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ilzaam hi to hai-kaanti mohan soz
For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
https://urdushahkar.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/kms-ilzaam-hii-to-hai-audio.mp3
Recitation
الزام ہی تو ہے ۔ کانتی موہن سوزؔ
۱
ابھی فردِ گنہ میں صِرف اپنا نام ہی تو ہے
ابھی مجرم کہاں ہیں ہم پہ اِک الزام ہی تو ہے
۲
ہمارے پاس آنے سے نہ ڈر تو اس قدر ناصح
ہمارے ہاتھ میں خنجر نہیں ہے جام ہی تو ہے
۳
یہ کل اپنی تپِش سے ظلمتوں کو چاک کر دے گا
ابھی ڈوبا کہاں ہے دل قریبِ شام ہی تو ہے
۴
شفا ہے دور، اپنی کامیابی پر نہ ہو نازاں
مداوے سے ترے بندے کو کچھ آرام ہی تو ہے
۵
کلامِ سوزؔ کا کیا ذکر ہو یاروں کی محفل میں
ابھی رن کا نہیں ڈنکا محض پیغام ہی تو ہے
इल्ज़ाम ही तो है – कान्ति मोहन ‘सोज़’
१
अभी फ़र्द-ए गुनह में सिर्फ़ अपना नाम ही तो है
अभी मुज्रिम कहाँ हैं, हम पे एक इल्ज़ाम ही तो है
२
हमारे पास आने से न डर तू इस क़दर नासे’ह
हमारे हाथ में ख़ंजर नहीं है, जाम ही तो है
३
ये कल अपनी तपिश से ज़ुल्मतों को चाक कर देगा
अभी डूबा कहाँ है दिल, क़रीब-ए शाम ही तो है
४
शिफ़ा है दूर, अपनी कामयाबी पर न हो नाज़ाँ
मुदावा से तेरे बंदे को कुछ आराम ही तो है
५
कलाम-ए सोज़ का क्या ज़िक्र हो यारों की महफ़िल में
अभी रन का नहीं डंका, महज़ पैग़ाम ही तो है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. soz-kanti mohan (1935-xxxx), muraadabad and dehli. His life is illustrative of prevailing bigotry and the pull of urdu. His father went to school only up to 4th grade but read a lot – urdu, faarsi, hindi and sanskrit. His father wanted him to learn faarsi and urdu; was staunchly against communalism but the son joined RSS before 6th grade and was dead set against urdu. Never learnt urdu script. However his diction and pronunciation of urdu was strictly enforced by his urdu loving father. He got a PhD in hindi but his father was unhappy and considered him uneducated. During his PhD, he taught at a college, befriended a couple of urdu teachers, his love of urdu language surfaced, he got disillusioned with RSS and left the saNgh. First memory of poetic composition 1948 with many nazm on gandhi. Read classical shu’araa in naagiri script. BA in muradabad, MA and PhD in dehli. Joined the communist party (marxist) in 1964. Dedicates his book to ranadive, calling him ‘the greatest advocate of the democratic rights of urdu language’. He had published writings, which he classifies as urdu, in hindi magazines where it was largely ignored. Finally, his friends persuaded him to compile his Ghazal which he got published in urdu script, in 1990, even if he himself could not read or write it. Also see faiz ahmed faiz ‘ilzaam hii to hai’.
1
abhi fard-e-gunah1 meN sirf2 apna naam hii to hai
abhi mujrim3 kahaaN haiN, hum pe ek ilzaam4 hii to hai 1.charge sheet of sins 2.only 3.convicted, criminal 4.accusation, blame
Right now, it’s only our name on the charge sheet, nothing more. We’re not proven criminals yet; it’s just an accusation. This could be a statement of calm defiance and refusal to accept guilt (or a refusal to recognize whatever he has done as a crime, asserting that it is fully justified). This could also be a statement that says … they have only accused us so far, just wait and see what kind of justice they carry out. In both cases, it is an assertion of innocence, not necessarily a denial of their actions.
2
hamaare paas aane se na Dar1 tuu is qadar2 naaseh3
hamaare haath meN Khanjar4 nahiiN hai, jaam5 hii to hai 1.fear 2.so much 3.moralizer, preacher 4.dagger 5.wine goblet
Don’t be so afraid to come near us, O preacher. We don’t carry a dagger, just a wine cup. This couplet challenges moral hypocrisy and fear of nonconformists. The poet isn’t a threat, just a seeker of beauty or truth (symbolized by jaam). Yet, society treats even such harmless rebellion with suspicion.
