ye shafaq-fam zard-ru afrad
salaha sal se asir-e-hayat

zinda rahne ki kuchh khushi hai inhen
na hi marne ka kuchh zara bhi malal

ye wo jaan-dar hain ki jin ke liye
lafz-e-asudgi bahisht-e-khayal

kitne bosida khal-o-khad in ke
jism bas haddiyon ka dhancha hai

ruh wirse mein jo mili in ko
ek na-mo'tabar asasa hai

kya kiya hum ne itni sadiyon mein
kya? taraqqi! jo ek dhoka hai

ek muflis gharib bechaara
kal bhi bhuka tha ab bhi bhuka hai

log ab bhi guzishta ki manind
dafn hain apni khwahishon ke tale

ye taraqqi hai ek kizb-e-mahaz
itni sadiyon mein hum nahin badle