Progressive · 1905–1948 · Tonk – Lahore
Muhammad Daud Khan, known as Akhtar Sheerani, was the great romantic of his generation, writing in the years of the Progressive movement though never bound to its politics. His nazms to “Salma” and “O Desh se Aane Wale Bata” made youthful longing his lasting theme. He died young in Lahore, mourned as a pure lyric voice.
ai ishq hamein barbaad na kar barbaad na kar
ik dil hai hamaare paas magar naashaad na kar
vo aaye to har raat sitaaron mein dhal jaaye
vo bhool bhi jaaye to magar yaad na jaaye
mohabbat ke afsaane likhe hain meri jawaani ne
har ek lafz mein chhupi ek aansoo ki kahaani hai
vo chaand si soorat meri raaton mein utar aaye
main neend se jaag uThoon to bas uska khayaal aaye
gul ki tarah khilta hai tera naam mere lab par
aur baagh-e-tasavvur mein bahaar aane lagti hai
judaai ki shaamein kaTen to kaise kaTen
tere bagair to din bhi andheri raat lage
umeed ka daaman ab bhi thaame hue hoon main
ki tu aayega kisi roz meri taraf phir se
ye dard-e-jawaani bhi ajab rang dikhaata hai
har gham mein bhi ik chaashni si ghuli rehti hai