Hemant Attray
Published Jan 10, 2018
Faiz Ahmed Faiz was one of the most celebrated poets of Urdu language. He was known for his progressive, left-leaning views. But did you hear/read his great ghazal about the yearning of startups for venture capital? Here, enjoy his beautiful words and their loose literal translation:
nahi nigaah mein manzil to justju hi sahi, nahi visaal mayassar to aarzoo hi sahi
Even if funding is not in sight, may there be a yearning at least, even if we not destined, may there be the wish to be funded
na tan mein khoon faraaham na ashq aankhon mein, namaaz-e-shauq to waajib hai, be-wuzoo hi sahi
What if there is no traction, nor a termsheet in sight, the prayer of being a unicorn will still be comforting, impure as it may be
kisi tarah to saje bazm maikade walon, nahi jo baada-o-saagar to ha-o-hoo hi sahi
The lights must be kept on, and the hope must rejoice, if not from Softbank or A16Z, from some crowdfunding platform let it be
gar intezaar kathin hai to jab talak ae-dil, kisi ke vaada-e-farda ki guftagu hi sahi
If it is so difficult, then as we wait, let's discuss the promise of Exit, the IPOs and the acquisition by Google
dayaar-e-gair mein maharam agar nahi koi, to faiz zikr-e-vatan apne rubaruu hi sahi
In this recession, if funding is not to be, Faiz, then, ruminate of the past wins and how it's still better than a job.
#StartupHumor #TongueInCheek #WithAPinchOfSalt
Credit for translation of some difficult words: https://amitdas.me/2013/02/19/faiz-nahi-nigaah-mein-manzil/
Heartful rendition by Abida Parveen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHcwdHC8ETA
Photo by Álvaro Serrano on Unsplash