Kisan Diwas Special: Kaifi Azmi's Nazm, 'Kisan'

Watch: In this video, The Quint's Fabeha Syed reads Kaifi Azmi's ode to farmers, 'Kisan'

(Photo: Aroop Mishra/ The Quint)

(This article was first published on 14 January 2022. It is reposted from The Quint's archives to mark the occasion of National Farmer's Day or Kisan Diwas.)

Kaifi Azmi, whose poetry is considered the voice of the voiceless, has written extensively on the working and labour class of India. His nazms echo the struggles and challenges of this section.

In this video, The Quint's Fabeha Syed reads Kaifi Azmi's ode to farmers, his nazm, 'Kisan'.

Cheer ke saal mein do baar zami'n ka seena

Dafn ho jaata hoon

Gudgudaate hain jo suraj ke sunehre naakhun

Phir nikal aata hoon

Ab nikalta hoon to itna ki batore jo koi daaman mein

Daaman phat jaaye

Ghar ke jis kone mein le ja ke koi rakh de mujhe

Bhookh vaha'n se hat jaaye

Phir mujhe peeste hain, goondhte hain, senkte hain

Goondhne senkne mein shakl badal jaati hai

Aur ho jaati hai mushkil pahchaan

Phir bhi rahta hoon kisaan

Wohi ḳhasta, bad-hal

Qarz ke panja-e-ḳhooni mein nidhal

Is daraa'nti ke tufail

Kuchh hai maazi se ghaneemat mira haal

Haal se hoga hasee'n istiqbal

Uthte suraj ko zara dekho to

Ho gaya saara ufuq laalo'n-laal