Qayamat-e-Sughra written by Amjad Ali - Phonetic English and English

 1

nahiN hai zaKhm koii baKhya ke darKhur mere tan meN

hua hai taar ashk-e yaas rishta-e chashm-e sozan meN

hui hai maana’-e zauq-e tamaasha Khaana veeraani

kaf-e sailaab baaqi hai ba-raNg-e pamba rauzan meN

sar kunam naala agar taab-e shuniidan daari

seena ba-shigaafam agar taaqat-e deedan daari

The wounds of my soul too deep for stitching

Eyes melt into tears with the pain of yearning

The desolate heart forces me all joy to spurn

Foaming flood waters to this day in my eyes do burn

I will proceed with my gruesome tale, listen if you dare

I will tear open my bosom, if the sight you can bear

2

maiN morid-e hirmaan o giraftaar-e balaa huN

maaN baap se bichhRa hua bachchauN se juda huN

gah mahv-e fuGhaaN huN kabhi masruf-e buka huN

m’aaloom nahiN Khud mujhe maiN kaun huN kya huN

be-hosh kabhi huN kabhi ho jaata hai sakta

vo aalam-e hairat hai ke kuchh kah nahiN sakta

Sorrow descends on me, calamities surround

Children taken away, father nor mother around

Now lost in wailing, yet again in lamenting

I don’t know who I am or what I am doing

Sometimes stunned, at other times I faint

Such a puzzle this, that a picture I cannot paint

3

afsaana kahuN kya dil-e be-taab o tavaaN ka

kya zikr karuN dard o Gham-e ranj-e nihaaN ka

hota nahiN kambaKht asar aah o fuGhaaN ka

hai kaun ke hamdard bane soKhta jaaN ka

kas vaaqif-e maa neest ke az deeda che-haa raft

sailab-e sarashk aamad o toofaan-e balaa raft   

Relate the story of my sorrowful heart, I cannot

With hidden pain and sorrow, my heart is fraught

Wailing and sobbing brings no relief

There is none left, to share my grief

Who does not know what my eyes have seen

A flood of tears where the flood of calamities has been

4

jo hum ne sahaa hai, na sahaa hoga kisi ne

dekha hai jo hum ne vo dushman bhi na dekhe

kuchh aise diye charKh-e sitamgaar ne charke

yak laKht hue qalb o jigar ke kaii TukRe

laKhte burd az dil guzarad har ke zapeesham

man qaash farosh dil-e sad paara-e Khweesham

None has suffered that which has befallen me

I do not wish this even on my enemy

Cruel Fate has spun and ground me under

In the blink of an eye, my heart torn assunder

I present a piece to everyone that passes

Offered before you are a thousand slices

5

rone ke siva kaam nahiN hai koii dam bhar

manzoor-e nazar ho nahiN sakta koii manzar

tareek hai duniya meri nazrauN meN saraasar

suraj ko samajhta huN maiN jugnu ke baraabar

dar zindagiyam roz mera noor namaanda-ast

vaz umr-e mera juz shab-e daijoor namaanda-ast   

Every moment, with every breath have I wept

There is no happy scene that eyes accept

The world is totally dark before my eye

Even the sun is like the faint flash of a firefly

My days have been robbed of all their light

Nothing left in my life but the deep dark night

6

naakaamiyauN ne dil meN macha rakkha hai andher

chalti hai tamannaauN pe maayoosi ki shamsher

jeene se Khuda ki qasam ab ho gaya ji sair

phir aane meN kis vaaste karti hai ajal der

haaN aye malak-ul-maut az eeN band reha kun

rahmi ba man-e soKhta-e be-sar o paa kun  

Loss has enveloped my heart in darkness

The sword of sorrow cuts through happiness

By god, I have had my fill of living

Why is Death so long in coming

O angel of Death come, cut the bonds of life

Have pity, my sorrowful heart, helpless in strife

7

aye vaah ri taqdeer maiN duniya meN jab aaya

chaaleesveN din hi na raha baap ka saaya

jo baaqi the darya ne kiya un ka safaaya

kambaKht ne ek dam meN azizauN se chhuRaaya

zaKhm-e dil-e sad-chaak ab hum kis ko dikhaayeN

afsaana-e shorida-sari kis ko sunaayeN  

I came into this world with a fate of evil ways

Father’s nurturing love, I lost within forty days

Those that were left, taken by the flood

That same evil fate, took everyone I loved

Who can I show the wounds of my torn heart

Who will console me, as I pull my hair apart

8

vo raat ka sannaaTa vo ghangor ghaTaayeN

baarish ki lagataar jhaRi sard havaayeN

girna vo makaanauN ka vo cheeKhauN ki sadaayeN

vo maaNgna har ek ka ro ro ke duaaeN

paani ka vo zor aur vo darya ki ravaani

patthar ka kaleja ho jise dekh ke paani  

That fearsome night, the gathering cloud

The constant rain, the chilling wind and thunder loud

The tumbling wall, the collapsing roof and fearsome shriek

