A unique Urdu nazm: Alif ki Khudkushi

The followin verse 'Alif ki Khudkushi' is now remembered as one of the finest verses in modernist urdu poetry. It will need some patience to read it but has an unparalleled dramatic impact.

Alif ki Khudkushi

Jalti bujhti roshniyon mein saaya saaya jalta tha
Saara kamra whisky aur cigarette kii boo mein dooba tha
Ubal raha tha zahar ragon mein, maut ka nasha chhaya tha
Sara manzar nuqta nuqta, muhmal sa lagta tha
Shayad kuchh din pahle tak yah koi bhoot basera tha
'Alif' nihattha...'Jeem' nihatthi...saare bay-hathiyar
Apne mulk aur apni qaum ke murda pahredaar

'Jeem' ne saare rang utaare
Aur qahqaha maar ke garji
Hai koi daavedaar
Saare jaam utha kar cheekhe, tere ek hazaar!
'Jeem' andheron se baahar aayee, kiya Alif par waar
Baap tera maqrooz tha, mera qarz utaar
Aar-paar sab saaye gum, bhoot bane darwaze
Pret Aatmaon ki soorat khadi hui deewarein
Gahree--apaar khamoshi--gahri athaah apaar
Bay-awaaz andhere barse, barse moosladhar
Bijli ban kar kaundh rahe the yahi shabd, 'baap tera maqrooz tha mera'

Ek Anokhi khabar chhapi hai shahar ke sab akhbaron mein
Sab dukanein band padi hain koi nahin bazaaron mein
Saaen Saaen loo chalti hai, mitti mitti mausam hai
Aaj Alif ke jal marne par duniya bhar mein maatam hai

Jalti bujhti roshniyon mein saya saya jalta hai
Ubal raha hai zahar ragon mein maut ka nasha chhaya hai
Sara manzar nuqta nuqta mohmal mohmal lagta hai
Elipena sach kahta tha; Yeh koi bhoot basera hai.

(Kumar Pashi, was amongst the few remaining non-Muslim poets in the movement of modernist poetry as Urdu was increasing becoming a Muslim language in India after the decades of 70s and few Hindu or Sikh poets came after this generation).