ख़ामोश रहो

Poem

ख़ामोश रहो ख़ामोश रहो।
कुछ मत सोचो, कुछ मत बोलो
मीचो आँखें, मुँह मत खोलो।
तुम सोच अलग अब मत रक्खो,
कुछ लिखना हो तो मत लिक्खो।
आवाज़ उठाना चाहोगे
आवाज़ दबाई जाएगी,
तुमको दफ़नाया जाएगा
और धूल उड़ाई जाएगी।
ख़ामोश रहो ख़ामोश रहो। 

दम घुटता है तो घुटने हो।
घर लुटता है तो लुटने दो।
जो तुमने की आवाज़ बलंद
तो बिल्कुल मारे जाओगे,
गर नहीं कहा कुछ तुमने तो
शायद ज़िंदा बच पाओगे।
और नाक क़दम पर रगड़ोगे
तो शायद बख़्शे जाओगे।
तो अच्च्छा है कुछ मत बोलो,
ख़ामोश रहो ख़ामोश रहो।

कहने से कुछ ना बदलेगा
क्या कर लेंगे कहनेवाले,
मर जाएँगे लड़नेवाले,
बच जाएँगे डरनेवाले,
तुम्हारी फेंकी पत्थर भी
रेज़ा रेज़ा हो आई है,
तू खिचती खाल तेरे हक़ की
चाबुक से तेरी लड़ाई है।
चुपचाप ज़ुलम सहते जाओ
और आँखों से बहते जाओ,
ख़ामोश रहो ख़ामोश रहो।

कुछ कहना हो तो याद रहे
सरकार ये ज़िंदाबाद रहे।
महलों में तख्त सलामत हो,
सर उपर ताज सलामत हो,
क्या खेल कि तानाशाही का
जनतंत्र में राज सलामत हो।
कहना जो चाहो बात अगर
जांचो परखो हालात मगर।
हो मुल्क का जो भी होने दो,
रोती है जनता रोने दो,
ख़ामोश रहो ख़ामोश रहो।

Transliteration

khamosh raho khamosh raho.
kuchh mat socho, kuchh mat bolo,
meecho aankhein, munh mat kholo.
tum soch alag ab mat rakkho,
kuchh likhna ho to mat likkho.
awaaz uthana chahoge
awaaz dabaayi jayegi,
tumko dafnaya jayega
aur dhool uRaayi jayegi.
khamosh raho khamosh raho.

dam ghut-ta hai to ghutne ho.
lut-ta hai ghar to lutne do.
jo tumne ki awaaz baland
to bilkul maare jaoge,
gar nahi kahaa kuchh tumne to
shayad zinda bach paoge,
aur naak qadam pe ragRoge
to shayad bakhshe jaoge.
to achchha hai kuchh mat bolo,
khamosh raho khamosh raho.

kehne se kuchh na badlega
kya kar lenge kahnewale,
mar jayenge laRnewale,
bach jayenge darnewale.
tumhari feki patthar bhi
reza reza ho aayi hai,
tu khichti khaal tere haq ki
chabuk se teri laRayi hai.
chupchaap zulam sahte jao
aur aankhon se bahte jao,
Khamosh raho khamosh raho.

kuchh kahna ho to yaad rahe
sarkaar yeh zindaabad rahe.
mahlon mein takht salamat ho,
sar upar taaj salaamat ho,
kya khel ki tanashahi ka
jantantra mein raaj salaamat ho.
kahna jo chaho baat agar
jaancho parkho halaat magar.
ho mulk ka jo bhi hone do,
roti hai janta rone do,
khamosh raho khamosh raho.

Translation

Stay Silent Stay Silent.
Don’t think anything. Don’t say anything.
Close your eyes. Don’t open your mouth.
Don’t think differently,
If you want to write, then don’t.
You’ll want to raise your voice
Your voice will be suppressed.
You’ll be buried in your grave
And the dust will fly around.
Stay Silent. Stay Silent.

If you are suffocating, then suffocate.
If you are getting ravaged, then get ravaged.
Should you choose to raise your voice
Then you shall definitely be silenced,
Should you choose to say nothing
Perhaps your life shall be spared.
And should you accept their servitude
Perhaps you will be aptly rewarded.
It’s better that you don’t speak,
Stay Silent Stay Silent.

Nothing will change if you speak.
What can people who speak do?
Those who fight shall perish.
Those who fear shall survive.
Even the stones you throw
Shall be pulverised to dust.
You are the skin of your rights
And are fighting a merciless whip.
Keep quiet and bear the oppression
And keep flowing from the eyes like tears,
Stay Silent Stay Silent.

If you want to stay something, then remember
That the powers that be shall always be
In their palaces, their thrones shall stay
On their heads, their thrones shall stay
It’s but miraculous that dictatorship
Shall thrive in the garb of democracy.
If you still want to say something
Take stock of the circumstances.
Let the country meet its fate,
Let your countrymen cry as they must,
Stay Silent Stay Silent.

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This poem is not targeted at any specific entity. The poet believes in the right of people to speak what they think and is speaking out against anyone who, in a position of power, maims the voice of the people.