1/16/22, 5:34 PM Ten Poems by Habib Jalib

Ten Poems
Habib Jalib

I I

What Does Pakistan Mean?

Pakistan Ka Matlab Kya?

Bread, clothes and medicine Roti, kapda aur dawa

A little house to live in
Ghar rehne ko chhota
sa

Free education, as may right be seen Muft mujhe talim dila

A Muslim, I, too, have always been

Mein bhi Musalmaan
hoon wallah
What does Pakistan mean
Pakistan ka matlab kya

There is no God, but God, The Rab-al- La Ilaha Illalah…

alameen
Amrika se mang na bhik
For American alms do not bray Mat kar logon ki tazhik

Do not, the people, laugh away

Rok na janhoori tehrik

With the democratic struggle do

not play Chhod na azadi ki rah

Hold on to freedom, do not cave in

Pakistan ka matlab hai
kya
What does Pakistan mean
La Ilaha Illalah…

There is no God...

Khet waderon se le lo
Confiscate the fields from the landowners Milen luteron se le lo

Take away the mills from the robbers

Mulk andheron se le lo

Redeem the country from its dark hours Rahe na koi Alijah

Off with the lordly vermin

Pakistan ka matlab
kya
What does Pakistan mean
La Ilaha Illalah… 

There is no God...

Sarhad, Sindh, Baluchistan

Sind, Baluchistan and Frontier Teenon hain Panjab ki jaan

These three are to Panjab most

dear Aur Bangal hai sab ki aan

And Bengal lends them splendour

Aai na un ke lab par aah

Anguished should not be their mien

Pakistan ka matlab kya

What does Pakistan mean

La Ilaha Illalah…

There is no God...

Baat yehi hai bunyadi

This, then, is the basic thing Ghasib ki ho barbadi

For the people, let freedom’s bell ring

Haq kehte hain haq agah

From the rope, let the plunderer swing
Pakistan ka matlab kya

Truly they speak, who the truth have seen La Ilaha Illalah…

What does Pakistan mean

There is no God, but Allah...

   
II II
Islam Is Not
In Danger

Khatre Mein Islam Nahin

Endangered are the idle rich, bursting with Khatra hai zar daron ko
cash Girti hui diwaron ko

Crumbling walls about to crash

Sadiyon ke bimaron ko
All the centuries’ mish-mash

Khatre mein Islam nahin

Islam is not in danger

Sari zamin ko ghere hue hain aakhir chand

Why do a few clans all
the land rights enjoy gharane kyon

Naam nabi ka
lene wale ulfat se begane kyon 
https://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv9n1/jalibpoems.htm 1/6
1/16/22, 5:34 PM Ten Poems by Habib Jalib

And those, who revere the Prophet, are bereft Khatra hai khun khwaron ko
of joy Rang birangi karon ko
Amrika ke pyaron ko
Endangered are the beasts of prey Khatre mein Islam nahin
Multicoloured cars which in the streets Aaj hamare naaron se larza hai bapa aiwanon
sashay mein
And for whom the American hearts sway
Islam is not in danger Bik na sakenge hasrat-o arman unchi saji
Due to our slogans the palaces shake and dukanon mein 
tremble Khatra hai bat maron ko
The towering ornate shops cannot our hopes Maghrib ke bazaron ko
quell Choron ko makkaron ko
Khatre mein Islam nahin
Endangered are the robbers of the highway Amn ka parcham le kar utho har insane se
Western traders who make hay piyar karo
Thieves and tricksters who waylay Aprna to manshoor hai Jalib, sare jahan se
Islam is not in danger pyar karo 
Holding aloft the banner of peace, loving all
humans, we are on the go Khatra hai darbaron ko
Loving all the world, O Jalib, is our proud Shahon ke ghamkhwaron ko
credo Nawabon, ghaddaron ko
Khatre mein Islam nahin 
Endangered are the palatial predators
The kings and their abettors
Nawabs and other such traitors
Islam is not in danger.
   
