Ahmed Faraz

A friend of mine was talking of Faraz's famous work "Ranjish hi sahi", when he asked if the poet was Kaifi Azmi and I was not too sure at that point. I came back and checked the poet's name, and read some of his other works. I am touched by his honest simplicity and flow. Here is a sample, the last couplet being my favorite:

dost ban kar bhii nahii.n saath nibhaanevaalaa
vahii andaaz hai zaalim kaa zamaanevaalaa

ab ise log samajhate hai.n giraftaar meraa
saKht nadiim hai mujhe daam me.n laanevaalaa

kyaa kahe.n kitane maraasim the hamaare is se
vo jo ik shaKhs hai muu.Nh pher ke jaanevaalaa

tere hote hue aa jaatii thii saarii duniyaa
aaj tanhaa huu.N to ko_ii nahii.n aanevaalaa

muntazir kis kaa huu.N TuuTii hu_ii dahaliiz pe mai.n
kaun aayegaa yahaa.N kaun hai aanevaalaa

mai.n ne dekhaa hai bahaaro.n me.n chaman ko jalate
hai ko_ii Khvaab kii taabiir bataanevaalaa

kyaa Khabar thii jo merii jaan me.n ghulaa hai itanaa
hai vahii mujh ko sar-e-daar bhii laane vaalaa

tum taqalluf ko bhii iKhalaas samajhate ho 'Faraz'
dost hotaa nahii.n har haath milaanevaalaa



taqalluf: formalities, societal norms of behavior
iKhlaas: sincere, pure friendship; deep affection