The heartwrenching prayer, protection is all they seek

Those raging waters, such was the river’s sweep

Enough to melt a heart of stone, and make you weep

9

dam lene ki taaqat thi na sustaane ki taab aah

thi zindagi-e Khurd o kalaaN naqsh bar aab aah

karti thi alag sail-e ravaaN Khaana Kharaab aah

tote ki tarah aaNkheN badalte the habaab aah

jaaN lene ko har ek mutanaffis ke baRhi theeN

be-vajah nahiN tyoriyaaN maujauN pe chaRhi thee  

No time to relax, or even to breath for that matter

The life of all, big and small, a mere sketch on water

The fast flood destroyed homes along its way

Even bubbles in disdain turned their eyes away

They had come to take the lives of one and all

The waves weren’t angry for no reason at all

10

taareeki meN darya ne ek andher machaaya

sailaab-e fana ban ke kiya sub ka safaaya

paauN se guzarta hua phir seene tak aaya

aage jo baRha maut ne bas halq dabaaya

shab bhar rahe sub paani meN favvaare ki maanind

hote hi sahr Doob gaye taare ki maanind  

The river played havoc in the dark of the night

Like Noah’s flood it swept all before its might

Up to the ankles and higher, the waters rose

Rising to the chest and yet again to cover the nose

All night long heads bobbed up and down

By dawn, like the fading stars, were they gone

11

maadar kahiN aur maiN kahiN ba-deeda-e pur nam

bibi kahiN aur beTi kahiN toRti thi dam

aalam meN nazar aata tha taareeki ka aalam

kyuN raat na ho Doob gaya nayyar-e aazam

sub saamne aaNkhauN ke nihaaN ho gaye pyaare

vo Gham tha ke din ko nazar aane lage taare   

Leaving me teary eyed, mother gone from my grasp

Wife lost here and there my daughter’s last gasp

And on the world, the god of darkness frowned

Why not, even my brilliant ‘aazam’ was drowned

All the loved ones hidden from my sight

Sorrow enough for even the brave to take fright

12

beTi na tujhe baap ne afsos bachaaya

dast-e sitam-e sayl-e fana se na chhuRaaya

darya ne tere haal pe kuchh rahm na khaaya

kya bholi si soorat pe use rahm na aaya

ye jism tera phool sa deevaarauN se Takraaye

sailaab meN bah jaaye teri nanhi si jaaN haaye   

Alas my child, this father could not save you

From the clutches of the flood, could not free you

No kindness in the river’s mighty flow

No pity on you, or your look of innocent glow

Your tender frame tossed about, covered with mud

That delicate body washed away in the cruel flood

13

furqat meN teri kya kahuN kya guzre hai mujh par

har vaqt hua jaata hai dil aap se baahir

hai aamad o shud saaNs ki chalta hua Khanjar

bharta nazar aata nahiN zaKhm-e dil-e muztar

tu azm-e safar kardi o Khasti jigar-e maa

basti kamar-e Khweesh o shikasti kamar-e maa   

What your separation has done, how can I ink

My heart bursts through my bosom every time I think

The sharp cut of a dagger with every breath I feel

This wound so deep, my heart cannot heal

Determined on a journey of no-return, my heart to crack

You girded up to leave, and broke my back

14

Gham chuTkiyaaN le le ke na kyuN rooh ko taRpaaye

aati rahe kyuN dil se na har vaqt sadaa haaye

kyuN chashm-e jahaaN-biiN meN andhera sa na chhaa jaaye

jab noor-e nazar hi na ho kya Khaak nazar aaye

raushan mere kaashaana-e taareek ko kar ja

aye nayyar-e ‘aazam’! meri aaNkhauN meN utar ja   

Why should Sorrow not my soul torment

Why should my bosom not heave a sigh every moment

Why should these eyes not, only darkness see

When the light of my eyes is gone, nothing can be

Come and light up the life you have darkened

O, brilliance of ‘aazam’ into my eyes descend

15

maana ke hai duniya-e dani manzil-e faani

do roz meN miT jaate haiN lazzaat-e jahaani

par aisi bhi kya jaldi thi jo jaane ki Thaani

dil hi meN rahi aarzu-e tasmiya Khwaani

baaqi theeN bahut si abhi ‘aazam’ teri rasmeN

taNg aa gayi duniya se tu kyuN chaar baras meN   

The material world is a passing stage, I concede

Its pleasures last but a few days, indeed

But what was the hurry that you had to depart

The desire to see you blossom, smothered in my heart

Your initiation still to celebrate and festivities more

But you departed from this world at the tender age of four

16

vo booTa sa qad vo chamakte hue ruKhsaar

vo chaand is peshaani teri matla-ul-anvaar

vo abru-e Khamdar teri nanhi si talvaar

vo aaNkheN jinheN dekh ke dushman bhi kareN pyaar