III III

Maulana

Maulana

Too long I have heard you preach and prate, Bahut mein ne suni hai aap ki taqreer Maulana
Maulana Magar badli nahin ab tak meri taqdeer

But so far
there has been no change in my Maulana
fate, Maulana Khudara
Shukr ki talqeen apne pass hi rakhen
Keep to yourself
your preachings of Yeh lagti hai mere seene pe ban kar teeer

gratefulness Maulana
My heart, like
an arrow, they penetrate, Nahin mein
bol sakta jhut is darja dhitai se
Maulana Yehi hai jurm mera aur yehi taqsir Maulana

The truth,
only you know or God knows Haqeeqat ka kya hai, yeh to aap jaanen ya

They say that Jimmy Carter is your pir*

Khuda jane
incarnate, Maulana

Suna hai Jimmi Carter hai aap ka peer

The land to the landlords, the machine to the Maulana

despoilers Zameenen
hon waderon ki, mashinen hon

This, according to you, is God’s dictate, luteron ki

Maulana Khuda ne
likh ke di hai yeh tumhen terhrir
Why don’t
millions fight for Palestine Maulana

Prayers alone cannot from chains liberate, Karodon

kyon nahin mil kar Falastin ke liye
Maulana ladte

se faqat kat-ti nahin zanjir Maulana
Dua hi
* Sufi saint
   
IV IV

Ghazal

Ghazal

https://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv9n1/jalibpoems.htm 2/6
1/16/22, 5:34 PM Ten Poems by Habib Jalib

Hindustan belongs to me and Pakistan Hindustan bhi mera hai aur Pakistan bhi mera
belongs to me hai
Both of these, however, are under American Lekin in donon mulkon mein Amrika dera hai
hegemony
Aid ki gandam kha kar ham ne kitney dhokey
American aid gave us wheat, as also their khai hain
deceit Poochh na hamne Amrika ke kitne naaz uthai
Do not ask me how long we’ve suffered their hain 
conceit
Phir bhi ab tak wadi-e gul ko sangeenon ne
And yet the bayonets are all around this ghera hai
flowering valley Hindustan bhi mera hai aur Pakistan bhi mera
Hindustan belongs to me and Pakistan hai 
belongs to me
Khan Bahadur chhodna hoga ab to saath
Khan Bahadur, do not follow the English, Angrezon ka
from them better keep away Ta bah gareban aa pahuncha hai phir se hath
Once again they are holding you by the Angrezon ka 
collar, you are still their prey
Macmilan tera na hua to Kenedy kab tera hai
Macmillan was never thine, Kennedy can Hindustan bhi mera hai aur Pakistan bhi mera
never be hai 
Hindustan belongs to me and Pakistan
belongs to me Yeh dharti hai asal mein, pyare, mazdooron
dahqanon ki
This land in fact, my dear, belongs to Is dharti par chal na sakegi marzi chand
peasants and workers gharanon ki
Here will not run the writ of a few clannish
marauders Zulm ki rat rahegi kab tak ab nazdik savera hai
Hindustan bhi mera hai aur Pakistan bhi mera
The dawn of freedom is heralding the end of hai
tyranny
Hindustan belongs to me and Pakistan
belongs to me.
   
V V

The Mother Maan

The children were shot dead Bachchon pe chali goli

The mother, in fury, said Maan dekh ke yeh boli

These pieces of my heart

Yeh dil ke mere tukde

Should cry and I stand apart Yun royen mere hote

Looking on from afar

Mein dur khadi dekhoon

This I cannot do
Yeh mujh se nahin hoga 

I should look on from afar Mein Dur khadi dekhun

As the tyrants, night and day
Aur ahl-e sitam khelen

With the blood of my children

Holi* play Khun se mere bachchon
ke
Besmirched in red
Din-raat yahan holi

shot dead
As the children were

Bachchon pe chali goli

The mother, in fury, said
Maan dekh ke yeh boli

These pieces of my heart

Yeh dil ke mere tukde

Should cry and I stand apart Yun royen mere hote

https://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv9n1/jalibpoems.htm 3/6
1/16/22, 5:34 PM Ten Poems by Habib Jalib

