A Translation by Zahra Nizami Nazir Akbarabadi (1801-1868) lived in Agra, the city where Taj Mahal is located. He never achieved the name and fame like other Urdu poets and literary figures of his time, since his works were not published in his lifetime. Nazir shunned the company of the idle rich. He was a poet for ordinary folks. While making smoking pipes and engraving woodwork, he even more keenly observed human affairs and turned his observations in rhyme. Folks would gather in the evening at his shop and he would share his composition with them. Sometimes on a holiday, the company would expand into crowds. In his days, Urdu poetry was mostly about sensual love, infidelity of the beloved, descriptions of feminine beauty or masculine handsomeness. Nazir broke new ground. He chose human affairs and natural scenery as the main subjects of his poetry. The poem "Aadmi" by Nazir Akbarabadi portrays the varied, and sometimes contradictory, traits of mankind. This poem has been chosen to convey the import and message of Nazir with some semblance of compatibility to the original. Mankind
The mighty king
Powerful and majestic is a man.
A poor weakling
Lean and sick is also a man.
Dining voracious
To gut his gout
Starving, nibbling
On crumbs and sprouts is also a man.
Seated up on a high pedestal,
Covered with tinsel as idols of old,
Nailed with jewels, wrapped in silk,
Drowned hapless in a sea of gold is also a man.
Laboring hard, honest and courteous
Pearls of sweat on his cheek
His dress darned and patched
With an occasional peak is also a man.
Lifting a dagger of shiny glow,
Piercing it in with a hard blow,
Drawing it out in a crimson flow
Snatching the purse of an old widow is also a man.
Loving and caring, not for gain
Defending, saving with might and main
Rushing headlong to the rescue,
In blizzard or in rain is also a man.
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