Poetry and Protest: Fahmida Riaz' Poem, Chadar Aur Chaar-Diwari
This week in Daak:
1. Poetry and Protest: Fahmida Riaz' Poem, Chadar Aur Chaar-Diwari
2. Our bestsellers are on sale!
3. Daak Recommends
1. Poetry and Protest: Fahmida Riaz' Poem, Chadar Aur Chaar-Diwari
Poetry as a form of dissent has a long-standing tradition in South Asia, and this week, we’re celebrating the courageous words of beloved Pakistani poet, Fahmida Riaz. She often raised her voice against attacks on women’s freedom through social or political forces. When General Zia-ul-Haq issued orders mandating that Pakistani women must cover themselves with a black chadar, Riaz poured out her anger and protested through this fiery poem, “Chadar Aur Chaar Diwari” (Veil and Four Walls).
In these searing lines, she not only defies this order but also advises him to cover his own misdeeds with the same chadar. Read an excerpt below and find the full poem here.
huzur main is siyah chadar ka kya karoongi
ye aap kyun mujh ko bakhshte hain ba-sad inayat
na sog mein hoon ki us ko odhun
gham-o-alam khalq ko dikhaoon
na rog hoon main ki is ki tarikiyon mein ḳhiffat se doob jaaoon
na main gunahgar hoon na mujrim
ki is siyahi ki mehr apni jabin pe har haal mein lagaaoon
agar na gustaḳh mujh ko samjhein
agar main jaan ki amaan paaon
toh dast-basta karoon guzarish
ki banda-parvar
huzur ke hujra-e-muaattar mein ek laasha pada hua hai
na jaane kab ka gala sada hai
ye aap se rahm chahta hai
huzur itna karam toh kiije
siyah chadar mujhe na dijiye
siyah chadar se apne hujre ki bekafan laash dhaanp dijiye
ki us se phuti hai jo ufunat
vo kuche kuche mein haanpti hai
vo sar patakti hai chaukhaton par
barahnagi tan ki dhanpti hai
sunein zara dil-ḳharash cheekhein
bana rahi hain ajab hayuleian
jo chadaron mein bhi hain barahna
//
Sire! What use is this black chadar to me?
A thousand mercies, why do you reward me with this?
I am not in mourning that I should wear this
To flag my grief to the world
I am not a disease that needs to be drowned in secret darkness
I am not a sinner nor a criminal
That I should stamp my forehead with its darkness
If you will not consider me too impudent
If you promise that you will spare my life
I beg to submit in all humility
O Master of men!
In your highness' fragrant chambers
lies a dead body
Who knows how long it has been rotting?
It seeks pity from you
Sire, do be so kind
Do not give me this black chadar
With this black chadar cover the shroudless body
lying in your chamber
For the stench that emanates from this body
Walks buffed and breathless in every alleyway
Bangs her head on every doorframe
Covering her nakedness
Listen to her heart rending screams
Which raise strange spectre
That remain naked in spite of their chadarTranslation by Rukhsana Ahmed
2. Our bestsellers are on sale!
Our bestsellers are on sale! We don’t often do sales, so this is a rare chance to get your hands on some of these goodies if you’ve hesitated before.
3. Daak Recommends
Read another Daak piece on Fahmida Riaz and listen to her recitation of the full poem “Chadar Aur Chaar-Diwari" and other poems.