3
ye kal apni tapish1 se zulmatoN2 ko chaak3 kar dega
abhi Dooba4 kahaaN hai dil, qariib-e-shaam5 hii to hai 1.burning, heat, fire 2.darkness 3.tear apart 4.drowned 5.near evening (twilight)
Tomorrow, this (heart) will tear through darkness with its fire. It hasn’t drowned yet, it’s only near dusk. The poet urges hope and endurance. Darkness (injustice or despair) may be near, but the heart still burns, and its fire will bring light. Evening isn’t the end, it precedes a new dawn.
4
shifaa1 hai duur2, apni kaamyaabi3 par na ho naazaaN4
mudaava5 se tere bande6 ko kuchh aaraam7 hii to hai 1.cure, healing 2.far 3.(temporary) success 4.proud 5.treatment/remedy 6.servant/devotee 7.rest/relief
The cure is still far off, don’t boast of your success just yet. Your remedy has brought the devotee only temporary relief. This is probably addressed to the people in power. A jab at arrogant rulers, healers, or reformers who celebrate small victories, superficial reforms. The poet reminds them: the disease (injustice, suffering) still exists; the real solution is far off. Don’t take credit too soon.
5
kalaam1-e soz2 ka kya zikr3 ho yaaroN4 ki mahfil5 meN
abhi runn6 ka nahiiN DaNka7, mahz8 paiGhaam9 hii to hai 1.speech, poetry 2.pen-name 3.mention, talk about 4.friends 5.gathering 6.battle 7.drums, declaration 8.merely 9.message
Why even bring up soz’s poetry in this gathering of friends? The war hasn’t begun yet, right now it’s just a message. The implication is that this is just the beginning of resistance and that the poetry of soz will get more fiery later. The battlefield of truth or revolution hasn’t been entered yet. But the message is here, and it will grow.
soz-kanti mohan (1935-xxxx), muraadabad and dehli. His life is illustrative of prevailing bigotry and the pull of urdu. His father went to school only up to 4th grade but read a lot – urdu, faarsi, hindi and sanskrit. His father wanted him to learn faarsi and urdu; was staunchly against communalism but the son joined RSS before 6th grade and was dead set against urdu. Never learnt urdu script. However his diction and pronunciation of urdu was strictly enforced by his urdu loving father. He got a PhD in hindi but his father was unhappy and considered him uneducated. During his PhD, he taught at a college, befriended a couple of urdu teachers, his love of urdu language surfaced, he got disillusioned with RSS and left the saNgh. First memory of poetic composition 1948 with many nazm on gandhi. Read classical shu’araa in naagiri script. BA in muradabad, MA and PhD in dehli. Joined the communist party (marxist) in 1964. Dedicates his book to ranadive, calling him ‘the greatest advocate of the democratic rights of urdu language’. He had published writings, which he classifies as urdu, in hindi magazines where it was largely ignored. Finally, his friends persuaded him to compile his Ghazal which he got published in urdu script, in 1990, even if he himself could not read or write it. Also see faiz ahmed faiz ‘ilzaam hii to hai’.
1
abhi fard-e-gunah1 meN sirf2 apna naam hii to hai
abhi mujrim3 kahaaN haiN, hum pe ek ilzaam4 hii to hai
1.charge sheet of sins 2.only 3.convicted, criminal 4.accusation, blame
Right now, it’s only our name on the charge sheet, nothing more. We’re not proven criminals yet; it’s just an accusation. This could be a statement of calm defiance and refusal to accept guilt (or a refusal to recognize whatever he has done as a crime, asserting that it is fully justified). This could also be a statement that says … they have only accused us so far, just wait and see what kind of justice they carry out. In both cases, it is an assertion of innocence, not necessarily a denial of their actions.
2
hamaare paas aane se na Dar1 tuu is qadar2 naaseh3
hamaare haath meN Khanjar4 nahiiN hai, jaam5 hii to hai
1.fear 2.so much 3.moralizer, preacher 4.dagger 5.wine goblet
Don’t be so afraid to come near us, O preacher. We don’t carry a dagger, just a wine cup. This couplet challenges moral hypocrisy and fear of nonconformists. The poet isn’t a threat, just a seeker of beauty or truth (symbolized by jaam). Yet, society treats even such harmless rebellion with suspicion.
