30 Excerpts from Amrita Pritam's Poetry That Keep Her Alive

Amrita Pritam, born in the British-India (now Pakistan) as Amrit Kaur, was an Indian maverick writer and poet. She is considered the first eminent female Punjabi writer, novelist and poet of the 20th century. Her writing is equally loved by the people of India and Pakistan.

The most remarkable poetry of Amrita Pritam is ‘Ajj aakhan waris shah nu’, where she gives voice to the trauma of Partition. She was unhappy with it and that was what was reflected in her poetry.

Here are some lines of her poem ‘Ajj aakhan waris shah nu’ which expressed grief and dissatisfaction greatly.

“Ajj Aakhan Waris Shah Nuu,
Kiton Qabraan Vichon Bol,
Tey Ajj Kitab-e-Ishq Daa,
Koi Agla Warka Phol

Ikk Royi Si Dhi Punjab Di,
Tu Likh Likh Maarey Wain,
Ajj Lakhaan Dhiyan Rondiyan,
Tenu Waris Shah Nu Kain”

We have had very few female poets emerging from India and Amrita Pritam is one of them. She was fond of writing romantic poetry and shayari, which was very relatable for everyone. Even today’s youth finds the poetry of Amrita Pritam heartwarming.

Here we have some of the best and popular excerpts from the poetry of Amrita Pritam:

1) Jahaan bhi aazad rooh ki jhalak pade, samjh lena wahi mera ghar hai.

2) Tera milna aise hota hai, jaise koi hatheli par ek waqt ki roti rakh de.

3) Zindagi ne apni zindagi ki saari kadwahat pi li, kyunki isme tumhare ishq ki ek boond mili this.

4) Door kahin se awaz aayi, awaz jaise teri ho. Kaano ne gehri saans li, zindagi ki ladi kaanp uthi. Masoom khushi haath chuda kar, dono nanhi baahein faila kar, ek dosheeze ki tarah, nange paanv bhaag uthi.

5) Tumhara naam challa ban gaya hai jeebh par. Dukhta hai jab bhi naam leti hoon.

6) Humne aaj ye duniya bechi, aur ek deen khareed ke laye, baat kufr ki ki hai humne. Sapno ka ek thaan buna tha, gaz ek kapda faad liya, aur umr ki choli see hai humne.

7) Raat oongh rahi hai, kisi ne insaan ki chhati mein sendh lagayi hai, har chori se bhayank ye sapno ki chori hai.

8) Mujhe wo samay yaad hai jab dhoop ka ek tukda, sooraj ki ungli thaam kar, andhere ka mela dekhta, us bheed mein kahin kho gya.

9) Main us waqt ka fal hoon, jab azaadi ke ped par baur pad raha tha. Meri sej haazin hai, par joote aur kameez ki tarah, tu apna badan bhi utaar de, udhar moodhe pe rakh de. Koi khaas baat nahi, bas apne apne desh ka rivaaz hai.

10) Main chup, shaant aur adol khadi thi. Sirf paas behte samundra mein toofan tha, phir samundra ko khuda jaane, kya khyaal aaya, usne toofan ki ek potli-si baandhi, mere haathon mein thamaayi, aur hans kar kuch door ho gaya.

11) Aaj sooraj nay kuch ghabra kar, roshni ki aik khidki kholi, baadal ki aik khidki band ki, aur andhere ki seedhiyan utar gaya. Itihaas ka mehmaan, mere chauke se bhookha uth gaya.

12) Barso ki aari hans rahi thi, ghatnao ke daant nukeele the. Akasmat ek paaya toot gya, aasmaan ki chowki par se. Shishon ka sooraj fisal gaya, ankhon mein kankadh chitra gaye, aur nazar zakhmi ho gayi. Kuch dikhayi nahi deta, duniya shayad ab bhi basti hai.

13) Mera sheher ek lambi behas ki tarah hai. Sadkein - betuki daleelon si, aur galiyan is tarah jaise ek baat ko koi idhar ghaseetta, koi udhar.

14) Neele aasmaan ke kone mein, raat mil ka siren bolta hai. Chand ki chimney mein se, safed gadha dhuan uthta hai.

15) Sirf ek baar ek ghatna hui thi, khayalon ki raat badi gehri thi. Aur itni stabdh thi, ki patta bhi hike, toh barson ke kaam chaunk jaate.

16) Jo hawa behti hai, dargaah se guzarti hai, teri saanson ko chhooti hai, saai aaj mujhe uss hawa mein milna hai.

17) Meri saari zindagi mujhe aisi lagti hai, jaise maine tumhe ek khat likha ho. Mere dil ki har dhadkan ek akshar hai, meri har saans ek matra. Aur saari zindagi jaise ek khat.

18) Main tujhe phir milungi - kahan, kaise, pata nahi. Shayad teri kalpanao ki prerna bankar tere canvas par uthrungi.

19) Ikk dard tha, jo cigarette di tarah maine chup chaap piya hain, sirf kuch nazmein thi, jo cigarette se maine raakh ki tarah jhaadi hai.

20) Aage kya likha hai, aaj inn taqdeer se, kaun puchne jayega. Umr ke kaagaz par, tere ishq ne anghuta lagaya, hisaab kaun chukayega! Kismat ne ek nagma likha hai, kehte hai koi aaj raat wahi nagma gayega.

21) Mohabbat ki kachchi deewar - lipi hui, puti hui, phir bhi iske pehlu se raat ka ek tukda toot gira. Bilkul jaise ek surakh ho gya, deewar par daag pad gya.

22) Kalam ne aaj geeto ka qafiya tod diya, mera ishq ye kis mukaam par aa gya.

23) Mere sheher ne jab tere kadam chuye, sitaron ki mutthiyan bhar kar, aasmaan ne nyochawar kar di.

24) Meri khamoshi ki gali se aksharon ke saaye guzarte rahe, chaand ki matki se jab - katre se kuch girte rahe, raat ki dekhleez par taare dua karte rahe.

25) Meri raat jaag rahi hai, tera khayal so gaya. Tere ishq ki paak kitab kitni dardnaak hai.

26) Phir tumhe yaad kiya, humne aag ko choom liya. Ishq zeher ka pyala sahi, maine ek ghoont phir se maang liya.

27) Ab sooraj roz waqt par doob jata hai, aur andher roz meri chhati mein utar jata hai.

28) Tumhari yaad is tarah se aayi jaise geeli lakdi mein se gehra aur kaala dhuaan uthta hai.

30) Dharti ka dil dhadak raha hai, suna hai aaj tehniyon ke ghar phool mehmaan hue hain.

The poetry of Amrita Pritam has pain and grief, which is evident but doesn’t fade away. She has mostly talked about the dark side of love in all her writings because she has endured a lot. Her poetry and writings are a solace and escape for all those in love.

Amrita Pritam was all that a woman wasn't allowed or accepted to be in her times — a fierce writer, a passionate lover and a born rebel. She left us all in the year 2005, but her writings will continue to exist with us forever.

For her excellent contribution to literature, she was honoured with the Jnanpith Award (1981) and the Padma Vibhushan (2005). She’s immortal, she’s eternal, she’s always here. May her soul rest in peace.

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