Song of the Day: Hum Dekhenge

Check out this very relevant song Hum Dekhenge sung by Iqbal Bano. Hum Dekhenge is a Urdu Nazm written by Faiz Ahmad Faiz which has become very popular as an anthem of resistance. Some background on the song. “Gen Zia came to power in a coup, imposed martial law in Pakistan (1977), and soon unleashed fascistic terror in the name of Nizam-e-Mustafa (Islamic system). The poem was written in 1979, as Zia’s tyranny touched its zenith. Faiz subversively uses the lines ‘removal of idols from the Kaaba’ and the ‘reinstallation of outlaws’ to symbolise the removal of Gen Zia and his political movement, and the restoration of democracy. Faiz made it amply clear that his reading of the Quran was quite different from General Zia’s and the brand of ‘Islam’ that Zia was trying to sell was not acceptable to him.

Iqbal Bano, the acclaimed ghazal singer, sang this poem in public during Zia’s rule. Faiz was in jail. That night 50000 people, while listening to ‘Hum Dekhenge’, repeatedly chanted Inqilab Zindabad (Long live revolution).” Link

Here is the version from from Coke Studio Season 11.

Here are the lyrics.

Hum dekhenge
Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge
Wo din ke jis ka wada hai
Jo lauh-e-azl mein likha hai

Jab zulm-o-sitam ke koh-e-garan
Rooi ki tarah ur jaenge
Hum mehkoomon ke paaon tale
Ye dharti dhar dhar dharkegi
Aur ahl-e-hakam ke sar oopar
Jab bijli kar kar karkegi

Jab arz-e-Khuda ke kaabe se
Sab but uthwae jaenge
Hum ahl-e-safa mardood-e-harm
Masnad pe bethae jaenge
Sab taaj uchale jaenge
Sab takht girae jaenge

Bas naam rahega Allah ka
Jo ghayab bhi hai hazir bhi
Jo manzar bhi hai nazir bhi
Utthega an-al-haq ka nara
Jo mai bhi hoon tum bhi ho
Aur raaj karegi Khalq-e-Khuda
Jo mai bhi hoon aur tum bhi ho

Here is the English translation.

We shall see
Certainly we, too, shall see
that day that has been promised to us

When these high mountains
Of tyranny and oppression
turn to fluff and evaporate

And we oppressed
Beneath our feet will have
this earth shiver, shake and beat
And heads of rulers will be struck
With crackling lightening
and thunder roars.

When from this God’s earth’s (Kaa’ba)
All falseness (icons) will be removed
Then we of clean hearts-condemned by Zealots those keepers of
Faith,
We, will be invited to that altar to sit and Govern-
When crowns will be thrown off- and over turned will be thrones

We shall see
Certainly we, too, shall see
that day that has been promised to us

The God’s name will remain (Allah will remain)
Who is invisible and visible too
Who is the seer and is seen
There will rise one cheer- I am God!
Who I am too
and so are you

Then the masses, people of God will rule
Who I am too
and so are you

There will rise one cheer- I am God!
Who I am too
and so are you