Parakhna Mat Ghazal by Bashir Badr Translated and Explained

 

Parakhna Mat – Poetic Translation of Bashir Badr Ghazal

Meta Description:  Parakhna Mat Parakhne Mein is a popular ghazal by Bashir Badr, performed by stalwarts like Jagjit Singh, Chinmayi Tripathi, and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.   

Setting the Background for Translating Parakhna Mat

 

Parakhna Mat is a critique of a society that does not allow an individual’s identity to evolve and flourish. In each sher (couplet) of the ghazal, Badr presents a different impediment that society places in the individual’s path and, in some cases, suggests a way of overcoming it. A verse-by-verse explanation is provided in the literal translation section.

 

Translating Parakhna Mat as a Ghazal

 

In a ghazal, the second line of each sher ends with a common refrain called the radeef, while the common rhyme that runs through the ghazal, the qafiya, occurs immediately before the radeef. Ideally, an English translation should reproduce both the qafiya and the radeef. However, because of the differences in the grammatical structures of Urdu and English, maintaining both can sometimes result in awkward or grammatically distorted English. In my translations of ghazals, I have therefore tried to preserve these formal elements wherever possible without sacrificing the natural flow of the English.

In the case of Parakhna Mat, I found that I had to let go of either the qafiya or the radeef in order to maintain a reasonable rhythm and natural phrasing. Since the content of the ghazal is itself metaphysical, I did not want the translation to introduce an additional layer of ambiguity merely for the sake of rhyme. After some trial and error, I decided that the better approach was to retain the radeef and abandon the qafiya.

Different singers have used line repetitions in different ways to suit their individual presentations. I have therefore translated the basic written structure of Badr’s ghazal rather than following the repetitions used in any particular rendition. The translation is designed to be adaptable to any of the musical compositions used for the ghazal.

 

The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Parakhna Mat

 

Do not judge for by judging a friend your own does not remain

Stare too long into a mirror and your face does not remain

 

While meeting with celebrities always maintain your distance

Where a river enters the ocean, a river it does not remain

 

Your city is of a strange and uniquely different kind

In my city too every one quite like me does not remain

 

True love is a fragrance that will travel with you always

Even in solitude a man alone does not remain

 

Thousands of my verses lie buried in graves made of paper

I’m a strange mother any child of mine alive does not remain

 

The Original Hindi Lyrics of Parakhna Mat

 

Parakhna mat parakhne mein koi apna nahin rahta
Kisi bhi aaine mein der tak chehra nahin rahta

 

Bade logon se milne mein hamesha fasala rakhna
Jahan darya samandar se mila darya nahin rahta

 

Tumhara shehr to bilkul naye andaz wala hai
Hamare shehr mein bhi koi hamsa nahin rahta

 

Mohabbatein khushboo hai hamesha saath chalti hai
Koi insaan tanhai mein bhi tanha nahin rahta

 

Hazaron sher mere so gaye kaghaz ki qabron mein
Ajab maa hun koi bachcha mera zinda nahin rahta

 

Meanings of Difficult Urdu Words

 

Parakhna = To judge

Fasala = Distance

Darya = River (here)

 

The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of Parakhna Mat

 

Parakhna mat parakhne mein koi apna nahin rahta

We criticise others or pass judgement on them based on our own practices and behaviours. This either compels them to conform and lose their identity or more likely leads to strained relations.

  

Kisi bhi aaine mein der tak chehra ahin rahta

 If you stare at a mirror for too long then the reflection seems to lose its uniqueness and take on a generalised appearance. Here staring at a mirror could be symbolic for working in a community where people tend to adopt each other’s characteristics.

 

Bade logon se milne mein hamesha fasala rakhna
Jahan darya samandar se mila darya nahin rahta

 If you do not maintain your individuality when interacting with famous persons, you tend to absorb their mannerisms and become like them. Just as a river loses its existence when it enters the ocean.

 

Tumhara shehr to bilkul naye andaz wala hai
Hamare shehr mein bhi koi hamsa nahin rahta

 Large cities tend to convert people into automata following routines blindly. It does not matter whether the city is your city or is my city.

 

Mohabbatein khushboo hai hamesha saath chalti hai
Koi insaan tanhai mein bhi tanha nahin rahta

 Love casts a strong influence on those involved making them change their habits to conform to their lover’s wishes. And love is like a fragrance. It accompanies you wherever ypun go. Even if you are alone it acts on you.

 

Hazaron sher mere so gaye kaghaz ki qabron mein
Ajab maa hun koi bachcha mera zinda nahin rahta

Thousands of my poems lie on reams of paper – unread. I am a very unusual mother that none of my children (poems) are in the public realm but have died a anonymous death. Maybe because they were all alike without any unique distinctive aspects.

 

 

Parakhna Mat Fact Sheet

 

Parakhna Mat has been sung by many renowned singers. You can check out the best of them through links below.
 
·       Chinmayi Tripathi
·       Jagjit Singh
·       Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
 
I have other non-filmy ghazals at Bollywood Translations with more in the pipeline.
 
·       Mere Humnafas
·       Mun Bairagi
·       Khud Se Jo Vada
 
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All the translations are my original work. If you quote them, you must acknowledge my name and provide a link to Bollywood Translations.