ROZ EK SHER

बहुत कुछ पाँव फैलाकर भी देखा 'शाद' दुनिया में,
मगर आख़िर जगह हमने न दो गज़ के सिवा पायी
~ शाद अज़ीमाबादी

بہت کچھ پہنو پھیلاکر بھی دیکھا 'شاد' دنیا میں
مگر آخر جگہ ہمنے ن دو گز کے سوا پیی
~ شاد عزیمبادی

bahut kucch paanv phailaakar bhii dekhaa 'Shad' duniyaa mein
magar aakhir jagah hamne na do gaz ke sivaa paayii
~ Shad Azimabadi

I tried to grab as much as I could in this world, o Shad.
But ultimately, I could only acquire the two yards it took to bury my coffin.

_______

Book of the day

RADHA MADHAV RANG RANGI
A Hindi Commentary on Jayadeva's Gita Govinda
Sanskrit text + Hindi gloss
Sanskrit text by Jayadeva
Hindi gloss by Pt. Vidyanivas Mishra
2005     22 cm x 14 cm     176 pages
Hardcover     US $ 5

ROZ EK SHER

हम ही उसके इश्क़ के काबिल न थे
क्यों किसी ज़ालिम का शिकवा कीजिए

ہم ہی اسکے عشق کے قابل نہ تھے
کیوں کِسی ظالم کا شکوہ کیجئے

ham hii uske ishq ke qaabil na the
kyun kisii zaalim kaa shikwa kiijiye

I was not worthy of her love.
Why complain of her tyranny?

______

Book of the day

SHRAMANA VIDYA
Samkaya Patrika Volume 3
Edited by Prof Brahmadev Narayan Sharma
Sampurnananda Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya, Varanasi
2000     240 x 17 cm     500 pages
Hardcover     US $ 10

ROZ EK SHER

हाल बाक़ी न रहा कुछ तिरे दीवाने का
अब तो ज़ंजीर ही ज़ंजीर नज़र आती है
~ जलील मानकपुरी

حال باقی نہ رہا کچھ تیرے دیوانے کا
اب تو زنجیر ہی زنجیر نظر آتی ہے
~ جلیل ماناکپُری

haal baaqii na rahaa kuchh tire diivaane kaa
ab to zanjiir hii zanjiir nazar aatii hai
~ Jalil Manakpuri

Your lover has destroyed himself,
All that can be seen is the chains he is bound in.
__________

Book of the day

SVARUPA SAMBODHANA
Addressing the Self
Sanskrit + Hindi
By Acarya Akalanka
Sanskrit text + Hindi translation and commentary
Hindi translation and commentary by Acarya Vishuddhasagara
Edited by Prof. Dr. Vrishabh Prasad Jain
2009     24 x 19 cm     262 pages
Hardcover     US $ 5

 

ROZ EK SHER

For my father Mr Yashodhar Modi on his 76th birthday.

 

फूलों को मैं बिछाऊँ कहाँ है मेरी बिसात

कांटे उठा लिए हैं मगर तेरी राह से

~ अल्लाह मेहर शाहिद

 

پھولوں کو میں بچھعوں کہاں ہے میری بساط

کانٹے اٹھا لئے ہیں مگر ترے راہ سے

~ الله مہر شاہد

 

phuulon ko main bichhaauun kahaan hai merii bisaat

kaante uthaa liye hain magar terii raah se

~ Allah Mehar Shahid

 

It is beyond my capacity to lay flowers on your path,

But I have removed all the thorns from there.

 

________

 

Daddy has not only removed all the thorns from our path, but also laid flowers on them!

 

love,

Manish, Richa, Nirupama

Divya, Samyak and Amartya

 

18 November is special because other close friends were also born on this day.
Mr Bal Patil, who turns 77 today
Mr Satyanarayana Hegde, who turns 38
Mr Sandesh Mundekar, who turns 21

I want to wish all these birthday boys a very happy and very special birthday.
M

ROZ EK SHER

जिंदगानी तवील थी लेकिन मौत के इंतज़ार में गुज़री
जो भी गुज़री बुरी भली सानी आपके इंतज़ार में गुज़री
~ ज़रीना सानी

زندگانی تاویل تھے لیکن موت کے انتظار میں گزرے
جو بھی گزرے بڑے بھلی سانی آپکے انتظار میں گزرے
~ زرینہ سانی

zindagaanii taviil thii lekin maut ke intazaar mein guzarii
jo bhii guzarii burii bhalii Sani, aapke intazaar mein guzarii
~ Zarina Sani

Life was long, but was spent waiting for death.
However it was, it was spent waiting for you o Sani.

__________

ROZ EK SHER

मेरी दावत प् वो फ़रमाते हैं - लो और सुनो
तुमने देखा है कभी हम कहीं मेहमान गए?
~ रफ़अत

میرے دعوت پ وو فرماتے ہیں - لو اور سنو
تھمنے دیکھا ہے کبھی ہم کہیں مہمان گئے
~ رفعت

merii daavat p vo farmaate hain - lo aur suno
tumne dekhaa hai kabhii ham kahiin mehmaan gaye?
~ Rafat

On my invitation he says - Listen to you!
Have you ever seen me go anywhere as a guest?

