A legendary poet like Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1911-1984) needs no introduction. In Pakistan, where one authoritarian government has made way for another since 1947, Faiz’s person and work is largely known as a symbol of resistance. In his poetry, he represented the people’s longing for freedom and democracy and became a source of inspiration for those seeking to build a just society.
Faiz began his career as a lecturer in English at Amritsar, but switched to journalism after the Second World War. He went on to become the editor of The Pakistan Times. In 1951, he was charged with complicity in the Rawalpindi conspiracy case and imprisoned. It was his four-year term in prison that gave him first-hand experience of the harsh realities of life and provided him with much-needed solitude to translate his thoughts into poetry.
As a poet, Faiz began writing on the conventional themes of love and beauty, but soon these thoughts were submerged in the larger social and political issues of the day. An admirer of Karl Marx, Faiz was also honoured by Soviet Russia with the prestigious ‘Lenin Award for Peace.’
Over the years, Faiz’s poetry has provided hope during the dark days of martial law, even as recently as November 3, 2007, when former president General Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency.
Twenty-five years ago, when Faiz passed away at the age of 73, Dawn described him as the ‘greatest Urdu poet of his time,’ who became a living legend for ‘his intrepid struggle against what he himself once described as “the dark and dastardly superstitions of centuries untold”.’
Today, to mark Faiz’s death anniversary, Dawn.com invites its readers to share their favourite lines by the masterful poet and help keep the power of his poetry alive.
The views expressed in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
THAK KAR YUNHI DUM BHAR KO ZARA AANKH LAGI THI
SO KAR NA UTHEN GAY YEH IRADA TO NAHIN THA
FAIZ
Har aik roo-e-haseen ho chalaa hay baish haseen…
Milay kucch aisay, judaa yoon huay keh Faiz ab kay,
Jo dil peh naqsh banaa hay, woh gul hay, daagh nahi!
Ye dagh dagh ujala ye shab gazeeda sahar
Ye intizaar tha jis ka ye wo sahar tu nahin
Mujh se pehli si muhabbat mere mehboob na mang
main ne samjha tha ke tu hai to darakhan hai hayat
Tera gham hai to ghame dehr ka jhagra kia hai
Teri soorat se hai aalam mein baharon ko sabat
Teri aankhon ke siwa dunya mein rakkha kia hai
Tu jo mil jaae to taqdeer nigoon ho jaae
yoon na tha mein ne faqat chaha tha yoon ho jaae
Mujh se pehli si muhabbat mere mehboob na mang
This beautiful ghazal by Faiz was presented by Mehdi Hasan a few decades ago:
Gulon mein rang bharey baade nau bahar chaley Chaley bhi aao ke gulshan ka karobar chaley Qafas udas hai yaaro saba se kuch to kaho Kahin to behre khuda aaj zikre yaar chaley Jo ham pe guzri so guzri magar shabe hijran Hamare ashk teri aaqbat sanwar chaley Maqam faiz koi rah mein jacha hi nahin Jo kooey yaar se nikley to sooey daar chaley.
The whole Peom of
Nisar main teri Galiyon k a watan k Jahan,
Chalee hai rasam k koi na sir utha k chalay,
…………………………………….
Yun hi hamesha uljhti rahi hai zulm se khalq
Na unki rasum nayee hai, na apni reet nayee,
Yun hi hamesha kehlayay humnay aag men phool
No uki haar nayee hai na apni jeet nayee..
rendered most beautifully by Abida Perveen
shaam-e-firaaq ab na puuchh aaii aur aake Tal gaii
dil thaa ke phir bahal gayaa, jaa.N thii ke phir sambhal gaii
bazm-e-Khayaal me.n tere husn kii shamaa jal gaii
dard kaa chaa.Nd bujh gayaa, hijr kii raat Dhal gaii
jab tujhe yaad kar liyaa, subha mahak mahak uThii
jab teraa Gam jagaa liyaa, raat machal machal gaii
dil se to har muaamalaa karake chale the saaf ham
kahane me.n unake saamane baat badal badal gaii
aaKhir-e-shab ke hamasafar ‘Faiz’ na jaane kyaa hue
rah gaii kis jagah sabaa, subha kidhar nikal gaii
Jinaah Hospital, Karachi
July 1953
dil ki baysood tarap, jism ki mayus pukar
chund roz aur meri jaan, faqat chund hee roz
Mana kay yeh mushkil gari sakht kari hai,
magar aaye meray dil yeh tou faqat aik kari hai,
Himat karo, jeenay ko aik umar pari hai.
