I Long For The Streets Of My Country Poem by Rajnish Manga
I Long For The Streets Of My Country
Original Urdu Poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz
English Translation by Rajnish Manga
इंग्लिश भावानुवाद रजनीश मंगा द्वारा
I long for the streets of my country where
It is now mandatory not to walk with heads held high
Anybody having a desire to go around and see
Should better overlook what's happening around
He himself will be responsible if he gets fatally hurt
(1. طواف/tawaf/तवाफ़ = to go around)
(2. Tawaf is one of the Islamic rituals of pilgrimage. During the Hajj and Umrah, Muslims are to go around the Ka'aba seven times, in a counterclockwise direction)
نثار میں تری گلیوں کے اے وطن کہ جہاں
چلی ہے رسم کہ کوئی نہ سر اُٹھا کے چلے
جو کوئی چاہنے والا طواف کو نکلے
نظر چُرا کے چلے، جسم و جاں بچا کے چلے
(Urdu)
[Nisar Main teri galiyon ke aey watan ke jahan
chali hai rasm keh koi na sar utha kay chalay..
jo koi chahnay wala tawaf ko niklay
nazar chura kay chalay, jism-o-jaan bacha kay chalay]
(Urdu in Roman)
[निसार मैं तिरी गलियों के ऐ वतन कि जहाँ
चली है रस्म कि कोई न सर उठा के चले
जो कोई चाहने वाला तवाफ़ को निकले
नज़र चुरा के चले जिस्म ओ जाँ बचा के चले]
(Original poem in Devnagari script)
Though i haven't read much of Faiz's poetry but i have really enjoyed reading this translation by you. Thanks for sharing. You have done a great job.
mera ilm aapney jaga diya gallion mein toe maien bheee ghooma fariyaad kartey thei dost mere galiyon mein app na ghooma karaein logh pathar na marein faiz tere poetry aaj padkar dilll uchall gaya poet thei kabheee aap jaisey tubh aaj kahan hain is jahan mein abh chppay rustum bhe hain
Yeh dekh kar dil khush hua ki aap itni achhi Hindi likh sakte hain. Kubsurat review ke liye bahut bahut shukriya.
Wonderful irony in the original of a well-know Urdu poet and equally so in Hindi, As I suggested also earlier, you would do a very useful service to those who would like to know Urdu well, if you try and give meanings of some Urdu words in HIndi/English. Of course you have given bhavanuvaad which helps to an extent. Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback, Aniruddha ji. I have noted your suggestion and will give the meaning of uncommon Urdu words in future.
Walking around! ! Desire to go around. Thanks for sharing this poem with us.
And the Hindi Translation is Superb! Hat's off Rajnish ji.......10
Kindly note that Faiz sahab wrote this poem in Urdu which I have partially reproduced in three scripts- Urdu, Roman and Devnagari. I did its English translation which appears in the opening part.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
12/5/2025 4:20:21 PM # 1.0.0
Excellent poem Rajnish ji! To be able to breath freely in your country, to be able to walk down your street with your head held high without fear, is the greatest gift that a man can enjoy during his life time. I can feel the pain and anguish of this Urdu Poet Faiz Ahmed in his beautiful poem.
It is clear that you have thoroughly understood the spirit of the original poem by Faiz sahab. This is an amazing review of the poem. Thank a lot, Geeta ji.