Gulon Mein Rang Bhare is a ghazal written by one of the greatest Urdu poet of the 20th century, Faiz Ahmad Faiz.
Yet, few have truly grasped its true meaning. On the surface, Gulon Mein Rang Bhare appears to be a love poem dedicated to a romantic beloved, when in fact, it is a powerful call for revolution!
To understand the poem fully, one must consider its historical context. Faiz wrote it while imprisoned, accused in the Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case—a charge that could have led to his execution.
Unable to openly criticize the regime, he employed subtle, metaphorical language to convey his message.
Note: We have tried to translate Gulon Mein Rang Bhare into English. However, it must be noted that while a translated poem may carry the message, it can never fully capture its essence — the depth of thought, the layered emotions, and the beauty of the language that make the original poem so powerful.
گلوں میں رنگ بھرے باد نوبہار چلے
چلے بھی آؤ کہ گلشن کا کاروبار چلے
[Gulon mein rang bhare baad-e-nau bahaar chale]
[Chale bhi aao ke gulshan ka kaarobaar chale]
The flowers brim with fresh hues as the spring breeze begins to blow—
Come forth now, so the garden may flourish again
قفس اداس ہے یارو صبا سے کچھ تو کہو
کہیں تو بہر خدا آج ذکر یار چلے
[Qafas udaas hai yaaroun, sabaa se kuch to kaho]
[Kahin to behr-e-Khuda aaj zikr-e-yaar chale]
The cage is desolate, friends—whisper something to the morning wind
For God’s sake, let the beloved’s (homeland) name be spoken somewhere today
کبھی تو صبح ترے کنج لب سے ہو آغاز
کبھی تو شب سر کاکل سے مشکبار چلے
[Kabhi to subah tere kunj-e-lab se ho aaghaaz]
[Kabhi to shab sar-e-kaakul se mushkbaar chale]
If only dawn would break someday from the curve of your lips
If only night would come someday, perfumed by your tangled hair
بڑا ہے درد کا رشتہ یہ دل غریب سہی
تمہارے نام پہ آئیں گے غم گسار چلے
[Bara hai dard ka rishta, yeh dil ghareeb sahi]
[Tumhare naam pe aayein ge gham-gusaar chale]
The bond with pain runs deep, and this heart may stay unfulfilled
Yet in your name, the healers of grief still come
جو ہم پہ گزری سو گزری مگر شب ہجراں
ہمارے اشک تری عاقبت سنوار چلے
[Jo hum pe guzri so guzri, magar shab-e-hijraan]
[Hamare ashk teri aaqibat sanwaar chale]
What befell us, befell us—but in those nights of parting
Our tears quietly wove the threads of your fate
حضور یار ہوئی دفتر جنوں کی طلب
گرہ میں لے کے گریباں کا تار تار چلے
[Huzoor-e-yaar hui daftar-e-junoon ki talab]
[Girah mein le ke garebaan ka taar taar chale]
The court of the beloved summoned the record of my sacrifice
So I walked on, clutching the torn edges of my collar
مقام فیضؔ کوئی راہ میں جچا ہی نہیں
جو کوئے یار سے نکلے تو سوئے دار چلے
[Maqaam ‘Faiz’ koi raah mein jacha hi nahin]
[Jo ku-e-yaar se nikle to su-e-daar chale]
No place suited us along the way, Faiz—
Leaving the streets of the beloved, I stepped toward the gallows