Jan Nisar Akthar's 'Yeh dil aur unki' (1974): One of Urdu's most precious of gems on nature

Each language has its inner strength to evoke the best in a human. And a strong language is the best medium to urge to carry on with the status quo or to speak out for change depending on where the society is standing. And it is the sweetness, softness and good words in a man or woman's tongue, of any language, that defines his or her character the best.

If there is one language that has the glory of being a language of the man on the street to one that has ignited, fuelled and won revolutions, Urdu would definitely be one of its foremost contenders. Poems like 'Sarfaroshi ki tamanna hum hamare dil mein hai', 'Saare jahan se achcha', 'Lab pe aati hai dua banke tamanna meri' have mesmerised generations of Urdu and non-Urdu speakers alike. 

Speaking of Urdu poetry and nature I would rate Jan Nisar Akhar saheb's following lyrics for the song 'Yeh dil aur unki' from the 1974 Bollywood flick Prem Parbat (1974) as one of Urdu's most precious of gems on nature and environment. For those who understand Urdu even a bit, this poem is music to hears even without the accompanying music. TAn well-orchestrated symmetry of human thoughts synchronised in perfect tune with nature's bounties.

And for me the above picture that I took in Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary from a trip in May 2000 always reminds me of this song. 

...Lipat te ye pedon se baadal ghanere...

Lipat te ye pedon se baadal ghanere...

yeh pal pal ujaale, yeh pal pal andhere...

yeh pal pal ujaale, yeh pal pal andhere.

Bahot thhande thhande, hain raahon ke saaye...

...Yeh dil aur unki nigahon he saaye.

(...The dense clouds hugging these tall trees...

the dense clouds hugging these tall trees...

creating moments of brightness, moments of darkness...

creating moments of brightness, moments of darkness...

So cool are the shadows in the trails beneath...

...This heart is under the cool shade of his eyes).

Dhadakate hain dil kitnee aazaadiyon se!

Dhadakate hain dil kitnee aazaadiyon se!

bahot milte julate hain in waadiyon se.

bahot milte julate hain in waadiyon se. 

Mohabbat kee rangeen panaahon ke saaye...

...Yeh dil aur unki nigahon he saaye.

(How freely do these hearts beat!

How freely do these hearts beat!

They have a lot in common with these valleys.

They have a lot in common with these valleys.

In the multi-coloured shades of love...

...This heart is under the cool shade of his eyes).

Here is the actual song on Youtube

If you are unable to see the above song, please use this link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuFqOua2grc&feature=kp

And here is an excellent translation of the entire song by Ms. Shivani Mohan  

http://songtranslationsbyme.blogspot.in/2011/09/yeh-dil-aur-unki-nigahon-ke-saaye.html