teGh-e ajal ek aan meN taRpa gayii tujh ko

aye noor-e nazar kis ki nazar khaa gayii tujh ko   

That lively little frame, those shining cheeks

That glow on your brow, the envious horizon seeks

Those arched eyebrows putting daggers to shame

Those starry eyes that enemies could tame

The sword of death cut you up alas

O light of my eyes, what an evil eye it was

17

vo chaand si soorat mujhe aye chaand dikha ja

kuchh meeThi si baateN lab-e naazuk se suna ja

baaqi nahiN ab sabr ki seene meN zara ja

chhaati se phir ek baar laga luN tujhe aa ja

rasta tera takte hue taNg aa gaiiN aaNkheN

aye noor-e nazar dekh, ke pathra gaiiN aaNkheN   

Show me the face that glowed like the moon

Prattle with those sweet lips, come back soon

I cannot bear with patience, try with all my might

Come, let me hold you to my bosom close and tight

Longing to see you, their lustre gone

Light of my eyes, my eyes turned to stone

18

duniya ka tareeqa hai ke marta hai jab insaaN

ro-dho ke kiya karte haiN takfeen ka saamaaN

le jaate haiN sub mil ke su-e shahr-e KhamoshaaN

haathauN se tah-e Khaak use karte haiN pinhaaN

miTTi laga dete haiN anbaar-e giraaN ek

kahte haiN mue aadmi ka hai ye nishaaN ek   

It is the way of the world, when a dear one departs

Cry and wail at the funeral, we console our hearts

We carry them on our shoulders, it is said that we must

Consign them to the earth, hide them in the dust

We make a mound of earth and carve a stone

We call it a memorial to come back and mourn

19

karta hai agar taNg bahut hi dil-e muztar

besaaKhta turbat se lipaT jaate haiN jaa kar

do phool chaRha dete haiN bekas ki lahad par

betaabi meN marqad se ragaRte haiN kabhi sar

filjumla haraarat to nikal jaati hai dil ki

go kuchh na ho hoti hai magar phir bhi tasalli   

When the agitated heart cannot its sorrow hold

To the tomb they go and hug the stone that’s cold

Sprinkling a few petals, some flowers to offer

Rubbing their head on the tomb in vain as they suffer

In short, at least the fire in the heart is put out

Nothing comes of it, but some sorrow is let out

20

kis jaa se maiN ab Doobi hui na’ashauN ko laauN

beTi ka pata kya hai, kahaaN bibi ko paauN

duN kis ko kafan kis ka maiN taboot banaauN

hai qabr kahaaN phool kahaaN ja ke chaRhaauN

hai hai, hadaf-e ranj o mehan kar gaiiN ammaN

afsos ke be gor o kafan mar gaiiN ammaN   

Where can I find those bodies that are drowned

Where can my daughter, or my wife be found

No use of a shroud, no casket, small or big

No offerings of flowers nor any grave to dig

Alas, mother you departed, leaving me to mourn

No funeral or memorial, just sorrow to be borne

21

aye musi-e firaun sifat! kuchh to karam kar

aye mauj zara dekh meri haalat-e muztar

haaN aye lab-e saahil na rakh ab mujh ko mukaddar

kah de ke kahaaN hai mera khoya hua gauhar

haaN aye sadaf-e saaf Khuda ke liye muNh khol

chup kyuN hai tu aye maahi-e sar barzada kuchh bol    

O Pharaonic Musi, show some compassion

O raging waves, pity my desparate condition

Do not leave me to mourn, O river bank

Where is my precious pearl in your depths so dank

Speak for god’s sake, O shell, where my pearl might be

O haughty fish, open your mouth, surely you can see

22

Khaamosh tu kis vaaste aye barq-e tapaaN hai

aaKhir tere muNh meN bhi to aye r’ad zabaaN hai

aye mehr-e jahaaN taab mera chaand kahaaN hai

kis chaah meN vo yusuf-e gum gashta nihaaN hai

aye qaafila-e reg-ravaaN tu hi bataa de

kis ja hai meri maadar-e marhooma pata de   

Why are you silent now, O lightning that flashed

You surely have a tongue, O thunder that cracked

O warm sun, where is the moon I called my own

Down which well, like Joseph is my beloved thrown

O travelers over desert sands can you not tell

Call back my deceased mother, with your caravan bell

23

jab anjuman-e aysh o tarab ho gaii barbaad

afsurda bhala kyuN na rahe Khaatir-e naashaad

tanhaaii meN aati hai azizauN ki agar yaad

besaaKhta karta hai dil-e Ghamzada faryaad

ashk aaNkhauN se jaari haiN kabhi lab pe fuGhaaN hai

marne ke liye marte haiN par maut kahaaN hai   

The sudden destruction of my life’s harmony

My unhappy heart drowned in melancholy

Whenever alone, I remember those I loved so much

Lament wells up, my anguish is such

Sometimes my eyes weep, at other times I wail

I am ready for you, O Death, why do you fail

