Remembering Rahat Indori Sahab

Photo Credit: Farhad Shaikh (Imfarhad7)/ Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Today, we remember Dr Rahat Indori, who passed away on 11 August 2020. Rahat Sahab was a lyricist, author, and poet. He was also a professor of Urdu language and a painter.

Bollywood saw the best of Rahat Sahab's works in songs including Tumsa Koi Pyaara Koi Masoom (Khuddar), Chan Chan (Munna Bhai MBBS), Chori Chori Jab Nazrein Mili (Kareeb), Dekho Dekho Janam Ham (Ishq) and many more. His books include Mere Baad (2016), Lamhe Lamhe (2002), Chand Pagal Hai, Rut, and Do Kadar or Sahi among others.

We share his ghazal लोग हर मोड़ पे रुक रुक के सँभलते क्यूँ हैं:

Translation by Sanjay Saksena, Editor (Urdu), Delhiwallah Poetry Collective:

Why do people stop at every turn and look around

If so unsure, why step out of the house

The tavern is the standard by which a vessel is judged

Why do then people bounce around like empty mirrors

Youth is the time to be careful

Why does everyone slip and fall when young

For several years I have had no association with sleep

Why then do dreams wander on my roof

I am neither a glow worm, nor a lamp nor a star,

Why then are those bestowed with light jealous of me

Supplement this with Rahat Sahab's interview with Newsclick about his India: "I want an India where Peace and Love Prevails" published on 30 March 2019.

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Disclaimer: The English translation of Rahat Sahab's ghazal लोग हर मोड़ पे रुक रुक के सँभलते क्यूँ हैं is an unofficial translation for the purpose of our international readers only.

About the Translator: Sanjay Saksena is a banker and finance professional who has worked with the Reserve Bank of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange and retired as CEO of the Indian Commodities Exchange. An alum of the Delhi School of Economics, his penchant for numbers and stocks is in stark juxtaposition to his passion for poetry and words. Living in a culturally rich family, and raised by creatively inclined parents, literature, history, and music were a significant part of his growing up years and formed the basis for his love for English, Hindi and Urdu poetry – a love that continues to this day. Sanjay has lived and worked in Jaipur, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata and is now settled with his wife in Gurgaon.

'Feels Like Love' Contest Winner: Aisalli A

The Delhiwallah Poetry Collective is thrilled to announce the winner of the Feels Like Love contest.

The contest had more than twenty submissions. We are grateful to everyone who participated in the contest.

The winner of the contest with her poem Prelude is Aisalli A. Congratulations, Aisalli!

Aisalli A is the fourth among six authentic, honest, quirky, and unique women, all ingrained with strong values to love and live life to the absolute fullest. Her strength and inspiration come from her close bond with her sisters and her love for them. Her mantra in life is to be brave, bold, and courageous and to act on opportunities coming her way. As the great Stoic Seneca writes, 'We are waves of the same sea, leaves of the same tree, flowers of the same garden.’

Prelude

The look in your eyes, sparkling with such desire, such delicious lust

My eyes drop, lashes low,

Staring at your perfectly shaped lips, succulent and luscious

As I gently caress your cheek,

A soft feather-light kiss on your neck

My arms slowly rise, embracing you bringing you closer, closer

Our two hearts beating in unison

Your scent surrounding my senses heightened with want,

Anticipation and keen desire.

Soon my habibi...

Feels like love.

Watch the full video in the Gallery.

रिश्ते की डोर: Vrriti Sharma

आज सुबह नींद से जागी तो,

हाथ में एक रिश्ते का सिरा

मुट्ठी में पकड़ा पाया |

और दुसरा सिरा यूँही अकेला,

चुपचाप ज़मीन पर पड़ा था |

जाकर उठाया उसे, तो किसी के

हाथों की गरमायिश महसूस की.

शायद कोई बस कुछ ही देर हुई,

छोड़ उसे वहाँ, आज़ाद हो चला था |

फिर अपने हाथ की तरफ़ देख,

सोचने लगी, की, क्या मैं भी इसे

यही छोड आज़ाद हो निकलूँ ?

पर तभी कानों में हंसी के ठहाके,

दो लोगों की प्यार भरी बातें,

न जाने कितने वादे, सब गूंज

उठे | मैं हैरान, परेशान सोच में

थी और सोच में ही रह गयी |

क्या पता शायद कभी वो लोट

आये, और मैं ना मिली तो |

या शायद वो ना भी आये,

और मेरा इन्तज़ार, इन्तज़ार

ही बन कर रैह गया तो ?

क्या उसने सोचा होगा इस

रिश्ते की डोर से आज़ाद होने

से पहले, पर गर सोचा होता

तो क्यों कहाँ नहीं मुझसे

या शायद ना भी सोचा हो |

इसी उधेड़बुन में खड़ी मैं,

बस दोनों सिरों को देखती

रही | फिर सोचा एक रिश्ते

को तन्हा नहीं चलाया जाता,

तो क्या ये ख़त्म हुआ ?

क्यों बना था ये, गर यूँही

ख़त्म होना था इसे |

इस क्यों, क्या और कैसे

के सैंकड़ों सवाल और

कोई जवाब नहीं | परेशान हो

मैंने अपने हाथ का सिरा छोड़ना

चाहा, और भाग जाना चाहती थी

उन सवालों से | पर, ये क्या

वो सिरा तो छूट ही नहीं रहा |

जैसे मेरी हथेली में जड़ दिया

हो किसी ने लकीरों की तरह |

ये देख हंस पड़ी मैं और उसे

और कस कर पकड़ दुसरा

सिरा भी उठा वहीं तन्हा

बैठ उन्हें देखती रही...

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Vrriti Sharma is a humanitarian by profession and a poet and singer by heart. She believes that the little vacuum of our lives should be filled with beautiful poetry and music. Her work can be viewed at Rhetorical Journey.