Yesterday's article in dawn named, Sonagachi: Lanes of liberty, written on the asia's biggest red area, reminded me of this fine poem by sahir ludhianvi on the issue. Its a bitter sketch of life there, with a pinch of taunt at the hypocrisy of our society.


Ye koochey ye nilaam ghar dilkashi ke
Ye lut-te huwe karvaan zindagi ke
Kahan hain, kahan hain muhafiz khudi ke


Ye purpaich galiyan, ye badnaam bazaar
Ye gumnaam raahi, ye sikkon ki jhankaar
Ye ismat ke sauday, ye saudon pe taqraar
kahan hain kahan hain, muhafiz khudi k


Ye sadiyon se be-khauf sehmi si galiyaan
Ye masli hui adh-khili zard kaliyaan
Ye bikti hui khokli rang-raliyaan
kahan hain, kahan hain muhafiz khudi k


Wo ujle darichon mein payal ki chann chann
Thaki haari saanson pe tablay ki dhan dhan
Ye be-rooh kamron mein khaansi ki than than
Kahan hain, kahan hain, muhafiz khudi k


Ye phoolon ke gajre, ye peekon ke cheentay
Ye be-baak nazrein, ye gustaakh fiqre
Ye dhalke badan, aur ye beemar chehre
Kahan hain, kahan hien muhafiz khudi k


Yahan peer bhi aa chuke hain, jawaan bhi
Tan-o-mand bete bhi, abba myan bhi
Ye biwi bhi hai, aur bahen bhi hai Maa bhi
Kahan hain, kahan hain, muhafiz khudi k


Madad chaahti hai ye Hawwa ki beti
Yashoda ki hum-jins, Raadha ki beti
Payambar ki ummat, Zulekha ki beti
Kahan hain, kahan hain, muhafiz khudi k


Zara mulk ke rehbaron ko bulao
Ye kooche ye galiyaan ye manzar dikhao
Jinhe naaz hai hind par unko lao
Jinhe naaz hai Hind par wo kahan hai
Kahan hain, kahan hain, kahan hain