Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. raghubir das saahir sialkoTi (1906-1984). BA sanaatan dharm college lahore. Worked for milaap daily in lahore after graduation. During the partition mayhem he lost all his work. Went to jalandhar, an urdu literary hub at the time. Attended mushaa’era regularly and probably worked for magazines. When he went to hoshiarpur for a mushaa’era, he ran into his college class mate – amarchand qais who happened to have saved some of saahir’s Ghazal. Saahir became shaagird of josh malsiani. His collection was published in 1959. This Ghazal is linked to ‘jigar tak utar gaii’ in Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
kin ujlatoN¹ se apnii jawaanii guzar² ga’ii
aandhii se ek uThii idhar aaii udhar³ ga’ii    1.hurry, swiftly 2.passed 3.idhar aanaa udhar jaanaa is an expression meaning, left only after a moment
In what did my youth pass; like a gust of wind, it came and immediately left. The poet reflects on the fleeting nature of youth, which vanished as quickly as it came. This she’r captures the transient beauty of life’s prime, leaving the poet in awe of how quickly time moves, symbolizing the impermanence of all things.
2
duniyaa ke haadesoN¹ ne bigaaRe² hazaar kaam
itnaa huaa keh apnii tabiyyat³ saNvar⁴ ga’ii     1.misfortunes, accidents 2.spoiled, ruined 3.mood, disposition 4.improved
Misfortunes of life happened to the poet and ruined countless plans. The one good thing that happened out of this is that his disposition improved. The poet acknowledges the chaos and challenges of life but finds solace in how they shaped his inner self. This couplet speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, where hardships often bring about personal growth, forbearance and acceptance of the way things are.
3
be-vajah¹ ye sukuun² mayassar³ nahiiN mujhe
tum aa ga’e to gardish-e-dauraaN⁴ Thahar⁵ ga’ii 1.without cause 2.peace, tranquility 3.available 4.vicissitudes of time, trials and tribulations of life 5.stopped
This tranquility did not become available to me without reason; when you arrived, the turmoil of life came to a halt. The poet expresses the transformative effect of the beloved’s presence. Her arrival brings tranquility, halting the turbulence of life. This reflects love’s power to soothe and stabilize a restless heart.
4
hotaa hai maslehat¹ kii binaa² par har inqelaab³
aaii sahar⁴, jo bazm⁵ se sham’⁶-e sahar⁴ ga’ii 1.expediency, hidden agenda/purpose 2.basis 3.change, reversal 4.dawn 5.gathering 6.lamp, candle
Every change/revolution happens on the basis of some plan/agenda; dawn arrived, when the morning candle left the gathering. Traditionally, sham’-e sahr is the candle that burns all night long and is either burnt out or put out with the arrival of dawn. Thus, that arrival of dawn is the basis of the change (putting out the candle). I am not sure what the symbolic meaning can be in addition to this literal translation. Progressive poets are known to use dawn as a symbol of the coming socialist revolution, but saahir sialkoTi is not known as a member of Progressive Writers’ Association.
5
paayaa¹ jise rafiiq²-e ‘amal³ har gunaah meN
hairaaN⁴ huN maiN keh ab vo javaanii kidhar ga’ii     1.found 2.companion, helper 3.deed 4.puzzled
That which I found to be a helpful companion in my deeds for every sin; I wonder where that youth has disappeared. This appears to be a lighthearted reminiscense of youthful recklessness and indulgence, acknowledging his past transgressions. However, there’s a sense of nostalgia and amazement at how time has taken away that phase of life, leaving only memories.
6
huN Khaamii¹-e mazaaq²-e tamannaa³ se sharmsaar⁴
aayaa nazar⁵ na kuchh bhii jahaaN tak nazar⁶ ga’ii     1.shortcoming, defect 2.taste, skill, ability 3.desire 4.ashamed 5.visible 6.gaze, sight
I am ashamed of the inadequacy of my skill in fulfilling my desires; for nothing appeared, no matter how far my gaze extended. The poet reflects on the emptiness of worldly pursuits and the futility of shallow ambitions. Despite searching far and wide, he finds nothing of substance, leading to a realization of his own misplaced aspirations.
7
paabandii¹-e quyuud²-e mohabbat ke bavajuud³
sau baar tujh ko DhuuNDhne merii nazar⁴ ga’ii     1.constraints 2.ways, methods, rules 3.inspite of 4.gaze
Despite the constraints of the rules of love, my gaze sought you a hundred times. There are definite rules in the art of love. The lover never gazes directly at the beloved, but here he seems to be violating those conventions, perhaps driven by the relentless pull of love, which drives him to search for the beloved again and again.
8
aye gardish¹-e mudaam², saNbhalne³ bhii de mujhe
ab to kisii kii yaad bhii dil se utar ga’ii     1.turmoil, trial 2.constant, repeated 3.balance, equanimity
O constant turmoil of life, let me regain my balance; even the treasured memory of the beloved has faded from my heart. The poet appeals for respite from life’s constant upheaval, noting that even cherished memories have begun to fade under its pressure. He wants desperately to hang on to those memories.
9
saahir¹ yeh qaul² hazrat³-e Ghaalib kaa hai bajaa⁴
ab aabruu⁵-e sheva⁶-e ahl-e-nazar⁷ ga’ii    1.pen-name 2.saying 3.honourable, respected 4.appropriate, creditable 5.dignity, respect 6.custom, principles 7.people of vision
O saahir, this saying of Ghalib still holds true; the dignity of the people of vision is now gone. The poet laments the decline of the intellectual and artistic class, echoing Ghalib’s sentiments. It highlights the loss of values and respect for true insight and wisdom in modern times, perhaps a reflection on the quality of poetry of his time.