3
ye kal apni tapish1 se zulmatoN2 ko chaak3 kar dega
abhi Dooba4 kahaaN hai dil, qariib-e-shaam5 hii to hai
1.burning, heat, fire 2.darkness 3.tear apart 4.drowned 5.near evening (twilight)
Tomorrow, this (heart) will tear through darkness with its fire. It hasn’t drowned yet, it’s only near dusk. The poet urges hope and endurance. Darkness (injustice or despair) may be near, but the heart still burns, and its fire will bring light. Evening isn’t the end, it precedes a new dawn.
4
shifaa1 hai duur2, apni kaamyaabi3 par na ho naazaaN4
mudaava5 se tere bande6 ko kuchh aaraam7 hii to hai
1.cure, healing 2.far 3.(temporary) success 4.proud 5.treatment/remedy 6.servant/devotee 7.rest/relief
The cure is still far off, don’t boast of your success just yet. Your remedy has brought the devotee only temporary relief. This is probably addressed to the people in power. A jab at arrogant rulers, healers, or reformers who celebrate small victories, superficial reforms. The poet reminds them: the disease (injustice, suffering) still exists; the real solution is far off. Don’t take credit too soon.
5
kalaam1-e soz2 ka kya zikr3 ho yaaroN4 ki mahfil5 meN
abhi runn6 ka nahiiN DaNka7, mahz8 paiGhaam9 hii to hai
1.speech, poetry 2.pen-name 3.mention, talk about 4.friends 5.gathering 6.battle 7.drums, declaration 8.merely 9.message
Why even bring up soz’s poetry in this gathering of friends? The war hasn’t begun yet, right now it’s just a message. The implication is that this is just the beginning of resistance and that the poetry of soz will get more fiery later. The battlefield of truth or revolution hasn’t been entered yet. But the message is here, and it will grow.
The post ilzaam hi to hai-kaanti mohan soz appeared first on UrduShahkar.
View all episodes
For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
https://urdushahkar.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/kms-ilzaam-hii-to-hai-audio.mp3
Recitation
الزام ہی تو ہے ۔ کانتی موہن سوزؔ
۱
ابھی فردِ گنہ میں صِرف اپنا نام ہی تو ہے
ابھی مجرم کہاں ہیں ہم پہ اِک الزام ہی تو ہے
۲
ہمارے پاس آنے سے نہ ڈر تو اس قدر ناصح
ہمارے ہاتھ میں خنجر نہیں ہے جام ہی تو ہے
۳
یہ کل اپنی تپِش سے ظلمتوں کو چاک کر دے گا
ابھی ڈوبا کہاں ہے دل قریبِ شام ہی تو ہے
۴
شفا ہے دور، اپنی کامیابی پر نہ ہو نازاں
مداوے سے ترے بندے کو کچھ آرام ہی تو ہے
۵
کلامِ سوزؔ کا کیا ذکر ہو یاروں کی محفل میں
ابھی رن کا نہیں ڈنکا محض پیغام ہی تو ہے
इल्ज़ाम ही तो है – कान्ति मोहन ‘सोज़’
१
अभी फ़र्द-ए गुनह में सिर्फ़ अपना नाम ही तो है
अभी मुज्रिम कहाँ हैं, हम पे एक इल्ज़ाम ही तो है
२
हमारे पास आने से न डर तू इस क़दर नासे’ह
हमारे हाथ में ख़ंजर नहीं है, जाम ही तो है
३
ये कल अपनी तपिश से ज़ुल्मतों को चाक कर देगा
अभी डूबा कहाँ है दिल, क़रीब-ए शाम ही तो है
४
शिफ़ा है दूर, अपनी कामयाबी पर न हो नाज़ाँ
मुदावा से तेरे बंदे को कुछ आराम ही तो है
५
कलाम-ए सोज़ का क्या ज़िक्र हो यारों की महफ़िल में
अभी रन का नहीं डंका, महज़ पैग़ाम ही तो है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. soz-kanti mohan (1935-xxxx), muraadabad and dehli. His life is illustrative of prevailing bigotry and the pull of urdu. His father went to school only up to 4th grade but read a lot – urdu, faarsi, hindi and sanskrit. His father wanted him to learn faarsi and urdu; was staunchly against communalism but the son joined RSS before 6th grade and was dead set against urdu. Never learnt urdu script. However his diction and pronunciation of urdu was strictly enforced by his urdu loving father. He got a PhD in hindi but his father was unhappy and considered him uneducated. During his PhD, he taught at a college, befriended a couple of urdu teachers, his love of urdu language surfaced, he got disillusioned with RSS and left the saNgh. First memory of poetic composition 1948 with many nazm on gandhi. Read classical shu’araa in naagiri script. BA in muradabad, MA and PhD in dehli. Joined the communist party (marxist) in 1964. Dedicates his book to ranadive, calling him ‘the greatest advocate of the democratic rights of urdu language’. He had published writings, which he classifies as urdu, in hindi magazines where it was largely ignored. Finally, his friends persuaded him to compile his Ghazal which he got published in urdu script, in 1990, even if he himself could not read or write it. Also see faiz ahmed faiz ‘ilzaam hii to hai’.
