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।
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!
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 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 |
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.
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