The Ocean Beckons

I returned to the city of djinns, the place i was born, where every summer I collected memories in my subconscious. The city of Mumbai creeps up on you and in me awakened childhood memories of spending summer in this warm ocean front city.

The smell of the ocean and the sea breeze hit me before we even touched the scenic marine drive. Driving on the swanky new sea-drive i dreamt of the beach from my childhood, the toys and candies but what tugged at me was the ocean.

This poem by Kaifi Azmi talks of that ocean and his desires. The view from the sea link can be captured in the words of this iconic poet, a long time ex-resident of Mumbai and celebrated poet, who had a long eventful relationship with this city of dreams.

Transliteration

Ae thake-hare samandar tu machalta kyu nahi,
Tu uchalta kyu nahi

O tired lost ocean why don’t you get restless,
Why don’t you bounce

Sahiloan ko todh ke bahar nikalta kyu nahi
Tu machalta kyu nahi
Tu uchalta kyu nahi

Why don’t you break out from the shore and come out,
Why don’t you get restless
Why don’t you bounce

Tere sahil par sitam ki bastiyaan aabaad hai
Shehar ke memaar saare khanma-barbaad hai
Aisi kaali bastiyon ko tu nigalta kyu nahi
Tu uchalta kyu nahi
Tu machalta kyu nahi

At your shore flourish ghettos of torment
City builders homeless and ruined
Why don’t you swallow these sodden ghettos
Why don’t you get restless
Why don’t you bounce

Tujh main lehre hai na mojhe hai na shoor
Zulm se bezhaar duniya dekhti hai teri ordh
Tu ubalta kyu nahi
Tu uchalta kyu nahi
Tu machalta kyu nahi

There aren’t waves or surfs nor clamour in you
Tired of oppression the world looks at you
Why don’t you seethe
Why don’t you bounce
Why don’t you get restless

O tired lost ocean why don’t you get restless,
Why don’t you bounced

Ae thake-hare samandar tu machalta kyu nahi
Tu uchalta kyu nahi

O tired lost ocean why don’t you get restless,
Why don’t you bounced