On Jalib's Birthday: Dastoor

Dastoor can many things – constitution,  custom, customary law, tradition.   This beautiful poem by Habib Jalib is Pakistan’s real national anthem for we have been fighting for our rights forever.  It thrilled a generation when it was recited during Fatima Jinnah’s election campaigns against dictator Ayub.   It then thrilled another generation against Zia and for me personally this was the anthem of protest against General Musharraf’s dictatorship.   Now this is the anthem once again as Pakistan breaks out in spontaneous protest.    Today is Jalib’s 81st Birthday.  Today we celebrate Jalib again and are guided by his immutable poetry.  -Yasser Latif Hamdani

deep jis ka mehalaat hi meiN jaley
chand logoN ki khushiyoN ko ley kar chaley
woh jo sa’iy meiN har maslahat ke paley
aisey dastoor ko, subhe-be-noor ko
meiN nahiN maanta, meiN nahiN jaanta

meiN bhi kha’if nahiN takhta-e-daar sey
meiN bhi Mansoor hooN keh do alyaar sey
kyooN Darratey ho zindaaN ki deewar sey
zulm ki baat ko, dil ki raat ko
meiN nahiN manta, meiN nahiN janta

phool shakhooN pey khilney lagey, tum kaho
jaam rindoN ko milney lagey, tum kaho
chaak seenoN key silney lagey, tum kaho
is khulley jhooT ko, zehn ki looT ko
meiN nahiN manta, meiN nahiN janta

tum ney looTa hey sadiyooN humara sakoon
ab na hum per chaley ga tumhara qasoom
chaaragar dard-mandoN key bantey ho kyooN
tum nahiN chaaragar koi maney, magar…
meiN nahiN manta, meiN nahiN janta

The light which shines only in palaces
Burns up the joy of the people in the shadows
Derives its strength from others’ weakness
That kind of system,
like dawn without light
I refuse to acknowledge,
I refuse to accept

I am not afraid of execution,
Tell the world that I am the martyr
How can you frighten me with prison walls?
This overhanging doom,
this night of ignorance,
I refuse to acknowledge,
I refuse to accept

“Flowers are budding on branches”, that’s what you say,
“Every cup overflows”, that’s what you say,
“Wounds are healing themselves”, that’s what you say,
These bare-faces lies,
this insult to the intelligence,
I refuse to acknowledge,
I refuse to accept

For centuries you have all stolen our peace of mind
But your power over us is coming to an end
Why do you pretend you can cure pain?
Even if some claim that you’ve healed them,
I refuse to acknowledge,
I refuse to accept.  

 (Translation courtesy http://sanasaleem.com/2008/10/16/habib-jalibs-dastoor-main-nahin-manta/)