Sher on Democracy
Democracy is a way of
governance but it is more importantly a way of life which regulates societies and cultures. In politics, it has been the most debated form of governance but also the most subscribed to. The modern world can only ill afford not be democratic. Poets have developed a discourse on democracy which is well borne out by the small selection here.
jamhūriyat ik tarz-e-hukūmat hai ki jis meñ
bandoñ ko ginā karte haiñ taulā nahīñ karte
jamhuriyat ek tarz-e-hukumat hai ki jis mein
bandon ko gina karte hain taula nahin karte
jamhūriyat ke biich phañsī aqaliyat thā dil
mauqa jise jidhar se milā vaar kar diyā
jamhuriyat ke bich phansi aqaliyat tha dil
mauqa jise jidhar se mila war kar diya
yahī jamhūriyat kā naqs hai jo taḳht-e-shāhī par
kabhī makkār baiThe haiñ kabhī ġhaddār baiThe haiñ
yahi jamhuriyat ka naqs hai jo taKHt-e-shahi par
kabhi makkar baiThe hain kabhi ghaddar baiThe hain
kabhī jamhūriyat yahāñ aa.e
yahī 'jālib' hamārī hasrat hai
kabhi jamhuriyat yahan aae
yahi 'jalib' hamari hasrat hai
jamhūriyat kā dars agar chāhte haiñ aap
koī bhī sāya-dār shajar dekh lījiye
jamhuriyat ka dars agar chahte hain aap
koi bhi saya-dar shajar dekh lijiye
jhukānā sīkhnā paḌtā hai sar logoñ ke qadmoñ meñ
yūñhī jamhūriyat meñ haath sardārī nahīñ aatī
jhukana sikhna paDta hai sar logon ke qadmon mein
yunhi jamhuriyat mein hath sardari nahin aati
naam is kā āmariyyat ho ki ho jamhūriyat
munsalik fir.auniyat masnad se tab thī ab bhī hai
nam is ka aamariyyat ho ki ho jamhuriyat
munsalik firauniyat masnad se tab thi ab bhi hai
sunñe meñ aa rahe haiñ masarrat ke vāqi.āt
jamhūriyat kā husn numāyāñ hai āj-kal
sunne mein aa rahe hain masarrat ke waqiat
jamhuriyat ka husn numayan hai aaj-kal
jamhūriyat kī laash pe tāqat hai ḳhanda-zan
is barahna nizām meñ har aadmī kī ḳhair
jamhuriyat ki lash pe taqat hai KHanda-zan
is barahna nizam mein har aadmi ki KHair
duhā.ī de ke vo jamhūriyat kī
nizām-e-ḳhvāb rusvā kar rahā hai
duhai de ke wo jamhuriyat ki
nizam-e-KHwab ruswa kar raha hai
jamhūriyat bhī turfa-tamāsha kā kis qadar
lauh-o-qalam kī jaan yad-e-aharman meñ hai
jamhuriyat bhi turfa-tamasha ka kis qadar
lauh-o-qalam ki jaan yad-e-aharman mein hai
