Tori soorat kay balihaari, Nijaam
Tori soorat kay balihaari.
Sab sakhiyan mein chundar meri mailee,
Dekh hansain nar naari, Nijaam……..
Ab ke bahar chundar meri rang de,
Piya rakh lay laaj hamari, Nijaam……
Sadqa baba Ganj Shakar ka,
Rakh lay laaj hamari, Nijaam……..
Qutab, Farid mil aaye barati,
‘Khusrau’ raajdulaari, Nijaam…….
Kouo saas kouo nanad say jhagday,
Hamko aas tihaari, Nijaam…..
Tori soorat kay balihaari, Nijaam.
Translation-
Beholding your appearance, Oh Nijaam
I offer myself in sacrifice.
Amongst all the girls, my scarf is the most soiled,
Look, the girls are laughing at me.
This spring, please dye my scarf for me,
Oh Nijaam, protect my honour.
In the name of Ganj-e Shakar (Nizamuddin Aulia’s pir),
Protect my honour, Oh beloved Nijaam.
Qutab and Farid have come in the wedding procession,
And Khusrau is the loving bride, Oh Nijaam.
Some have to fight with the mother-in-law,
While some with sisters-in-law,
But I have you for support, Oh Nijaam
A 14th century Indian poet who wrote both in Persian and Hindi, a classic of Hindustani music.