24

har vaqt bichhi rahti hai dil meN saf-e maatam

hota nahiN rona kabhi dam bhar ke liye kam

sab chal base baaqi na raha ek bhi hamdam

beTi ka ke, bibi ka ke maadar ka karuN Gham

aata nahiN ab aah samajh meN koii mazmuuN

hairaaN huN ke do aaNkhauN se kis kis ko maiN ro’uuN   

The stage for mourning is always ready

Not a moment when Sorrow lets me be

I have lost everyone, no one left to care

Mourn for mother, wife or daughter, I despair

Perplexed, I don’t know which course is wise

So much mourning and I have but two eyes

25

jaNgal se sarokaar na ji lagta hai ghar meN

Gham shaam o sahar chuTkiyaaN leta hai jigar meN

phirti hai azizauN hi ki tasveer nazar meN

sau martaba yaad aati hai maaN aaTh pahar meN

saNg-e Gham-e maadar dil-e naazuk pe giraaN hai

ye zeest Khuda ki qasam ab kaahish-e jaaN hai  

Neither in the wild nor at home, any peace

Grief gnaws at my heart, never does it cease

Pictures of my loved ones rise in the mind

A hundred times a day, my mother I try to find

Her loss sits heavily on my heart, for her I pine

Soul sapping, by god, this wretched life of mine

26

lillaah ye bigRi hui taqdeer bana lo

maiN Khaak pe girne ko huN lo jald sanbhaalo

amjad ko bhi ‘aazam’ ki tarah paas bula lo

ek baar zara phir mujhe chhaati se laga lo

dil meN mere ab sabr ki taaqat nahiN ammaN

duniya meN baGhair aap ke raahat nahiN ammaN

For god’s sake, set this ill-fortune aright

In this wretched dirt I collapse, hold me tight

Call ‘amjad’ to you, as you took little ‘aazam’ along

Hold me to your bosom again, it has been too long

I do not have the fortitude to bear this, O mother

No joy in this world, without you there is no other

Syed Ahmed Husain, Amjad Hyderabadi (1886/8?-1961) 

was a highly recognized poet on the local, if not the national stage.  A good deal of his early Urdu and Faarsi Ghazal were lost in the flood of 1908.  Later, he established himself as an exponent of ‘rubaaiyaat’, quatrain with sufiyaana and devotional flavour, writing with much sensitivity about the condition of the poor and deprived.  

Orphaned as an infant of 40 days, brought up by a young widowed mother, married at the young age of 15/16 years, saw his young wife, infant daughter of four and mother swept away in the flood.  His daughter’s name was aazam-ul-nissa and it appears (shown in quotes) in a few places in the nazm.  He writes about his mother and daughter and only a little about his wife.  This is simply a deep cultural inhibition and should NOT be interpreted as a lack of sensitivity to that loss.  Years later, when friends persuaded him to write about his experience, he called it “qayaamat-e soGhra” – “Minor Doomsday” – implying that it was second only to the conventional/religious concept of “Doomsday”, end of the world.  Such was his anguish. 

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5 comments:

Raza MirAli says:

November 22, 2020 at 3:30 am

My god. What raw emotions, captured with such felicity. My flesh crawled at his harrowing descriptions. “Sab saamne aankhon ke nihaan ho gaye pyaare…” This is a true marsiya.

Thanks so much for this poem, I could not have done without the recitation and the annotations.

Mir M. Ali says:

October 27, 2020 at 7:42 pm

This is an epic poem of incredible skill, talent and effort that conveys the poet’s pain and anguish in an amazing manner. Thank you, Shahid bhai, for posting it.

Zakiah says:

October 25, 2020 at 2:12 am

Shahed, I knew him personally. I have heard him recite a few stanzas at home, not the entire length, but always about the daughter and mother. Today, I sit here, remembering him, watching him recite these few verses, his rumaal on his shoulders, and his voice with riqqath; and i have tears in my eyes for the ache that he went through all his life. He was such a humble and great gentleman.

Usama Khalidi says:

October 23, 2020 at 11:59 pm

Moving, in the extreme.

I have read this survivor’s account of seeing his wife, mother and daughter swallowed by the raging waters. A bright chapter in Amjad’s life opened, however, when he married again. His second wife was a literate woman with a taste for poetry. They wrote poetry together, and wrote of the experience. No less touching.

Abdul Hameed says:

October 23, 2020 at 12:57 pm

Very moving and full of pain Noha!