Habib Jalib - 1928-1993

Today is the anniversary of poet revolutionary irreverent port Habib Jalib.

You can hear him here: Habib Jalib - Poetry of Defiance


And here is a poem by Habib Jalib:

I What Does Pakistan Mean? Bread, clothes and medicine A little house to live in Free education, as may right be seen A Muslim, I, too, have always been What does Pakistan mean There is no God, but God, The Rab-al-alameen For American alms do not bray Do not, the people, laugh away With the democratic struggle do not play Hold on to freedom, do not cave in What does Pakistan mean There is no God... Confiscate the fields from the landowners Take away the mills from the robbers Redeem the country from its dark hours Off with the lordly vermin What does Pakistan mean There is no God... Sind, Baluchistan and Frontier These three are to Panjab most dear And Bengal lends them splendour Anguished should not be their mien What does Pakistan mean There is no God... This, then, is the basic thing For the people, let freedom’s bell ring From the rope, let the plunderer swing Truly they speak, who the truth have seen What does Pakistan mean There is no God, but Allah...

I Pakistan Ka Matlab Kya? Roti, kapda aur dawa Ghar rehne ko chhota sa Muft mujhe talim dila Mein bhi Musalmaan hoon wallah Pakistan ka matlab kya La Ilaha Illalah… Amrika se mang na bhik Mat kar logon ki tazhik Rok na janhoori tehrik Chhod na azadi ki rah Pakistan ka matlab hai kya La Ilaha Illalah… Khet waderon se le lo Milen luteron se le lo Mulk andheron se le lo Rahe na koi Alijah Pakistan ka matlab kya La Ilaha Illalah… Sarhad, Sindh, Baluchistan Teenon hain Panjab ki jaan Aur Bangal hai sab ki aan Aai na un ke lab par aah Pakistan ka matlab kya La Ilaha Illalah… Baat yehi hai bunyadi Ghasib ki ho barbadi Haq kehte hain haq agah Pakistan ka matlab kya La Ilaha Illalah…

There are ten more poems by him, all translated at this link.