Political Satire: 20 Couplets of Akbar Allahabadi

ham aah bhī karte haiñ to ho jaate haiñ badnām

vo qatl bhī karte haiñ to charchā nahīñ hotā

hum aah bhi karte hain to ho jate hain badnam

wo qatl bhi karte hain to charcha nahin hota

maz.habī bahs maiñ ne kī hī nahīñ

fāltū aql mujh meñ thī hī nahīñ

mazhabi bahs main ne ki hi nahin

faltu aql mujh mein thi hi nahin

khīñcho na kamānoñ ko na talvār nikālo

jab top muqābil ho to aḳhbār nikālo

khincho na kamanon ko na talwar nikalo

jab top muqabil ho to aKHbar nikalo

coat aur patlūn jab pahnā to mister ban gayā

jab koī taqrīr kī jalse meñ leader ban gayā

coat aur patlun jab pahna to mister ban gaya

jab koi taqrir ki jalse mein leader ban gaya

qaum ke ġham meñ dinner khāte haiñ hukkām ke saath

rañj leader ko bahut hai magar ārām ke saath

qaum ke gham mein dinner khate hain hukkaam ke sath

ranj leader ko bahut hai magar aaram ke sath

leaderoñ kī dhuum hai aur follower koī nahīñ

sab to general haiñ yahāñ āḳhir sipāhī kaun hai

leaderon ki dhum hai aur follower koi nahin

sab to general hain yahan aaKHir sipahi kaun hai

sidhāreñ shaiḳh ka.aba ko ham inglistān dekheñge

vo dekheñ ghar ḳhudā kā ham ḳhudā kī shaan dekheñge

sidhaaren shaiKH kaba ko hum inglistan dekhenge

wo dekhen ghar KHuda ka hum KHuda ki shan dekhenge

naukaroñ par jo guzartī hai mujhe ma.alūm hai

bas karam kiije mujhe bekār rahne dījiye

naukaron par jo guzarti hai mujhe malum hai

bas karam kije mujhe bekar rahne dijiye

agar maz.hab ḳhalal-andāz hai mulkī maqāsid meñ

to shaiḳh o barhaman pinhāñ raheñ dair o masājid meñ

agar mazhab KHalal-andaz hai mulki maqasid mein

to shaiKH o barhaman pinhan rahen dair o masajid mein

masjid kā hai ḳhayāl na parvā-e-church hai

jo kuchh hai ab to college-o-teacher meñ ḳharch hai

masjid ka hai KHayal na parwa-e-church hai

jo kuchh hai ab to college-o-teacher mein KHarch hai

chashm-e-jahāñ se hālat-e-aslī chhupī nahīñ

aḳhbār meñ jo chāhiye vo chhāp dījiye

chashm-e-jahan se haalat-e-asli chhupi nahin

aKHbar mein jo chahiye wo chhap dijiye

shaiḳh sāhab ḳhudā se Darte hoñ

maiñ to añgrezoñ hī se Dartā huuñ

shaiKH sahab KHuda se Darte hon

main to angrezon hi se Darta hun

urūj-e-qaumī zavāl-e-qaumī ḳhudā kī qudrat ke haiñ karishme

hamesha radd-o-badal ke andar ye amr political rahā hai

uruj-e-qaumi zawal-e-qaumi KHuda ki qudrat ke hain karishme

hamesha radd-o-badal ke andar ye amr political raha hai

maulvī sāhib na chhoḌeñge ḳhudā go baḳhsh de

gher hī leñge police vaale sazā ho yā na ho

maulwi sahib na chhoDenge KHuda go baKHsh de

gher hi lenge police wale saza ho ya na ho

maza hai spēch kā dinner meñ ḳhabar ye chhaptī hai pionēr meñ

falak kī gardish ke saath hī saath kaam yāroñ kā chal rahā hai

maza hai speech ka dinner mein KHabar ye chhapti hai pioneer mein

falak ki gardish ke sath hi sath kaam yaron ka chal raha hai

kuchh san.at o hirfat pe bhī lāzim hai tavajjoh

āḳhir ye government se tanḳhvāh kahāñ tak

kuchh sanat o hirfat pe bhi lazim hai tawajjoh

aaKHir ye gowernment se tanKHwah kahan tak

kho ga.ī hind kī firdaus-nishānī 'akbar'

kaash ho jaa.e koī 'milton'-e-sānī paidā

kho gai hind ki firdaus-nishani 'akbar'

kash ho jae koi 'milton'-e-sani paida

membarī se aap par to vārnish ho jā.egī

qaum kī hālat meñ kuchh is se jilā ho yā na ho

membari se aap par to warnish ho jaegi

qaum ki haalat mein kuchh is se jila ho ya na ho

kyuuñ civil-surgeon kā aanā roktā hai ham-nashīñ

is meñ hai ik baat honour kī shifā ho yā na ho

kyun ciwil-surgeon ka aana rokta hai ham-nashin

is mein hai ek baat honour ki shifa ho ya na ho

leaderī chāho to lafz-e-qaum hai mehmāñ-navāz

gap-navīsoñ ko aur ahl-e-mez ko raazī karo

leaderi chaho to lafz-e-qaum hai mehman-nawaz

gap-nawison ko aur ahl-e-mez ko raazi karo