Throughout India’s freedom movement, evocative poems and slogans like “Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai” stirred unwavering determination. These expressions became rallying cries, uniting people in the fight against colonial oppression.
Throughout history, poetry and slogans have wielded a unique power to encapsulate the collective spirit of a nation, stirring hearts, and igniting the flames of change. Nowhere is this phenomenon more evident than in the annals of India’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule. The resonating words of “Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil me hai, dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai” and similar anthems have etched themselves into the fabric of India’s freedom movement, serving as potent catalysts that fueled the determination, resilience, and unwavering commitment of its people.
These verses transcended literary expressions, transforming into rallying cries that galvanized the masses to confront oppression head-on and rise against insurmountable odds. This article delves into the profound significance of such poems and slogans, exploring how they ignited the essence of fighting in the hearts of Indians, infusing the struggle for freedom with an indomitable spirit that reverberates to this day.
Significance of “Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna” in India Independence
1. A Poetic Prelude to Resistance
Origins of the Iconic Verses The immortal lines “Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil me hai, dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai” emerged from the quill of Bismil Azimabadi in 1921, serving as a poignant harbinger of the imminent resistance against British colonial rule. Born in the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and other oppressive British actions, the poem crystallized the deep-seated yearning for freedom among the Indian populace. These verses, enriched with emotion and purpose, encapsulated the collective outrage and the growing aspiration to overthrow the yoke of foreign domination.
2. Igniting the Embers of Defiance
Publication and Resonance The poem, titled “Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna,” made its debut in the pages of the Delhi-based journal “Sabah.” Comprising 11 evocative couplets, it painted a vivid narrative of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering determination. Bismil’s verses resonated with the common people who had grown weary of British oppression, invigorating their spirit and unifying them under the common banner of liberation. The poem’s emotional resonance amplified its impact, reaching the hearts of countless individuals and galvanizing them into action.
3. A Battle Cry for Freedom
The Revolutionary Transformation Ram Prasad Bismil, a prominent freedom fighter, seized upon the poem’s potential to inspire action. “Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna” transcended its poetic origins to become a potent battle cry during the Indian freedom movement. Bismil and other notable activists, including Ashfaqullah Khan, Bhagat Singh, and Chandrashekhar Azad, adopted these words as a rallying point for resistance. The verses became more than mere lines on paper; they embodied the unyielding spirit of defiance against colonial tyranny. These impassioned words echoed in the hearts of individuals willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their nation’s freedom.
4. Resonance through Time
Enduring Relevance and Legacy The enduring impact of the poem is evident in its resonance through time. Its powerful verses continue to reverberate in contemporary movements, attesting to their timeless relevance. From the anti-CAA protests in India, where the lines echoed in the voices of demonstrators, to the Pakistani Students Solidarity March, the poem’s enduring potency remains undiminished. Its themes of courage, sacrifice, and steadfast commitment to justice and liberty inspire new generations to stand up against oppression and fight for their rights.
Relive the Iconic “Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna”
| Couplets | Original Urdu | Transliteration | Meaning |
| Couplet 1 | سرفروشی کی تمنا اب ہمارے دل میں ہے | Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai | The desire for revolution is in our hearts. |
| Couplet 2 | دیکھنا ہے زور کتنا بازوئے قاتل میں ہے | Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai | Let us see what strength there is in the arms of our executioner. |
