One of my all time favorites of Akbar Allahabadi on the importance given to passing BA & MA in the 1920s. Much like MBAs of today
Kaha Majnu se ye Laila ki Maa ne,
Ki Beta tu agar kar le M.A pass,
To fauran byaah doon Laila ko tujh se,
Bila diqqat main ban jaaun teri saas (bila diqqat- without any problem)
Kaha Majnu ne: Yeh achchi sunaai!!
Kuja aashiq, kuja college ki bakwaas? (kuja-kahaan)
Kuja ye fitrati josh-e-tabiyat
(Love is by nature spontaneous and unrestrained!)
Kuja thoonsi hui cheezon ka ehsaas! (Where do you bring in this stuffed learning by rote?)
Bari bee, aapko kya ho gaya hai?
Hiran pe laadi jaati hai kahin ghaas?
Ye achchi qadardaani aapne ki! (qadardaani- (here) well judged worth)
Mujhe samjha hai koi Harcharan Dass?!
Dil apna khoon karne ko hoon maujood (The blood of my heart can be readily shed!)
Nahin manzoor maghaz-e-sar ka aamas (This cudgelling of the brain is sadly too much to ask!)
Yeh thahri jo shart-e-wasal-e-Laila (If this be the condition for the consummation of my love)
To istifaa mera ba hasrat-o-yaas! (Here’s my resignation-regretfully and with a sense of loss!)
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