ehl e zaahir, you and i / ehl e zaahir, aap aur hum

ehl e zaahir, you and i
familiar countenance
unfamiliar faces
vast city
constricting hearts
familiarity laced with suspicion
bred over centuries
nourished by inequality, injustice

in this quaint struggle
in the crowd
imprisoned in halos
alone and together
individuals strive
sans destination
sans guide

multitudes assay to wash
todayís utter darkness
with century-extinguished flames

but all is not lost, my friend
artists, writers, seekers
with the oil of passionate convictions
keep the flicker of hope alive
come, letís join them!


ehle zaahir, aap aur hum
yahaan bhee
her chehra manoos
phir bhee
shanasaa koi nahiN

buhat roshan hay
wasii hay yeh shehír
log bhee buhat
wasii ul qalíb nahiN mígar

manoosiyat kO bhee ajnabiyat kay khOl say
tatOltay haiN mashkook paimanON say

aíjub jehíd maiN rawaaN hay qaafla
is shehír e aziz ka
infiradi khOl main muqayyad
aílug aílug aur saath saath
--aíjub jehíd
manzil na rah numa
aaj ki tareeki kO
sadiON bujhi shamaa say
doíor karnay ki saee

laikin dost míray
musawwar, musannif, talib
chund majnoon sar phiray
ummeed ka dya roshan kyay
sar gardaan haiN
ummeed ka dya
taghayyuraat e zamaaN say
muqaabla zunn hay

duíaaOn kO choRh ker
chalo hum bhee kuch
kar jaíaiN!