Meaning of Darbar- e-watan Mein Jab Ik Din by Faiz Ahmed Faiz

दरबारे वतन में जब इक दिन
– फैज़ अहमद फैज़ (Faiz Ahmed Faiz)
दरबारे वतन में जब इक दिन सब जाने वाले जायेंगे
कुछ अपनी सजा को पहुंचेंगे, कुछ अपनी जजा ले जायेंगे
ऐ खाकनशीनों उठ बैठो, वो वक़्त करीब आ पहुंचा है
जब तख़्त गिराए जायेंगे, जब ताज उछाले जायेंगे
अब टूट गिरेंगी जंजीरें अब ज़िन्दानों की ख़ैर नहीं
जो दरया झूम के उठे हैं, तिनकों से न टाले जायेंगे
कटते भी चलो, बढ़ते भी चलो, बाजू भी बहुत हैं सर भी बहुत
चलते भी चलो के अब डेरे मंजिल पे ही डाले जायेंगे
ऐ ज़ुल्म के मातों लब खोलो चुप रहने वालों चुप कब तक
कुछ हश्र तो इनसे उट्ठेगा, कुछ दूर तो नाले जायेंगे

English Version
Aye Khak Nashino Uth Baitho
Darbar-E-Watan Mein Jab Aik Din Sab Jane Wale Jaein Gey
Kuch Apni Saza Ko Pohche Ge Kuch Apni Jaza Ley Jaein Ge
Aye Khak Nashino Uth Baitho Woh Waqt Qareb Aa Pohcha
Hai
Jab Takht Girae Jaein Ge Jab Taj Uchale Jaein Ge
Ab Tut Girein Gi Zanjirein Ab Zindano Ki Kher Nahi
Jo Darya Jhom Ke Uthein Hein Tinkon Se Na Taale Jaein Ge
Kat-Te Bhi Chalo Ke Ab Derey Manzil He Pe Dalein Jain Ge
Aye Zulm Ke Maato Lab Kholo Chup Rehne Walon Chup
Kab Tak
Kuch Hashr Tou Un Se Uthey Ga Kuch Door Tou Naale Jaein
Ge
Background:
It is written by the famous Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz who doesn’t need no introduction due to his immense written power and popularity due to that. Faiz has been a symbol of resistance for many and he became a source of inspiration for people who wanted freedom and were longing just to build a separate society.

Structure:
This is short lyrical poem with only 2 main stanzas.

Analysis:
Aye Khak Nashino Uth Baitho
Darbar-E-Watan Mein Jab Aik Din Sab Jane Wale Jaein Gey
Kuch Apni Saza Ko Pohche Ge Kuch Apni Jaza Ley Jaein Ge
Aye Khak Nashino Uth Baitho Woh Waqt Qareb Aa Pohcha
Hai
In this stanza he is addressing the people of the time and trying to awaken their souls. He is asking them to get ready as the time is near when they will finally get their homeland back. He is saying that there are two types of people. First one are those who worked hard for this time and will get the reward while the others are the ones who will suffer and regret it as they did nothing to get what they wanted. He is telling the people through his poetry that it’s time we wake up as the time is near.
Jab Takht Girae Jaein Ge Jab Taj Uchale Jaein Ge
Ab Tut Girein Gi Zanjirein Ab Zindano Ki Kher Nahi
Jo Darya Jhom Ke Uthein Hein Tinkon Se Na Taale Jaein Ge
Kat-Te Bhi Chalo Ke Ab Derey Manzil He Pe Dalein Jain Ge
Aye Zulm Ke Maato Lab Kholo Chup Rehne Walon Chup
Kab Tak
Kuch Hashr Tou Un Se Uthey Ga Kuch Door Tou Naale Jaein
Ge
He is in full agony and stating that its time that no1 can stop us. It’s time we will fight for what was ours and now we won’t care about crowns or beds and we will freed those who were chained and locked and tortured. He says that people it’s time that no one will be able to control us now. He is comparing himself and his people to an ocean and the enemies to small sticks. He says that those small sticks can’t stop us now as we are like a huge ocean. He says that even if we die in the process we won’t care as he says he knows that no matter what we will get what we always desired for . He is asking the people who have been quiet and have been subjected to violence and brutality to come forward. He is telling them to speak up now as no one can stop them now.

Theme:
The theme is based upon nationalism and struggle. The poet is trying to get the people started on what they always desired for. He is asking them to speak up for their right as the right time is around the corner. He is encouraging them to do so. He is determined in his mission as he knows what he’s doing is right so he is requesting his people by his poetry to get up and speak.

Summary:
The poem starts off with the poet asking people to get up who have been sleeping all along. He is requesting them to come forward and fight for what is theirs. He is saying that no one else will do it for them. He is saying that all this won’t go wasted. The people who will struggle for this will get a reward in the end and the people who will waste this time will regret it later on. He is them comparing himself and his force to an ocean and saying that we are stronger now. No one can stop us now and we shouldn’t be afraid of anyone anymore since we are doing the right thing. He is advising people to stop getting tortured and asking them to break the chains and come out for themselves as they would be doing all this for themselves and no one else. The poet is encouraging his people to do what he says since he beliefs that this is right. Basically the people back then were fighting for a separate homeland since their homeland was taken over by the British and they were treated as crap in their own country so Faiz Ahmad Faiz wrote this poem to instill in them the desire to wake up and fight for their rights. He believed in struggling and that anything could be got just by determination and effort.