With a hundred prides, a hundred glories and teasing of freedom, 

Freedom’s long tresses have been set free and dishevelled. 

The moon and stars sing songs of Freedom; 

The country has played the lute of Freedom in this way:

.

The age dances; life is a singer of songs.

.

On each forehead a wave of Freedom’s light;

In every eye, the intoxication of Freedom;

Slavery touches its head to the ground before Freedom;

Every palace is like the glory of Sinai, for:

.

Every balcony displays a gold-spangled flag.

.

In every direction stand jasmine-bodied people;

The moon and stars have come through the door to the balcony

Creating such a flood of light that people cannot look up.

With a hundred prides, the land of India,

The playground of gazelles, is laughing at the heavens.

Tell the stars and heavens to dance; 

Beautiful people should dance;

Sombre members in the assembly of the wise should frolic;

It is the time for joy; they should dance fearlessly,

For this spring is the messenger of hundreds of springs.

This is the news of revolution, not revolution; 

This is the reflection of the sun, not the sun. 

This passionate attempt, with unmatched intensity,

Is yet to be fulfilled:

.

This is not the end; it is the beginning of the work of humanity. 

     1948-49

 

           .

From: Āhang (Melody; 1938). Dihlī: Āzād Kitāb Ghar. 1956. pp. 148 – 49

Pahlā jashn-i āzādi is quoted in full in Urdu Poetry, 1935-1970