My second Ghazal ended up being about an issue that really boggles my mind at all times. The Ghazal was written after the Muslim-Hindu riots in Gujarat and reflects my thoughts about this plague that affects our home countries and perhaps the whole world.

raah-e-imaan ko laashoN se sajaate kyoN haiN?
log “bhagwaan” ko “shaitaan” banaate kyoN haiN?

saari duniyaa ka agar ek hi Khaaliq hai to phir
ye mazaahib hameiN aapas meiN laRaate kyoN haiN?
[mazaahib = plural of mazhab, religion]

ik kahe “Raam” to dujaa kahe “Allah Allah”
ek maqsad hai to phir teGh uThaate kyoN haiN?
[teGh = sword]

sar jhukaate haiN jo sijde meiN tire aie maalik!
josh meiN aake vo sar apna kaTaate kyoN haiN?
[sijde = prayers]

jis taraf dekhiye haNgaamaa hi haNgaamaa hai!
khoon insaan ka insaan bahaate kyoN haiN?

tuu bhii kuchh soch zamaane ko banaane vaale
teri duniyaa ko tire bande jalaate kyoN haiN?

log poochheiNge in ash’aar ko paRh kar ‘tanhaa’
tujh ko is tarah ke afkaar sataate kyoN haiN?
[ash'aar = plural of sh'er, couplet; afkaar = plural of fikr, thoughts]

11/2002