dasht-e-tanhaai

While few find solace in solitude and loneliness, others despise being left alone.

dasht-e-tanhaai by Faiz Ahmed Faiz is a beautiful creation bringing out the pathos of solitude.

I am posting the original nazm and a translation by AYESHA KALJUVEE. Believe me, one could not have translated the nazm any better.

I have also created a small video using some pictures taken out from the Internet. In the background plays the nazm, so beautifully sung by Iqbal Bano, widely known as the voice of Faiz, since he remained incarcerated under the Military regime. Don’t miss the rendition for your life. Here is the video:

http://vijaynair.buzznet.com/user/video/play/23128/


dasht-e-tanhaai meiN,
ai jaan-e-jahaaN, larzaaN haiN
teri awaaz ke saaye
tere honThoN ke saraab

dasht-e-tanhaai meiN
duuri ke Khas-o-Khaak talei
Khil rahe haiN tere pehluu ke samaN auR gulaab

uTh rahii hai kahiiN quRbat se
teri saaNs ki aaNch
apni Khushbuu meiN sulagtii hui
maddham maddham

duur ufaq paR chamaktii hui
qatra qatra
giR rahii hai terii dildaaR nazaR kii shabnam

iss qadaR pyaaR se hai jaan-e-jahaaN raKhaa hai
dil ke ruKhsaaR pe
iss waqt teri yaad ne haath
yuuN gumaaN hota hai
gaRche hai abhi subah-e-firaaq
Dhal gayaa hijR ka din
aa bhi gayii vasl ki raat

===================================================


In the desert of my solitude, oh love of my life, quiver
the shadows of your voice,
the mirage of your lips

In the desert of my solitude,
beneath the dust and ashes of distance
bloom the jasmines and roses of your proximity

From somewhere very close,
rises the warmth of your breath
smoldering in its own aroma,
slowly, bit by bit.

Far away, across the horizon, glistens
drop by drop
the falling dew of your beguiling glance

With such tenderness, O love of my life,
on the cheek of my heart,
has your memory placed its hand right now
that it looks as if
(though it's still the dawn of adieu)
the sun of separation has set
and the night of union has arrived.