Sahir Ludhianvi, a popular Urdu poet and a film song lyricist, was born as Abdul Hayee (1921-1980) in Ludhiana, Punjab in British India. He is held as an admirable figure not only in India but also in Pakistan. After the partition of India, Sahir initially stayed back in Lahore, Pakistan but came to India in 1949 after the Government of Pakistan issued an arrest warrant against him because of his communist ideologies.
Sahir then entered the Bollywood film industry as a lyricist and became a pioneering figure in improving the quality of Bollywood songs by enriching their content and by toning up their language. Through his poetry, he not only talked about love and life but also inflicted his works with strong social messages.
Sahir Ludhianvi was an important poet of the “Progressive Movement” in Urdu literature, which aimed at awakening the conscience of the readers against the social evils of poverty, oppression, and exploitation. He was also a renowned anti-war poet. So, Sahir Ludhianvi’s poetry and quotes are sure shot ways if you are looking forward to gaining a different perspective on life and to cherish every bit of it.
Sahir Ludhianvi's poetry, as well as his nazms, are soul stirring. Here is the list of 30 Sahir Ludhianvi shayaris which are heart touching for you to cherish:
1. Taaruf rog ho jaye, to us ka bhoolna behtar
Taalluq bojh ban jaye, to us ko todna achchha
This couplet of Sahir Ludhianvi is about moving on in life. He beautifully portrays the nuances of relationships and advises the reader’s in a very subtle way that if a relationship reaches a level from where there seems no way ahead. So, it is always better to end that relationship on a beautiful platform before it takes a toxic turn.
2. Kabhi khud pe kabhi haalat pe rona aaya
Baat nikli to har ik baat pe rona aaya
Hum to samjhe the ki hum bhuul gaye hain un ko
Kya hua aaj ye kis baat pe rona aaya.
Sahir Ludhianvi's couplets remarkably capture the pains afflicted with love. As it reflects upon the fact that the memories of beloved ones always stay in the hearts of the lover and these can never be pushed out at one’s will.
3. Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya
Har fikr ko dhuen mein udata chala gaya
Barbadiyon ka sog manana fizul tha
Barbadiyon ka jashn manata chala gaya
Through this Shayari in Urdu, Sahir Ludhianvi calls for opting a positive outlook on life. Since highs and lows are part and parcel of life, one should not feel dejected and always go with the flow.
4. Ye zulf agar khul ke bikhar jaaye to acha
Is raat ki taqdeer sanvar jaaye to acha
Jis tarah se thodi si tere saath kati hai
Baaqi bhi usi tarah guzar jaaye to acha.
The above Sahir Ludhianvi Shayari wonderfully puts down in words the feelings of a lover for his beloved. The lover now yearns for nothing more than the company of his beloved, that has now become an abode of his solace.
5. Tujhe bhula denge apne dil se ye faisla to kiya hai lekin
Na dil ko malum hai na ham ko jiyenge kaise tujhe bhula ke.
This is yet another one of the romantic Sahir Ludhianvi shayaris in Urdu. It reflects the feelings of a lover, who is making the best possible efforts to forget his beloved but all in vain. Being unsuccessful in forgetting all the loving memories, he wonders how he will live now.
6. Chehre pe khushi chha jaati hai, ankhon mein surur aa jaata hai
Jab tum mujhe apna kahte ho, apne pe ghurur aa jaata hai
7. Pyaar par bas to nahin hai mera lekin phir bhi
Tu bata de ki tujhe pyaar karun ya na karun
Tu ne khud apne tabassum se jagaya hai jinhen
Un tamannaon ka izhaar karun ya na karun.
Continuing our list of Sahir Ludhianvi Shayaris, we have this one which is drenched in love. The poet blames his beloved for making him fall in love so madly with her. He asks her, whether or not he should express his feelings, which have developed due to her beauty and virtues.
8. Bhule se mohabbat kar baitha, nadan tha bechara, dil hi to hai
Har dil se khata ho jaati hai, bigdo na khudara, dil hi to hai
Is tarah nigahen mat phero, aisa na ho dhadkan ruk jaaye
Siine mein koi patthar to nahin, ehsas ka mara, dil hi to hai
This urdu shyari by Shair Ludhianvi incorporates the progressive elements of his writings. Through these lines, he beautifully describes the innocence of love, as it is the only emotion-free from all prejudices or barriers of caste and religion. But he also laments that unfortunately the society is not as pure as the loving dwelling in his heart and hence he apologizes for this innocent mistake committed by his heart of falling beyond the social barriers.
9. Jang to khud hi ek masala hai
Jang kya masalon ka hal degi
Aag aur khoon aaj bakhshegi
Bhook aur ehtiyaj kal degi.
Sahir Ludhianvi shayaris also have an anti-war perspective, which comes out marvellously through this couplet. As here he categorically states that ultimately the reason behind every trouble is that of the war. So, why to choose only such mediums in the first place itself. As these will, in the end, cost us our life and would reap no useful result.
10. Tu mujhe chhod ke thukra ke bhi ja sakti hai
Tere haathon mein mere haath hain zanjeer nahin.
This excerpt is another example that reflects the progressive side of Sahir Ludhianvi Shayaris. As, very much unlike the norms of the conservative social set-up, where women are only seen as ‘objects’ of possession and are not given any say of themselves. Sahir in these couplets is providing them with subjectivity and agency to choose for herself.
11. Ik shahenshah ne daulat ka sahara le kar
Hum gharibon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai mazaq.
