Ye Zaroori to nahi...

Ye Zaroori to nahi...

Here's one of my favourite Urdu Ghazals. Although the shers don't gel very nicely with each other, each sher is a gem in its own right. I have tried my best to translate the couplets in English without causing too much loss in translation.

Zindagi sab ko mili ho ye zaroori to nahi
Aag chaman mein bahaaren bhi laga sakti hain
Kahin bijli hi giri ho ye zaroori to nahi
(Its not necessary that everybody has got a good life
Even spring can burn down the garden
Its not necessary that the lightning has struck)

Umr jalwon mein basar ho yeh zaroori toh nahi
har shab-e-gham ki sehar ho yeh zaroori toh nahi
(Its not necessary that one's whole life is spent in the company of beautiful people
Its not necessary that every night of despair ends in a morning of happiness)

Aag ko khel patangon ne samajh rakha hai
Sabko anjaam ka dar ho ye zaroori to nahi
(The moths cosider playing with fire as a game
Its not necessary that everybody is afraid of the consequences)

Neend toh dard ke bistar pe bhi aa sakti hai
unki aaghosh mein sar ho yeh zaroori toh nahi
(One can sleep on a bed of rocks too
Its not necessary that my head is in the lap of my beloved)

Sabki saaki pe nazar ho yeh zaroori hai magar
Sab pe saaki ki nazar ho yeh zaroori to nahi
(Its necessary that everyone is looking at the bartender (object of desire!)
Its not necessary that the bartender is looking at every one)

Sheikh karta toh hai masjid mein khuda ko sajde
Uske sajdon mein asar ho yeh zaroori toh nahi
(The priest prays to God in the mosque
Its not necessary that his prayers will come true)

Aap roye meri mayyat mein itna kaafi hai
Sabki aankhon mein namee ho ye zaroori to nahi
(I am content that you cried at my funeral
Its not necessary that everyone has tears in their eyes)

Courtesy: Some good humanbeing on Indiatimes.