Faiz Ahmad Faiz

Today is the birth anniversary of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, the noted Urdu poet, intellectual and revolutionary. Born this day in 1911 in Sialkot Pakistan, Faiz was a well educated person holding Master’s degree in English Literature and Arabic. An avowed Marxist, he was drawn to the ideology early in life .After Independence , on the formation of Pakistan, he had differences with the Government of the time, was awarded imprisonment for a long period , though he was released early on change of guard. His poetry contains an interesting mix of love , revolutionary ideas, and disenchantment with the scenario that emerged after the independence. His poetry is layered and much can be read into the composition and the lines . Many of his poetry collections were published. He was honoured with MBE by the British Government, Nishan-e- Imtiyaz by the Pakistan Government and Lenin Peace Prize by the USSR. Besides he was also a four time contender for the coveted Nobel Prize.

A specimen of his poerty :
Dono jahan teri mohabbat mein haar ke’
Wo jaa raha hai koi shab-e-gham guzaar ke’
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Duniya ne teri yaad se begaana kar diya
Tujh se’ bhi dil fareb hain gham rozgar ke
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Mujh se pehli si muhabbat mere mehboob na maang
Maine samjha tha ki tu hai to darakhshaan hai hayaat
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Aur bhi dukh hain zamaane mein muhabbat ke’ siwa
Rahaten aur bhi hain wasl ki raahat ke’ siwa.
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Gulon mein rang bhare baad-e- naubahaar chale’
Chaley bhi aao ki gulshan ka karobaar chale’
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Ye daagh daagh ujala ye shab gazeedaa sahar
Wo intzaar tha jiska, ye wo sahar to nahin…..

Our humble tributes to the great poet and intellectual of the sub continent !