| Couplet 3 | کرتا نہیں کیوں دوسرا کچھ بات چیت | Karta nahin kyun doosra kuch baat-cheet | O nation, why no one else says anything? |
| Couplet 4 | دیکھتا ہوں میں جسے وہ چھپ تیری محفل میں ہے | Dekhta hun main jise woh chup teri mehfil mein hai | Everyone I see in this party has their lips sealed… |
| Couplet 5 | اے شہیدِ ملک و ملت میں تیرے اوپر نثار | Aye shaheed-e-mulk-o-millat main tere oopar nisaar | O martyr of country, of nation, I bow to thee |
| Couplet 6 | اب تیری ہمت کا چرچا غیر کی محفل میں ہے | Ab teri himmat ka charcha ghair ki mehfil mein hai | As even the enemy now speaks of thy courage |
| Couplet 7 | وقت آنے دے بتا دیں گے تجھے اے آسمان | Waqt aanay dey bata denge tujhe aye aasman | We shall show thee when the time comes, O heaven |
| Couplet 8 | خینچ کر لای ہے سب کو قتل ہونے کی امید | Khainch kar layee hai sab ko qatl hone ki ummeed | The hope of blood and sacrifice, binds us all and brings us here |
| Couplet 9 | آشیقوں کا آج جمغات کوچہ قاتل میں ہے | Aashiqon ka aaj jumghat koocha-e-qaatil mein hai | The streets of the enemy now overflows with the lovers of the nation |
| Couplet 10 | ہاتھ جن میں ہو جنوں کٹ تے نہیں تلوار سے | Haath jin mein ho junoon katt te nahi talvaar se | No sword can sever the hands that have the passion within |
| Couplet 11 | سر جو اٹھ جاتے ہیں وہ جھکتے نہیں للکار سے | Sar jo uth jaate hain voh jhukte nahi lalkaar se | The desire for revolution is in our hearts… |
| Couplet 12 | اور بھڑکے گا جو شعلۂ ہمارے دل میں ہے | Aur bhadkega jo shola-sa humaare dil mein hai | It will but rise, the flame that has lit in our hearts, |
| Couplet 13 | ہم تو گھر سے نکلے ہی تھے باندھ کر سر پہ کفن | Hum to ghar se nikle hi the baandhkar sar pe kafan | Set we out from our homes, our heads shrouded with cloth, |
| Couplet 14 | جان ہاتھیلی پر لئے لو بڑھ چلے ہیں یہ قدم | Jaan hatheli par liye lo barh chale hain ye qadam | Taking our lives in our hands, do we march so… |
| Couplet 15 | زندگی تو اپنی مہمان موت کی محفل میں ہے | Zindagi to apni mehmaan maut ki mehfil mein hai | In our assembly of death, life is now but a guest |
| Couplet 16 | یوں کھڑا مقتل میں قاتل کہ رہا ہے بار بار | Yuun khadaa maqtal mein qaatil kah rahaa hai baar baar | Stands the enemy in the gallows thus, asking, |
| Couplet 17 | کیا تمنا ہے شہادت بھی کسی کے دل میں ہے | Kya tamannaa-e-shahaadat bhi kisee ke dil mein hai | Does anyone wish to bear testimony?… |
| Couplet 18 | دل میں توفانوں کی طویلی اور نسوں میں انقلاب | Dil mein tuufaanon ki toli aur nason mein inqilaab | With a host of storms in our heart, and with revolution in our breath, |
| Couplet 19 | ہوش دشمن کے اڑا دیں گے ہمیں روکو نہ آج | Hosh dushman ke udaa denge humein roko na aaj | We shall knock the enemy cold, and no one shall stop us… |
| Couplet 20 | دور رہ پائے جو ہم سے دم کہاں منزل میں ہے | Duur reh paaye jo humse dam kahaan manzil mein hai | Those who stay away from us, where is the courage in their destination? |
| Couplet 21 | وہ جسم بھی کیا جسم ہے جس میں نہ ہو خونِ جنوں | Wo jism bhi kya jism hai jismein na ho khoon-e-junoon | What is that body that does not have hot blood in it, |
| Couplet 22 | کیا لڑے طوفانوں سے جو کشتیِ ساحل میں ہے | Kya lade toofaanon se jo kashti-e-saahil mein hai | How can a person conquer a Typhoon while sitting in a boat near the shore. |
| Couplet 23 | سرفروشی کی تمنا اب ہمارے دل میں ہے | Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai | The desire for revolution is in our hearts. |
| Couplet 24 | دیکھنا ہے زور کتنا بازوئے قاتل میں ہے | Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai | Let us see what strength there is in the arms of our executioner. |
The poem eloquently conveys the spirit of sacrifice, courage, and unwavering determination of those who fought for India’s independence. Each couplet carries a powerful message that continues to inspire generations with its call for revolution and the resilience to face any adversity for the cause of freedom.
In essence, “Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai” transcends its role as a mere composition. It stands as a testament to the power of words to mobilize and unite. From its origins as ink on paper to its transformation into a resounding call to arms, the poem embodies the unbreakable spirit of the Indian freedom movement. As it continues to resonate in modern contexts, it serves as a perpetual reminder that the yearning for freedom knows no bounds and that the fight for justice is a cause that spans generations.
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