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Hamara Forums _ Sahir Ludhianvi _ An Attempt At Translating The Song From Pyaasa
Posted by: sandyk Feb 23 2006, 05:34 AM
I'll make an attempt
This song is basically a sarcasm on the society we live in ( or the society the singer lived in). In the film Guru Dutt plays a poet a unsuccessful poet who faces constant rejections. He and his work was never accepted by the society as he was poor and does not have contacts in the right places. He realises that he lives in a world which is corrupt where love has no meaning and all that matters is money and success.
To understand the meaning of the song one basically needs to understand the meaning of the line ‘Yeh Duniya aagar mil bhi jaye to - kya hai?”. Literally translated it would be “Even if you achieve this world – so what ?” . What the poet actually meant was “Even if you make it (achieve great success) in this world – would it really be worth it” because this world is so corrupt , there is no place for love or humanity all that matters is money, this kind of world/society is not worth leaving in.
In each stanza the poet highlights all the vices that infest the society and then questions whether it would be worth all the effort to be able to achieve success in this society.
I will attempt a line by line translation – hope it will make some sense now:
Yeh Mahalon, Yeh Takhton, Yeh Taajon Ki Duniya
This society of palaces and crowns and riches (in other words this society where all that matters is money)
Yeh Insaan Ke Dushman, Samajon Ki Duniya
This society which is full of enemies of humanity
Yeh Daulat Ke Bhooke, Rawajon Ki Duniya
This world which is only hungry for money
Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye, To Kya Hai ?
Even if you make it in this world – then what ?
Har Ek Jism Ghayal, Har Ek Rooh Pyaasi
Where everyone is broken and all souls are thirsty
Nigaahon Mein Uljhan Dilon Mein Udaasi
Where people have a confused look in their eyes and sadness in their hearts
Yeh Duniya Hai Ya Aalam-E-Badhawaasi
Is this world or is just a chaos
Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye, To Kya Hai ?
Even if you make it big here – then what ?
Yahan Ek Khilona Hai Insaan Ki Hasti
Here (in this world/society) every human being is just a toy
Yeh Basti Hai Murda Paraston Ki Basti
It is (this society) is a village of dead souls
Yahan Zindagi Se Bhi Hai Maut Sasti
Here death is cheaper than life
Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye, To Kya Hai ?
Even if you make it big here – then what ?
Jawaani Bhatakti Hai Badkaar Bankar
Here Young girls roam about characterless
Jawaan Jism Sajte Hain Baazar Bankar
Young bodies are decorated and sold in the market
Yahaan Pyar Hota Hai Vyopar Bankar
Here love is like a business
Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye, To Kya Hai ?
Even if you make it big here – then what ?
Yeh Duniya Jahaan Aadmi Kuchh Nahin Hai
This world where a human life has no value
Wafaa Kuchh Nahin Dosti Kuchh Nahin Hai
Where loyalty means nothing, friendship means nothing
Jahan Pyaar Ki Kadr Hi Kuchh Nahin Hai
Where love has no meaning at all
Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye, To Kya Hai ?
Even if you make it big here – then what ?
Jalaa Do Ise Fooq Dalo Yeh Duniya
Burn it ,set this world on fire
Jalaa Do, Jalaa Do, Jalaa Do
Burn it, burn it, burn it
Fooq Dalo Yeh Duniya
Set this society on fire
Mere Samne Se Hata Lo Yeh Duniya
Remove this world from my sights (in other words I don’t want to live here anymore)
Tumhari Hai Tum Hi Sambhalo Yeh Duniya
This world is yours you take care of it
Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye, To Kya Hai?
PS: Remember songs/ poems and stories often mean different things to different people. This is my understanding of this song. I may be wrong.
All criticism honestly welcome – it will help me learn more
Posted by: Pradeep Feb 23 2006, 08:45 AM
Nice translation, thanks Sandyk.
Posted by: bawlachintu Feb 23 2006, 10:30 AM
Wonderful attempt Sandy. Continue writing more.
Thought provoking lyrics by Sahir and perfect translation by you.
I would like to clear the difference between Sarcasm and Satire.
The difference between satire and sarcasm is the difference between surgery and butchery.
Now, what should be the appropriate term to define the lyrics written
by Sahir??
Posted by: usrafian Feb 23 2006, 11:17 AM
Great work Sandyk 
Beatiful translation !
When great person speaks, his/her each word is capable enough to generate further thoughts and it is strange that all such generated thoughts are always correct.
Here I would like to elaborate some more meaning for...
Murda Prast
This society lives on Dead (Murda).
