The lament of a small Afghan boy

The unfortunate Afghani people have, over the years felt the brunt of the wars initiated by people of the far off lands. They have been the victims of different ideological wars and are still entangled by misery inflicted upon them by the mighty power players. Afghanistan perhapes is the most ravaged country of the world and its populace, the most devastated. Below here is the story of a 13 years old Afghan boy, which epitmozes the condition of the countless of others. Written by Zahra Nigah, one couldn't hide the moisture in one's eyes while hearing it from the great poet in a seminar at Islamabad.

Gul Badshah

Naam mera hey Gul Badshah,
Umr meri hey taira baras,
Aur kahaani meri umr ki tarha sai,
Muntashir, muntashir,
Mukhtasar, mukhtasar.
Meri be-naam, be-chehra maa'n,
Be-dawa mar gayi,
Baap nay us ko burqay may dafna diya;
Us ko darr tha kai Munkar Nakeer us ka chehra na daikhain.
Vaisai zinda thi
Jab bhi wo madfoon thi.
Baap ka naam Zartaaj Gul,
Umr battees baras.
Woh mujaahid, shahaadat ka taalib,
Raah-e-haq ka musaafir hua,
Aur jaam-e-shahaadat bhi us nai
Meirai chaacha kai haaton piya,
Jo shumaali mujaahid tha,
Aur panj-waqta namaazi bhi tha.
To masla is shahaadat ka peicheeda hai...
Is ko behtar yei hi hai, yahin chorr dein.
Ab baarhaal, baba to jannat mein hai,
Us ki baahon mein hoor-o-qusour,
Us kai haaton mein jaam-e-tahoor,
Meiri taqdeer main bum, dhamaakai, dhuwwaan,
Pigalti hui yei zameen,
Bikharta hua aasmaan.
Ba'ad az mot, wo zinda hai.
Aur zindagi muj sai sharminda hai.
Kal, sar-e-shaam, dushman nai,
Jaatai huai,
Bum kai ham-rah barsaa diyai,
Muj pai kuch zard thailai
Jin sai muj ko milai:
Gol roti kai tukrrai
Aik makkhan ki tikkya,
Aik sharbat ki botal,
Murabbai ka tippa.

Is kai badlai mein,
Woh lei gayai:
Merai bhai ka dast-e-mushaqqat,
Jis mein mannat ka dora bandha tha;
Meiri choti behn ka woh paaun,
Jis sai rang-e-hinna phootta tha.
Log kehtai hain, yeh amn ki jang hai,
Aur amn ki jang mein hamla-aawar
Sirf bacchon ko bei-dast-o-pah chorrtai hain,
Un ko bhooka nahin chorrtai.
Aakhir insaaniyat bhi koi cheez hai.
Mein dehektai pahaarron mein tanha
Apnai tarkai ki bandook thaamai kharra hoon...
Tamaasha-e-ehlai karam daikhta tha,
Tamaasha-e-ehlai karam daikhta hoon.
Naam meira hai Gul Badshah.
Umr meiri hai teira baras.