Urdu – The Bhasha of Beauty and Compassion

Nazaakat iski pehchaan hai

Khoobsurat iske alfaaz,

Is zubaan se mohabbat hai

Is zubaan pe naaz.

Har lafz ki kaarigaree kuch aisi hai,

Ke maayne bhi hain aur ek andaaz bhi.

Sataate hai ye, aur manaate bhi hain,

Meherbaan hote hain lafz, naraaz bhi.

Ye deti hai khushi ke naghmo ko zindagi,

Aur kabhi gham ke taraano ko parwaaz.

Is zubaan se mohabbat hai

Is zubaan pe naaz.

Ho chaahe chand lamho ka bayaan,

Koi kissa ya koi daastaan badi.

Sakht lehje se banee ek zanjeer,

Ya narmi se bunee phoolon ki ladee.

Dhal jaate hain lafz kisi na kisi shakl me,

Baat nafrat ki ho ya ho dilon ke raaz.

Is zubaan se mohabbat hai

Is zubaan pe naaz.

Ye wo zubaan hai jisme shayad,

Zameen aasmaan ki hoti hai guftagu.

Qaid kar leti hai apne geeton me,

Kisi ki bebasi to kisi ki aarzoo.

Iske sabse gehre dost hain

Qalam, mosiqui aur saaz.

Is zubaan se mohabbat hai

Is zubaan pe naaz.

Harfo me hai husn aur lafzon me wazan,

Guroor Urdu ko phir bhi nahee.

Zara sa waqt aur zara si chaahat,

Ho jayegi umr bhar ki dosti.

Mushkil jazbaat aur khayalaat ko,

Is ne aksar di hai parwaaz.

Is zubaan se mohabbat hai

Is zubaan pe naaz.

- Sadia Salam

Compassion is its distinctiveness,

An inherent beauty in words.

This language is love,

This language is majestic.

Every word is sculpted in such a way,

That there’s meaning to it, and a spirit too.

They tease, they please,

At your service sometimes, sometimes aloof.

This language is love,

This language is majestic.

Be it describing a few moments,

Sharing a story, or narrating a saga.

Joining rusted links to form a verbal chain,

Or weaving a garland with words.

The words take whatever shape or form needed,

To tell stories of anguish or secrets buried in hearts.

This language is love,

This language is majestic.

This is perhaps the language,

That sky and earth use, to communicate.

It can capture in the form of songs,

Someone’s longing, someone’s hope.

It has three best friends,

Pen, music and composition.

This language is love,

This language is majestic.

Alphabets are beautiful, words elegant,

Urdu but, does not take pride.

An ounce of time, and a bit of willingness,

Will make it your best friend for life.

For difficult feelings and thoughts,

It acts as an empathetic interpreter.

This language is love,

This language is majestic.

- Sadia Salam

(This article was sent to The Quint by Sadia Salam for our Independence Day campaign, BOL – Love your Bhasha. Sadia is a Digital Marketing and Communication Professional, who lives in Delhi. Sadia is a fan of Gulzar’s work and her work is inspired by him. Would you like to contribute to our Independence Day campaign to celebrate the mother tongue? Here's your chance! This Independence Day, khul ke bol with BOL – Love your Bhasha. Sing, write, perform, spew poetry – whatever you like – in your mother tongue. Send us your BOL at [e-mail] or WhatsApp it to 9910181818.)