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.
These are two lines from a nazm
Tere aazar ka chara nahin nashtar ke siwa
Aur yeh safaak maseeha mere qabze mein nahin
Here is one of my favourite poems by Faiz:
kyaa kareN
miri tiri nigah meN
jo laakh intezaar haiN
jo mere tere tan badan meN
laakh dil figaar haiN
jo meri teri ungliyoN ki be-hisii se
sab qalam nazaar haiN
jo mere tere shehr ki
har ik gali meN
mere tere naqsh e paa ke be nisshaN mazaar haiN
jo meri teri raat ke
sitaare zakhm zakhm haiN
jo meri teri subh ke
gulaab chaak chaak haiN
yeh zakhm saare be-dawaa
yeh chaak saare be-rafoo
kisi pe raakh chaaNd ki
kisi pe os kaa laho
yeh hai bhi yaa nahi bataa
ye hai ke mehz jaal hai
mire tumhaare ankaboot e wehm kaa bunaa huaa
jo hai to iss kaa kyaa kareN
nahi hai to bhii kyaa kareN
bataa, bataa
bataa, bataa
Although a very long poem, here a few lines from “Dou Ishq” by Faiz.
Taaza hein abhi yaad mein ay saaqi-e-gulfaam,
Wo aqs-e-rukh-e-yar say lehkay huay ayyam,
Wo phool si khilti hui deedar ki saa’at,
Wo dil saa dharakta hua umeed ka hangaam,
Umeed k lo jaga gham-e-dil ka naseeba,
Lo shauq ki tarsi hui shab ho gai aakhir…
Iss raah mein jo sab pay guzarti hai wo guzri,
Tanha pas-e-zindan kabhi ruswa sar-e-bazaar,
Garjay hein bohut sheikh sar-e-gosha-e-mimbar,
Karkay hein bohut ehl-e-hukum barsar-e-darbar…
Iss ishq na uss ishq pay naadim hai magar dil,
Har daagh hai iss dil mein ba juzz daagh-e-nidamat!
A few lines from another of my favourites:
Tanhai mein kya kya na tujhay yaad kiya hai,
Kya kya na dil-e-zaar nein dhoondhi hein panahein,
Aankhon say lagaya hai kabhi dast-e-saba ko,
Daaleen hein kabhi gardan-e-mahtab mein baanhein.
qatl ga hon say chun ker ha ma ray alam
or nick len gay ash shock kay qaf lay
jin key ra hey talab say hama ray qadam
mukh ta sar ker cha lay dard kay fas lay
meray watan k naam…
jo tujh se ehd-e-wafa istawaar rakhtay hain,
elaag-e-gardish-e-lail o nihaar rakhtay hain
uss k husn k naam…
adaa-e-husn ki ma’soomiat ko kum ker dey,
gunahgaar nazar ko hijaab ata ha
uss ki muhabat k naam…
raat yun dil mai teri khoi hui yaad ayi,
jaisay veeranay mai chupkay se bahar aa jaye,
jaisay sehraaon mai holaay se chalay baad-e-naseem,
jaisay bemaar ko be wajha karar aa jaye..
uss ki yaad k naam…
kab tak dil ki khair manain, kab tak raah dikhlao gay,
kab tak chain ki mohlat do gay kab tak yaad na aao gay,
beeta deed umeed ka mausam khaak urti ha aankhon mai,
kab bhejo gay dard ka badal kab barkha barsao gay..
muqam faiz kohi rah mai jacha hi nahi
jo kooey yaar sai niklay tu suai dar chalay
duniya nai teri yaad sai begana kar diya
tujh sai bhi dilfaraib thai gham rozgar kai
Loneliness
Loneliness like a good, old friend
visits my house to pour wine in the evening.
And we sit together, waiting for the moon,
and for your face to sparkle in every shadow.
I first heard of Faiz over 5 years ago and these 2 poems are the first ones I read. They are my favourites.
Last Night
Last night your lost memory visited my heart
as spring visits the wilderness quietly,
as the breeze echoes the silence of her footfalls
in the desert,
as peace slowly, softly descends on one’s sickness.
ek band Faiz ki “Raqeeb Se” aap k huzoor:
tu ne dekhi hai who peshani who rukhsar who hounT
zindagi jin k tasawwar mein luTadi hum ne
tujh pe uTthi hein who khoi khoi sahir aankein
tujh ko maloom hai kion umr ganwadi humne
..
Faiz..
.. rang o khushbo k, husn o khobi k,
.. tum se thy jitny ist’ary thy..
..
I have only heard the name. But from what I read here, those promoting free thoughts in Pakistan faced tough time in the past. I guess it is better now, given that we see many authors who are expressing their thoughts and questioning the authorities in popular dailies.
The impression I get is that Pakistani journalism has progressed in term of freedom of expression. Since when, I don’t know.
Nisar mein tari galiyon k ai watan k jahan chali hay rasm k koe na sir utha k chale.
Jo koe chahaney wala tawaf ko nikley: nazar chura k chale, jism o jan bacha k chale
Na deed hay na sukhan, ab na harf hay na payam
koe bhi heela e taskeen nahi or aas bahut hay
umeed e yar, nazar ka mizaj, dard ka rang
tum aaj kuch bhi na poocho k dil udas buhat hay
Faiz Sahib – will love on in the hearts and minds of lovers of Urdu poetry and progressive ideals for many generations to come.
