pahle thi so ab bhi hai

hamesha kī tarah tangī jo pahle thī vo ab bhī hai

badan par ik phaTī lungī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

pareshānī se sar ke baal tak sab jhaḌ ga.e lekin

purānī jeb meñ kanghī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

idhar maiñ kasrat-e-aulād se lāġhar udhar un kī

zabāñ par tursh-e-nārangī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

banā hero se zero aur phir netā to kāñdhe par

vahī ik shāl-e-be-rangī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

nahīñ hotī to achchhā thā magar firqa-parastoñ meñ

vo yak-jihatī ham-āhangī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

siyāsat meñ ta.assub kā daḳhal hone lagā jab se

diloñ meñ aa ga.ī tangī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

jinheñ jantā kī fikr-e-āfiyat meñ ghul ke marnā thā

sehat un kī bhalī-changī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

libās-e-muḳhtasar meñ bhī tan-āsānī ke ḳhvāhāñ haiñ

kareñ kyā aatmā nangī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

zarūrat amn kī duniyā meñ pahle se ziyāda hai

magar qīmat bahut mahngī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

ahinsā ke pas-e-parda bahut zoroñ pe tayārī

aman ke naam par jangī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

huā hai aur na hogā kuchh asar mujh par za.īfī kā

ḳhayāloñ meñ ye nairangī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

zamāne kā chalan kyā pūchhte ho 'ḳhvāh-maḳhvāh' mujh se

vahī raftār-e-be-Dhangī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

hamesha ki tarah tangi jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai

badan par ek phaTi lungi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

pareshani se sar ke baal tak sab jhaD gae lekin

purani jeb mein kanghi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

idhar main kasrat-e-aulad se laghar udhar un ki

zaban par tursh-e-narangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

bana hero se zero aur phir neta to kandhe par

wahi ek shaal-e-be-rangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

nahin hoti to achchha tha magar firqa-paraston mein

wo yak-jihati ham-ahangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

siyasat mein tassub ka daKHal hone laga jab se

dilon mein aa gai tangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

jinhen janta ki fikr-e-afiyat mein ghul ke marna tha

sehat un ki bhali-changi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

libas-e-muKHtasar mein bhi tan-asani ke KHwahan hain

karen kya aatma nangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

zarurat amn ki duniya mein pahle se ziyaada hai

magar qimat bahut mahngi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

ahinsa ke pas-e-parda bahut zoron pe tayari

aman ke nam par jangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

hua hai aur na hoga kuchh asar mujh par zaifi ka

KHayalon mein ye nairangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

zamane ka chalan kya puchhte ho 'KHwah-maKHwah' mujh se

wahi raftar-e-be-Dhangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai