Tang aa chuke hain kashmakash-e-zindagi se hum,
Thukra na den jahaan ko kahin be-dili se hum.
English Translation
“We are weary of life's tug-of-war — let us not reject the world out of despondency.”
auto_storiesMeaning & Interpretation
Sahir Ludhianvi writes here in the voice of someone worn down by the daily conflict between ideals and reality. 'Kashmakash' suggests a struggle between competing forces, the pull of duty against the pull of desire, hope against practicality.
The second line is the turning point. Rather than rejecting the world in bitterness, the speaker cautions himself against giving up out of 'be-dili' — loss of heart. The tone is closer to self-counselling than complaint.
Sahir's progressive politics are visible in the phrase 'thukra na den jahaan ko': even in exhaustion he refuses nihilism and holds on to the possibility that the world is worth engaging with.
Key Words & Vocabulary
Historical Context
Written in Sahir's reflective, progressive style; the verse is widely quoted when people talk about weariness without surrender.
About Sahir Ludhianvi
Mid 20th Century (Progressive Poet & Film Lyricist) · The conscience of the Hindi film songSahir Ludhianvi (1921–1980), born Abdul Hayee, brought the Progressive Writers' idealism into Hindi cinema. His songs for films such as Pyaasa and Kabhi Kabhie are also serious poems about inequality, love and disillusionment. His collection Talkhiyan (1945) established him as a major voice.
Read All 3 Shayaris by Sahir Ludhianviarrow_forwardMore Shayari by Sahir Ludhianvi
You Might Also Enjoy — Jaun Elia
Reading Sahir Ludhianvi: where this sher fits
Themes to watch for: social inequality, disillusioned romance, anti-war sentiment, dignity of the poor, love that outlasts ideology. Compare his film songs with the poems in Talkhiyan to see how he adapted serious poetry for a mass audience.
Worth knowing: His fight to give lyricists equal billing with composers helped establish the idea of the lyricist as an author.