I am not Pakistani but I am female and I found this quite inspiring. I don’t understand all the Urdu words but I know it is meaningful.
I hope all the males and females here like this. Nazia Hassan is missing but apart from that many Pakistani women I admire are mentioned and the many contributions of Pakistani females to society and world are mentioned.
**Aurat (Woman) is my tribute to the women whose song, poetry, activism, writing, courage, struggle and resolve have inspired me and defined me as a Pakistani man. This does not only include the famous woman I have referred to in the first part of the poem but also the millions who I speak about in the latter half, the Pakistani women who silently struggle and face discrimination everyday in their households. Women who as mothers, wives, sisters and daughters are subjected to unequal treatment, abuse and patriarchal norms and practices but who still are such an immense source of guidance, love, strength and wisdom to us men.
The women whom** I have referred to in the Poem are Benazir Bhutto, Asma Jehangir, Zahida Kazmi, Bilquis Edhi, Ayesha Farooq, Naseem Haider, Musarrat Misbah, Malka Pukhraj, Abida Parveen, Madame Noor Jehan, Banu Qudsia, Bapsi Sidwah, Haseena Moin, Parveez Shakir, Mukhtara Mai and Malala Yousafzai.
Directed by: Nofil Naqvi
Post & Sound: Meister Waheed
Design & Styling: Alia Chughtai
Text of the Poem – Aurat
Khuda ki saari namaton ka tu kul jama hai
Teray pairon talay jannat, tu meri Maa hai
Hamshira bhi, dhuktar bhi, shareek-e-hayat bhi hai tu
Jo neem-shab meray liye dua ko uthain woh haath bhi hai tu
Teray inhi haathon main meray qaum ki taqdeer hai
Har daur main har Haal main tu Benazir hai
Sinf-e-Nazuk samajh ker jo mard tujhay batata hai kamzoor
Sharmata hai dekhay jab bazoo-e-Asma-Zahida-o-bilquis ka zor
Himmat jo karay tu, dunia teray peechay aur tu agay
Toh Ayesha hai, Naseem hai, toh hawaon say tez bhagay
Khud zulm sahay tunay baray, per tu ab bhi khari hai
Udaas chehron kay liye tu Mussarrat ki ghari hai
Teri Awaz nay runga admi ko ishq kay rung main
Teray geeton nay kiye hoslay buland maidan-e-jung main
Har sur say teray jhoom uth ta sara jahan hai
Tu Malka, Tu Abida tu Noor Jehan hai
Har harf tera taleem-o-tarbiat-o-tehzeeb ka hai paikar
Likha ho jaisay azmaish ki sihai main kalam dabo kar
hai shaista, shagufta, shokh per bhi kitna sada andaz-e-bayan hai
Haseena, Bapsi, Parveen, Qudsia ki tehreer ka sani kon yahan hai
Itni azeem hai tu, kay kerdia tera ahteraam khuda nay bhi lazim
phir kion rond raha hai teray wajood ko apnay gharoor talay zalim
Tu yeh khud say bhi nahi poochti, kion kerdia tujhay itna majboor
Khawab toh dekhti hogi – dard tujhay bhi hota hoga zaroor
Kion ghar main hai band bhen, kion school nahi jaati
Bhai kay school ka khana toh tu hai roz pakati
Teray chehray pay yeh zakhm Maa, tujhay kis nay hain diye
Kia is baar bhi wohi waja kay tunay kion na betay paida kiye
Toh mujhay mauf kerday aey aurat, main bahut badnaseeb hon
Teri hifazat kia, tujhay izzat bhi nahi de sakta, main itna ghareeb hon
Gar waqai main hota mard, toh meri ghairat mujhay zulm say rok deti
Yaad rehta mujhay kay Mukhtara hai meri Maa aur Malala meri Beti
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March 7
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