For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
aarif ra’oof
راستے بھی چلتے ہیں ۔ شاہد صدیقی
۱
مستیوں کے دامن میں انقلاب پلتے ہیں
میکشوں کی لغزش سے میکدے سمبھلتے ہیں
۲
کیوں ہمارے ساتھ ایسے سُست گام چلتے ہیں
جو سفر سے گھبرا کر منزلیں بدلتے ہیں
۳
ظلمتیں اُجالوں پہ فتح پا نہیں سکتیں
اک چراغ بجھتا ہے، سو چراغ جلتے ہیں
۴
قافلے اندھیرے میں خود ہی راستے ڈھونڈیں
رہنما تو ایسے ہیں دور دور چلتے ہیں
۵
دیکھئے کہاں پہنچیں یہ سفر کے دیوانے
آسماں کو تکتے ہیں اور زمیں پہ چلتے ہیں
۶
کیا ہوا جو ساکن ہے آج سطح دریا کی
تہہ میں کتنے ہی طوفاں کروٹیں بدلتے ہیں
۷
زندگی کو ڈھلنا ہے آج اُنکے سانچوں میں
زندگی کی گرمی سے جن کے دِل پگھلتے ہیں
۸
ایک پل کے رُکنے سے دور ہو گئی منزل
صرف ہم نہیں چلتے، راستے بھی چلتے ہیں
۹
آشنا ہیں پروانے، سوزِ غم کی عظمت سے
شمع ہو تو جلتے ہیں، اور نہ ہو تو جلتے ہیں
रास्ते भी चलते हैं – शहिद सिद्दीक़ी
१
मस्तियों के दामन में इनक़ेलाब पलते हैं
मैकशों कि लग़ज़िश से, मैकदे सम्भलते हैं
२
क्यूं हमारे साथ ऐसे सुस्त गाम चलते हैं
जो सफ़र से घबरा कर मंज़िलें बदलते हैं
३
ज़ुल्मतें उजालौं पे फ़तह पा नहीं सकतीं
एक चिराग़ बुझता है, सौ चिराग़ जलते हैं
४
क़ाफ़िले अंधेरे में ख़ुद हि रास्ते ढूंढें
रहनुमा तो ऐसे हैं दूर दूर चलते हैं
५
देखिये कहाँ पहुंचें ये सफ़र के दीवाने
आसमां को तकते हैं और ज़मीं पे चलते हैं
६
किया हुआ जो साकिन है आज सतह दरिया कि
तह में कितने ही तूफ़ां करवटें बदलते हैं
७
ज़िंदगी को ढलना है आज इनके साँचों में
ज़िंदगी कि गरमी से जिनके दिल पिघलते हैं
८
एक पल के रुकने से दूर हो गई मंज़िल
सिर्फ़ हम नहीं चलते रास्ते भी चलते हैं
९
आश्ना हैं परवाने सोज़ ए ग़म कि अज़मत से
शम’अ हो तो जलते हैं और ना हो तो जलते हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. abdul matiin shahid siddiqui (1911-1962), agra/hyderabad. Worked for newspapers and magazines. He was a regular at moazzam jaah’s nightly gatherings and succumbed to the effects of alcohol. A progressive poet associated with the Progressive Writers’ Association and the Communist party.
1
mastiyauN1 ke daaman2 meN inqelab3 palte4 haiN
maikashauN5 ki laGhzish6 se, maikade7 sambhalte haiN1.exhilaration, joy (used here for luxury) 2.apron (in the lap of) 3.revolution 4.nurtured 5.wine drinker 6.stumble, slip 7.tavern
The tavern becomes steady (gets established, derives its reputation) from the stumbling of the wine drinkers. Just so, (socialist) revolutions are nurtured in the lap of luxury (capitalism).
2
kyuN hamaare saath aise sust-gaam1 chalte haiN
jo safar2 se ghabra kar manzileN3 badalte haiN1.slow paced, reluctant 2.journey 3.goals
This is possibly a statement about some comrades who would not agree to a public protest/demonstration. Why do we have such reluctant companions who change goals because they are scared of the journey (of social justice).
3
zulmateN1 ujaaloN2 pe fatah3 paa nahiN saktiN
ek chiraGh bujhta hai, sau chiraGh jalte haiN1.darkness, oppression 2.brightness, justice 3.prevail upon
Oppression cannot prevail upon justice. They may cut down one protestor, but a hundred others will rise in his/her place.
4
qaafile1 andhere meN Khud hi raaste DhoonDeN
rahnuma2 to aise haiN, duur duur chalte haiN 1.caravans 2.guides, leaders
The caravans (the people) are left to find their own way in the dark. Leaders shirk their responsibility (or watch out for themselves) and stay away from real issues.
5
dekhiye kahaaN pahuncheN ye safar1 ke divaane
aasmaN ko takte2 haiN aur zamiN pe chalte haiN1.journey (of social justice) 2.stare, eyes fixed on
Let us see where the travelers on this journey (of social justice) get to. They have their eyes fixed on lofty goals (sky) and are walking on this earth (facing difficulties here).
6
kya hua1 jo saakin2 hai aaj satah3 dariya ki
tah4 meN kitne hi tufaaN karvaTeN badalte5 haiN1.what if, no worry 2.static, calm 3.surface 4.folds, depths 5.changing posture, getting ready to fight
What does it matter if the surface of the sea is calm for now. (Just wait and see) how many storms are brewing under the surface, in the depths.
