“Banke tasweer-e-ghum reh gaye hain
Khoye khoye se hum reh gaye hain
Bnaat li sabne aapas mein khushiyaan
Mere hisse mein ghum reh gaye hain”
Translated…
I stayed there like a picture of sorrow
I stayed there – completely lost (in your thoughts)
Everybody shared in their part of the happiness
On my fate, I was left with nothing but sadness
The original proponent of this qawwali were the Sabri brothers. Today, I was listening to the version by Amjad Sabri (son of the younger Sabri brothers). The poem was penned by Purnam Allahabadi. Born originally in India in Allahabad as Mohammad Musa, he later migrated to Pakistan after the partition.
“Jholi” refers to the bag that a beggar carries to collect alms.
“Bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad
Laut kar main na jaaoonga khaali
Tumhaare aastane se zamaana kya naheen paata
Koi bhi dar se khaali maangne waala naheen jaata”
Roughly translated (please feel free to offer better suggestions – this is not my mother tongue)
“Fill my bag, O Muhammad
I will not go back empty-handed
What does the world not receive at your doorstep
No one who comes asking at your door leaves empty-handed”
“Kal tum judaa huey the jahaan saath chhod kar
Hum aaj tak khade hain usi dil ke mod par
Hum ko is intazaar ka kuchh to silah miley
Dil ki ye aarzoo thi koi dilruba miley”
Poet: Hasan Kamal
Roughly translated…
Where we got separated yesterday when you left
I am still waiting at the same crossroads of heart
Oh! To get some respite from this long wait
It was my heart’s desire to get my beloved.
There I was. Sitting down near my gate quietly in a chair watching people go by – causing no harm nor foul to anybody. Then I lifted my head to look at the blaring TV screen and Boom! it hit me! A full show going on about “Kissenger”. Apparently an app that lets you kiss somebody without they being there with you!! (http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/kissinger)
And I shook my head thinking…
First, they gave me social media and told me that I do not need to talk to any real human being…
Then they gave me Amazon and said I really do not need to talk to anybody to buy anything.
Even in my stores, I got “Self Checkout”. Apparently there is no need for me to meet a human being to pay for my stuff.
Then I got XBox. I was told I was wrong in assuming that I need a human being to play tennis against…
Even at the airport today, the machine printed out my luggage tags. No need to greet any of their agents. I can tag the luggage myself and throw it in.
And now this? I do not even need a human being to kiss any more?
In my next birth, can I just send my emoji to this world in my place and fast forward thru this automated life?
