In the kaleidoscope of Urdu poetry, human rights shimmer with a poignant and magical light. Words, like brushstrokes on the canvas of human suffering, paint evocative images of injustice and yearning for a more equitable world. Mirz Jafar Zatalli’s heartbroken verse, “Khoon-e-nahaq se har taraf gulzar hai khiltaa, kis ke hathon hai mazalim ka daaman, batao?” (Blood innocuously spilled paints blooms everywhere, in whose hands lie the reins of cruelty, tell me?), penned over 130 years ago, still echoes with the urgency of a fresh wound. The pain of unfulfilled basic rights bleeds through even the most celebratory stanzas.
Buniyadi Insani Haqooq Pe Best Urdu Shayari
karāhte hue insān kī sadā ham haiñ
maiñ sochtā huuñ mirī jaan aur kyā ham haiñ
tabāhiyoñ ko muqaddar samajh ke haiñ ḳhāmosh
hamārā ġham na karo dard-e-lā-davā ham haiñ
kahāñ nigah se guzarte haiñ dukh bhare dihāt
hasīn shahroñ ke hī ġham meñ mubtalā ham haiñ
HukmiraaN Hogaye Kameenay Log
Khaak Me Mil Gaye Ngeenay Log
JALIB
Mere Haath Me Qalam Hy ,
Mere Zeshan Me Ujaala
Mujhe Kya Dabaa Skega Koi
Zulmato ka Paala rakhiye bahut
KHayaal huquuq-ul-ibaad kaa
denaa pa.Degaa haq
vahaa.n sab kaa hisaab se
SHAYAN QURAISHI
sipurd kar diye saare huquuq rahzan ko
ye kis zaliil ko rahbar samajh liyaa ham ne
MASHKOOR MAMNOON QANNAUJI
2 Lines Status Urdu Poetry on Human Rights
sab ke huquuq kuchh na kuchh hai.n qarz merii zaat par
kaise chukaa.uu.ngaa vahaa.n itne udhaar ho ga.e
EHTISHAM UL HAQ SIDDIQUI
la.Dii hai jang zamaane se umr-bhar mai.n ne
kabhii huquuq kii KHaatir kabhii baqaa ke liye
ZAHEER NASHAD DARBHANGWI
vo kyaa la.De.nge hamaare huquuq kii KHaatir
jo log kaasa-e-darvesh tak nahii.n bharte
SAYYAD MUSA KAZIM
qaliil aap nahii.n aur ham kasiir nahii.n
huquuq sab ke hai.n yaksaa.n ko.ii haqiir nahii.n
MOHAMMAD HABEEB HABEEB
har tanz kiyā jaa.e har ik ta.ana diyā jaa.e
kuchh bhī ho par ab hadd-e-adab meñ na rahā jaa.e
tārīḳh ne qaumoñ ko diyā hai yahī paiġhām
haq māñgnā tauhīn hai haq chhīn liyā jaa.e
Jaun Elia
Freedom and Women Rights in Urdu Ghazal
Across the border, in the throes of partition in 1947, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, in his ghazal titled “Subh-e-Azadi” (Dawn of Freedom), poignantly asks, “Har ik shabnam ke daman mein hai ik aag ka dariya, kis ke anchal mein hai ye bijliyan, batao?” (A river of fire boils in every dewdrop, whose veil holds these lightning bolts, tell me?). His words, recited at countless mushairas during that tumultuous time, captured the paradoxical reality of a newfound nation grappling with the scars of inequality. Even today, these verses resonate with millions across India and Pakistan, a testament to the universality of the human longing for dignity and justice.
Urdu poetry isn’t just a lament for lost rights; it’s also a fierce battle cry for change. Feminist poets like Fahmida Riaz, with her collection “Dast-e-Saba” (Hand of the Zephyr), have used the ghazal form to challenge societal norms and champion women’s rights. Her lines, “Meri zindagi meri qismati mera faisla, ye mera haq hai, mujhe de do” (My life, my fate, my decision, this is my right, grant it to me) ring with defiance, demanding an end to the systemic oppression of women. And in doing so, these verses pave the way for a future where equality isn’t just a dream, but a tangible reality.
Conclusion
Urdu poetry, with its timeless melodies and resonant emotions, stands as a powerful advocate for human rights. From the heart-wrenching verses of Zatalli to the defiant lines of Riaz, each word becomes a thread in the tapestry of human struggle, weaving together stories of loss, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of a world where every life is valued and every right respected. So, delve into the enchanted world of Urdu poetry, and you might just find yourself joining the chorus of voices demanding a dawn where justice truly rises for all.sharemore_vertadd_photo_alternate