Ai Shareef Insano

By Sahir Ludhyaanvi

Khoon apna ho ya paraya ho
Nasl-e-aadam ka khoon hai aakhir
Jung Maghrib mein ho ke Mashriq mein
Amn-e-aalam ka khoon hai aakhir.

Bam gharon par girey ke sarhad par
Rooh-e-taameer zakhm khaati hai
Kheit apney jalein ke auron ke
Zeest faaqon mein tilmilaati hai.

Tank aage barhen ke peeche hatein
Kokh dharti ki baanjh hoti hai
Fateh ka jashn ho ke haar ka soq
Zindgi mayyaton pe roti hai.

Is liye aye shareef insaano
Jung chalti rahe to behtar hai
Aap aur hum, sabhi ke aangan mein
Shama jalti rahe to behtar hai.

English Translation

It may be our blood or that of another one,
It is human blood when all is said and done.
War may erupt in the West or the East
It will bleed peace of the world to say that least.

Bombs may flatten our homes or across our bounds
It is the spirit of life that they will wound
Be they our crops that are burnt or those of the enemy
It will be life itself that will be in famines' jeopardy.

Tanks whether they roll ahead or in retreat flounder
It is the womb of Mother Earth they tear asunder
Be it celebration of victory or defeats' elegies
Life itself sheds tears on our dead bodies.

Hence you noble gentlemen
If war is warded off, it is wiser
In all our homes, yours and ours,
If lamps remain lit, it will be better.