Looking on from afar Mein dur khadi dekhun

This, I cannot do  Yeh mujh se nahin hoga 

* Spring festival played with coloured water Meidan mein nikal aayi
Ek barq si lehrai
She walked came down to the ground Har dast-e sitam kanpa
Like lightening flashing around Bandooq bhi tharrai
The tyrant’s hand trembled Har simt sada gunji
Full of fear the gun frowned Mein aati hun, mein aayee
Everywhere her echo did resound Mein aati hun, mein aayee
I am hereby bound, I am coming for this
round Har zulm hua batil
I am hereby bound, I am coming for this Aur seham gaye qatil
round  Jab us ne zaban kholi
Bachchon pe chali goli 
Then oppression became evil Us ne kaha khun-khwaro!
Panic-stricken were those who kill Daulat ke parastaro
When she thundered Dharti hai yeh ham sab ki
As our children were murdered  Is dharti ko naa-dano!
She said, you vampires Angrezon ke darbano!
Gold is the be all of your desires Sahab ki ata-kardah
This land belongs to us all Jagir na tum jano
This land, you Dunces Esquires Is zulm se baaz aao
Lackeys, still, to your British Sires Bairak mein chale jao
Kyon chand luteron ki
The sahib’s beneficence Phirte ho liye toli
Has not made you landlords: squires Bachchon pe chali goli
Desist from this tyranny
Back to your barracks, flee
You, who rove ahead
With a gang of plunderers you have bred
As our children were shot dead 
   
VI VI
The Garden Is A
Bloody Mess  Bagiya Lahoo
Luhan

This poem is about the oppression in East Haryali ko aankhen tarsen bagiya lahoo luhan
Pakistan in 1971 Pyar ke geet sunaoon kis ko shehar hue weeran

Bagiya lahoo luhan 

Our eyes yearn for greenery

The garden is a bloody mess
Dasti hain suraj ki kirnen chand jalaye jaan

For whom should I sing my songs of love Pag pag maut ke gehre saye jeewan maut

The cities are all a wilderness

saman
The garden is a bloody mess
Charon
ore hawa phirti hai le kar teer Kaman
Bagiya lahoo luhan 

The rays of the sun, they sting

Moonbeams are a killing field,
no less Chhalni hain kaliyon ke seeney khoon mein lat
Deep shadows of death hover at every
step paat
Life wears a skull and bone dress

Aur nahjaney kab tak hogi ashkon ki barsaat

All around the air is on prowl
Dunya walon kab beeteinge dukh ke yeh din

With bows and arrows, in full

harness raat
The garden is a bloody mess 
Khoon
se holi khel rahe hain dharti ke balwan
Bagiya lahoo luhan

https://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv9n1/jalibpoems.htm 4/6
1/16/22, 5:34 PM Ten Poems by Habib Jalib

The battered buds are like a sieve

The leaves drenched in blood smears
Who knows, for how long
We’ll have this rain of tears
People how long do we have to bear
These days and nights of sorrow and distress
This oppressor’s blood bath is a frolicsome
play
For the mighty of the world, a mark of their
prowess
The garden is a bloody mess 
   
VII VII

God Is Ours Khuda Hamara Hai

Addressed to religious hucksters of any Khuda tumhara nahi hai khuda hamara hai
denomination
and the system they defend – Use zamin pe yeh zulm kab gawara hai

translator’s note
Lahoo piyoge kahan tak hamara dhanwano
God is not yours, to Him we have access Badhao apni dukan seem-o zar ke deewano

