Mainay Uss Say Yeh Kaha

“Main Nay Kaha” is a satirical poem by the famous leftist poet Habib Jalib called “Musheer” (Advisor). Jalib wrote it in response to a conversation he had with Hafiz Jalandari during the time of Ayub Khan’s dictatorship. It remains just as fresh and valid today.

This poem has been put to music by Laal (Shahram Azhar & Taimur Rahman) a new Pakistani music group dedicated to resistance music and poetry. Shahram Azhar and Taimur Rahman are also political activists of the Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party and their poetry, music, and activism constitute an integrated whole the essence of which is always revolutionary. The CMKP has been an integral part of the lawyers movement and the movement for democracy in Pakistan.

me ne us se ye kaha
ye jo das crore hain,
jehl ka nichor hain
inki fikr so gayi
har umeed ki kiran,
zulmaton me kho gai
ye khabar darust hai,
inki mot ho gai

 

be shaoor log hain
zindagi ka rog hain
aur tere paas hai
inke dard ki dawa
me ne us se ye kaha

 

tu khuda ka noor hai
akl hai, shaoor hai
qaum tere saath hai
tere hi!, hi!, hi!, wajood se
mulk ki nijaat hai
tu hai mehr-e-subh-e-nau
tere baad raat hai!
bolte jo chand hain
sab ye shar pasand hain!
inki khainch le zabaan
inka ghoont de gala

 

me ne us se ye kaha
me ne us se ye kaha

 

jin ko tha zaban pe naaz
chup hain wo zaban daraaz
chain hai samaaj me
bemisaal fark hai
kal me aur aaj me
apne kharch par hain log
kaid tere raaj me

 

me ne us se ye kaha
me ne us se ye kaha

 

cheen apna yar hai
us pe jan nisar hai
par wahan jo hai nizaam
us taraf na jaayio
us ko door se salaam

 

das crore ye gadhe
jin ka naam hai awaam
kia banain ge hukmaran
tu!, tu!, tu! yaqeen hai ye gumaan
apni to dua hai ye
sadr tu rahe sada

 

me ne us se ye kaha
me ne us se ye kaha