Who was Rafiq Shadani?

Rafiq Shadani was a legendary Awadhi poet from Faizabad, known for his humorous and satirical poetry. Despite no formal education, his works are famous across the Awadh region.

What is the theme of Rafiq Shadani's rickshaw poem?

The poem is a humorous satire on social classes and the daily struggles of life, told through a conversation between a passenger and a witty rickshaw puller.

Awadhi Language Proverbs | Awadhi Bhasha Ki Kahaawat

बाप न मारे मेंढकी, बेटवा तीरंदाज
घर के देवता ललाये, बाहर के पूजा जाएँ
जहाँ जाए दूल्हा रानी, हुँवा परै पाथर पानी
सूप हँसै तो हँसै, चलनी हँसै जेहमा बहत्तर छेद।
आधी छोड़ पूरी को धावै, अछियो मिलै न पूरी पावै।
दुवारे आयी बरात, समधन के लाग हगास।

बाप न मारे मेंढकी, बेटवा तीरंदाज
Literal: The father hasn't even killed a frog, but the son is an archer.
Meaning: The son boasts of great skills or bravery when the father (or ancestors) has no such experience. It's used sarcastically for someone who brags about achievements without any family background or real ability — like "talking big without backing" (similar to "many talk of Robin Hood who never shot his bow").
घर के देवता ललाये, बाहर के पूजा जाएँ
Literal: Pamper the household gods, but worship the outsiders' gods.
Meaning: People neglect or take for granted their own family deities (or close ones), while showing excessive respect or devotion to outsiders' gods (or strangers). It highlights hypocrisy in valuing external things over one's own.
जहाँ जाए दूल्हा रानी, हुँवा परै पाथर पानी
Literal: Wherever the groom and bride go, wind blows and stone-like water falls (i.e., harsh conditions).
Meaning: A newly married couple faces difficulties, hardships, or unfavorable circumstances wherever they go. It reflects the challenges or "bad luck" that can follow a marriage.
सूप हँसै तो हँसै, चलनी हँसै जेहमा बहत्तर छेद।
Literal: The winnowing basket (soop) may laugh if it wants, but the sieve (chalni) laughs when it has seventy-two holes.
Meaning: A person with flaws mocking someone else's minor flaws. It's hypocrisy — "the pot calling the kettle black" (the sieve has more/many holes but laughs at the basket's smaller ones).
आधी छोड़ पूरी को धावै, अछियो मिलै न पूरी पावै।
Literal: Leaving the half (loaf/bread) to chase the full one, gets neither the half nor the full.
Meaning: Greedily abandoning what you already have (partial gain) in pursuit of more leads to losing everything. Be content with what you have — excessive greed causes loss (similar to "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush").
दुवारे आयी बरात, समधन के लाग हगास।
Literal: The wedding procession has arrived at the door, (leading to) defecation for the co-mother-in-law (samdhan).
Meaning: The arrival of the groom's party brings great stress, anxiety, or panic to the bride's family (specifically the mother-in-law equivalent). It humorously captures the overwhelming tension and chaos of hosting a wedding. (The last word likely refers to "hagana" or loose motions from nervousness.)

Name of Birds in Awadhi Language

1. Kathphodwa - कठफोड़वा (Woodpecker)
2. Charkhi - चरखी
3. Kilahti - किलहटी
4. Paandki - पांड़की (Dove)
5. Gauraiya - गउरईया (Sparrow)
6. Kauaa - कउआ (Crow)
7. Koilee - कोइली (Cuckoo)
8. Banmurgi - बनमुर्गी
Additional Bird Names

Here are the name of some birds in Awadhi Language.

