Death. She has many memorable lines. One of them is “Sooner or later, I see everyone.” (or a rephrased one: “I meet everyone. At the end, anyway!”) and another one is “You got what anybody gets. No more, no less… You got a lifetime!”.
On that note, I leave you with more of
