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.
Un hi kay faiz se bazar-e-aqal roshan ha,
Jo gha gha janoon ikhtiar karte rahe:
Translation:
Humanity owes its enlightenment to them,
Who from time to time purse their obsessions;
raat yuuN dil meN terii khoyii hu’ii yaad aayii
jaise viiraane meN chupke se bahaar aa jaaye
jaise sehraaoN meN hauley se chale baad-e-nasiim
jaise biimaar ko be-vajh qaraar aa jaaye
Woh log bahut khush kismat the
Jo ishq ko kaam samajhte the
Yeh kaam se ashiqui karte the
Hum ji te ji masroof rahe
kuch ishq kiya kuch kaam kiya
Kaam ishq ke aade aata raha
Aur ishq se kaam ulajhta raha
Phir akhir tang aa kar humne
Dono ko adhura chod diya
karo Kaj kafan ba sare jabeen, meray qatilon ko guman na ho
Ke ghroor-e-Ishq ka baankpun pase marg hum ne bhula diya
Amazing imagination in every word of the great Faiz like:
Hamari Khamoshi kutch Iss tharah saay koonji,
Goya Her Smithn Say Jawab Aya
Ham Nay is Ishq Main Kiya khoya kiya paya
Juz teray aur ko samjhaon tu samjha na sakon,
Aajzi seekhi ghareebon ki himayaat seekhi,
Yasoo Hurman k dukh dard ki mana seekhi,
Zerdaston k masaib ko samjhna seekha,
Surkh aaahoon k rukh e zard ki manaa seekhi,
Jub kabhi beth k rootey hain woh bekaas jin k,
ashq ankhoon main bilaktey howey soojatey hain,
Na tawaoon k niwalon pay jhapatey hain aqab,
Bazoo tooley howey mandalatey howey aatey hain,
Jub kabhi bikta hey bazaar main mazdoor ka gosht,
Shahraoon pay ghareeboon ka lahoo behta hey,
Ik aag si seenay main machalti hay mut pooch,
Mujh ko apney DIL pay kaboo nahi rehta hey
himmat-e-iltijaa nahii.n baaqii
zabt kaa hausalaa nahii.n baaqii
ik terii diid chhin ga_ii mujh se
varnaa duniyaa me.n kyaa nahii.n baaqii
apanii mashq-e-sitam se haath na khe.nch
mai.n nahii.n yaa vafaa nahii.n baaqii
terii chashm-e-alam_navaaz kii Khair
dil me.n ko_ii gilaa nahii.n baaqii
ho chukaa Khatm ahad-e-hijr-o-visaal
zindagii me.n mazaa nahii.n baaqii
His legacy will live on forever. He is a legend then, is one now, and always will be.
We need more people like him in Pakistan. His daughter Salima Hashmi was my mother’s mentor during her days at NCA Lahore.
on a side note, to all friends and fans of Shoaib Hashmi —-please pray for him. He is a bit ‘under the weather’ nowdays but Inshallah may he make speedy recovery.
FAIZ -THE POET
bol ki lab aazaad haiN tere
bol ki zabaaN ab tak terii hai….