1. Kathphodwa - कठफोड़वा - Also known as Woodpecker in English.

2. Charkhi - चरखी

3. Kilahti - किलहटी

4. Paandki - पांड़की - Also known as Dove in English.

5. Gauraiya - गउरईया - Also known as Sparrow in English.

6. Kauaa - कउआ - Also known as Crow in English

7. Koilee - कोइली - Also known as Cuckoo in English.

8. Banmurgi - बनमुर्गी

Apart from this there are more some more Bird names in Awadhi Language i.e., Mahokh, Sugga (Parrot), Geedh, Cheel Baaj and Muraila.

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Awadhi Poems by Rafiq Shadani | Yak Rickshaw Wala

Awadhi Poems by Rafiq Shadani

यक रिक्शा वाले से पूछेन, इस्टेसन लै चलिहौं ?
हमरी सूरत देख ले बोला, तुम, भाड़ा दे पईहौं ?
फस्ट क्लास कै दस रुपिया हैं, सेकंड के लेबै चार,
थर्ड क्लास के दुइ रुपिया हैं, ई है रेट हमार !
हम कहा भइया रिक्शा वाले, हमका तनिक बताओ,
यक रिक्शा मा तिन-तिन दर्जा, ऊ कइसे समझाओ,
कहिस की दस मा एस लै चलबै जैसे हेलीकाप्टर,
चार जो दैहौं बिरिग न लेबै, गड्ढा पड़े या ठोकर,
औ दुइ रुपिया जो हमका देइहौं, रहै मामिला उल्टा,
हम रिक्शा पर बैठि के चलबै, आप चलईहौं रिक्शा।

Yak rickshaw waale se poochhen, istesan lai chalihaun?
Humri soorat dekh ke bola, tum, bhada de paihaun?
First class kedas rupiyaa hain, second ke lebai chaar,
third class ke dui rupiyaa hain, ee hai rate humaar!
Hum kaha bhaiya rickshaw waale, humka tanik batao,
Yak rickshaw ma tin tin darja, oo kaise samjhao,
Kahin ki das maa es lai chalbai jaise helicopter,
char jo deihaun birig na lebai, gaddha pade ya thokar,
Au dui rupiyaa jo humka deihaun, rahai maamila ulta,
Hum rickshaw pe baith ke chalbai, aap chalihaun rickshaw!

English Translation

I asked a rickshaw puller, "Would you drop me to the railway station?" He looked at my face and asked if I would even be able to pay him the fare. He explained his rates: 10 Rupees for first class, 4 Rupees for second, and 2 Rupees for third class. Shocked, I asked, "How can one rickshaw have three different classes?" He replied, "In first class, I'll fly it like a helicopter. In second class (4 Rupees), I won't use the brakes regardless of bumps or potholes. And for the third class (2 Rupees), the roles reverse—I will sit on the seat, and you will pull the rickshaw!"

Awadhi Vocabulary Breakdown

Awadhi Word	Pronunciation	English Meaning
पूछेन (Poochen)	Poo-chhen	Asked (Past tense)
तनिक (Tanik)	Tuh-nik	A little bit / Just
दर्जा (Darja)	Dur-jaa	Class / Category
बिरिग (Birig)	Bee-rig	Brakes (Local twist on "Brake")
दईहौं (Daihaun)	Duh-ee-hon	Will give (Future tense)
मामिला (Maamila)	Maa-mi-la	Matter / Situation
चलिहौं (Chalihaun)	Chul-ee-hon	Will go / Will drive

About Mr. Rafiq Shadani

This humorous Awadhi poem was written by the late Mr. Rafiq Shadani ji. Born in Burma with roots in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, Shadani was a "natural" poet. Despite having no formal education and being unable to write, his orally composed poems were so powerful and witty that they are still celebrated today. He remains a legendary figure in Awadhi satire and political poetry.

Awadhi Grammar Part 2 : Adverbs, Adjectives, Prepositions

Awadhi Grammar Part 2 : Adverbs, Adjectives, Prepositions

Adjectives in Awadhi Language

An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or a pronoun. It provides more information about the characteristics, qualities, or properties of the noun or pronoun.

New - Nava - नवा

Awadhi Example - Humaay basta ekdam navaa ahai.

