By Nida Fazli
kisi ke vaste rahen kahan badalti hain
tum apne aap ko khud hi badal sako to chalo
tum apne aap ko khud hi badal sako to chalo
“Roads never change themselves for anyone — walk on, only if you can change your own self.”
Romanहिन्दीNida Fazli
किसी के वास्ते राहें कहाँ बदलती हैं
तुम अपने आप को ख़ुद ही बदल सको तो चलो
तुम अपने आप को ख़ुद ही बदल सको तो चलो
The verse in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
♪ Hear the coupletA recitation in a synthesized voice.
The Interpretation
Fazli refuses the comforting fantasy that circumstances will rearrange themselves for you. The roads stay as they are; the only variable within reach is yourself. The closing condition — "if you can" — admits how hard that change is, and respects the reader for it.
For You, Today
Stop waiting for your situation to shift on its own — the only lever you actually hold is your own willingness to change.
The verse turns the burden of change inward, which is what gives it its bracing, unsentimental edge.
Themes:GrowthThe Self
More from Nida Fazli
The heart of this site stays with Iqbal: explore his couplets → Or browse the whole Other Voices shelf →