Further.. We celebrate 'Jayanti' like 'Gandhi-Jayanti'.
First this society killed him , made him dead & now they are enjoying their life by celebrating 'Jayanti' .
This society is Murda Prast. Like wise there are many examples.
People are fighting with each other for 'DEAD' & not for those who are 'ALIVE'.
Think of any deed of this society & strangly this line fits everywhere.
!!!!!! SAHIR-THE GREAT - his thoughts - deeper than ocean !!!!
Posted by: sandyk Feb 23 2006, 03:27 PM
Wonderful attempt Sandy. Continue writing more.
Thought provoking lyrics by Sahir and perfect translation by you.
I would like to clear the difference between Sarcasm and Satire.
The difference between satire and sarcasm is the difference between surgery and butchery.
Now, what should be the appropriate term to define the lyrics written
by Sahir??
I agree bawlachintu sarcasm was not the right word
Posted by: bawlachintu Feb 26 2006, 05:36 PM
Sandy, will you please translate :
Ek shehanshah ne banwa ke hasin Tajmahal
Hum garibon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai majak
Sung by Rafi
Thanks in advance
Posted by: asad Mar 1 2006, 01:12 AM
Here I would like to elaborate some more meaning for...
Murda Prast
This society lives on Dead (Murda).
"murdaa parast" = those who worship the dead. parast or parastish means worship (also remember the context in the film where a poet who did not get his due in his lifetime was being eulogised posthumously.
Asad
Posted by: asad Mar 1 2006, 01:26 AM
Sandy, will you please translate :
Ek shehanshah ne banwa ke hasin Tajmahal
Hum garibon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai majak
Sung by Rafi
Thanks in advance
Dear bawlachintu, you are confusing between two verses.
Sahir Ludhianvi wrote the following lines in his poem called Tajmahal:
ek shahenshaah ne daulat kaa sahaaraa lekar
ham Gariibo.n kii muhabbat ka uRaayaa hai mazaaq
roughly translated it would mean:
An emperor with the help of his wealth
has tried to play with the feelings of us..the poor lot
whereas the following verse in Rafi's voice had the lyrics penned by Shakeel Badayuni
ek shahenshaah ne banwaa ke hasii.n taajmahal
saarii duniyaa ko muhabbat kii nishaanee dii hai.
Asad
Posted by: sandyk Mar 1 2006, 05:43 AM
I do apologise for any errors that I might have made
Ek Shahensha ne banwa ke haseen Taj Mahal
The poet here tries to impress upon his beloved that they should meet some place else rather than meeting at the Taj Mahal as he feels that the Taj Mahal is a symbol of imperialism and cruelty and the emperor by having the Taj constructed has made a mockery and has belittled the love of poor people.
First a meaning of few of the words
mazar-e-ulfat - a monument symbolising love
vaadi-e-rangeen - the colourful valley
aqidat - Faith, trust
bazam-e-shaahi - a gathering of royals
naqsh - marks
Taj tere liye mazar-e-ulfat he sahi
maybe to you the Taj is a symbol of eternal love
tuj ko is vaadi-e-rangeen is aqidat he sahi
maybe you have faith in its beauty
mere mehboob kahin aur mila kar mujhe se
my love please meet me somewhere else (somewhere else besides the Taj mahal)
bazam-e-shaahi mein garibon ka guzar kya mani
in this gathering of the royals there is no place for a commoner (poor person)
naqsh jis rah pur ho satvat-e-shaahi ke nishaan
paths that are marked with imperialism
un pur ulfat bari rahoon ka safar kya mani
the journey of love has no meaning on those paths
unginet logon ne duniya mein mohabaat ki hai
in this world countless people have been in love
kaun kheta hai ke sadiq na tha jasba unka
who says that their emotions were not pure (or their love was less stronger)
lekin unke liye takseer ka saman nahin
but they had no means to leave a mark
kyun ke who log bhi apni tarha muflis the
as they were penniless just like me
mere mehboob unhe bhi to mohabbat hoge
My love they too might be in love
jinki sanaai ne bakshi hai ise shakle-jameel
whose hard work has given it (taj) it's beauty
(or in other word - my love those poor labourers whose hard work has given the Taj mahal it's magnificence they might also be in love with someone)
unke pyaar ke maqbare rahe benaam-o-namood
the mausoleums of their ( those labourers) love remain anonymous and unknown
Aaj tak unpe jalai na kisi ne khandeel
till date no-one has ever lighted a candle at those graves
yeh chamanzar, yeh jamuna ka kinara, yeh mahal
these lawns, this shore of jamuna, this palace
yeh munaqash dar-o-dewaar, yeh mehrab-e-tak
these carvings on walls and pilliars, these majestic archways
Ek shahensha ne daulat ka shara le kar,
an emperor has used his immense wealth
hum garibon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai mazak
to make a joke of us commoners
mere mehboob kahin aur mila kar mujhe se
my love lets please meet somewhere else
Posted by: bawlachintu Mar 1 2006, 10:17 AM
Sandy, will you please translate :
Ek shehanshah ne banwa ke hasin Tajmahal
Hum garibon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai majak
Sung by Rafi
Thanks in advance
Dear bawlachintu, you are confusing between two verses.