Old - Puraan - पुरान

Awadhi Example - Tohaay kapda puraan hoi ga ahai.

Small - Chhot - छोट

Awadhi Example - Humaay lambaayi chhot ahai.

Big - Badkaa - बड़का

Awadhi Example - Ohkai ghara bahut badkaa (bada) ahai

Near - Nageeche - नगिचे

Awadhi Example - Tani nageeche aawa.

Far - Doori - दूरी

Awadhi Example - Dilli bahut doori ahai.

High - Oonch - उंच

Awadhi Example - Oo bheenta bahut oonch ahai.

Low - Neech - नीच

Awadhi Example - Dher neech jin jaa.

Deep - Gahir - गहिर

Awadhi Example - Talaunaa bahut gahir ahai.

Sweet - Meeth - मीठ

Awadhi Example - Tasmai bahut meethi'yahai

Bitter - Teet - तीत

Awadhi Example - Mirchi bahut teet'yahai.

Hot - Garam - गरम

Awadhi Example - Humka chahiya garam dehaa.

Cold - Judaan - जुड़ान

Awadhi Example - Bhaat ekdam judaan ba.

Rich - Ameer - अमीर

Awadhi Example - Wai bahut ameer ahain.

Poor - Dalidra - दलिद्र

Awadhi Example - Oo tau ekdam dalidra ahai.

Full - Bhara - भरा

Awadhi Example - Okare bahut paisa bhara ba.

Empty - Soon - सून

Awadhi Example - Ab humaay gaunaa soon hoi ga ahai.

Green - Hariyar - हरियर

Awadhi Example - Humre lage ek tho hariyar saari ahai.

Good - Badhiya - बढ़िया

Awadhi Example - Tohaay kapda bahut badhiya ba.

Bad - Bekaar - बेकार

Awadhi Example - Onkai gaadi ekdam bekaar ahai.

Adverbs in Awadhi Language

An adverb is a word that modifies or describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It provides more information about manner, time, place, frequency, or degree.

Examples:

- Manner: quickly, loudly

1. Quickly - Phataaphat

Awadhi sentence - Oo phataaphat hiyaan pahunchi gawa.

2. Loudly - Bahut jor se

Awadhi sentence - Oo achaanak bahut jor se gaawai laag.

- Time: yesterday, soon, already

1. Yesterday - Kaal

Awadhi sentence - Kaal amaavas ke raat rahee.

2. Soon - Jaldi

Awadhi sentence - School jaldi khule.

3. Already - Pahilen

Awadhi sentence - Raju pahilen aayi gawaa ahai.

- Place: here, there, everywhere

1. Here - Hiyaan

Awadhi sentence - Hiyaan awaa.

2. There - Huwaan

Awadhi sentence - Huwaan ja.

3. Everywhere - Kuloo

Awadhi sentence - Hum kuloo ghoom lehe ahee.

- Frequency: often, rarely

Often - Rojai / Rojay

Awadhi sentence - Ee tau rojay hiyaan pahuncha rahat'hai.

Rarely - Kabo Kabo

Awadhi sentence - Hiyaan kabo kabo baaris hoth'ai.

- Degree: very, extremely, slightly

Very / Extremely - Bahutay jor / jaada

Awadhi sentence - Pahalwan ohkaa bahutay jor se maaris.

Slightly - Tani ke

Awadhi sentence - Ee baksa tani ke sarkaay deyaa.

Prepositions in Awadhi Language

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or a pronoun and other words in a sentence. It indicates location, direction, time, manner, or other relationships.

Examples:

- Words of location: in, on, at, by, with

In - Maan

On - Pai

At - Pai / lagey

By - Dwaara

With - Saathe

- Words of direction: to, from, up, down, in, out

To - Mu

From - Se

Up - Oopar

Down - Neeche

Inside - Bheetar

Out - Bahere

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Name of Animals in Awadhi Language

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