1
abhi fard-e-gunah1 meN sirf2 apna naam hii to hai
abhi mujrim3 kahaaN haiN, hum pe ek ilzaam4 hii to hai 1.charge sheet of sins 2.only 3.convicted, criminal 4.accusation, blame
Right now, it’s only our name on the charge sheet, nothing more. We’re not proven criminals yet; it’s just an accusation. This could be a statement of calm defiance and refusal to accept guilt (or a refusal to recognize whatever he has done as a crime, asserting that it is fully justified). This could also be a statement that says … they have only accused us so far, just wait and see what kind of justice they carry out. In both cases, it is an assertion of innocence, not necessarily a denial of their actions.
2
hamaare paas aane se na Dar1 tuu is qadar2 naaseh3
hamaare haath meN Khanjar4 nahiiN hai, jaam5 hii to hai 1.fear 2.so much 3.moralizer, preacher 4.dagger 5.wine goblet
Don’t be so afraid to come near us, O preacher. We don’t carry a dagger, just a wine cup. This couplet challenges moral hypocrisy and fear of nonconformists. The poet isn’t a threat, just a seeker of beauty or truth (symbolized by jaam). Yet, society treats even such harmless rebellion with suspicion.
3
ye kal apni tapish1 se zulmatoN2 ko chaak3 kar dega
abhi Dooba4 kahaaN hai dil, qariib-e-shaam5 hii to hai 1.burning, heat, fire 2.darkness 3.tear apart 4.drowned 5.near evening (twilight)
Tomorrow, this (heart) will tear through darkness with its fire. It hasn’t drowned yet, it’s only near dusk. The poet urges hope and endurance. Darkness (injustice or despair) may be near, but the heart still burns, and its fire will bring light. Evening isn’t the end, it precedes a new dawn.
4
shifaa1 hai duur2, apni kaamyaabi3 par na ho naazaaN4
mudaava5 se tere bande6 ko kuchh aaraam7 hii to hai 1.cure, healing 2.far 3.(temporary) success 4.proud 5.treatment/remedy 6.servant/devotee 7.rest/relief
The cure is still far off, don’t boast of your success just yet. Your remedy has brought the devotee only temporary relief. This is probably addressed to the people in power. A jab at arrogant rulers, healers, or reformers who celebrate small victories, superficial reforms. The poet reminds them: the disease (injustice, suffering) still exists; the real solution is far off. Don’t take credit too soon.
5
kalaam1-e soz2 ka kya zikr3 ho yaaroN4 ki mahfil5 meN
abhi runn6 ka nahiiN DaNka7, mahz8 paiGhaam9 hii to hai 1.speech, poetry 2.pen-name 3.mention, talk about 4.friends 5.gathering 6.battle 7.drums, declaration 8.merely 9.message
Why even bring up soz’s poetry in this gathering of friends? The war hasn’t begun yet, right now it’s just a message. The implication is that this is just the beginning of resistance and that the poetry of soz will get more fiery later. The battlefield of truth or revolution hasn’t been entered yet. But the message is here, and it will grow.
