In Praise of Resistance Against All Injustice

In memory of all victims of injustice. Injustice in the form of physical violence, as in wars, genocides, state-terrorism, and terrorism in general that target innocent people . Their crime? Either they belonged to a marginalized group or they dared to speak truth to power and resist injustice.

Injustice in the form of honor killing, gang rape, and domestic violence. Injustice imposed and justified in the name of God, religion, and tradition for the political and personal gains of a few.

Injustice in the form of emotional violence, including the incitement of hatred among people of different faiths and ethnicities and the desecration of religious symbols and sites.

Injustice in the form of structural violence, as in poverty, illiteracy, hunger, and lack of basic necessities of life.

To the victims and to the brave souls who resist against any and all forms of injustice, on this anniversary of the war that was imposed on Lebanon by Israel in July 2006, I dedicate Sahir Ludianvi's Khun Phir Khun Hai:

Khun Phir Khun Hai

Zulm phir zulm hai, baRhta hai to mitt jata hai
Khun phir khun hai, tapkay ga to jum jaiga

Oppression is still oppression;
It is wiped off when it exceeds its limit.
The blood is still blood;
When it is dropped, it stains.

Khak-i-Sehra pay jamay yaa kaf-e-qatil pay jamay
Firq-e-insaaf pay yaa pai-e-silasal pay jamay
Taigh-i-baydad pay, yaa lash-e-bismil pay jamay
Khun phir khun hai, tapkay ga to jum jaiga

Whether it stains the desert sand
Or the hands of the killer;
Whether it stains the head of justice,
Or the feet of chains;
Whether it stains the sword of injustice
Or the corpse of a martyr;
The blood is still blood;
When it is dropped, it stains.

Lakh BeThay koi chup chup key kamein gahon mein
Khun khud deta hai jalladon key maskan ka suragh
Sazishen lakh aurati rahain zulmat ka niqaab
Ley ke har boond nikalti hai hatheli par chirag

They may lurk in hiding places,
But the blood will always lead to the
tyrants.
Conspiracies may do their best
To shroud the truth in darkness,
But every drop of blood
Will carry a lamp on its palm.

zulm ki qismat-e-nakara-o-ruswa say kaho
jabar ki hikmat-e-parkar ke emaan say kaho
muhmil-e-majlis-e-aqwaam ki laila say kaho
khun dewana hai daman main tapak sakta hai
shula-e-tund hai khirman pay lapak sakta hai

Go and tell the obsolete and vain
fate of oppression,
Go and tell the intentions
of tyranny’s cunning wisdom,
That the blood is mad,
Can pounce on your lap;
That the flame is fierce,
Can scorch your harvest.

Tum ne jis khun ko maqtal main dabana chaha
Aaj wo kucha-o-bazaar main Aa nikla hai
Kahin Shola, kahin na’rah, kahin patthar ban ke
Khun chalta hai to rukta nahin sangeeno se
Sar uThta hai to dubta nahin aa’eenon se

The blood you wanted to bury
In the shambles,
Has come out in the streets:
As a flame somewhere,
As a shout, a stone somewhere else.
When the blood marches,
It can’t be stopped by bayonets.
When it raises its head,
It can’t be cowed by repressive laws.

Zulm ki baat hi kya, zulm ki auqaat hi kya
Zulm bass zulm hai aaghaaz se anjaam talak
Khun phir khun hai, sau Shakal badal sakta hai
Aisi Shaklein kah mitao to mitaye na bane
Aisey Sholey keh bhujao to bhujae na bane
Aisey narey keh dabao to dabaye na bane!

Oppression is a non-entity,
Worth nothing.
Oppression is only oppression
From the beginning to the end.
The blood is still blood;
It can assume many forms:
Images that can’t be erased,
Flames that can’t be put out,
Shouts that can’t be suppressed.

(Translation by Baidar Bakh)