سمندر چھوڑ آئے کوہ و دریا چھوڑ آئے ہیں
Samundar Chhor Aaye Koh-o-Darya Chhor Aaye Hain
We Have Left the Ocean; We Have Left the Mountains and Rivers Behind
اشفاق حسین
سمندر چھوڑ آئے کوہ و دریا چھوڑ آئے ہیں نئی دنیا کی خاطر ایک دنیا چھوڑ آئے ہیں
समंदर छोड़ आये कोह-ओ-दरिया छोड़ आये हैं नई दुनिया की ख़ातिर एक दुनिया छोड़ आये हैं
Samundar chhor aaye koh-o-darya chhor aaye hain Nayi duniya ki khatir ek duniya chhor aaye hain
We have left behind the ocean; we have left behind the mountains and rivers. For the sake of a new world, we have left a whole world behind.
پہن کر ہم لباسِ اجنبیت کس طرف جائیں کہ ہم اپنا بدن لائے ہیں چہرہ چھوڑ آئے ہیں
पहन कर हम लिबास-ए-अजनबियत किस तरफ़ जाएं कि हम अपना बदन लाये हैं चेहरा छोड़ आये हैं
Pehan kar hum libaas-e-ajnabiyat kis taraf jayein Ke hum apna badan laaye hain chehra chhor aaye hain
Wearing the garment of strangeness, in which direction should we go? For we have brought our bodies here, but we have left our faces (identities) behind.
📖Poetic Context & Meaning
This profound ghazal by Ashfaq Hussain captures the essence of migration and the existential crisis of identity that follows. Written with deep emotional resonance, it speaks to the universal experience of those who leave their homeland.
Sher 1 - The Physical Act of Migration:
The poet describes the physical act of migration by listing the grand elements of nature—ocean, mountains, rivers—to symbolize the homeland. These aren't just geographical features; they represent the totality of one's roots, memories, and belonging. The second line explains the motivation: the pursuit of a 'new world' (opportunities, safety, or a future) required the abandonment of their entire 'old world.'
Sher 2 - The Crisis of Identity:
This verse deals with the psychological aftermath of migration: the crisis of identity. 'Libaas-e-ajnabiyat' (garment of strangeness) suggests feeling like an alien or outsider in the new land. The metaphor of bringing the 'body' but leaving the 'face' is profoundly powerful—it implies that while they are physically present in the new land, their true identity, recognition, and soul remain back in their homeland. The face represents not just physical appearance but one's entire sense of self and belonging.