मणिपुर की बेटियां

सुनो मैतेई, सफ़र जितना अनजाना हो, उतना खुद को जानना ज़रूरी है

Listen Meitei, the more unfamiliar this journey, the more you need to know yourself

अगर तुम्हारी राह में सदियों की यादें हों, तो मिट्टी को मानना ज़रूरी है

If in your path there are centuries of memories, then you must acknowledge this land

देखो मैतेई, आसमां न हंसता है न रोता है, सिर्फ धरती पर नज़र रखता है

Look Meitei, the sky does not laugh or cry, it keeps it’s eyes on the earth

वो आते जाते दौर देखता है, फिर भी अपने हर शख़्स की खबर रखता है

It looks at epochs as they come & go, but keeps a close watch on every individual 

बेशक मैतेई, उसने मणिपुर की हरियालियों में सैकड़ों को ख़ुदक़ुशी करते देखा है

Indeed Meitei, it has seen hundreds commit suicide in the green pastures of Manipur

उसने पखंगबा को नफ़रत की घाटियों से दूर, बेटियों के कदमों में सज़दा करते देखा है

It has seen Pankhagaba move away from the valleys of hate & do sajda in the footsteps of  her daughters 

कहां हैं मैतेई की आन, कहां हैं मैतेई की बान, कहाँ हैं मैतेई की शान

Where is the Meitei tradition, Where is the Meitei word, where is the Meitei pride

कहां हैं मैतेई के महल, कहां हैं मैतेई के मंदिर, कहां हैं मैतेई के मसीहे

Where are the Meitei palaces, where are the Meitei temples, where are the Meitei Messiahs

सोचो मैतेई, कहां है गांधी के सच की लाठी, कहां है टैगोर के प्रेम की गीतांजली

Think Meitei, where is Gandhi’s staff of truth, where is Tagore’s Geetanjali

सोचो मैतेई, कहां है अब्दुल हमीद का बलिदान, कहां है जेपी जैसी पहचान

Think Meitei, where is Abdul Hameed’s sacrifice, where is JP’s struggle

भूलो नही मैतेई, जमुना के रौशन किनारों पर आज मन के मैले जमघट करते हैं

Don’t forget Meitei, on the sacred banks of the Yamuna today, polluted minds congregate 

भूलो नही मैतेई, गंगा के सफेद धारों में, प्रेम नौका खेते केवट हाथ मलते हैं

Don’t forget Meitei, in the white waters of the Ganga, Kevats that steer the boat of love are helpless

जाओ तुम मैतेई प्रेम रज लेकर, मातम की गलियों में, 

भय की गुफाओं में

Go Meitei, with the dust of love, in the streets of mourning, and the caverns of fear

तुम पालनहार बन जाओ इन वनों के, इन पहाड़ों के, इन आँगनों के उजालों के

You become the guardian of these forests, these mountains, and the lights of these homes