yeh daagh daagh ujaala, yeh shab gaziida sehar
voh intezaar thaa jiskaa yeh voh sehar to nahiiN’ …(in the context of partition)
&
nisaar maiN terii galiyoN ke aye vatan ki jahaaN
chalii hai rasm ki koii na sar uThaa kar chale…
‘Dua-e-Faiz’
Aaeye Haath Uthain hum bhi
and of course the epic
‘Yeh Raat us dard ka shajar hai–‘
bahaar aa_ii
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
Do Ishq (faiz)
——————————————————————————–
Taza Hai Abhi Yaad Main Aay Saqi-e-gulfaam
Wo Aks-e- Rukh-e-yaar Say Lahkay Hoyay Ayaam
Wo Phool Si Khilti Hoi Deedar Ki Saa-at
Wo Dil Sa Dharaktha Houa Umeed Ka Hangaam
Umeed,kay Lo Jaga Ghum-e-dil Ka Naseeba
Lo Shoq Ki Tarsi Hoi Shab,ho Gayi Aakhr
Lo Doob Gayay Dard Kay Baykhwb Sitaray
Ab Chamkay Ga Bay-sabr Nigahoo Ka Muqadar
Is Baam Say Niklay Ga Teray Husn Ka Khursheed
Us Kunj Say Phootay Gi Kiran, Rang Hina Ki
Is Dar Say Bahayga Teray Raftar Ka Seemab
Us Rah Pay Phoolay Gi Shafaq Teri Qaba Ki
Phir Dekhay Hai Wo Hijr Kay Taptay Hoay Din Bhi
Jab Fikr-e Dil-o-jaan Main Fughaan Bhool Gayi Hai
Har Shab Wo Siya Bhooj Kay Dil Bhait Ghiya Hai
Har Subh Ki Luo Teer Si Seenay Main Lagi Hai
Tanhayi Main Kia Kia Na Tujay Yaad Kia Hai
Kia Kia Na Dil-e-zaar Na Dhondi Hai Panahay
Aankho Say Lagaya Hai Kabi Dast-e-saba Ko
Daali Hai Kabi Gardan-e-mahtab Main Bhanhay
Chaha Hai Isi Rang Main Lailayay-e-watan Ko
Tarpa Hai Isi Tor Say Dil Is Ki Lagan Main
Dhoondi Hai Yunhi Shoq Main Asayish-e-manzil
Rukhsaar Kay Kham Main,kabi Kakul Kay Shikan Main
Is Jaan-o-jahan Ko Bhi Yunhi Qalb-o-nazar Nay
Hans Hans Kay Sada Di,kabi Ro Ro Kay Pukara
Poray Kiyaya Sab Harf-e-tamana Kay Taqazay
Har Dard Ko Ujyala,har Ek Ghum Ko Sanwara
Wapas Nahee Phiara Koi Farman Junoo Ka
Tanha Nahee Loti Kabi Awaz Jaras Ki
Khairiat-e-jaan,rahat-e-tan,sehat-e-damaa
Sab Bhool Gayi Maslahatay Ahl-e-hawas Ki
Is Raah Main Jo Sab Pay Guzarti Hai Wo Guzri
Tanha Pas-e-zindaa,kabi Ruswa Sar-e-bazaar
Garjay Hai Bohhut Shaikh Sar-e-gosha-mimbar
Karkay Hai Bohut Ahl-e-hakm Barsar-e-darbar
Chora Nahee Ghiaroo Nay Koi Nawak-e-dishnaam
Choti Nahee Apnoo Say Koi Tarz-e-malamat
Is Ishq Na Us Ishq Pay Nadim Hai Magar Dil
Har Daagh Hai Is Dil Main Bajuz Daagh-e-nidamat
__________________
Faiz Saheb will never die. He will live long in the heart of his readers and followers for years after years. One cannot forget his Legendary personality and his true class through his God Gifted touch in his poems and ghazals. Here is just one example of the class of Faiz Saheb’s poetry:
KOI AASHIQ KISI MEHBOOBA SE ( A POEM)
Gulshan-e-Yaad main garr Aaj dam-e-Baaday Sabaa…
Phir se chahay keh Gul Afshaan ho tou hojanay dou…
Umr-e-Rafta kay kisi taaq pay bisra huwa dard..
Phir se chahay keh farozaan ho tou hojanay dou…
Jaisay baiganay se miltay ho waisay hee sahee…
Aao dou chaar gharhi mairay muqaabil baitho..
Garchay mill baithain gay Hamm Tum tou Mulaqat kay baad..
Apna ehsaas-e-Ziyaan aur ziada hoga..
Hamm Sukhan hongay jo Hamm Tum tou herr ik baat kay beech…
Ann kahi baat ka mohoom sa parda hoga..
Koi Paimaan na Main Yaad dilaaonga na Tum…
Koi Mazmoon Wafa ka na Jafa ka hoga….
