Sher on Farmers Day
Literature has had respectable space for social issues one of which concerns the case of Farmers. Poets in particular, have engaged with this in their own ways. In fact, Urdu poets have celebrated their worth and spoken against their exploitation. This selection brings a variety of perspectives on these issues.
so jaate haiñ fōtpath pe aḳhbār bichhā kar
mazdūr kabhī niiñd kī golī nahīñ khāte
so jate hain footpath pe aKHbar bichha kar
mazdur kabhi nind ki goli nahin khate
tū qādir o aadil hai magar tere jahāñ meñ
haiñ talḳh bahut banda-e-mazdūr ke auqāt
tu qadir o aadil hai magar tere jahan mein
hain talKH bahut banda-e-mazdur ke auqat
mehnat kar ke ham to āḳhir bhūke bhī so jā.eñge
yā maulā tū barkat rakhnā bachchoñ kī guḌ-dhānī meñ
mehnat kar ke hum to aaKHir bhuke bhi so jaenge
ya maula tu barkat rakhna bachchon ki guD-dhani mein
bojh uThānā shauq kahāñ hai majbūrī kā saudā hai
rahte rahte station par log qulī ho jaate haiñ
bojh uThana shauq kahan hai majburi ka sauda hai
rahte rahte station par log quli ho jate hain
halāl rizq kā matlab kisān se pūchho
pasīna ban ke badan se lahū nikaltā hai
halal rizq ka matlab kisan se puchho
pasina ban ke badan se lahu nikalta hai
ab un kī ḳhvāb-gāhoñ meñ koī āvāz mat karnā
bahut thak-hār kar fōtpath par mazdūr so.e haiñ
ab un ki KHwab-gahon mein koi aawaz mat karna
bahut thak-haar kar footpath par mazdur soe hain
bulāte haiñ hameñ mehnat-kashoñ ke haath ke chhāle
chalo muhtāj ke muñh meñ nivāla rakh diyā jaa.e
bulate hain hamein mehnat-kashon ke hath ke chhaale
chalo muhtaj ke munh mein niwala rakh diya jae
saroñ pe oḌh ke mazdūr dhuup kī chādar
ḳhud apne sar pe use sā.ebāñ samajhne lage
saron pe oDh ke mazdur dhup ki chadar
KHud apne sar pe use saeban samajhne lage
