umr guzregī imtihān meñ kyā
This ghazal by Jaun Elia explores themes of existential reflection, societal norms, and personal introspection. The poet questions the purpose of life, expressing a sense of futility and isolation. He wonders if life is merely a series of tests and if the only rewards are scars. The poet reflects on his own ineffectiveness in communication, pondering if there is a flaw in his expression. He feels unnoticed and questions the familial bonds that seem indifferent. The poem also touches on the pride of the impoverished, who hide their deprivations. The poet's self-reflection leads him to question his separation from the world and the thoughts that occupy his mind. The imagery of a closed shop of sight and a dust-laden breeze evokes a sense of stagnation and decay. Throughout the ghazal, Jaun Elia uses rhetorical questions to convey his inner turmoil and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent world.
| Word | Easy Meaning | Translation | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| umr | عمر | age | umr |
| guzregī | گزرے گی | will go by | guzregi |
| imtihān | آزمائش | examination | imtihan |
| meñ | میں | in | mein |
| kyā | کیا | what | kya |
| daaġh | داغ | scars | daagh |
| hī | ہی | only | hi |
| deñge | دیں گے | will give | denge |
| mujh | مجھ | me | mujh |
| ko | کو | to | ko |
| daan | خیرات | gift | daan |
| merī | میری | my | meri |
| har | ہر | every | har |
| baat | بات | word | baat |
| be-asar | بے اثر | ineffective | be-asar |
| rahī | رہی | is | rahi |
| nuqs | نقص | flaw | nuqs |
| hai | ہے | is | hai |
| kuchh | کچھ | some | kuchh |
| mire | میرے | my | mire |
| bayān | بیان | expression | bayan |
| Toktā | روکتا | stops | Tokta |
| nahīñ | نہیں | not | nahin |
| yahī | یہی | this | yahi |
| hotā | ہوتا | happens | hota |
| ḳhāndān | خاندان | family | khandan |
| apnī | اپنی | our | apni |
| mahrūmiyāñ | محرومیاں | deprivations | mahrumiyan |
| chhupāte | چھپاتے | hide | chhupate |
| haiñ | ہیں | are | hain |
| ham | ہم | we | ham |
| ġharīboñ | غریبوں | poor | gharibon |
| kī | کی | of | ki |
| ān-bān | شان | dignity | aan-baan |
| ḳhud | خود | self | khud |
| jaanā | جانا | considered | jana |
| judā | جدا | separate | juda |
| zamāne | زمانے | world | zamane |
| se | سے | from | se |
| aa | آ | coming | aa |
| gayā | گیا | gone | gaya |
| thā | تھا | was | tha |
| gumān | خیال | thought | gumaan |
| shaam | شام | evening | shaam |
| dukān-e-dīd | دکانِ نظر | shop of seeing | dukaan-e-deed |
| band | بند | closed | band |
| nuqsān | نقصان | loss | nuqsan |
| tak | تک | until | tak |
| dukān | دکان | shop | dukan |
| ai | اے | O | ai |
| sub.h-o-shām-e-dil | صبح و شامِ دل | morning and evening of the heart | subh-o-shaam-e-dil |
| shafaq | شفق | twilight | shafaq |
| tū | تو | you | tu |
| nahātī | نہاتی | bathe | nahati |
| ab | اب | now | ab |
| bhī | بھی | still | bhi |
| baan | بان | tub | baan |
| bolte | بولتے | speak | bolte |
| kyuuñ | کیوں | why | kyun |
| haq | حق | favor | haq |
| aable | آبلے | blisters | aable |
| paḌ | پڑ | appeared | pad |
| ga.e | گئے | gone | gaye |
| zabān | زبان | tongue | zaban |
| ḳhāmushī | خاموشی | silence | khamoshi |
| kah | کہ | saying | kah |
| kaan | کان | ear | kaan |
| rahā | رہا | is | raha |
| dil | دل | heart | dil |
| ki | کی | of | ki |
| aate | آتے | come | aate |
| jis | جس | who | jis |
| dhyān | دھیان | thought | dhyan |
| bahut | بہت | much | bahut |
| aatā | آتا | comes | aata |
| apne | اپنے | own | apne |
| vo | وہ | he | vo |
| mile | ملے | meet | mile |
| to | تو | then | to |
| ye | یہ | this | ye |
| pūchhnā | پوچھنا | ask | puchhna |
| mujhe | مجھے | me | mujhe |
| huuñ | ہوں | am | huun |
| maiñ | میں | I | main |
| tirī | تری | your | tiri |
| amaan | امان | protection | amaan |
| yuuñ | یوں | the way | yoon |
| jo | جو | that | jo |
| taktā | تکتا | gaze | takta |
| āsmān | آسمان | sky | aasman |
| koī | کوئی | someone | koi |
| rahtā | رہتا | live | rahta |
| nasīm-e-bahār | نسیم بہار | spring breeze | naseem-e-bahar |
| gard-ālūd | گرد آلود | dust-laden | gard-alood |
| ḳhaak | خاک | dust | khaak |
| uḌtī | اڑتی | rising | udti |
| us | اس | that | us |
| makān | مکان | house | makan |
| chain | چین | peace | chain |
| paḌtā | پڑتا | find | padta |
| ek | ایک | one | ek |
| shaḳhs | شخص | person | shakhs |
| jahān | جہان | world | jahan |
Jaun Elia was a prominent Pakistani Urdu poet, philosopher, biographer, and scholar. Born on December 14, 1931, in Amroha, India, he migrated to Pakistan in 1957. Known for his unconventional style and profound themes, Elia's poetry often explores existentialism and personal anguish.
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