Gulon Mein Rang Bhare| Ghazal by Faiz Ahmad Faiz
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.
Gulon Mein Rang Bhare by Faiz Ahmad Faiz
گلوں میں رنگ بھرے باد نوبہار چلے
چلے بھی آؤ کہ گلشن کا کاروبار چلے
قفس اداس ہے یارو صبا سے کچھ تو کہو
کہیں تو بہر خدا آج ذکر یار چلے
کبھی تو صبح ترے کنج لب سے ہو آغاز
کبھی تو شب سر کاکل سے مشکبار چلے
بڑا ہے درد کا رشتہ یہ دل غریب سہی
تمہارے نام پہ آئیں گے غم گسار چلے
جو ہم پہ گزری سو گزری مگر شب ہجراں
ہمارے اشک تری عاقبت سنوار چلے
حضور یار ہوئی دفتر جنوں کی طلب
گرہ میں لے کے گریباں کا تار تار چلے
مقام فیضؔ کوئی راہ میں جچا ہی نہیں
جو کوئے یار سے نکلے تو سوئے دار چلے
Gulon Mein Rang Bhare by Faiz Ahmad Faiz in Roman Urdu
Gulon mein rang bhare baad-e-nau bahaar chale
Chale bhi aao ke gulshan ka kaarobaar chale
Qafas udaas hai yaaroun, sabaa se kuch to kaho
Kahin to bahr-e-Khuda aaj zikr-e-yaar chale
Kabhi to subah tere kunj-e-lab se ho aaghaaz
Kabhi to shab sar-e-kaakul se mushkbaar chale
Bara hai dard ka rishta, yeh dil ghareeb sahi
Tumhare naam pe aayein ge gham-gusaar chale
Jo hum pe guzri so guzri, magar shab-e-hijraan
Hamare ashk teri aaqibat sanwaar chale
Huzoor-e-yaar hui daftar-e-junoon ki talab
Girah mein le ke garebaan ka taar taar chale
Maqaam ‘Faiz’ koi raah mein jacha hi nahin
Jo ku-e-yaar se nikle to su-e-daar chale
Gulon Mein Rang Bhare by Faiz Ahmad Faiz in English
Like the new breeze of spring that grants flowers their hue
Come forth, so the garden may flourish again
The cage is desolate, friends, call upon the winds
For God’s sake, let there be some mention of the beloved (homeland) today
Let the morning, for once, begin from the corner of your lips
Let the night, for once, be fragrant from the scent of your hair
The bond with pain is strong; even if the heart is impoverished
For your sake, those who share our sorrow will come
What befell me, befell me—but in those nights of separation
My tears mend your fate
In courts of love (homeland), I was summoned for proofs of my madness (sacrifice)
So I walked on, clutching thread of my torn collar
No destination pleased us along the way, Faiz—
A step away from his beloved’s (homeland) street is a leap to the gallows
