In Urdu poetry, charāGh (lamp) and sham.a (candle) often symbolize light amid darkness — hope, perseverance, or an inner flame
arz hai:

koī bazm ho koī anjuman ye shi.ār apnā qadīm hai
jahāñ raushnī kī kamī milī vahīñ ik charāGh jalā diyā

This sher is by Kaleem Ajiz (b. 1926)

shi.ār : habit, custom
qadīm : ancient
Here’s a rough translation:

be it a meeting, or any gathering place, it is our old habit that
where we find the light dim, there we light up a lamp

This exquisite sher expresses a gracious, uplifting sentiment.
Both bazm and anjuman refer to a gathering or assembly — whether social, literary, or spiritual. The sher suggests that wherever one finds a lack of light — metaphorically, a lack of warmth, knowledge, or goodness — one should kindle a lamp. It reflects the ethos of Urdu poetry: to respond to darkness with illumination, not complaint.

The same mazmūn (theme) appears in this sher by Ahmed Faraz (b. 1931):

shikva-e-zulmat-e-shab se to kahīñ behtar thā
apne hisse kī koī sham.a jalāte jaate

shikva : complaint
zulmat : darkness
shab : night
kahīñ behtar: much better
A rough translation:

better than complaining about the darkness of night
is to do your part and light some candles along the way

The phrase shikva-e-zulmat-e-shab (complaint of darkness of night) is a finely crafted expression. It helps turn a common proverb – “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” – into poetry. The phrase apne hisse (one’s part) points to individual responsibility.

Even a small positive action, like lighting a single candle, is better than the negativity of being angry or frustrated by problems. In moments of personal or societal darkness, how often do we choose to light a lamp?