Sahir Ludhianvi wrote the following lines in his poem called Tajmahal:
Asad
Bilkul nahin
. Shakeel and Sahir wrote their versions in same yera 1964.
Ek film Leader mein hai. Composed by Naushad
Doosra Ghazal mein hai, composed by Madan Mohan
Sahir/MM version is more beautiful-gayki ke hisaab se, aur lyrics ke hisaab se bhi.
M Rafi ne bahut tabiyat se gaya hai.
to all, Sahir, MM and Rafi
Posted by: bawlachintu Mar 1 2006, 10:22 AM
First a meaning of few of the words
mazar-e-ulfat - a monument symbolising love
vaadi-e-rangeen - the colourful valley
aqidat - Faith, trust
bazam-e-shaahi - a gathering of royals
naqsh - marks
Taj tere liye mazar-e-ulfat he sahi
maybe to you the Taj is a symbol of eternal love
tuj ko is vaadi-e-rangeen is aqidat he sahi
maybe you have faith in its beauty
mere mehboob kahin aur mila kar mujhe se
my love please meet me somewhere else (somewhere else besides the Taj mahal)
bazam-e-shaahi mein garibon ka guzar kya mani
in this gathering of the royals there is no place for a commoner (poor person)
naqsh jis rah pur ho satvat-e-shaahi ke nishaan
paths that are marked with imperialism
un pur ulfat bari rahoon ka safar kya mani
the journey of love has no meaning on those paths
unginet logon ne duniya mein mohabaat ki hai
in this world countless people have been in love
kaun kheta hai ke sadiq na tha jasba unka
who says that their emotions were not pure (or their love was less stronger)
lekin unke liye takseer ka saman nahin
but they had no means to leave a mark
kyun ke who log bhi apni tarha muflis the
as they were penniless just like me
mere mehboob unhe bhi to mohabbat hoge
My love they too might be in love
jinki sanaai ne bakshi hai ise shakle-jameel
whose hard work have give it (taj) its beauty
(or in other word - my love those poor labourers whose hard work has give the Taj mahal it's magnificence they might also be in love with someone)
unke pyaar ke maqbare rahe benaam-o-namood
the mausoleums of their ( those labourers) love remain anonymous and unknown
Aaj tak unpe jalai na kisi ne khandeel
till date no-one has ever lighted a candle at those graves
yeh chamanzar, yeh jamuna ka kinara, yeh mahal
these lawns, this shore of jamuna, this palace
yeh munaqash dar-o-dewaar, yeh mehrab-e-tak
these carvings on walls and pilliars, these majestic archways
[i]Ek shahensha ne daulat ka shara le kar,[/i]
an emperor has used his immense wealth
hum garibon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai mazak
to make a joke of us commoners
mere mehboob kahin aur mila kar mujhe se
my love lets please meet somewhere else
Wonderful. Wow. You made my day Sandy.
Posted by: asad Mar 1 2006, 03:33 PM
Sandy, will you please translate :
Ek shehanshah ne banwa ke hasin Tajmahal
Hum garibon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai majak
Sung by Rafi
Thanks in advance
Dear bawlachintu, you are confusing between two verses.
Sahir Ludhianvi wrote the following lines in his poem called Tajmahal:
Asad
Bilkul nahin
. Shakeel and Sahir wrote their versions in same yera 1964.Ek film Leader mein hai. Composed by Naushad
Doosra Ghazal mein hai, composed by Madan Mohan
Sahir/MM version is more beautiful-gayki ke hisaab se, aur lyrics ke hisaab se bhi.