He does not look kindly on those who

Nishan kahin na rahega tumhara shaitano

oppress  Hamein yaqeen hai ke insaan usko pyara hai

Khuda tumhara nahin hai khuda hamara hai

How long, you men of pelf, will you bleed us Use zameen pe yeh zulm kab gaawara hai 

white

our backs, you who in filthy lucre
Get off Nai shaoor ki hai roshni nigahon mein
take delight

Ek aag si bhi hai ab apni sard aahon mein

You satans it is dust that you will soon bite Khilenge phool nazar ke sahar ki bahon mein

We believe that He treats mankind with

Dukhe dilon ko isi aas ka sahara hai

loving tenderness Khuda tumhara nahin hai khuda hamara

hai

He does not look kindly on those who Use zameen pe yeh zulm kab gawara hai

oppress 
Tilism-e sayah-e khauf-o hiras todenge
Light of new wisdom we are going to see

Qadam bandhayenge zanjeere-e yaas todenge

A fire flares up, seeing our agony
Kabhi kisi ke na ham dil ki aas todenge

In this new magical dawn will burst

forth the Rahega yaad jo ehd-e sitam guzara hai

blossoming tree Use zamin pe yeh zulm kab gawara hai

He brings hopes to those who are mired in

distress

yours, to Him we have access
God is not
He does not look kindly on those who

oppress

We’ll break the shadowy spell of fear and

dread

we will march, chains of despair
Onwards
we will shred

the hopes of the people, our
We’ll not betray
dear kindred
And long we
will remember this time of
duress
He does
not look kindly on those who
oppress
   
https://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv9n1/jalibpoems.htm 5/6
1/16/22, 5:34 PM Ten Poems by Habib Jalib

VIII VIII
To Rakhshinda Zoya Rakhshinda
Zoya Se

13 April 1981, during a jail visit Keh nahin sakti par kehti hai
She cannot say it, but then Mujh se meri nanhi bachchi
My little one manages to say Abbu ghar chal
Father, come home Abbu ghar chal
Father, come home Us ki samajh mein kuchh nahin aata
She cannot comprehend Kyon zindan mein reh jaata hun
Why, in prison, I continue to stay Kyon nahin saath mein uske chalta
And not return with her, hand in hand Kaise nanhi samjhaoon
How should I explain to her Ghar bhi to zindan ki tarah hai
That home, too, is like a prison 
Kot Lakhpat Jail
   
IX IX

On Iqbal Centenary

Yaum-E Iqbal Par

When we arise to wake the poor, the have Log uthte hain jab tere ghareebon ko jagane
nots Sab shehar ke zardar pahunch jaate hain

A beeline to the police station they make, thane 

these wealthy sots
Kehte hain yeh daulat hamein bakhshi hai
They say that God this wealth to them allots khuda ne
Oh these trite excuses, oh these dusty plots
Farsudah
bahane wahi afsaane purane 

Night and day the working men’s blood they Ai shair-e mashriq! Yehi jhute yehi bad zaat
suck, o poet of the East

Peete hain laoo banda-e mazdoor ka din raat 

These congenital liars, with the vileness of a

beast
   
X X

The Government of Jack Boots Bootan Di

Sarkar

If the dacoit had not had (Panjabi)

The village guard as his
ally
Our feet would not be in chains
Dakuan da je saath na dinda pind da pehredar

Our victory would not defeat imply Aj paireen zanjeer na hund jit na hundi har

Mourn with turbans round your necks

Paggan apne gal wich pa lo turo pet de bhar

Crawling on your bellies, comply

Chadh jaye te mushkil lehndi bootan di sarkar

Once the jack boot government is

up
It’s hard, to make it bid good-bye

Written during Yahya Khan’s dictatorship

Translated from the Urdu and Punjabi by
fowpe sharma.
Transliterated from the Urdu by Hasan Abdullah.

Prepared for publication by Amar Farooqui

Click here to return to the April

2003 index.

https://www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv9n1/jalibpoems.htm 6/6