Allama Iqbal was one of the greatest writers and philosophers the Indian subcontinent has ever produced.
What makes him unique is that he is one of the few persons respected in both India and Pakistan not only by common people but also by stately authorities.
While many Indians know him because of his famous “Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara“, not many on both sides of the border are aware of his views on the caste system, Gautam Buddha and Guru Nanak.
Allama Iqbal’s Bang-e-Dara is a collection of thought-provoking poems on varied socio-political issues concerning India and the world. ,
In English, Bang-e-Dara means the call of the marching bell. Allama Iqbal wrote these deeply philosophical poems in Hindi in the early 20th century.
In this post, we have taken some couplets of Bang-e-Dara that deal with Iqbal’s insights on the oppression of the majority of Indians by a tiny minority of Brahmanical forces.
Bang-e-Dara
Qaum ne Paigham-e-Gautam ki zara Parwah na ki; Qadar na pehchani, na apne Gohar-e-Yak dana ki. Ah! Bad-Qismat rahe Aawaz-e-Haq se be-Khabar; Ghaafil apne fal ki Sheerini se hota hai Shajar. Aashkara us ne kiya jo, Zindagi ka raaz tha; Hind ko lekin, Khayali Falsafe par naaz tha. Shama-e-Haq se jo Munawwar ho, ye woh mehfil na thi; Baarish-e-Rehmat hui lekin Zameen qabil na thi. Aah! Shudra ke liye Hindustan Gam-Khana hai; Dard-e-Insani se is basti ka dil Begana hai. Brahman sarshaar hai ab tak Mae-e-Pindaar mein; Shamma-e-Gautam jal rahi hai Mehfil-e-Aghyar mein. Butkada phir baad muddat ke magar roshan hua; Noor-e-Ibraheem se azar ka ghar roshan hua. Phir uthi aakhir, sada Tauheed ki Punjab se; Hind ko ek Mard-e-Kamil ne jagaya khwab se.
English Translation
The nation didn't care at all about the Message of Buddha; It didn't realise the value of this priceless gem! The unfortunate ones remained indifferent to the voices of Truth; Like a tree remains indifferent to the sweetness of its fruit. What he revealed was the secret of life; But India (in the hand of Brahmanism) was proud of its whims and fancies. It was not an Assembly-Hall to be lit up by the lamp of Truth; The rain of mercy fell, but the land was barren. Alas, for the Shudras, India is a house of sorrow; And this land is indifferent to the sufferings of Humankind. The Brahmins are still drunk with the wine of Pride and Arrogance; And Buddha's lamp is burning in the Assembly-Halls of Foreigners. The idol houses have lit up again after ages; But Azar’s house was lit up by the light of Abraham. The call of Monotheism rose again from the land of Punjab; When a pious man awakened India from its deep slumber.
Credits
- Allama Iqbal Poetry
- Urdu Point
- Rekhta Foundation