soz-kanti mohan (1935-xxxx), muraadabad and dehli. His life is illustrative of prevailing bigotry and the pull of urdu. His father went to school only up to 4th grade but read a lot – urdu, faarsi, hindi and sanskrit. His father wanted him to learn faarsi and urdu; was staunchly against communalism but the son joined RSS before 6th grade and was dead set against urdu. Never learnt urdu script. However his diction and pronunciation of urdu was strictly enforced by his urdu loving father. He got a PhD in hindi but his father was unhappy and considered him uneducated. During his PhD, he taught at a college, befriended a couple of urdu teachers, his love of urdu language surfaced, he got disillusioned with RSS and left the saNgh. First memory of poetic composition 1948 with many nazm on gandhi. Read classical shu’araa in naagiri script. BA in muradabad, MA and PhD in dehli. Joined the communist party (marxist) in 1964. Dedicates his book to ranadive, calling him ‘the greatest advocate of the democratic rights of urdu language’. He had published writings, which he classifies as urdu, in hindi magazines where it was largely ignored. Finally, his friends persuaded him to compile his Ghazal which he got published in urdu script, in 1990, even if he himself could not read or write it. Also see faiz ahmed faiz ‘ilzaam hii to hai’.
1
abhi fard-e-gunah1 meN sirf2 apna naam hii to hai
abhi mujrim3 kahaaN haiN, hum pe ek ilzaam4 hii to hai
1.charge sheet of sins 2.only 3.convicted, criminal 4.accusation, blame
Right now, it’s only our name on the charge sheet, nothing more. We’re not proven criminals yet; it’s just an accusation. This could be a statement of calm defiance and refusal to accept guilt (or a refusal to recognize whatever he has done as a crime, asserting that it is fully justified). This could also be a statement that says … they have only accused us so far, just wait and see what kind of justice they carry out. In both cases, it is an assertion of innocence, not necessarily a denial of their actions.
2
hamaare paas aane se na Dar1 tuu is qadar2 naaseh3
hamaare haath meN Khanjar4 nahiiN hai, jaam5 hii to hai
1.fear 2.so much 3.moralizer, preacher 4.dagger 5.wine goblet
Don’t be so afraid to come near us, O preacher. We don’t carry a dagger, just a wine cup. This couplet challenges moral hypocrisy and fear of nonconformists. The poet isn’t a threat, just a seeker of beauty or truth (symbolized by jaam). Yet, society treats even such harmless rebellion with suspicion.
3
ye kal apni tapish1 se zulmatoN2 ko chaak3 kar dega
abhi Dooba4 kahaaN hai dil, qariib-e-shaam5 hii to hai
1.burning, heat, fire 2.darkness 3.tear apart 4.drowned 5.near evening (twilight)
Tomorrow, this (heart) will tear through darkness with its fire. It hasn’t drowned yet, it’s only near dusk. The poet urges hope and endurance. Darkness (injustice or despair) may be near, but the heart still burns, and its fire will bring light. Evening isn’t the end, it precedes a new dawn.
4
shifaa1 hai duur2, apni kaamyaabi3 par na ho naazaaN4
mudaava5 se tere bande6 ko kuchh aaraam7 hii to hai
1.cure, healing 2.far 3.(temporary) success 4.proud 5.treatment/remedy 6.servant/devotee 7.rest/relief
The cure is still far off, don’t boast of your success just yet. Your remedy has brought the devotee only temporary relief. This is probably addressed to the people in power. A jab at arrogant rulers, healers, or reformers who celebrate small victories, superficial reforms. The poet reminds them: the disease (injustice, suffering) still exists; the real solution is far off. Don’t take credit too soon.
5
kalaam1-e soz2 ka kya zikr3 ho yaaroN4 ki mahfil5 meN
abhi runn6 ka nahiiN DaNka7, mahz8 paiGhaam9 hii to hai
1.speech, poetry 2.pen-name 3.mention, talk about 4.friends 5.gathering 6.battle 7.drums, declaration 8.merely 9.message
Why even bring up soz’s poetry in this gathering of friends? The war hasn’t begun yet, right now it’s just a message. The implication is that this is just the beginning of resistance and that the poetry of soz will get more fiery later. The battlefield of truth or revolution hasn’t been entered yet. But the message is here, and it will grow.
The post ilzaam hi to hai-kaanti mohan soz appeared first on UrduShahkar.