kal aur aaj

vaqt thā jab koī bhī bastā na thā

likhnā paḌhnā tab bhī kuchh sastā na thā

ek taḳhtī thī qalam thā aur davāt

is se zyāda thī kahāñ koī bhī baat

qā.eda ham ko milā paḌhne ko tab

dekhte paḌhte the raTte us ko sab

mil ke sab gintī pahāḌe bolte

baat karne se hī pahle tolte

tab kahāñ gintī kā ham ko gyaan thā

paḌhnā likhnā kis qadar āsān thā

pāñchvīñ tak chañd kitābeñ thiiñ huzūr

ham chale jaate uThā kar duur duur

aaj pahlī dūsrī ho nursery

ye kitābeñ ham pe kartīñ ghuḌ-chaḌhī

bojh se dabte chale jaate haiñ ham

hai ye mumkin in se nikle apnā dam

koī batlā.e ki shikshā hai kahīñ

sach to ye hai ki batā sakte nahīñ

ghar pe ye maañ baap par ik qarz hai

bachche ghar se paḌh ke jaa.eñ farz hai

kaash koī is taraf bhī dekh le

tab kahīñ shikshā na.ī ham ko bhī de

waqt tha jab koi bhi basta na tha

likhna paDhna tab bhi kuchh sasta na tha

ek taKHti thi qalam tha aur dawat

is se zyaada thi kahan koi bhi baat

qaeda hum ko mila paDhne ko tab

dekhte paDhte the raTte us ko sab

mil ke sab ginti pahaDe bolte

baat karne se hi pahle tolte

tab kahan ginti ka hum ko gyan tha

paDhna likhna kis qadar aasan tha

panchwin tak chand kitaben thin huzur

hum chale jate uTha kar dur dur

aaj pahli dusri ho nursery

ye kitaben hum pe kartin ghuD-chaDhi

bojh se dabte chale jate hain hum

hai ye mumkin in se nikle apna dam

koi batlae ki shiksha hai kahin

sach to ye hai ki bata sakte nahin

ghar pe ye man bap par ek qarz hai

bachche ghar se paDh ke jaen farz hai

kash koi is taraf bhi dekh le

tab kahin shiksha nai hum ko bhi de