railiyan hi railiyan

ye hamārā shahr jo shahr-e-'kalīm'-o-'shād' hai

dost is kā āj-kal charḳh-e-sitam-ījād hai

ik zamāna thā ki gañgā kā ye ham-sāya nagar

sher-o-hikmat ke liye thā dars-gāh-e-mo'tabar

bhā.ī-chāra aur ravā-dārī kā thā har-sū rivāj

apne apne shuġhl meñ masrūf rahtā thā samāj

shā.erān-e-ḳhush-navā din raat aate the nazar

gungunāte sher kahte har galī ke moḌ par

aise be-fikroñ ko jin kī tab.a mauzūñ hī na thī

shauq thā kankavve-bāzī kaa, bajā.e-shā.erī

mulk meñ tahrīk-e-āzādī kā aayā daur jab

mashġhale tafrīh ke, DhūñDe ga.e kuchh aur tab

thī kabhī to bhūk-haḌtāl strike, mār-dhāḌ

aur kabhī thī nāre-bāzī dhar ise us ko pichhāḌ

ba.ad-e-āzādī na.ī masrūfiyat kā dar khulā

niim to hai niim hī us par karailā bhī chaḌhā

ik na.ī tahrīk aa.ī le ke kuchh tabdīliyāñ

ya.anī ab tafrīh kā sāmān-e-nau haiñ railiyāñ

jis tarah hoñ khetiyoñ par hamla-āvar TiDDiyāñ

yūñhī ahl-e-shahr ke haq meñ haiñ la.anat railiyāñ

kursiyoñ se jo siyāsat-zād-gāñ mahrūm haiñ

railiyāñ un ke liye bā-maqsad o mafhūm haiñ

rañg-dāroñ ko milā kar bhiiḌ ikaTThī kī ga.ī

chappa chappa par galī-kūchoñ ke jo qābiz huī

daf.atan maflūj ho kar rah gayā har kām-kāj

shahr meñ chaltā rahā kuchh der tak rāvan kā raaj

ittifāqan gar koī dūkāñ khulī paa.ī ga.ī

ḳhuub jī bhar ke vo luuTī aur jalvā.ī ga.ī

har dar-o-dīvār ke nīche khaTāloñ kī qatār

biich saḌkoñ par maveshī aur ġhalāzat kī bahār

aur is manzar ke pīchhe railī-bāzoñ kā hujūm

tujh ko le aayā kahāñ ai shahr terā baḳht-e-shūm

ye hamara shahr jo shahr-e-'kalim'-o-'shad' hai

dost is ka aaj-kal charKH-e-sitam-ijad hai

ek zamana tha ki ganga ka ye ham-saya nagar

sher-o-hikmat ke liye tha dars-gah-e-mo'tabar

bhai-chaara aur rawa-dari ka tha har-su riwaj

apne apne shughl mein masruf rahta tha samaj

shaeran-e-KHush-nawa din raat aate the nazar

gungunate sher kahte har gali ke moD par

aise be-fikron ko jin ki taba mauzun hi na thi

shauq tha kankawwe-bazi ka, bajae-shaeri

mulk mein tahrik-e-azadi ka aaya daur jab

mashghale tafrih ke, DhunDe gae kuchh aur tab

thi kabhi to bhuk-haDtal strike, mar-dhaD

aur kabhi thi nare-bazi dhar ise us ko pichhaD

baad-e-azadi nai masrufiyat ka dar khula

nim to hai nim hi us par karaila bhi chaDha

ek nai tahrik aai le ke kuchh tabdiliyan

yani ab tafrih ka saman-e-nau hain railiyan

jis tarah hon khetiyon par hamla-awar TiDDiyan

yunhi ahl-e-shahr ke haq mein hain lanat railiyan

kursiyon se jo siyasat-zad-gan mahrum hain

railiyan un ke liye ba-maqsad o mafhum hain

rang-daron ko mila kar bhiD ikaTThi ki gai

chappa chappa par gali-kuchon ke jo qabiz hui

dafatan mafluj ho kar rah gaya har kaam-kaj

shahr mein chalta raha kuchh der tak rawan ka raj

ittifaqan gar koi dukan khuli pai gai

KHub ji bhar ke wo luTi aur jalwai gai

har dar-o-diwar ke niche khaTalon ki qatar

bich saDkon par maweshi aur ghalazat ki bahaar

aur is manzar ke pichhe raili-bazon ka hujum

tujh ko le aaya kahan ai shahr tera baKHt-e-shum