My Salutations to thy Sacred Streets-Nisar Main Teri Galiyon Ke

By: Faiz Ahmad Faiz

My salutations to thy sacred streets, O beloved nation!

Where a tradition has been invented-that none shall walk with his head held high

If at all one takes a walk, a pilgrimage

One must walk, eyes lowered, the body crouched in fear

The heart in a tumultuous wrench at the sight

Of stones and bricks locked away and mongrels breathing free

In this tyranny that has many an excuse to perpetuate itself

Those crazy few that have nothing but thy name on their lips

Facing those power crazed that both prosecute and judge, wonder

To whom does one turn for defense, and from whom does one expect justice?

But those whose fate it is to live through these times

Spend their days in thy mournful memories

When hope begins to dim, my heart has often conjured

Your forehead sprinkled with stars

And when my chains have glittered

I have imagined that dawn must have burst upon thy face

Thus one lives in the memories of thy dawns and dusks

Imprisoned in the shadows of the high prison walls

Thus always has the world grappled with tyranny

Neither their rituals nor our rebellion is new

Thus have we always grown flowers in fire

Neither their defeat nor our final victory is new!

Thus we do not blame the heavens

Nor let bitterness seed in our hearts

We are separated today, but one day shall be re-united

This separation that will not last beyond tonight, bears lightly on us

Today the power of our exalted rivals may touch the zenith

But these four days of omniscience too shall pass

Those that love thee keep, beside them

The cure for the pains of a million heart-breaks

nisaar mai.n terii galiyo.n ke ae watan, ki jahaa.N

chalii hai rasm ki koii na sar uThaa ke chale

jo koii chaahanewaalaa tawaaf ko nikale

nazar churaa ke chale, jism-o-jaa.N bachaa ke chale

hai ahl-e-dil ke liye ab ye nazm-e-bast-o-kushaad

ki sang-o-Khisht muqayyad hai.n aur sag aazaad

bahot hai.n zulm ke dast-e-bahaanaa-juu ke liye

jo cha.nd ahl-e-junuu.N tere naam levaa hai.n

bane hai.n ahl-e-hawas muddaii bhii, mu.nsif bhii

kise wakiil kare.n, kis se mu.nsifii chaahe.n

magar guzaranewaalo.n ke din guzarate hai.n

tere firaaq me.n yuu.N subh-o-shaam karate hai.n

bujhaa jo rauzan-e-zi.ndaa.N to dil ye samajhaa hai

ki terii maa.ng sitaaro.n se bhar gaii hogii

chamak uThe hai.n salaasil to hamane jaanaa hai

ki ab sahar tere ruKh par bikhar gaii hogii

Garaz tasavvur-e-shaam-o-sahar me.n jiite hai.n

giraft-e-saayaa-e-diwaar-o-dar me.n jiite hai.n

yuu.N hii hameshaa ulajhatii rahii hai zulm se Khalq

na unakii rasm naii hai, na apanii riit naii

yuu.N hii hameshaa khilaaye hai.n hamane aag me.n phuul

na unakii haar naii hai na apanii jiit naii

isii sabab se falak kaa gilaa nahii.n karate

tere firaaq men ham dil buraa nahii.n karate

Gar aaj tujhase judaa hai.n to kal baham ho.nge

ye raat bhar kii judaaii to koii baat nahii.n

Gar aaj auj pe hai taala-e-raqiib to kyaa

ye chaar din kii Khudaaii to koii baat nahii.n

jo tujhase ahd-e-wafaa ustavaar rakhate hai.n

ilaaj-e-gardish-e-lail-o-nihaar rakhate hai.n

Faiz Ahmad Faiz (1911-1984) was a renowned Urdu poet known for his revolutionary spirit and lyrical beauty. Born in Sialkot, British India (now in Pakistan), Faiz became deeply involved in leftist politics during his college years, advocating for social justice and equality. His poetry, including works like "Naqsh-e-Faryadi" and "Dast-e-Saba," reflected his commitment to humanism and love, while also addressing the struggles of the marginalized. Despite facing imprisonment multiple times for his activism, Faiz's literary contributions earned him widespread acclaim, including the Lenin Peace Prize in 1962. He passed away leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire readers worldwide.