Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna – Translation of Bismil Azimabadi
Poem
Meta Description: Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna is a patriotic poem
by Bismil Azimabadi popularised by Ram Prasad Bismil in the freedom struggle.
Enjoy the translation of this ghazal.
Setting the Background for Translating Sarfaroshi Ki
Tamanna
Sarfaroshi Ki
Tamanna was penned in 1921 by
Bismil Azimabadi in response to the horrific Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The
ghazal became a clarion call to arms for those engaged in the freedom struggle
against British colonial rule. It was most famously embraced by Ram Prasad
Bismil, a revolutionary icon, who is said to have recited the poem on route to
the gallows—an act that cemented the poem’s place in the annals of India's
fight for independence.
The full ghazal
consists of eleven couplets and has since been featured in various abridged or
adapted forms in Bollywood patriotic films. Its first cinematic appearance was
in Manoj Kumar’s Shaheed (1965), that rekindled the patriotic fervour in
a generation born after India’s independence. I have based my translation of Sarfaroshi
Ki Tamanna on this adaptation. I am also reproducing the transliteration of
the full ghazal.
Translating Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna as a Ghazal
The qafiya
(rhyme) and radif (refrain) are essential structural elements in the
composition of a ghazal. However, one of the greatest challenges in translating
Urdu ghazals into English lies in adapting the radif—primarily due to
the stark grammatical differences between Urdu and English sentence structures.
In most of my
translations of Bollywood ghazals, I have managed to incorporate both the qafiya
and radif to preserve the integrity of the original poetic form.
Unfortunately, in the case of Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna, the use of a
consistent radif has proven elusive. As a result, the relevant lines
conclude with the qafiya alone, without the accompanying refrain. If you
have a suggestion for a suitable radif that works naturally within the
rhythm and spirit of this translation, please feel free to share it in the
comments. I would be happy to consider revising the translation accordingly and
will be sure to acknowledge your contribution.
Translating Sarfaroshi
Ki Tamanna has required a fair degree of transcreation to retain the poem’s
patriotic fervour and emotional intensity. To offer readers a fuller
understanding of the original, I have also included a literal translation.
The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna
Why are people so afraid
To speak what’s on their mind
Everywhere I look
around
I see them cowering
like mice
I see them cowering
like mice
We are committed to perform
The ultimate sacrifice
We are committed to perform
The ultimate sacrifice
Let us test how much
power
In the tyrant’s arms
lies
We are committed to perform
The ultimate sacrifice
When the hour of truth arrives
We’ll speak up what
must be said
When the hour of truth arrives
We’ll speak up what
must be said
Why to reveal our hand
before
The final roll of the
dice
The final roll of the
dice
We are committed to perform
The ultimate sacrifice
Let us test how much
power
In the tyrant’s arms
lies
We are committed to perform
The ultimate sacrifice
We will take the
battle to
The enemy’s streets
and gates
We will take the
battle to
The enemy’s streets
and gates
In this war for
liberty
Gladly we will pay the
price
Gladly we will pay the
price
We are committed to perform
The ultimate sacrifice
Let us test how much
power
In the tyrant’s arms
lies
We are committed to perform
The ultimate sacrifice
The Original Hindi Lyrics of Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna from
Shaheed (1965)
Ek se karta nahi kyon
Doosra kuchh baat cheet
Dekhta hu mai jise
Wo chup teri mehfil mein hai
Wo chup teri mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna
Ab hamare dil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna
Ab hamare dil mein hai
Dekhna hai zor kitn
Bazu-e-qaatil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna
Ab hamare dil mein hai
Waqt aane par bataa
Denge tujhe o aasman
Waqt aane par bataa
Denge tujhe o aasman
Hum abhi se kya bataye
Kya humare dil mein hai
Kya humare dil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna
Ab hamare dil mein hai
Dekhna hai zor kitna
Bazu-e-qaatil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna
Ab hamare dil mein hai
Khaich kar layi hai sabko
Qatl hone ki ummeed
Khaich kar layi hai sabko
Qatl hone ki ummeed
Aashiqon ka aaj jamaghat
Kuchaa-e-qaatil mein hai
Kuchaa-e-qaatil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna
Ab hamare dil mein hai
Dekhna hai zor kitna
Bazu-e-qaatil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna
Ab hamare dil mein hai
Meanings of Difficult Urdu Words
Sarfaroshi = Willingness to sacrifice one’s life
Bazu-e-qaatil = The arms of the murderer (enemy)
Kuchaa-e-qaatil = The lanes of the murderer
The Original Urdu Complete Lyrics of Sarfaroshi Ki
Tamanna by Bismil
Azimabadi
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab
hamaare dil mein hai
Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai
Karta nahin kyun doosra kuch baat-cheet
Dekhta hun main jise woh chup teri mehfil mein hai
Aye shaheed-e-mulk-o-millat main tere oopar nisaar
Ab teri himmat ka charcha ghair ki mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Waqt aanay dey bata denge tujhe aye aasman
Hum abhi se kya batayen kya hamare dil mein hai
Khainch kar layee hai sab ko qatl hone ki ummeed
Aashiqon ka aaj jumghat koocha-e-qaatil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Hai liye hathiyaar dushman taak mein baitha udhar
Aur hum taiyyaar hain seena liye apna idhar
Khoon se khelenge holi gar vatan muskhil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Haath jin mein ho junoon katt te nahi talvaar se
Sar jo uth jaate hain voh jhukte nahi lalkaar se
Aur bhadkega jo shola-sa humaare dil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Hum to ghar se nikle hi the baandhkar sar pe kafan
Jaan hatheli par liye lo barh chale hain ye qadam
Zindagi to apni mehmaan maut ki mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Yuun khadaa maqtal mein qaatil kah rahaa hai baar baar
Kya tamannaa-e-shahaadat bhi kisee ke dil mein hai
Dil mein tuufaanon ki toli aur nason mein inqilaab
Hosh dushman ke udaa denge humein roko na aaj
Duur reh paaye jo humse dam kahaan manzil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Wo jism bhi kya jism hai jismein na ho khoon-e-junoon
Kya lade toofaanon se jo kashti-e-saahil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai.
Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai.
The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of Ruaan
Why ia a person not
Talking to anyone else
Whoever I see
Is silent in your
party
The desire to
sacrifice our lives
Is now within our hearts
We have to see how strong are
The arms of the oppressor
When the time comes we
Will reveal all to the
skies
Now why should we say
What is in our hearts
We all have been dragged here
By the desire to die
for our cause
The lovers of freedom
are assembled
In the lanes of the
oppressor
Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Fact
Sheet
· Movie: Shaheed (1965)
· Singers: Manna De, Mohammad Rafi,
Rajendra Mehta
