Hum bhi darya hain humein apna hunar maaloom hai,
Jis taraf bhi chal padenge raasta ho jaayega.
English Translation
“We too are rivers and know our own craft — whichever way we set out, a path will appear.”
auto_storiesMeaning & Interpretation
Bashir Badr compresses a whole philosophy of self-reliance into a river metaphor. A river does not ask permission or consult a map; it moves and the movement creates the route. The poet claims the same ability for himself and, by extension, anyone confident enough to start.
The phrase 'apna hunar maaloom hai' (we know our own skill) is the hinge: the confidence is not arrogance but familiarity with one's own capacity. The couplet is frequently quoted in graduation speeches and motivational contexts, though its tone is calm rather than boastful.
The image also carries a hint of patience: rivers carve valleys over centuries, and the path that 'appears' is the result of persistent motion.
Key Words & Vocabulary
About Bashir Badr
Late 20th - 21st Century (Modern Ghazal) · Urbane couplets for a changing cityBashir Badr (born 1935) is one of the most widely quoted ghazal poets of modern India. His couplets — short, urbane and easy to remember — are staples of mushairas and everyday conversation. He received the Padma Shri and a Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999.
Read All 5 Shayaris by Bashir Badrarrow_forwardMore Shayari by Bashir Badr
Ujaale apni yaadon ke humaare saath rehne do,
Na jaane kis gali mein zindagi ki shaam ho jaaye.
Koi haath bhi na milaayega jo gale milogey tapaak se,
Ye naye mizaaj ka shehar hai zara faasle se milaa karo.
Kabhi to aasmaan se chaand utre jaam ho jaaye,
Tumhaare naam ki ek khoobsurat shaam ho jaaye.
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Reading Bashir Badr: where this sher fits
Themes to watch for: urban etiquette, understated love, self-reliance, distance in modern relationships, evening and memory. Read a handful of his ghazals together; the way he builds a conversational mood across couplets is more rewarding than a single line.
Worth knowing: His line about the 'new mood of the city' where hugs are replaced by polite distance is widely quoted as a commentary on modern life.