_________

Book of the day

THE BASIC THOUGHT OF BHAGAVAN MAHAVIR
By Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
English translation by G F Burhanpurkar

Edited by Axel Järvengren and Peter William-Olsson Berglin

First English edition published in 2003.

Eight revised edition 2009

Published by Hindi Granth Karyalay, Mumbai
2009     220 x 140 mm     32 pages

ISBN 978-81-88769-43-8     Paperback     Rs. 20

ROZ EK SHER

काम क्रोध परहर पर निंदा
लब लोभ तज हो निचिंदा
~ आदि ग्रन्थ

ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਪਰਹਰੁ ਪਰ ਨਿੰਦਾ
ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਤਾਜੀ ਹੋਹੁ ਨਿਚਿੰਦਾ
~ ਆਦਿ ਗਰੰਥ

kaam krodh par har par nindaa
lab lobh taj ho nichindaa
~ Aadi Granth

Sexual desire, anger, the desire to steal from others, slander,
Greed and possessiveness; give them all up and become carefree.

________

Book of the day

ANCIENT INDIAN LITERATURE
An Anthology of the best of Sanskrit, Prakrit,
Pali, Apabhramsha, Tamil and Kannada Literature
Translated into English
Edited by TRS Sharma, CK Seshadri & June Gaur
Indology
South Asian Studies
English
Set of 3 books
2008     250 x 160 mm     2125 pages
Deluxe Hardcover Edition     US $ 25 for the set

ROZ EK SHER

हमेशा इम्तिहां का ग़म, हमेशा फ़िक्र लेक्चर की
ये कॉलेज की हसीनाएं न आशिक़ की, न शौहर की
~ हाशिम अज़ीमाबादी

ہمیشہ امتحاں کا غم ہمیشہ فکر لیکچر کی
یہ کالج کی حسیناےیں نہ عاشق کی نہ شہر کی
~ ہاشم عزیمبادی

hameshaa imtihaan kaa gham, hameshaa fikr lecture kii
ye college kii hasiinaayein na aashiq kii, na shauhar kii
~ Hashim Azimabadi

Always worried about exams, always concerned with lectures,
These college beauties belong to neither lover nor husband.

___________

Book of the day

HINDUSTAN AUR PAKISTAN KI BEHTARIN URDU HASYA-VYANGYA SHAAYARI
A Compilation of the Best Humorous Urdu Poetry from India and Pakistan
Compiled and edited by TN Raz
2009     220 x 140 mm     312 pages
Hardcover     Rs. 395

ROZ EK SHER

जो भले हैं वो बुरों को भी भला कहते हैं
न बुरा सुनते हैं अच्छे, न बुरा कहते हैं
~ ग़ालिब

جو بھلے ہیں وو بروں کو بھی بھلا کہتے ہیں
ن برا سنتے ہیں، ن اچّھے، ن برا کہتے ہیں
~ غالب

jo bhale hain, vo buron ko bhiii bhalaa kahte hain,
na buraa sunte hain acche, na buraa kahte hain
~ Ghalib

Those who are good, call even the bad ones good.
They neither listen to bad things, nor say bad things.

_________

Book of the day

THE BASIC THOUGHT OF BHAGAVAN MAHAVIR
By Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
English translation by G F Burhanpurkar

Edited by Axel Järvengren and Peter William-Olsson Berglin

First English edition published in 2003.

Eight revised edition 2009

Published by Hindi Granth Karyalay, Mumbai
2009     220 x 140 mm     32 pages

978-81-88769-43-8     Paperback     Rs. 20

On Svatantrya Divas

NAMO VITARAGAYA

Jay Jinendra


वन्दे मातरम्   Vande Mataram!

आज लपेट दो सारे झण्डे और रख दो इक कोने में
एक नया झण्डा रँगना है अपने रक्त सलोने में
आज लपेट दो सारे झण्डे और रख दो इक कोने में

यह झण्डा न इसका होगा न उसका कहलायेगा
जिसको भी है प्यार वतन से वही इसे उठायेगा
दुश्मन पर टूटेगा तो यह बिजली बनकर कड़केगा
अपनों पर छायेगा तो सुख का बादल बन जायेगा
आओ वक़्त गँवाओ ना आपस के रोने धोने में

आज लपेट दो सारे झण्डे और रख दो इक कोने में
एक नया झण्डा रँगना है अपने रक्त सलोने में
आज लपेट दो सारे झण्डे और रख दो इक कोने में
~ प्रेम धवन


aaj lapet do saare jhande aur rakh do ik kone mein
ek nayaa jhandaa rangnaa hai apne rakt salone mein
aaj lapet do saare jhande aur rakh do ik kone mein

yeh jhandaa na iskaa hai, na uskaa kahlaayegaa
jisko bhii hai pyaar vatan se vahii ise uthaayegaa
dushman par tuutegaa to yeh bijlii bankar kadkegaa
apnon par chhaayegaa to sukh kaa baadal ban jaayegaa
aao, vaqt ganvaao na aapas ke rone dhone mein

aaj lapet do saare jhande aur rakh do ik kone mein
ek nayaa jhandaa rangnaa hai apne rakt salone mein
aaj lapet do saare jhande aur rakh do ik kone mein
~ Prem Dhavan


Today, fold up all your flags and place them in a corner,
For we have to prepare a new flag, coloured by our blood.
Today, fold up all your flags and place them in a corner.