M Rafi ne bahut tabiyat se gaya hai.
to all, Sahir, MM and RafiLike I said, you are mixing up the two verses. The song from Leader has these lines
ek shahenshaah ne banwaa ke hasii.n taajmahal
saarii duniyaa ko muhabbat kii nishaanii dii hai
and not
Ek shehanshah ne banwa ke hasin Tajmahal
Hum garibon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai majak
whereas the Sahir nazm which Rafi Saab has sung in Gazal has the following lines
ek shahehshaah ne daulat kaa sahaaraa lekar
ham Gariibo.n kii muhabbat kaa uRaayaa hai mazaaq
Asad
Posted by: asad Mar 1 2006, 03:41 PM
mazar-e-ulfat - a monument symbolising love
Great effort Sandy....just a small calrification. It is mazhar-e-ulfat. Mazhar means manifestation whereas Mazaar is a mausoleum.
Asad
Posted by: sandyk Mar 1 2006, 04:38 PM
mazar-e-ulfat - a monument symbolising love
Great effort Sandy....just a small calrification. It is mazhar-e-ulfat. Mazhar means manifestation whereas Mazaar is a mausoleum.
Asad
So asad according to your own definition mazar-e-ulfat is the correct word here no.
From what i understand is he did mean 'Taj maybe a monument/mausoleum of love for you' therefore mazar-e-ulfat fits in nicely as opposed to mazhar-e-ulfat.
Posted by: asad Mar 1 2006, 09:05 PM
mazar-e-ulfat - a monument symbolising love
Great effort Sandy....just a small calrification. It is mazhar-e-ulfat. Mazhar means manifestation whereas Mazaar is a mausoleum.
Asad
So asad according to your own definition mazar-e-ulfat is the correct word here no.
From what i understand is he did mean 'Taj maybe a monument/mausoleum of love for you' therefore mazar-e-ulfat fits in nicely as opposed to mazhar-e-ulfat.
No, the correct word here is mazhar. Sahir meant to say "Taj may be a manifestation/symbol of love for you"
Posted by: sandyk Mar 1 2006, 10:12 PM
mazar-e-ulfat - a monument symbolising love
Great effort Sandy....just a small calrification. It is mazhar-e-ulfat. Mazhar means manifestation whereas Mazaar is a mausoleum.
Asad
So asad according to your own definition mazar-e-ulfat is the correct word here no.
From what i understand is he did mean 'Taj maybe a monument/mausoleum of love for you' therefore mazar-e-ulfat fits in nicely as opposed to mazhar-e-ulfat.
No, the correct word here is mazhar. Sahir meant to say "Taj may be a manifestation/symbol of love for you"
Thinking over it again asad, I agree MAZHAR must be the correct word. why on earth would any one want a mazar of ulfat.
I stand corrected. Thanks
Posted by: bawlachintu Aug 11 2006, 01:20 PM
Thanks so much Sandy. Waiting for another descriptive writeup.
regards
bc
Posted by: stuartnz May 18 2010, 12:26 PM
PS: Remember songs/ poems and stories often mean different things to different people. This is my understanding of this song. I may be wrong.
All criticism honestly welcome � it will help me learn more
Stunning translation - really well done. Thanks! I just wonder if there is any way to convey the idea of worship carried by "Rawajon". Probably not, I guess, another example of how something will always be lost in translation. Yours is easily the best I've seen so far, thanks so much.
Posted by: r&d May 18 2010, 08:04 PM
PS: Remember songs/ poems and stories often mean different things to different people. This is my understanding of this song. I may be wrong.
All criticism honestly welcome � it will help me learn more
Stunning translation - really well done. Thanks! I just wonder if there is any way to convey the idea of worship carried by "Rawajon". Probably not, I guess, another example of how something will always be lost in translation. Yours is easily the best I've seen so far, thanks so much.
Rawajon == Tradition
Posted by: stuartnz May 20 2010, 06:20 AM
Rawajon == Tradition
Yes, रिवाज़ is a custom or or a tradition or a practice, but other synonyms include "rite", "ritual" and I like the idea of worship those carry, since it fit very nicely with the idea of दौलत के à¤à¥‚खे
Posted by: r&d May 20 2010, 07:56 AM
Rawajon == Tradition
Yes, रिवाज़ is a custom or or a tradition or a practice, but other synonyms include "rite", "ritual" and I like the idea of worship those carry, since it fit very nicely with the idea of दौलत के à¤à¥‚खे
Riwaaj is an urdu word. I am not sure why it would have connotation with worship.
urdu word ibadaat is worship.
Posted by: stuartnz May 20 2010, 10:04 AM
Riwaaj is an urdu word. I am not sure why it would have connotation with worship.
urdu word ibadaat is worship.
Translation is largely art of course, not science. I wasn't saying that रिवाज़ = "worship" I was commenting on the fact that some of the words that can be used to render "रिवाज़" in English carry connotations or hints or worship and that seems apt to me in the context of the rest of the verse.
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