The story goes that poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz had just been released from prison after serving a term for his influential views on communism in Pakistan. Noor Jehan, or Madamji, as she was addressed, stood outside, waiting for the poet to appear.
https://youtu.be/iaVI4U1Trtw
The party of friends and family that had gathered to celebrate moved to his house to rejoice. Faiz, who had spent his time in jail listening to her songs on the radio, requested her to sing.
https://youtu.be/F3OUmz7Rqr8
One of the songs she sang was based on his nazm, Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat Mere Mehboob Na Maang. She composed a tune for it on the spot without the use of any musical instrument. The musical quality of her rendition mesmerised everyone. Faiz would later credit her as the co-author of his poem because he believed no one could sing it with such perfection. Not even him!
Later, when the song was composed and filmed for Qaidi (1962) it further cemented her ownership of it. It was an instant hit. She could sing both high and low but her voice never once faltered.
This song is a soul filled with sadness and joy together ……. describing freedom and fight between two bodies but one soul….. INDIA & PAKISTAN….. the love for that ONE soul will never return. That partition is what this song is all about…..
This poem has nothing to do with “freedom and fight between two bodies but one soul….. INDIA & PAKISTAN” as you describe. It is about love and attention needed by the sufferings of humanity, the love that the poet no longer can give to his beloved (or the pleasures of this world). اور بھی دکھ ہیں زمانے میں محبّت کے سوا is the central message
This famous ghazal of Faiz Ahmed Faiz is focused on the “Wisdom of Suffering” rgar: When there is no choice other than suffering, the only way out is “enjoy suffering” and start the process of dreaming up new ideas! Suffering is a KEY that opens LOCKED doors. MIRZA ASHRAF
Beautifully described the real meaning of this Gazal
Pakistani actress Hina Khabhja Bayat mentioned in an interview that this poem was about the suffering of Palestinians.