न मुहँ छुपा के जीए हम न सर झुका के जीए। (Na Muhn Chupa Ki Jiye Hum Na Sar Jhuka Ke Jiye) -
I am sharing here a 'Qita' written by Sahir Ludhianvi which is recently used in Hindi movie 'Sanju'. A song inspired from it also penned by Sahir for the film 'Humraaz' (1967) staring Sunil Dutt in the lead role. Literal meaning of Qata is ‘separated’. Qata stands for a series of couplets in a ghazal having continuity of thought. A ghazal having one or more Qatas is called Qata-Band ghazal. Qatas also have independent existence comprising at least four lines. In a Qata, the second and fourth lines follow the same rhyming scheme. (Qita meaning from Rekhta). Here I have tried to translate it.
न मुँह छुपा के जिए हम न सर झुका के जिए,
सितमगरों की नज़र से नज़र मिला के जिए,
अब एक रात अगर कम जिए तो कम ही सही,
यही बहुत है कि हम मिशअलें जला के जिए।
Na Muhn Chupa Ke Jiye Hum Na Sar Jhuka Ke Jiye,
Sitamgaron Ki Nazar Se Nazar Mila Ke Jiye,
Ab Ek Raat Agar Kam Jiye To Kam Hi Sahi,
Yahi Bahut Hai Ki Hum Mashalein Jala Ke Jiye.
Don't live by hiding your face nor by bowing it,
don't scare from tyrant's eyes stay by looking into it,
If we survive one night less then let it be,
enough to survive by keeping the flame burn than to extinguish it.
