mujhe sharmindagi mahsus nahin hoti

jo sadiyāñ bichhaḌ chukī haiñ

maiñ un meñ zinda rahtī huuñ

aur mujhe koī sharmindagī mahsūs nahīñ hotī

saḌkoñ par tāñge kī Tāpoñ kī sadā ab bhī suntī huuñ

jaise mahv-e-safar huuñ

aur havā mere kānoñ meñ kuchh raaz kahtī hai

phir kisī gaaḌī ke horn kī sadā par

chauñk jaatī huuñ

maiñ jañgaloñ ko tārāj kar ke saḌkeñ bante dekhtī huuñ

aur be-jān badan liye

jañgaloñ ke nishān DhūñDhtī chalī jaatī huuñ

ye rātoñ-rāt concrete se bante hue dev-haikal pul

saḌkoñ ko kushāda karne kī ḳhvāhish meñ

tañg hotā huā arsa-e-hayāt

taraqqī kī aaḌ meñ

ruuh ko ghāyal karne vaale saude

qatra qatra zindagī piine vaale

bebasī se duhā.ī dete hue anginat log

jin kī chhoTī chhoTī ḳhushiyoñ ko rauñdte hue

baḌe baḌe bulldozer

aur ab to gutter kī tarah

uble paḌe traffic ke is ta.affun-zada hujūm meñ

kahīñ paTrī kī sāñseñ bhī ukhaḌ rahī haiñ

rail-gāḌī kā engine jaane kahāñ rah gayā hai

chup-chāp bichhḌī sadiyoñ meñ panāh lete hue

mujhe sharmindagī mahsūs nahīñ hotī

jo sadiyan bichhaD chuki hain

main un mein zinda rahti hun

aur mujhe koi sharmindagi mahsus nahin hoti

saDkon par tange ki Tapon ki sada ab bhi sunti hun

jaise mahw-e-safar hun

aur hawa mere kanon mein kuchh raaz kahti hai

phir kisi gaDi ke horn ki sada par

chaunk jati hun

main jangalon ko taraj kar ke saDken bante dekhti hun

aur be-jaan badan liye

jangalon ke nishan DhunDhti chali jati hun

ye raaton-raat concrete se bante hue dew-haikal pul

saDkon ko kushada karne ki KHwahish mein

tang hota hua arsa-e-hayat

taraqqi ki aaD mein

ruh ko ghayal karne wale saude

qatra qatra zindagi pine wale

bebasi se duhai dete hue anginat log

jin ki chhoTi chhoTi KHushiyon ko raundte hue

baDe baDe bulldozer

aur ab to gutter ki tarah

uble paDe traffic ke is taffun-zada hujum mein

kahin paTri ki sansen bhi ukhaD rahi hain

rail-gaDi ka engine jaane kahan rah gaya hai

chup-chap bichhDi sadiyon mein panah lete hue

mujhe sharmindagi mahsus nahin hoti