Here's an attempt at conveying what the lyrics try to say. Needless to say, liberties have been taken with the feelings that the original words evoked, but hopefully the original thought remains. Many thanks are due to this online Urdu dictionary - http://www.learningurdu.com, for an explanation of many difficult words.


Thus did we set off friends,
Having sacrificed life & limb,
The freedom now, of this land,
Is but within your hands.

The breath grew shorter, the pulse weaker,
We didn't tarry though, for respite or rest.
Countless heads rolled little did that matter,
Ultimately the Himalaya stood solidly propped up.
Though we lay dying, a smart salute was in place.
The freedom now, of this land,
Is but within your hand.

The're Springs aplenty to live & rejoice,
Yet the Winter of sacrifice cometh just the once.
'Tis a disgrace to love & beauty, youth unbathed in blood,
From never having protected a tender one.
This day when our land is an endangered bride.
The freedom now, of this land,
Is but within your hands.

Let not sacrifices idle by the wayside,
Of desperate desolate roads.
Keep redecorating the caravans,
Celebration on victory's path, is soon after.
When life & death do embrace,
Wear now then, this headband of death.
The freedom now, of this land,
Is but within your hands.

Strike unto the ground a moat in crimson red,
Lest a monster dare think trespass again.
Break his limbs, dare he extend it our way,
Let no woman think her honor's unprotected.
You are both the protector and shield dear friends,
The freedom now, of this land,
Is but within your hands.

How abt a song from a Raj Kapoor film

Aa ab laut chalein
nain bichaye
Bahein Basaye
Tujhko Pukare, Desh tera.....

& a Sahir Ludhianvi composition

Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat purani
naye daur mein likhenge
Milkar nayi kahani
Hum Hindustani, Hum Hindustani....

Great work Aarkayne. It's well polished English poetry.

But, please clarify if it's a English poeteric translation?? It seems that the English lyrics have rhythem. I tend to disagree, some places. At lest at one place, English poetry translation seems to mean totally opposite of what Hindi/ Urdu lyrics mean. BTW, in my translation, I tried to explain what the Hindi/ Urdu lyrics were saying and made no effort to keep it in poetry form. I don't have expert level command in English writing but do understand English as well as Hindi/ Urdu very well (Still can't explain in English exactly what RUSVAA means. LOL.)

sknath or any one, do you remember that song "Ek Padosi Ne ------" meaning that "Neighbour country has betrayed/ backstabbed us. It's a very powerful song too. I thought it's from Haqeeqat, but didn't find it in my VHS. This song, most likely, is from Haqeeqat or some other film from that time (within a Year or two after 1962).

Thanks Rana for your kind comment.


It is meant to be. I have deliberately taken away pointed references to mythology and tried to bring in a more universal flavour. Undoubtedly the original punch is lost (the references to Ramayan is what I am talking about) but hopefully still conveys what the poet originally meant to say. Which lines do you have diasgreement with. Maybe I misunderstood the original lines. I can try to clarify.

Mine was an attempt on word by word translation, keeping in mind the general awareness, in India, of surroundings and culture (Ram, Sita, Raavan, Sar Jhukna, etc.).

In lyrics, you could be saying one thing and implying another. Only in lyrics you can glorify death, suicide or even the biggest of the biggest crime.

For example:



My interpretation:



(Your) English lyrics/ translation:



Similarly:



He is saying that Victory celebrations are after this celebration of sacrifices (where you are sacrificing your lives; although you die, victory celebrations are coming), life is meeting death implying deaths, and is inviting "Saathiyo" to come and join this celebration of sacrifice and come prepared/ decorated with "Kafan" on your heads.

(Your) English lyrics/ translation:

Ok. Lets look at the stanza in its entirety.....

raah qurbaaniyoN ki na veeraan ho
tum sajaate hi rahnaa naye kaafile
fatah kaa jashn is jashn ke baad hai
zindagi maut se mil rahi hai gale
baaNdh lo apne sar se kafan saathiyoN
ab tumhaare havaale vatan saathiyoN
kar chale ham...


The poet's saying to the rest of the countrymen, those not involved in the fighting on the front, to not lay the roads paved by sacrifices go desolate(this is a straight translation of 'veeran'). He implores his countrymen to keep redecorating caravans (which could mean, in this journey of our country's, new ideas, ventures, progress etc), reminding them that the celebration of this lies at the end of the road. It also implies the immediate war on hand. In that context the lines describing the time of celebration is when life & death meet. In effect, for a soldier death really means permanent life thereafter or immortality. Hence the poet again asks his countrymen to not be afraid of sacrifices if they need to be made.

I suppose that was what my lines were trying to suggest. We can continue with this discussion perhaps offline via PM. Others may get a tad bored with this over analysis in my mind

Wow. Two different interpretations of the same stanza. Well, that's what poetry is. It's open to interpretations. Also, In lyrics you could be saying one thing and implying another.

BTW, I gave my intertretation as I understood it and not for a debate or any arguement. As my interpretation was much stronger invitation to sacrifice for country's honour, I found these lyrics extremely powerful. I don't find any thing wrong with your interpretation either.
---------------------------------------------------


Let's find more songs with powerful lyrics and pick the best that we like. I'm sure there are many more.