Gard-e-Ayyam ki Tehreer ko Dhonay kay liay..
Tum se Goya hon Dam-e-Deed jo Meri Palkain..
Tum jo Chaho tou suno aur na chaho na suno…
Aur jo Harf karain Mujh se Guraizaan Aankhain…
Tum jo Chaho tou Kaho aur Na Chaho, Na Kaho
Faiz was great. The rulers did not realized him in his life. Noor Jahan was also a great lady who sung the famous ghazal “Mujh Se Pehli Mohabat Meri Mehboob Na Mang” and what the greatness of Faiz when he dedicated this ghazal to Madam Noor Jahan. I request to all, read Faiz, follow Faiz then society will get Faiz to justice.
raat yun dil me teri khoi hui yaad aayi
jaisay veeranay mein chupey se bahaar aa jaye
Jaisay sehraon mein holay se chale baad-e-naseem
Jaisay beemar ko be wajha qaraar aa jaye
Mere dil mere musafir
Hua phir se hukm sadir
Ke watan badar hon hum tum
De gali gali sadain
Karain rukh nagar nagar ka
Ke suragh koee paien
Kisi aur nama bar ka
Har ik ajnabi se poochain
Jo pata tha apne ghar ka
Sar e koe na shanaya
Humain din se raat karna
Kabhi iss se baat karna
Kabhi uss se baat karna
Tumhain kya khoon ke kya hai
Shab e gham buri bala hai
Humain yeh bhi tha ghaneemat
Jo koee shumar hota
Humain kya bura tha marna
Agar aik bar hota
To the EverGreen Faiz Ahmed Faiz
aao k ajj khatam howi dastaan e ishaq
abb khatam e ashaqi k fasaane sunaye hum
ek karra dard k jo gheet mein dalta he nahi
dil ki tareek shughafoon se niklta he nahi
Tribute to FAIZ
The charm and sustance in poetry gone with FAIZ may ALLAH BLESS HIS SOUL (AAMEEN)
NA GAWAOO NAVAK E NEEM KUSH DILE REZA REZA GNWANDIA
JO BUCHE HAIN SUNG SAMAIT LO TUNE DAAG DAAG LUTA DIA
Un hi ke faiz se bazzar-e-aqal roshan hay
Jo gha gha janoon ikhtiar karte rahey
raath yoon dil may theri khoyi hoi yad aiye;
jesa werana may chupka say bahar ajaye
Faiz was a born poet, The ease with which he expressed his aura, multidimensional thought process was and is still matchless.
Definitely, Among the greatest poets of all time!!!
Raat youn dil me teri khoi hui yaad aai
jayse verane me chupke se bahar aa jaae
jayse sehraa me houle se chale baade naseem
jayse bemaar ko bewajhah qarar aa jaae
Man behind a poet: Faiz being a true scholar, revolutionary and progressive found poetry the most sublime way of expressing his strength of idea. Straddling along the loftiest peaks of passion for humanity, he delivered his best of life through verses ealier unheard in the domain of poetry.
” Aaj Bazar mein Pabejollan chalo
Mast o raqsan chalo, khon badaman chalo
rah takta hae shehr e janaan chalo”
Relevance of his conviction to desist tyrrany, oppression and extremism is a blessing for people seeking change in social, political and cultural paradigms of a state wretched with blunders of policy makers.
chand dekha teri aankhon main na honton pay shafaq
milti julti hay shab e gham se teri deed ab kay
Here are a few verses from one of my all times favourite of the Great Poet.
“Tum aaye ho na shab-e-intizar guzri hai
Talash mein hai sehr baar baar guzri hai
Junoon mein jitni bhi guzri bakaar guzri hai
Agar-che dil pe kharaabi hazaar guzri hai
Wo baat saarey fasane mein jiska zikr na tha
Wo baat unko bohat naagawar guzri hai…”
And I must add that Noorjahan gave immortality to this beautiful ghazal.