This flag will belong to neither this community nor that.
All those who love this nation will hold it aloft.
At the enemy, it will attack like a bolt of lightning,
But will turn into a cloud of bliss for our own people.
So come here, waste not your time in petty quarrel!

Today, fold up all your flags and place them in a corner,
For we have to prepare a new flag, coloured by our blood.
Today, fold up all your flags and place them in a corner.

ROZ EK SHER

रो रहे हैं दोस्त मेरी लाश पे बेअख़्तियार
ये नहीं दरियाफ़्त करते किसने इनकी जान ली

ro rahe hain dost merii laash pe beakhtiyaar
ye nahiin dariyaaft karte kisne inkii jaan lii

My friends are crying helplessly over my dead body,
Instead of finding out who murdered me.

Sher contributed by Vijayalakshmi Modi

_________


Book of the day

HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN INDIA
A Cultural Psychiatry Retrospective
By Horacio Fabrega Jr.
Indian Medical Tradition, Vol. 10
2009     245 x 165 mm     743 pages
Hardcover     Rs. 1695

ROZ EK SHER

वक़्त के साथ बदलना तो बहुत आसाँ था
मुझसे हर लम्हा मुख़ातिब रही ग़ैरत मेरी
~ अमीर क़ज़लबाश

waqt ke saath badalnaa to bahut aasaan thaa
mujhse har har lamhaa mukhaatib rahii ghairat merii
~ Amir Qazalbash

Changing with the times was very easy
But each moment, I had to confront my pride

_________

Books of the day


HISTORY OF CIVILISATIONS OF CENTRAL ASIA

Rs. 1800 Vol. 1 The Dawn of Civilisation {Earliest Times - 700 BCE}

Rs. 1800 Vol. 2 The Development of Sedentary and Nomadic
Civilisation {700 BCE - 250 CE}

Rs. 1800 Vol. 3 The Crossroads of Civilisations {250 - 750 CE}

Rs. 3600 Vol. 4 The Achievements {750 - 1500 CE} (Set of 2 books)

Rs. 1800 Vol. 5 Development in Contrast {1501 - 1850 CE}
========
Rs.10800 for the set. Postage free in India
========

ROZ EK SHER

हाथों की लकीरों में ही जब न हो वजूद किसी का
जोड़ें भी तो जोड़ें तक़दीरें कोई कैसे?
- मुन्तज़िर

haathon kii lakiiron mein hii jab na ho vajuud kisii kaa
jodein bhii to jodein taqdiirein koii kaise?
- Muntazir

When destiny does not will it,
How can I connect our lives?

Sher contributed by Muntazir

__________


Book of the day


BUSINESS ETHICS
The Right Way to Riches
By Prof. Arthur Dobrin
Published by Hindi Granth Karyalay
First edition 2007
Third Revised edition 2009
220 x 140 mm     148 pages
978-81-88769-26-1     Paperback     Rs. 200

ROZ EK SHER

दिल की ज़िद इसलिये रख ली कि आ जाये क़रार
कल ये कुछ और कहेगा ये मुझे मालूम न था
~ आरज़ू लखनवी

dil kii zid isliye rakh lii thii ki aa jaaye qaraar
kal ye kuchh aur kahegaa ye mujhe maaluum na thaa
~ Arzu Lakhnavi

I had followed my heart's insistence, to get some respite.
I did not know that it would change its tune the next day

Sher contributed by Vijayalakshmi Modi

________


Book of the day

BUSINESS ETHICS
The Right Way to Riches
By Prof. Arthur Dobrin
Published by Hindi Granth Karyalay
2009     220 x 140 mm     148 pages
978-81-88769-26-1     Paperback     Rs. 200

ROZ EK SHER

वो फ़िराक़ और वो विसाल कहाँ
वो शबो-रोज़ो-माहो-साल कहाँ
- ग़ालिब

vo firaaq aur vo visaal kahaan
vo shabo-rozo-maaho-saal kahaan
- Ghalib

Where is that separation, that coming together..
Where are those nights, days, months and years?

Sher contributed by Samyak Modi

____________

Book of the day

URDU - HINDI KOSH
A Dictionary of Urdu - Hindi, printed in Devanagari
Ed. by Acarya Ramacandra Varmma
First published in 1936
19th edition, 2007
Urdu
Hindi
Dictionary
Devanagari script
2007 220 mm x 140 mm 360 pages
Hardcover Rs. 150