7
zindagi ko Dhalna1 hai aaj unke saanchauN2 meN
zindagi ki garmi3 se jinke dil pighalte4 haiN1.cast 2.mould 3.heat, oppression 4.melt, feel pain
Those who feel the pain of oppression are going to cast Life into a new mould (pattern of social justice). Life is going to have to take on that shape … be cast into their mould.
8
ek pal1 ke rukne se duur ho gayee manzil2
sirf3 hum nahiN chalte raaste bhi chalte haiN1.moment 2.goal 3.only
Stopping even for moment caused the goal get even further away. It is not just us who walk, the pathway walks too. Said mirza bedil-
aalami mahmil badosh-e vahm jaulan mi kunad
keesta fahmad keh manzil hum beraah uftada ast
The world carries the “mahmil” (the litter/carriage) on the back of self-deception (rather than on the back of camels) and think that they are making progress. They don’t understand that the goal also is moving forward on the pathway.
9
aashna1 haiN parvaane2 soz3-e Gham4 ki azmat5 se
sham’a6 ho to jalte haiN aur na ho to jalte haiN1.familiar 2.moth/lover 3.fire 4.pain (of love) 5.greatness 6.lamp/beloved
Lovers are familiar with the greatness of the fire of pain of love. They burn in that fire, whether the lamp is at hand or not i.e. comrades will continue to struggle even if success is not in sight.
abdul matiin shahid siddiqui (1911-1962), agra/hyderabad. Worked for newspapers and magazines. He was a regular at moazzam jaah’s nightly gatherings and succumbed to the effects of alcohol. A progressive poet associated with the Progressive Writers’ Association and the Communist party.
1
mastiyauN1 ke daaman2 meN inqelab3 palte4 haiN
maikashauN5 ki laGhzish6 se, maikade7 sambhalte haiN
1.exhilaration, joy (used here for luxury) 2.apron (in the lap of) 3.revolution 4.nurtured 5.wine drinker 6.stumble, slip 7.tavern
The tavern becomes steady (gets established, derives its reputation) from the stumbling of the wine drinkers. Just so, (socialist) revolutions are nurtured in the lap of luxury (capitalism).
2
kyuN hamaare saath aise sust-gaam1 chalte haiN
jo safar2 se ghabra kar manzileN3 badalte haiN
1.slow paced, reluctant 2.journey 3.goals
This is possibly a statement about some comrades who would not agree to a public protest/demonstration. Why do we have such reluctant companions who change goals because they are scared of the journey (of social justice).
3
zulmateN1 ujaaloN2 pe fatah3 paa nahiN saktiN
ek chiraGh bujhta hai, sau chiraGh jalte haiN
1.darkness, oppression 2.brightness, justice 3.prevail upon
Oppression cannot prevail upon justice. They may cut down one protestor, but a hundred others will rise in his/her place.
4
qaafile1 andhere meN Khud hi raaste DhoonDeN
rahnuma2 to aise haiN, duur duur chalte haiN
1.caravans 2.guides, leaders
The caravans (the people) are left to find their own way in the dark. Leaders shirk their responsibility (or watch out for themselves) and stay away from real issues.
5
dekhiye kahaaN pahuncheN ye safar1 ke divaane
aasmaN ko takte2 haiN aur zamiN pe chalte haiN
1.journey (of social justice) 2.stare, eyes fixed on
Let us see where the travelers on this journey (of social justice) get to. They have their eyes fixed on lofty goals (sky) and are walking on this earth (facing difficulties here).
6
kya hua1 jo saakin2 hai aaj satah3 dariya ki
tah4 meN kitne hi tufaaN karvaTeN badalte5 haiN
1.what if, no worry 2.static, calm 3.surface 4.folds, depths 5.changing posture, getting ready to fight
What does it matter if the surface of the sea is calm for now. (Just wait and see) how many storms are brewing under the surface, in the depths.
7
zindagi ko Dhalna1 hai aaj unke saanchauN2 meN
zindagi ki garmi3 se jinke dil pighalte4 haiN
1.cast 2.mould 3.heat, oppression 4.melt, feel pain
Those who feel the pain of oppression are going to cast Life into a new mould (pattern of social justice). Life is going to have to take on that shape … be cast into their mould.
8
ek pal1 ke rukne se duur ho gayee manzil2
sirf3 hum nahiN chalte raaste bhi chalte haiN
1.moment 2.goal 3.only
Stopping even for moment caused the goal get even further away. It is not just us who walk, the pathway walks too. Said mirza bedil-
aalami mahmil badosh-e vahm jaulan mi kunad
keesta fahmad ke manzil hum beraah uftada ast
The world carries the “mahmil” (the litter/carriage) on the back of self-deception (rather than on the back of camels) and think that they are making progress. They don’t understand that the goal also is moving forward on the pathway.
9
aashna1 haiN parvaane2 soz3-e Gham4 ki azmat5 se
sham’a6 ho to jalte haiN aur na ho to jalte haiN
1.familiar 2.moth/lover 3.fire 4.pain (of love) 5.greatness 6.lamp/beloved
Lovers are familiar with the greatness of the fire of pain of love. They burn in that fire, whether the lamp is at hand or not i.e. comrades will continue to struggle even if success is not in sight.
