Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. shahid aziz ravish siddiqui (1909-1971) was brought up in a religious atmosphere but in addition to arabi and faarsi, he learnt sanskrit and hindi and was well versed in vedantic literature. As a Ghazal writer he has leaned heavily on Ghalib with many Ghazal composed in his style. This is in the style of ‘hai mukarrar lab-e saaqi meN salaa mere baad’. There are two of ravish siddiqui in the same zamiin, linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
kya hua hai koi ehsaas¹-e ziyaaN² mere baad
hai bahut sust-qadam³ umr-e-ravaaN⁴ mere baad 1.feeling, sense 2.loss 3.slow paced 4.the flow of life
Has there been any sense of loss after me? The flow of life has slowed down greatly after me. The poet reflects on his death/departure from this world and wonders if his departure has left a meaningful void. The slowing of life’s pace symbolizes a world less vibrant in his absence, highlighting his self-worth and the emptiness left behind.
2
Khaak-aalooda¹-e auhaam² hai daamaan³-e nazar⁴
bujh ga’ii mash’al⁵-e ruKhsaar⁶-e butaaN⁷ mere baad 1.covered in dust 2.illusions, superstitions 3.hem of the garment 4.sight, discernment 5.torch 6.cheeks, faces 7.idols, beloved (symbolizing beauty or inspiration)
The discerning vision (of poets) has been veiled/polluted with the dust of illusions after me. The torch of the beauty of idols has extinguished after me. daaman Khaak-aalooda hona is an expression meaning getting polluted, dirtied. Thus, the discerning eye of poets gets dulled with illusions; they are unable to see the truth clearly, therefore unable to write about it, like the poet used to before his passing. The beauty of expression is also extinguished.
3
thaa yaqiiN¹ kis ko keh duniya-e vafaa² meN hoga
har kahaani pe haqiiqat³ ka gumaaN⁴ mere baad 1.certainty 2.fidelity, loyalty 3.reality, truth 4.suspicion
Who would have thought that in the world of loyalty, every tale would be suspected to be true after me? The poet was so steadfast and loyal in love during his lifetime that it lent credibility to other stories that were told after him. People started believing them to be true because of the example that he had set.
4
=” jin se chhuuTa¹ na kabhi gosha²-e tamkiin³-o-hijaab⁴
vahi aaNkheN haiN ba-har-suu⁵ nigaraaN⁶ mere baad 1.leave, abandon 2.corner 3.dignity 4.veil, modesty, privacy 5.in every direction 6.observing, watchful
Those eyes, which never left their corner of dignity and modesty, are now observing/watching for me in every direction. The implication is that the eye of the beloved which used to be lowered in consideration of dignity and modesty now eagerly look/search for him, or someone like him, after his passing.
5
kaun sunta tha yahaaN haal¹-e Gham-e dil laikin
ham’a-tan² gosh³ haiN sab ahl-e-jahaaN⁴ mere baad     1.condition, state, story 2.embodiment 3.ears 4.people of the world
Who even had the inclination to listen to the sorrowful story of the heart here before? But now, the entire world is all ears for this story, after me. The poet’s work remained unheard and unappreciated during his lifetime. Now that he is gone, they are all ears.
6
mah-o-anjum¹ bhi to majrooh²-e mohabbat haiN ravish³
tiir phaiNke haiN mohabbat ne kahaaN mere baad    1.moon and stars 2.wounded 3.pen-name
Even the moon and stars are wounded by love, O ravish. Look, where has love shot its arrows after me? When the poet was alive on earth, love shot its arrows at him. Now that he is dead, he is among the moon and stars in the sky. Love has no one worthwhile to shoot arrows at. It still aims its arrows at him, hiding among the stars and they get wounded.