Tribute to Guru Dutt by Kaifi Azmi

This is a Ghazal written by Kaifi Azmi sahab in form of a tribute to
Guru Dutt. Guru Dutt (supposedly) committed suicide in 1964. Kaifi saahab wrote this and recited in an unreleased interview (sometime in early 80s).
I was lucky enough to obtain an audio copy of it. For those who love and/or understand Urdu Poetry will feel cherished listening to this small recording.

[audio:http://badwalroopal.googlepages.com/KaifiAzmi-RahneKoKoiTributetoGuruDuttonhisSuicideII.mp3]

Rahne Ko Sadaa:

Rahne ko sadaa dahar me aata nahi koi
Tum jaise gaye aise bhi jaata nahi koi

Ik baar to khud maut bhi ghabra gayi hogi
Yun maut ko seene se lagata nahi koi

Darta hoon kahin khushq na ho jaaye samundar
Raakh apni kabhi aap bahata nahi koi

Saaqi se gila tha tumhe, maikhaane se shikvaa
Ab zahar se bhi pyaas bujhata nahi koi

Maana ki ujaalon ne tumhe daag diye the
Beraat dhale shamma bujhata nahi koi

Comments So Far..
  • Lalit Singh 5 July, 2006 at 4:47 am

    hey gautam
    nice work man

    Do you by any chance have the audio book ‘Kaifiyat’???

  • Gautam Dhar 19 October, 2006 at 10:33 am

    Yes, I do.

  • nadeem 14 August, 2007 at 7:37 am

    i have tears i my eyes… may be its a great great honour for anyone,s work. thank u brother..thank u very much

  • Namrata 5 December, 2007 at 3:31 am

    Dear Gautam

    Great work! Tears flooded in my eyes.

  • arun bajaj 13 March, 2009 at 3:53 am

    While surfing, by chance i visited this site…… you are doing a great job……..keep it up. Kaifi Saheb’s tribute touched me a lot. After reading i became very emotional.

  • Jitendra 11 May, 2009 at 11:09 pm

    A great tribute to a great artist by a great poet. Thanks for sharing with us. Hats off to you.

  • Gautam 12 May, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    Thanks for stopping by Jitendra.

  • somnath 25 August, 2010 at 12:55 pm

    Pritish Nandy’s translation of the above poem follows:

    “The Suicide”

    No one comes to stay on this earth forever
    Yet no one goes the way you did
    Even Death must have been taken aback
    For no one embraces her the way you did

    The startled Sea may dry up soon
    For no one’s ever offered her his own ashes
    Your Messiah and Nemesis are both uncertain
    For neither knows how to conceal your wounds

    You complained about the Tavern and the Saqi
    Yet none quenched thirst with venom your way
    I concede sunlight scarred you
    Yet the flame should have burned till night gave way

    I wonder why you smile in your death
    Everyone knows but no one will say
    Countless complaints, futile charges
    yet no one dare look into your eyes today

    Every morning there was a knock on your door
    Yet no one disturbs your slumber today
    Everyone raises your bier so effortlessly
    Yet no one suffered your tenderness this way

  • Post Your Comment..

    Threaded commenting powered by interconnect/it code.