ASAD - 48

Originally posted on rec.music.indian.misc in 1995

Allow me to present a few Shers today, instead of just one. The reason is that, although all these Shers are very well known, the correct name of their creators may not be known to everybody. This will also serve an additional purpose of giving the correct version of the Sher. (As far as my sources are concerned.)

A common thing about all these Shers is, they have almost become popular 'muhavara's, or idioms. They are used frequently in speech, in movies and in songs too. I am attaching a few questions to the Shers. Consider this as a quiz too :-), where the answers are not known to me. :-) :-)

1.
sarfaroshi = aatmabalidaan
baazu-e-qaatil = qaatil ki baahoN me

sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil me hai
dekhanaa hai, zor kitanaa, baazu-e-qaatil me hai
- Bismil

Q: In which movie has this been taken ?

2.
ham aah bhi karate haiN, to ho jaate haiN badanaam
wo qatl bhi karate haiN, to charcha nahiN hota
- Akbar Ilahabadi

The Shayar Akbar Ilahabadi, was a contemporary of Iqbal.

Q : Who has mentioned this Sher a few days back on RMIM ? :-)

Note that, the following Shers speak a lot about the styles of the Shayars. You can try to
guess the name of the Shayar from the Sher. Of course, this depends on whether you
remember previous articles :-) I am giving the names at the end. Just another little quiz
for you :-)

3.
ibtidaa-e-ishq = begining of love

ibtidaa-e-ishq hai, rota hai kya
aage aage dekhiye, hota hai kya

Q : Which Mukesh song has a similar 'mukhada' to this one ?

4.
mudda'i = opponent

mudda'i laakh bura chaahe to kya hota hai
wahi hota hai, jo manzure-KHuda hota hai

Q : This has also been taken into a song, right ? Which one ?

5.
lutf-e-mai = sharab ka mazaa
zaahid = orthodox/pios

lutf-e-mai, tujh se kya kahuN zaahid
haay KambaKHt ! tune pi hi nahiN

Here are the name of the Shayars.
3rd is by of course Mir Taqi Mir, 4th is again of course by Iqbal, and the last is by Daag Dehalvi.

There are many more famous Shers, not all can be included in one post. And as I have said before, I do not know answers to all the questions. Asking questions is my job, answers are to be provided by the Gurus. :-)

- Abhay.
ASAD _also_ stands for "A Sher A Day" !