Candle in the Storm

Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai

Karta nahin kyun doosra kuch baat-cheet
Dekhta hun main jise woh chup teri mehfil mein hai
Aye shaheed-e-mulk-o-millat main tere oopar nisaar
Ab teri himmat ka charcha ghair ki mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Waqt aanay dey bata denge tujhe aye aasman
Hum abhi se kya batayen kya hamare dil mein hai
Khainch kar layee hai sab ko qatl hone ki ummeed
Aashiqon ka aaj jumghat koocha-e-qaatil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Hai liye hathiyaar dushman taak mein baitha udhar
Aur hum taiyyaar hain seena liye apna idhar
Khoon se khelenge holi gar vatan muskhil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Haath jin mein ho junoon katt te nahi talvaar se
Sar jo uth jaate hain voh jhukte nahi lalkaar se
Aur bhadkega jo shola-sa humaare dil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Hum to ghar se nikle hi the baandhkar sar pe kafan
Jaan hatheli par liye lo bhar chale hain ye qadam
Zindagi to apni mehmaan maut ki mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Yuun khadaa maqtal mein qaatil kah rahaa hai baar baar
Kya tamannaa-e-shahaadat bhi kisee ke dil mein hai
Dil mein tuufaanon ki toli aur nason mein inqilaab
Hosh dushman ke udaa denge humein roko na aaj
Duur reh paaye jo humse dam kahaan manzil mein hai

Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai.
Dekhna hai zor kitna baazuay qaatil mein hai.

Whenever I go through these lines I am constantly reminded of the hundreds of martyrs who gave up their life for the independence of the country. The things that they did to get independence. When I talk of these martyrs then I talk of the ones who were not recognised for their effort and have been long forgotten. Theres a very famous quote probably by Ashfaqulla Khan. It says:

Shahidon ki mazaron per lageinge har baras mele,
Watan per mitne walon ka baaki namo nishan hoga,
Agar yeh samajh sake,
Toh samjhoge kyun maine hai kurban hona sikha,
Kyun maine hai kurban hona sikha.

These lines send a chill down my spine. I am actually appalled as to how noone cares about them any more. I share similar kind of sentiment as these martyrs and similar kind of love for my country. But its really sad to see people around me who couldn't care less. They are just worried about their salary and ways to increase it. But its not their fault as well. All of us have actually inherited freedom and have every right to take it for granted.

Me, how can I turn a blind eye to things that are so wrong. Corruption has infested every level of the infrastructure of our country. Who will free it from this cancer. No one is willing to move forward and try to make a difference. They all call the bureaucracy and politics a gutter but no one wants to clean it, simply denying the fact that somehow somewhere they themselves, all of us, are responsible for the state the country is in.

Its simply disheartening at times to move in a direction where no one accompanies you. But then I try to remember these martyrs and this encourages me that they(the martyrs) will always be there in spirit with me. I am actually encouraged by the extreme love that these people felt for the country, something that I have started feeling more and more as i try to move towards my goal.

Jai Hind!