Chitthi Aayi Hai English Translation

Chitthi aayi hai, translates to English as, a letter has come. A chitthi (also written chitti), is a letter. It is a song in the Hindi language and sung by Pankaj Udhas. The repetition of, a letter has come, indicates a certain level of excitement, as one would usually express when getting a letter from loved ones that you have not heard from in a long time. This is a wonderful song that applies to many Indians who find work abroad and have to leave behind loved family members. It is a difficult life for the family that is left behind, and for those trying to survive abroad. The lyrics reflect some of the feelings and difficulties that the family left behind face, and it is an awful lonesome life for all concerned.

Pankaj Udhas, being Gujarati, has this wonderful voice capable of expressing immense feeling into his lyrics, and consequently he brings life into the words he sings. The lyrics to this particular song are heart breaking to say the least. There must be many mothers and fathers in India, waiting for their sons or daughters to come back from abroad, and this song encapsulates their feelings extremely well. Remember, that after the line, andar, ye paigham likha hai, the lyrics become the message within the letter, which I thought was very clever.

The Guajarati's are one of those amazing people who work abroad all over the world. They are also one of the oldest races in India. They tend to be extremely hard working, law abiding, and peaceful people, and consequently, they are highly respected and in great demand. They work for UN, NASA, Microsoft, Google, in the UK, in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and almost anywhere that has a demand for intelligence and skills.

Meaning and Context

Peepal, a large type of tree under which people usually sit for shade.

Fasal kati, crop cutting season, harvest

Pichkari, jet of water, squirt

Paigham, message

Saat samunder, seven seas

Baisakhi or Vaisakhi, The seventh month of the Vikram year

Vatan, native land, or motherland

Vatno, native people, resident, citizen

Doli, is usually a seat on a platform carried by people. At the end of the marriage ceremony the bride is carried in this to the groom’s house.

Sawan ke jhule pade, meet in spring

English Translation

Chitthi aayi hai!

A letter has come.

Chitthi aayi hai, vatan se.

A letter has come, from our native land.

Bade dino ke baad, hum bevatno ko yaad,

After so many days, they remembered us,

vatan ki, mitti aayi hai.

soil of our motherland, has come.

Upar mera, naam likha hai,

Above it, my name is written,

andar, ye paigham likha hai.

inside, it had this message.

O’ pardes ko jane wale,

Dear those who go outside of the country,

laut ke phir na, aane wale.

who may never return again.

Saat samundar par gaya tu,

You have gone to the other side of the seven seas,

hum ko zinda, maar gaya tu.

though we are alive, we are now dead to you.

Khoon ke rishte, todd gaya tu,

The connection of blood, you have broken,

aankh mein aansoo, chod gaya tu.

tears in our eyes, you left us with.

Kam khate hai, kam sote hai,

We eat less, and sleep less,

bahut jyada, hum rote hain.

but most of all, we cry a lot.

Sooni ho gayi, shehar ki galiyan,

empty has become, the streets of the town,

the streets of the town have become empty,

kante ban gayi, baag ki kaliyan.

the flowers of the garden have become thorns.

Kehte hain, sawan ke jhule pade,

You said that we would meet in the spring,

bhool gaya tu, hum nahi bhoole.

(however), you forgot, but I did not forget.

Tere bin, jab, aayi diwali,

Without you, when diwali came,

deep nahin, dil, jalta hain khali.

it was not the flame, but our empty hearts that burned.

Tere bin, jab aayi holi

Without you, when holi came

pichkari se, chooti goli.

the jets of water felt like released bullets.

Peepal soona, panghat soona,

The shade (under the peepal tree) is lonely, and the river bank lonely,

ghar shamshan ka bana namoonah.

Your absence has made the home into a kind of graveyard.

Fasal kati, aayi baisakhi,

crop cutting season over, baisakhi has come,

tera aana, reh gaya baaki.

(only) your returning, still remains left.

Pehle jab tu, khat likhta tha,

When you first, wrote the letters,

kagaj mein, chehra dikhta tha.

On the paper, I could see your face.

Bandha hua, yeh mel bhi ab to,

Even this has stopped,

khatam hua, yeh khel bhi ab to.

ended our exchange of letters have too.

Doli mein, jab baithi behna,

In the doli (chair), when you sister sat,

rasta dekh rahe, the naina.

her eyes kept looking on the road (for you).

Mein to baap hoon, mera kya hai,

I am just a dad, what is it to me,

teri maa ka, haal bura hai.

(but) your mother’s condition is bad.

Teri biwi, karti hai seva,

Your wife is attending/caring (for your mother),

soorat se, lagti, hai bewa,

from her face, she looks like a widow.

Tune paisa, bahut kamaya,

You have earned plenty of money

iss paise nai, desh chudaya.

this money has, has taken you from your country.

Desh paraya, chhod ke aaja,

Leave this strange country and come back,

panchi pinjra, tod ke aaja.

break this bird cage and come back.

Aa jaa, umar bahut hai chote,

Come back, (your) age is very small,

apne ghar mein, bhi hai roti.

our house too has roti (food).