LIFE!

Dukh sukh tha ek sabka, Apna ho ya begaana

Ek woh bhi tha zamaana ,Ek yeh bhi hai zamaana

Sorrows and happiness were one for all ,whether it be your own or some one else's

That was that era, Now this is this era

Dada hai aate the jab ,Mitti ka ek ghar tha

Choron ka koi Khatka ,Na dakuon ka dar tha

Khaate the rookhi sookhi ,Sote the neend gehri

Shaamein bhari bhari thi, Aabaad thi dupehri

Santosh tha dilon ko, Maathe pe bal nahi tha

Dil mein kapat nahi tha, Aankhon mein chhal nahi tha

Thay log bhole bhale, Lekin the pyaar wale

Duniya se kitni jaldi, Sab ho gaye ravana

In the era of the grand dad, had a house made of mud

No incidents of thieves, Nor threat of thugs

Used to eat whatever meager we got, but used to sleep peacefully

Evenings were full of events, Noon’s were fruitful

Hearts were always satisfied, with no worries on forehead

No one was spiteful, Nor one had any thoughts of revenge

Every one was naive, But full of love

So quickly from this world, Has everyone departed

Abba ka waqt aaya, Taleem ghar mein aayi

Taleem saath apni, Taaza vichaar laayi

Aage rawayaton se, Badne ka dhyaan aaya

Mitti ka ghar hata to, Pakka makaan aaya

Daftar ki naukri thi, Tankah tha sahara

Maalik pe tha bharosa, Ho jaata tha guzara

Paisa agar che kam tha, Phir bhi na koi gham tha

Kaisa bhara pura tha, Apna gareeb khana

Then came the era of the father, Education/wisdom came into the house

Along with education, New ideas came

To be more successful than other, was the aim/mission/vision

The mudhouse got replaced, By a solid house of iron/brick

Office work culture came, making us dependent on salary

Full trust was on Boss,  we could easily suffice

Even though we had little money, Even then there were no worries

How much it was fruitful/ full of achievement, Our house of poverty

Ab mera daur hai yeh, Koyi nahi kisi ka

Har aadmi akela, Har chehra ajnabee sa

Aansoon na muskuraahat, Jeevan ka haal aisa

Apni khabar nahi hai, Maya ka jaal aisa

Paisa hai martaba hai, Izzat waqar bhi hai

Naukar hain aur chaakar, Bangla hai car bhi hai

Zar paas hai zameen hai, Lekin sakoon nahi hai

Paane ke vaaste kuch, Kya kya pada gavaana

Now it is my era, No one is anyone's

Everyone is on his own, Every face is like a stranger's

Neither tears nor smiles, This is how life is

Don't even know oneself, Such is the magic of illusions

If one has money, then there is status, Respect can be bought

Their are servants and valets, Their are mansions and cars too

Have gold and land, but no peace

To attain something, What all has to be lost

Aye aane wali naslon, Aye aane wale logon

Bhoga hai humne jo kuch, Woh tum kabhi na bhogo

Jo dukh tha saath apne, Tumse kareeb na ho

Peeda jo humne jheli, Tumko naseeb na ho

Jis tarah bheed mein hum, Zinda rahe akele

Woh zindagi ki mehfil, Tumse na koyi le le

Tum jis taraf se guzro , Mela ho roshni ka

Raas aaye tumko mausam, Ekkiswi sadi ka

Hum to sukoon ko tarse, Tum par sukoon barse

Anand ho dilon mein, Jeevan lage suhaana

Listen! the future generations, Listen! the people of tommorow

The suffering we have gone through, may you never have to suffer

What grief we had with us, may it not come near you

The pain we went though, May you not get them

The way in the crowd, we survived alone

That crowded life [of togetherness], may no one snatch from you

Whatever way you pass through, May there be lots of light

May you adjust to the atmosphere of the 21st century

I have yearned for peace, May peace shower upon you

May you be happy, may life be beautiful)

Dukh sukh tha ek sabka, Apna ho ya begaana

Ek woh bhi tha zamaana, Ek yeh bhi hai zamaana

Sorrows and happiness were one for all ,whether it be your own or some one else's

That was that era, Now this is this era

- Zafar Gorakhpuri