Us Des Mein Lagta Hai Adalat Nahi Hoti (translation: “in that land, it seems there is no justice”) is a powerful Urdu Ghazal by a Pakistani poet, Habib Jalib.
For context, Habib Jalib is widely celebrated as the “poet of the masses” in Pakistan. He spent his life using his words and poetry to fearlessly raise his voice against martial law, military dictatorships, state oppression, and social injustice, which often landed him in prison.
In this poem, Jalib critiques the society and state of Pakistan where human rights are unprotected, justice is missing, and empty rituals and passive prayer are used as a substitute for true action against state oppression.
Considering how today’s Pakistan still paints the same picture, we have decided to revisit Jalib’s poem and also translate it into English, to make it more accessible for a wider audience.
Note:
As a rule of thumb, we will have the full original version first — so it retains its literary and artistic expression fully and those who understand the language can experience its rhythm and structure uninterrupted — followed by its translation into English and/or other languages so those who do not read the original language fluently, or are learning, easily understand the context.
Moreover, while we at Bahaaristan have tried to translate ‘Dastoor’ into English, it must, however, be noted that a translated poem may carry the message, but 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.
Us Des Mein Lagta Hai Adalat Nahi Hoti by Habib Jalib
اُس دیس میں لگتا ہے عدالت نہیں ہوتی
جس دیس میں انسان کی حفاظت نہیں ہوتی
مخلوقِ خدا جب کسی مشکل میں پھنسی ہو
سجدے میں پڑے رہنا عبادت نہیں ہوتی
یہ بات نئی نسل کو سمجھانا پڑے گی
کہ عریاں کبھی بھی ثقافت نہیں ہوتی
سر آنکھوں پر ہم اُسکو بٹھالیتے ہیں اکثر
جسکے کسی وعدے میں صداقت نہیں ہوتی
ہر شخص اپنے سر پر کفن باندھ کر نکلے
حق کےلیے لڑنا تو کبھی بغاوت نہیں ہوتی
Us des mein lagta hai adalat nahi hoti by Halib Jalib with English translation
اُس دیس میں لگتا ہے عدالت نہیں ہوتی
جس دیس میں انسان کی حفاظت نہیں ہوتی
In that land, it seems there is no justice
Where the safety of a human is not secured
مخلوقِ خدا جب کسی مشکل میں پھنسی ہو
سجدے میں پڑے رہنا عبادت نہیں ہوتی
When God’s creation is trapped in distress
Merely remaining in prostration is not true worship
یہ بات نئی نسل کو سمجھانا پڑے گی
کہ عریاں کبھی بھی ثقافت نہیں ہوتی
This must be explained to the newer generation;
Nudity can never be called culture
سر آنکھوں پر ہم اُسکو بٹھالیتے ہیں اکثر
جسکے کسی وعدے میں صداقت نہیں ہوتی
We so often place that man on a pedestal
Whose promises lack truth and sincerity
ہر شخص اپنے سر پر کفن باندھ کر نکلے
حق کےلیے لڑنا تو کبھی بغاوت نہیں ہوتی
Let every person step out ready to lay down their life
For fighting for the truth is never rebellion
Us des mein lagta hai adalat nahi hoti by Halib Jalib in Roman English
Us des mein lagta hai adalat nahi hoti
Jis des mein insaan ki hifazat nahi hoti
Makhlooq-e-Khuda jab kisi mushkil mein phansi ho
Sajday mein pare rehna ibadat nahi hoti
Yeh baat nayi nasal ko samjhna parray gi
Uryani kabhi bhi saqafat nahi hoti
Sir aankhon par hum isko bitha lete hain aksar
Jiskay kisi waade mein sadaqat nahi hoti
Har shakhs apne sir par kafan baandh kar nikle
Haq ke liye larna to kabhi baghawat nahi hoti
