(This article was first published on 14 January 2022. It is reposted from The Quint's archives to mark the occasion of National Farmer's Day or Kisan Diwas.)
Kaifi Azmi, whose poetry is considered the voice of the voiceless, has written extensively on the working and labour class of India. His nazms echo the struggles and challenges of this section.
In this video, The Quint's Fabeha Syed reads Kaifi Azmi's ode to farmers, his nazm, 'Kisan'.
Cheer ke saal mein do baar zami'n ka seena
Dafn ho jaata hoon
Gudgudaate hain jo suraj ke sunehre naakhun
Phir nikal aata hoon
Ab nikalta hoon to itna ki batore jo koi daaman mein
Daaman phat jaaye
Ghar ke jis kone mein le ja ke koi rakh de mujhe
Bhookh vaha'n se hat jaaye
Phir mujhe peeste hain, goondhte hain, senkte hain
Goondhne senkne mein shakl badal jaati hai
Aur ho jaati hai mushkil pahchaan
Phir bhi rahta hoon kisaan
Wohi ḳhasta, bad-hal
Qarz ke panja-e-ḳhooni mein nidhal
Is daraa'nti ke tufail
Kuchh hai maazi se ghaneemat mira haal
Haal se hoga hasee'n istiqbal
Uthte suraj ko zara dekho to
Ho gaya saara ufuq laalo'n-laal
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