Chingari Koi Bhadke English Translation

Chingari koi bhadke... translates to English as, (If) anyone lights a flame... It was a song from the 1972 film Amar Prem, and sung by Kishor Kumar. If the very people who are supposed to be your support are the ones that create the problems and do the exact opposite to what they were supposed to, then to whom can one turn to? The lyrics highlight this dilemma through various example analogies and metaphors that many people can relate to. These are mainly three line verses that continue from each line; hence you need to read all of them for the set to make sense. This approximate translation is about what this song means to me.

Meaning and Context

Chingari, spark, flame

Patjhar (Hindi), autumn, in Urdu you might say khezaan or khariif

Maanjhi, boatman, or the man who controls the boat

Naao (Urdu), boat. In Hindi it is also known as kashti, and naiya. In Arabic it is qarib taken from the Greek karabos.

Baagh, garden. Other words are bustaan (Urdu), or chaman

Bahaar, spring. In Arabic it is zanbarak

Zor (Hindi), strength. In Gujarati it is Jor, strong, brave. In Arabic it similar to jarua, which approximates to bold or daring.

Duboye, drown. Similar words include duubana, duba, and gharq hona

Mauj, wave, similar to hilkora or laher

Ujaade, wither, similar to the Urdu khushk

Bujhaaye, extinguish, put it out, or quench

Tufaan, flood, or storm. In Chinese it becomes tai-fu. In Urdu you might say talaatum. In Arabic it becomes ttufan.

Qissah (Urdu), story. It is similar to kahani (Hindi), or daastaan

Ghaaw (Hindi), wounds to the soul. It is similar to the Guajarati words ghaa or aghhat

Dosh (Hindi), fault

Toota (Hindi), broke. But in this context it sounds so much dramatic to say, torn into a thousand pieces...

Mandir, temple, however in this context it means the heart. Colloquially the heart is also referred to as mandir, which is the temple of your soul. Hence we can cancel that out and simplify it to a direct meaning, soul.

English Translation

Chingari koi bhadke,

(If) anyone lights a flame,

toh saawan use bujhaye,

then the rain will put it out,

saawan jo agan lagaaye, use kaun bujhaaye?

but (what) if the rain burns (everything), then who can put it out?

Patjhar jo baag ujaade,

If the autumn withers the garden,

woh baag bahaar khilaaye,

(then) spring makes that garden blossom,

jo baag bahaar mein ujadee, use kaun khilaaye?

but if the garden withers in the spring, then who will make it blossom?

Humse mat puchho kaise,

Do not ask me how,

mandir tootaa sapno ka,

the dreams of (my) soul were torn (into a thousand pieces),

logo ki baat nahi hai,

it is not about (what) others (did to me),

yeh qissah hai apno ka.

this story is about (what) my very own (did).

Koi dushman thess lagaaye,

If an enemy inflicts wound upon your heart,

toh meet jiya behlaaye,

then a friend heals your soul,

man-meet joh ghaaw lagaaye, use kaun mitaaye?

but if your soul-mate wounds you (too), then who can heal you.

Na jaane, kya ho jaata,

I don’t know, what is going to happen (next),

jaane hum, kya kar jaate,

I (only) know, what I have to keep doing,

peete hain toh zinda hai,

I am alive (only) because of drinking,

na peete toh mar jaate.

(if) I didn’t, then I would die.

Duniya jo, pyasa rakhe,

If the world, keeps you thirsty,

toh madira pyaas bujhaaye,

then wine quenches that thirst,

madira jo, pyaas lagaaye, use kaun bujhaaye?

(however), if the wine, makes you thirsty, then who can quench it?

Manaa tufaan ke aage,

Consider a storm (directly) ahead,

nahi chalta zor kisi ka,

(and) nobody's bravery is sufficient,

maujo ka dosh nahi hai,

(then) it is not the fault of the waves,

ye dosh hain aur kisi ka.

this fault is of those others.

Majhdhaar mein naiya dole,

(When) a boat starts rolling in the middle of the sea,

toh maanjhi paar lagaaye,

a (skilful) boatman brings it (safely) to the other side,

maanjhi jo naao duboye, use kaun bachaye?

but if the boatman drowns the boat, then who can save it?