I am totally cool with that



Yeah, why not.....

A few more songs that have strong lyrics:

1) Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko (Film: Sadhna)

2) Na Hindu Banega Na Muslemaan Banegaa, Insaan Ki Aulaad Hai Insaan Banega (Dhool Ka Phool)

3) Kya Miliye Aise Logon Se (Izzat)

4) Another powerful song from Pyasa:
Ye Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye To Kya Hai

5, 6) These two songs from Nagin that depict "Tadap" very powerfully:

Bheega Bheega Hai Ye Saman, Aise Main Hai Tu Kahan, Dil Ye Pukare Aa Jaa, Mere Gham Ke Sahaare Aa Jaa---

Zindagi Ke Dene Waale, Zindagi Ke Lene Waale, Preet Meri Chheen Ke Bata Tujhe Kya Milaa

7) Alvidaa Alvidaa (Anarkali)

8,9) I think, I mentioned them earlier, these two songs from Mughl-e-Azam:
Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya
and
Zindabaad Zindabaad, Ae Mohabbat Zindabaad

------------------

Can you think of more??

So far, my choice for strongest lyrics is the Pyasa song:
Jinhein Naaz Hind Par Woh Kahan Hain.

Not sure if the lyrics of Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye rendered by Mukesh for Rajesh Khanna in Anand could be described as "powerful", but they do connect very well with intimacy of death...

Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye
Sanjh Ki Dulhan Badan Churaye
Chupke Se Aaye
Mere Khayalon Ke Aangan Mein
Koi Sapnon Ke Deep Jalaye

Kabhi Yun Hi Jab Hui Bojhal Sansen
Bhar Aai Baithe Baithe Jab Yun Hi Aankhen
Kabhi Machal Ke Pyar Se Chal Ke
Chhuye Koi Mujhe Par Nazar Na Aaye
Kahin Door...

Kahin To Yeh Dil Kabhi Mil Nahin Paate
Kahin Pe Nikal Aaye Janmon Ke Naate
Thami Thi Uljhan Bairi Apna Man
Apna Hi Hoke Sahe Dard Paraye
Kahin Door...

Dil Jane Mere Saare Bedh Yeh Gehre
Hogaye Kaise Mere Sapne Sunehre
Yeh Mere Sapne Yehi To Hai Apne
Mujhse Juda Na Hoge Inke Yeh Saaye
Kahin Door...

I might have started the thread, but Aarkayne, Armaan and Rita have been putting much more effort into it by providing the lyrics. Well done.

I and a few others have just been identifying the songs. I don't remember full lyrics nor did I expect that someone will take trouble to find and post the full lyrics.

Thanks for the effort. Keep them coming.

Another song with notable lyrics:


Na Kisi Ki Aankh Ka Noor Hoon (Bahadur Shah Zafer ) from LalKila??

and

Lo Aa Gayee Unkee Yaad, Vo Nahin Aaye from Do Badan.

Gulzar is my favourite lyricist from Hindi filmdom, for the one reason that he seems to bring poetry into filmmaking as well.....his dialogues have that amount of refined intellectualism...he does not for a moment assume his audiences are idiots, which is saying a lot about writers of his generation.....

My favourite lyric is from IJAAJAT....needless to say 'Mera Kuchch Samaan'......long time ago I had translated this for a girl....who also went on to become my wife....so obviously it has a special place in my heart

I will post that translation as well sometime....so all those here trying to impress girls, this is one way to go guys

Mera Kuch Samaan - Ijaazat

Its often been said that no one has ever depicted lost love better than Gulzar in this song. Certainly no one has rendered it better than Asha Bhosle in this song....

The song is more prose than poetry, and the language appears rather simple, but seems to convey so much depth!

Mera kuch saamaan tumhare paas paDa hai
Saawan ke kuch bheege bheege din rakheN hain
Aur mere ek khat mein lipti raat paDi hai
Woh raat bhuja dho
Mera woh saamaan lauTaa do...

PathjhaD hai kuch...hai na?
PathjhaD mein kuch pathon ki ghirne ki aahaT
Khanon mein ek baar pehne ke lout aayi thi
PathjhaD ki woh shaaq abhi tak kaamp rahi hai
Woh shaaq ghira do
Mera woh saamaan lauTaa do

Ek akeli chatri mein jab aadhe aadhe bheeg rahe the
Adhe sookhe aadhe geele
Sookha to main le aayi thi
Geela man shaayad bistar ke paas paDa ho
Woh bhijwa do
Mera woh saamaan lauTaa do

Ek sau solaah chaand ki raatein
Ek tumhare kaandhe ka til
Gheeli mehendi ki khushboo
Jhoot moot ke shiqwe kuch
Jhoot moot ke waade bhi sab yaad kara doon
Sab bhijwa do
Mera woh samaan lauTaa do..

Ek ijaazat de do bas.
Jab isko dafnaooNgi
Main bhi wahin so jayoongi..
Main bhi wahin so jayoongi..

Anyone up for translation into English?