Never Ending Journey

आबाद रहेंगे वीराने......उस वक़्त कटेंगी ज़ंजीरें!

'Zanjeerein' is a poem of revolution by Hafiz Merthi. In this poem, he describes revolution through the analogy of chains. In the first stanza itself, his motive is clear: he says that there will be no desolate places and no chains will rust as long as there are crazy people. By saying this, he means that until there are people who will fight for their rights, they will be detained in desolate places and tied with chains. He further explains that the moment oppression crosses its limit, people will start breaking the chains stopping them from starting a revolution against the oppressor. In the next stanza, he adds that people will unite when they see the innocent being silenced and those reporting on injustices suppressed. These people, or revolutionaries, will then announce their motive to stand against the injustice. He said that people in power only listen when people shout to demand their rights; otherwise, governments remain deaf and mute to citizens' rights. In the end, he clarifies that those supporting the oppressor, thinking they are free, will one day face the same consequence. Removing the oppressor, or weakening him so that he listens to you, is the only way to end oppression.

I read that poem during the recent Paper Leak Protest at Jantar Mantar for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmender Pradhan.

"कागा करंग............देखन की आस"

Kaga Karang Dhandoleya" is a Doha or couplet attributed to Baba Farid. The poem, which translates roughly to "Ravens Search My Skeleton", finds a place in holy book of Sikhism 'Guru Granth Sahib' explores themes of mortality, the ephemeral nature of worldly possessions, and the search for spiritual truth. 

The poet requests the crow to search his skeleton and eat as much flesh as he want but leave his eyes untouched in hope to see his beloved even in death. The poem uses the image of ravens scavenging on a skeleton to symbolize the inevitable decay of the physical body. 

"तिरे ग़म को ...................गुनाहगार चले गए।"

In this ghazal, shayar (poet) Faiz Ahmad Faiz is reminding the lover that the one in whose company she sought solace has gone. He said that the one who was always there for facing every difficulty on her path has gone as she never cared about his feelings, how he used to wait for her glimpse and tolerate her tantrums without even getting her love in return.

Her behavior has broken her heart in such a way that made him indifferent now to her every story,complaints and grief. He explains that even after facing accusations and abuses, he laughed them off in front of her or other friends but her disloyalty has hanged him without the need of a rope. (Has almost killed him).

He wants to convey that ignoring a true love for someone else will make one lose the love and care he/she would have earn from that special person.

‘ मेरे ज़ख्मों को ......... बिना धार रखना।

This Hindi poem tells the helplessness of a common man in India. Facing problems from all corners of life he is frustrated in saying that he is in such a position where he neither die nor live peacefully and with dignity.

The poet said ironically that Keep My Wounds Fresh which means as soon as he start gaining momentum in life or progresses government bring another policy or do something unexpected which stop his growth. He explains it by different examples and then said it is better to end all his means to survive so that he can die peacefully but he knows that he will unable to do that also because govt would snatch that opportunity by not giving him sharpened weapon to kill himself.