FAIZ NA HUM YUSUF KE KOI YAQOOB KE HUM KO YAAD KARE
APNA KIA KINAAN MAIN RAHAIN YA MISAR MAIN JA ABAD HOAY
bahar aai
to jaisay yak baar loat ain han phir adam say woh khwab saray shbab saray
jo taray honto pay mer mita thay
jo mit kay her bar phir jiyaya thay
nikhar gay han
gulab saray
jo tere yadon ki muskh boai hay
jo teray ushaq ka laho han
bahar ai
ubal paray han azab saray
malali ahbay dostan bhi
khmaray aghoshay may fashan bhi
ghubara khatir kay bab saray
teray mere tumharay swal saray jawab saray
bahar ai
to khul gay han nay siray say hisab say saray sawal saray
jawab saray
Chaman pe ghaarut-e gulcheeN se Jaanay keya guzri
Qafas se ho kay saba bar bar guzree hai.
Immortal quartet from Faiz:
Matai loh-o qalam chhin gayee tou keya ghum hai
kay khoon-e dil maiN dubo leaN haiN angulianaN maiN nay
LaboN pe muhr lagee hai tou keya kay rukh dee hai
hur aik hulqai zanjeer maiN zubaN maiN nay
O Pakistan how could they had jailed a bard like Faiz who penned such heart wrenching anguished four lines.
ham ke thahare ajanabii itane madaaraaton ke baad
phir banenge aashnaa kitanii mulaaqaaton ke baad
un se jo kahane gaye the “Faiz” jaan sadaqaa kiye
anakahii hii rah gaii vo bat sab baaton ke baad
my personal favourite
nisar mein teri galyon ke aye watan ke jahan
chali hey rasm ke koi na sar utha ke chale
jo koi chahne wala tawaaf ko nikle
nazar chura ke chale jism o jan bacha ke chale
hai ahl e dil ke liye ab yeh nazm e basto kushad
ke sang o khisht muqayyad hai aur sag azad
Dil mein rahey to ruswa ho, lab pe aaey to raaz ho jaey
Yunhi besood kat rahi hai zeest, kash afsha-e-raaz ho jaey
Beautiful lines of Faiz:
Yoon iss dil main teri bhholi hoi yaad aai
Jaysay veeranay main Chupkay say bahar aa ja ae
Jaysay sehraaon main haulay say chalay baad-e-naseem
Jaysay beemar ko bay wajhee qaraar aa jaae
may ALLAH bless on his soul.
bahaar aa_ii to jaise ek baar
lauT aaye hai.n phir adam se
vo Khvaab saare, shabaab saare
jo tere ho.nTho.n pe mar miTe the
jo miT ke har baar phir jiiye the
nikhar gaye hai.n gulaab saare
jo terii yaado.n se mushk_buu hai.n
jo tere ushshaaq kaa lahuu hai.n
ubal pa.De hai.n azaab saare
malaal-e-ahavaal-e-dostaa.N bhii
Khumaar-e-aaGosh-e-mahavashaa.N bhii
Gubaar-e-Khaatir ke baab saare
tere hamaare
savaal saare, javaab saare
bahaar aa_ii to khul gaye hai.n
naye sire se hisaab saare
Original Urdu
Raat yunh dil mein teri khoee hui yaad aayee
Jaise veeraaney mein chupkey sey bahaar aa jaye
Jaisey sehra on mein howley se chaley baadey naseem
Jaisey beemaar ko bey wajhey Qaraar aa jaaye
English Translation
Last night, your lost memories crept into my heart
as spring arrives secretly into a barren garden
as a cool morning breeze blows slowly in a desert
as a sick person feels well, for no reason.
From OldPoetry.com
anginat sadion ke tareek bahimaana talism
resham o atlas o kamkhwab mein bunwai huay
ja bajaa bikte huay koocha -o-bazaar mein jism
khaak mei lithre huay khoon mei nehlai huay
…..
laut jaati hai udher ko bhi nazar kia kijeay
ab bhi dilkash hai tera husn magar kia kijeay
aur bhi dukh hain zamane mein muhabbat ke siwa
rahatein aur bhi hain vasl ki rahat ke siwa
Faiz Ahmad Faiz was like his poetry a very beautiful personality. Physically he is no more in this world but will remain alive in memory of millions for a very long time. A nice and innocent as he was, remained for years in prison only because he portraited human griefs in his poetry. How unlucky the world is, Faiz has gone no one like him has come. The world becomes poorer without such noble souls.
apni takmeel kar raha hoon mein
warna tujh se to mujh ko pyar nahin
***********
Hum khasta tanoo sai muhtasiboo kia maal manal ka pochtai ho
Jo umer sai hum nai bhar paya woh samnai lai rakhtai hain
Daman mai hai musht khak jigar, sagar main hai khonai hasratai gham
lo hum nai daman jhar dia lo jaam ultai daitai hain
A poet of poets. Who romanced with different aspects of life.
Tar-e-Damani Pe Sheikh Humarhi Na Jayio
Daman Nachord De, Tu Farishte Fazo Kare
Mr Faiz Ahmed Faiz, you are no doubt the greatest poet ever to live. You have inspired us, made us think about what we can do and should do. Rest in Peace Sir.