URDU POET RAVISH SIDDIQUI AND KASHMIR

                                                                                        

Ravish Siddiqui ( 1911-1971)

Urdu Jisse Kehtay hain Tehzeeb Ka chashmaa hai,

Woh Shaks Mohazzab hai Jis Ko Yeh zubaan aaye….

( Ravish Siddiqui )

His real name was Shahid Aziz Siddiqui . After he started writing Urdu poetry , he came to be know as Ravish Siddiqui. Apart from urdu ,Ravish was well versed in sanskrit , Hindi , Persian and English languages . Born in a village near Saharapur ( UP ), Ravish served All India Radio ( Delhi) where he became a close friend of Prem Nath Dar ( Well Known media personality and urdu writer ). This friendship inculcated a deep love for kashmir , its culture and its inhabitants in his heart. Ravish visited kashmir many times and so much was he touched by its Natural beauty and culture that he wrote a Book of poems on kashmir. Titled “ Khyabaan Khayabaan “ .This Book had some amazing poems on kashmir.

I Quote some lines from his poem “Pahalghaam” …

Door tak Daaman e Kohsaar mein Khemon Ka Hujoom

Jaise gardoon se Zameen par Uttar Aaye hon Nujoom

Zulf bardosh ajab Husn Se Raat aati Hai

Raat Aati hai ke lailaa e Hayaat aati hai

Khud Ba Khud Lub pe kissi Shokh Ki Baat aati Hai

Chashm e Mushtaq se sadiyon ke Naqaab Uthatein hain

Jo Giraaye Thhay azal Mein Woh Naqaab Uthatein Hain..

I quote lines from his Poem “Aey Jhelum”

Kissi Khwaab e Haseen Ka mehfil e Taabeer Mein Aanaa

Nigaar e Khud Numaa ka Aalam e Tasveer Mein Aanaa

Gudaaz e She’r Ka Alfaaz e Pur Taaseer mein Aanaa

Teraa Khuld e Bareen se vaadiye Kashmir mein Aanaa

Kissi barbat ko jaise Chheid dhe Mizraab Aey Jhelum

Teri Maujon Mein hai Woh Aatish e Shadaab Aey Jhelum..

In Urdu poetry , Ravish is remebered for his patriotic poems also . He wrote Gazals and Nazms . Romance is another dominant feature of his poetry. All along his life , he remained a simple man who was highly influenced by Gandhian philosophy. During the freedom struggle of the country ,His patriotic poems were read before crowds that were to be addressed by Mahatma Gandhi , Pandit jawahar Lal Nehru , Maulana Abul kalaam Azad and other National Leaders .

Jahaan chorra thaa Teri justaju ne,
Sunaa hai Zindagi  Ab tak vaheen hai..

(Ravish Siddiqui)

In his Book “ In search of Oneness.. The Bhagwat Geeta and Quran through Sufi Eyes “ , Moosa Raza ( IAS ) a retired civil servant gives a beautiful anecdote with regard to his meeting with Poet Ravish Siddiqui.

I end this brief post with four lines from his popular Gazal…

Bahut Buland hai Dil ka Maqaam e Khud-Daari,

Magar Shikast Ka Imkaan nahin To Kuchh Bhi Nahin

Sakoon e Shaauq ho ya Iztaraab e shauq “Ravish “

Agar ba Manzilaa e Jaan nahin to kuchh bhi Nahin..

( Autar Mota )

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