These lines are from Sahir Ludhianvi’s famous Urdu nazm ‘Taj Mahal’. In the above Sahir Ludhianvi poetry, he exposes the oppressive structures of society that has now even elitised the concept of love. Through this nazm Sahir deconstructs the image of the Taj Mahal as an object of beauty and calls it a shameful exhibition of the elite love that further stands as an insult or as a mockery to the love of the ordinary people.
12. Ham aman chahte hain magar zulm ke khilaf
Gar jang lazmi hai to phir jang hi sahi
Zaalim ko jo na roke vo shamil hai zulm mein
Qatil ko jo na toke vo qatil ke saath hai
This is a powerful Sahir Ludhianvi poetry couplet, which attacks the wrong doers and their supporters. Sahir Ludhianvi points that he who doesn't stop a person from killing another person or a person from opressing anotehr person, is equally at fault.
13. Tum mere liye ab koi ilzaam na dhundo
Chaaha tha tumhein ik yahi ilzaam bahut hai.
Another of the Sahir Ludhianvi romantic shayaris is here. The poet says that he is accused of falling in love with you, as if he has done some crime and now he needs no other accusition to his name for getting the punishtment.
14. Tu hindu banega na musalmaan banega
Insaan ki aulaad hai insaan banega
Achchha hai abhi tak tera kuchh naam nahin hai
Tujh ko kisi mazhab se koi kaam nahi hai
Jis ilm ne insaanon ko taqseem kiya hai
Is ilm ka tujh par koi ilzam nahi hai.
Sahir Ludhianvi poetry in these words are all that is needed in the present time of chaos, over religion and the religious tensions observed worldwide. Through these lines, he claims that we are all humans first, so humanity should be our foremost priority. He also believes that something which has become the cause of division among humans today, it is always better to not to let even the shadow of it fall on humans in the first place only.
15. Aurat ne janam diya mardon ko, mardon ne use bazaar diya
Jab ji chaaha masla kuchla, jab ji chaaha dhutkar diya.
The above Sahir Ludhianvi poetry vividly capture the agony of women struck in the patriarchal set-up. As apart from being the life-giving sources they are denied their very own selfhood in patriarchy and are seen by men as the mere objects of minting money.
16. Main jise pyaar ka andaaz samajh baitha huun
Vo tabassum vo takallum tiri aadat hi na ho.
17. Ab Mohabbat bhi hai kya
Ik tijarat ke siva
Hum hi nadan the jo odha biiti yadon ka kafan
Varna jiine ke liye sab kuchh bhula dete hain log.
18. Dekha hai zindagi ko kuchh itne kareeb se
Chehre tamaam lagne lage hain ajiib se.
19. Hazaar barq gire laakh aandhiyan utthen
Vo phool khil ke rahenge jo khilne vaale hain.
This shayari of Sahir Ludhianvi are all we need to boost up our motivation levels. As the poet exclaims, if the pillars of determination are strong enough, no forces can come in the way of achieving our ambitions.
20. Gham aur khushi mein farq na mehsoos ho jahan
Main dil ko us maqam pe laata chala gaya.
The above poetry by Sahir Ludhianvi tells us to stay the same in all circumstances. One should not let the situations overpower the behaviour or life of others.
21. Kaun rota hai kisi aur ki khatir ai dost
Sab ko apni hi kisi baat pe rona aaya.
This Urdu couplet by Sahir Ludhianvi highlights the true face of the society. Nobody today is sad because of someone else's sadness and nobody grieves because the other person is grieved. Everyone here is troubles due to their own problems.
22. Apni tabahiyon ka mujhe koi gham nahin
Tum ne kisi ke saath mohabbat nibha to di.
23. Vaise to tumhi ne mujhe barbad kiya hai
Ilzaam kisi aur ke sar jaaye to acha.
24. Maana ki is zameen ko na gulzar kar sake
Kuchh khaar kam to kar gaye guzre jidhar se ham.
25. Phir na kiije meri gustakh-nigahi ka gila
Dekhiye aap ne phir pyaar se dekha mujh ko.
26. Khoon apna ho ya paraya ho
Nasl-e-adam ka khoon hai akhir
Jang mashriq mein ho ki maghrib mein
Aman-e-alam ka khoon hai akhir.
27. Jang talti rahe toh behtar hai
Aap aur hum sabhi ke aangan mein
Shama jalti rahe to behtar hai.
The underlying message that lies in this Urdu couplet by Sahir Ludhianvi is the very fact that it is always profitable to avoid the wars and the warlords, to lead a peaceful and contented life.
28. Allah tero naam,
Ishwar tero naam,
Sabko sanmati de bhagwan.
This Urdu couplet by Sahir Ludhianvi highlights that the Almighty, the Supreme powerful God is one. We might have given him several names, but the power that keeps everything in this world going is contained at one place only.
29. Lo aaj humne tod diya rishta-e-umeed
Lo ab kabhi gila na karenge kisi se ham.
This Urdu poetry by Sahir Ludhianvi hints that once a person becomes hopeless from someone, he stops expecting and complaining from that person. And this is how the world keeps going.
30. Main pal do pal ka shayar hoon, pal do pal meri kahani hai
Pal do pal meri hasti hai, pal do pal meri jawani hai.
This Urdu couplet by Sahir Ludhianvi calls for accepting the mortality of human life. Since no one is a permanent dweller on Earth and each one of us has to bid a farewell to our lives. So, one can always strive for leaving one’s mark while being alive, since this human life is extremely fickle.
These are just a few of the many remarkable shayaris of Sahir Ludhianvi. Each of this soul searching Sahir Ludhianvi Shayari not only strikes the strings of the reader's heart but also helps one to gain a different perspective on life, by opening up to one the progressive dimension of the Urdu poetry.
The article is contributed by Anmol Dhaliwal, who is a budding writer.
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