Karwaa Gujar Gaya Ghubaar Dekhte Rahein

 Karwaa Gujar Gaya Ghubaar Dekhte Rahein

After Independence there was an expectation among the youth about opportunities being created. But like most dreams these aspirations were not fulfilled. The 1966 film Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal was about such unfulfilled aspitrations. This song is about the disappointments and hopelessness felt by the protoganist. Sung by Mohammed Rafi, penned by Gopaldas Saxena (Neeraj) and set to tune by Roshan, it sums up story of the film of how a lot could have been accomplished, but…. India as nation was then still in its teens and the populace aspired for progress. The story starts with a bright student with stars in his eyes seeing immense potential for improvement of India. He leaves college and joins politics but is used by politicians for their own petty gains. By the time he realizes this, its too late.

 

The film bombed at the box office. At that time, people did not want any negativity about India. The movie was against the aspirations of the nation. The कारवाँ (caravan) in the poem is a metaphor for youth and time (ज़िन्दगी). It has to be read in that context. I have tried to capture the essence of the words while maintaining rhyme scheme in my English translation below.

 

The song can be heard on the following link

https://youtu.be/75mB-zadZgI

 



स्वप्न झरे फूल से, मीत चुभे शूल से
लुट गये सिंगार सभी बाग़ के बबूल से
और हम खड़े-खड़े बहार देखते रहे
कारवाँ गुज़र गया गुबार देखते रहे…

Dreams fell like wilted flowers and friends pricked like thorns,
Shorn of its finery, the garden took Acacia forms

Helplessly I remained mute and watched the passing of spring

The caravan had already passed, billowing dust was all of mine

 

नींद भी खुली न थी के हाय धूप ढल गई
पाँव जब तलक उठे के ज़िन्दगी फिसल गई
पात-पात झर गए के शाख़-शाख़ जल गई
चाह तो निकल सकी न पर उमर निकल गई
पर उमर निकल गई…

गीत अश्क बन गए स्वप्न हो दफन गए
साथ के सभी दीये धुआँ पहन-पहन गए
और हम झुके-झुके मोड़ पर रुके-रुके
उम्र के चढ़ाव का उतार देखते रहे…

कारवाँ गुज़र गया गुबार देखते रहे…

Before I woke up, darkness held sway

Before my feet could get a grip, life slipped away

Every leaf fell away, and branches were burnt

Desires remained unfulfilled as life bore the brunt

My songs mourned and dreams lay buried,

Light left in smoke as the lamps sat wearied.

And I just waited, bent and broken

Watching my life ebb and slacken

The caravan had already passed, billowing dust was all of mine

क्या शबाब था के फूल-फूल प्यार कर उठा
क्या कमाल था के देख आइना सिहर उठा
इस तरफ़ ज़मीन और आसमाँ उधर उठा
थाम कर ज़िगर उठा के जो मिला नज़र उठा
जो मिला नज़र उठा…

एक दिन मगर यहाँ ऐसी कुछ हवा चली
लुट गई कली-कली के घुट गई गली-गली
और हम लुटे-लुटे वक्त से पिटे-पिटे
साँझ की शराब का ख़ुमार देखते रहे
कारवाँ गुज़र गया गुबार देखते रहे…

With flowers in love, and blooming prime

Charmed as it was the mirror too lost its mind

The earth and the sky for me were pie

I was awed I was loved in everyones eye

Then one day, the wind turned around

Choking the flowers and destroying the ground

And I just stood watching, robbed and beaten

Shamelessly drinking my evening wine

The caravan had already passed, billowing dust was all mine

हाथ थे मिले के ज़ुल्फ चाँद की सँवार दूँ
होंठ थे खुले के हर बहार को पुकार दूँ
दर्द था दिया गया के हर दु:खी को प्यार दूँ
और साँस यूँ के स्वर्ग भूमी पर उतार दूँ
भूमी पर उतार दूँ…

हो सका न कुछ मगर शाम बन गई सहर
वो उठी लहर के ढह गये किले बिख़र-बिख़र
और हम डरे-डरे नीर नैन में भरे
ओढ़कर कफ़न पड़े मज़ार देखते रहे

कारवाँ गुज़र गया गुबार देखते रहे…

I had the strength to caress the moonlight,
My lips could call the spring quickly into sight,
I had the heart to spread love to the ones that are hurt

Kiss of my breath could bring heaven on earth.
But nothing materialized, and dawn became dusk,
The waves of time wrecked my fort off my pride.
And I with welled eyes and scared to death

Yet saw helplessly my tomb being laid

The caravan had already passed, the billowing dust was mine

माँग भर चली के एक जब नई-नई किरन
ढोलकें धुनक उठीं ठुमक उठे चरन-चरन
शोर मच गया के लो चली दुल्हन, चली दुल्हन
गाँव सब उमड़ पड़ा बहक उठे नयन-नयन
बहक उठे नयन-नयन…

पर तभी ज़हर भरी गाज़ एक वह गिरी
पुँछ गया सिंदूर तार-तार हुई चूनरी
और हम अजान से दूर के मकान से
पालकी लिये हुए कहार देखते रहे
कारवाँ गुज़र गया गुबार देखते रहे…

A new ray entered my life with the freshness of a bride
And feet that danced to her rhythm by the side
With hope filled eyes the village too joined

In anticipation to watch the bride
Just then lightning struck with all its poisoned might

Messing the colours and tearing the finery of the night

And I watched like a meek stranger from a house far away,
As the bearers took the bridal palanquin away

The caravan had already passed, the billowing dust was mine

स्वप्न झरे फूल से, मीत चुभे शूल से
लुट गये सिंगार सभी बाग़ के बबूल से
और हम खड़े-खड़े बहार देखते रहे
कारवाँ गुज़र गया गुबार देखते रहे…
कारवाँ गुज़र गया गुबार देखते रहे…

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