His dua for Pakistan holds even more true today as our country faces so much suffering.
aaiiye haath uthaaye.n ham bhii
ham jinhe.n rasm-e-dua yaad nahii.n
ham ji.nhe.n soz-e-mohabbat ke siwaa
koii but, koii Khudaa yaad nahii.n
aaiiye arz guzare ki nigaar-e-hastii
zahar-e-imaroz me.n shiiriinii-e-fardaa.N bhar de
wo ji.nhe.n tabe garaa.Nbaarii-e-ayyaam nahii.n
unakii palako.n pe shab-o-roz ko halkaa kar de
jinakii aankho.n ko ruKh-e-subh kaa yaaraa bhii nahii.n
unakii raato.n me.n koii shamaa munawwar kar de
jinake qadamo.n ko kisii rah kaa sahara bhii nahii.n
unkii nazaro.n pe koii raah ujaagar kar de
jinakaa dii.n pairavii-e-kazbo-riyaa hai unako
himmat-e-kufr mile, jurat-e-tahaqiiq mile
jinake sar mu.ntazir-e-teG-e-jafaa hai.n unako
dast-e-qatil ko jhaTak dene kii taufiiq mile
ishq kaa sar-e-nihaan jaan-tapaan hai jis se
aaj iqaraar kare.n aur tapish miT jaaye
harf-e-haq dil me.n KhaTakataa hai jo ka.NTe kii tarah
aaj izahaar karen or Khalish miT jaaye
Faiz lafana hasti hain.
And of course, no memory of Faiz can be complete without the immortal and enchanting:
dasht-e-tanhaai mein, ai jaan-e-jahaan, larzaan hain
teri avaaz ke saaye,
tere honthon ke saraab
dasht-e-tanhaai mein,
duri ke khas-o-khaak tale
khil rahe hain tere pehlu ke saman aur gulaab
uht rahi hai kahin qurbat se
teri saans ki aanch
apani khushbuu mein sulagti hui
maddham maddham
dur ufaq par chamakati hui
qatra qatra
gir rahi hai teri dil daar nazar ki shabnam
is qadar pyaar se hai jaan-e jahaan rakkhaa hai
dil ke rukhsaar pe
is vaqt teri yaad ne haath
garche hai abhi subah-e-firaaq
dhal gaya hijr ka din
aa bhi gaye vasl ki raat
Indeed no words can fill up to suffice for Faiz Sahabs kalaam. He was prolific, astute, nostalgic and exuberant. HIS Kalaam is unparallell and his revolutionary quest is unnerving, he writes:
Gulon main rang bharay baaday nau bahar chalay….chalay bi aoo kay gulshan ka karobar chalay…
A rendezvous for the lost love…
the long awaiting bloom for the beloved…
Amazing as he is.
merey dil merey musafir
hua phir se hukum sadir
ke watan badar hon hum tum
dain ghari ghari sadaain
karayain rukh nagar nagar ka
ke soragh koi payein
kisi yar-e-nama-bar ka
har ek ajnabi se poochain to pata tha apnay ghar ka
sar e koo-e-na aashnaya
humain din se raat karna
kabhi iss se baat karna
kabhi uss se baat karna
tumhain kia kahoon ke kia hai
shab e gham buri bala hai
humain yeh bhi tha ghaneemat
jo koi shumaar hota
humain kia bura tha marna
agar ek baar hota
merey dil merey musafir
I’d find it impossible to pick a favourite poem or favourite lines by Faiz. There are simply too many that I adore. However, I thought it might be apt to quote one of his lesser known poems. This one is untitled, but it is dated April 1971, so you don’t have to be a historian to grasp the context. And, like so much of Faiz’s poetry, it still has resonance in the present geopolitical context…
Teh ba teh dil ki kadoorat
Meri aankhon mein umand aayee to kuchch chara na tha
Charagar ki maan li
Aur mainay gard alood ankhon ko lahu se dho liya
Mainay gard alood aankhon ko lahu se dho liya
Aur ab har shakl-o-surat
Aalam-e-maujood ki har ik shay
Meri aankhon ke lahu se iss tarah humrang hai
Khursheed ka kundan lahu
Mehtab ki chandi lahu
Subhon ka hansna bhi lahu
Raaton ka rona bhi lahu
Har shajr minar-e-khoon, har phool khooneen deeda hai
Har nazar ik taar-e-khoon, har uks khoon maleeda hai
Mauj-e-khoon jub tak rawaan rehti hai uss ka surkh rang
Jazba-e-shauq-e-shahadat, dard, ghaiz-o-gham ka rung
Aur thum jai to kujla kar
Faqat nafrat ka, shub ka, maut ka
Har ik rung ke maatam ka rang
Charagar aisa na honay de
Kahaeen se la koee sailab-e-ashk
Aab-e-wazoo
Jis mein dhul jayein tau sahyed dhul sakay
Meri aankhon, meri gard alood aankhon ka lahu
Hum Dekhain Gay
We shall see
Lazim Hai ke hum Bhi Dekhain Gay
It is necessary that we shall also see
Woh Din ke Jis ka Wadah Hai
That day which has been promised
Jo Loh-e-Azl pe Likha hai
Which is written with God’s ink
Hum Dekhain Gay
We shall see
Jab Zulm-o-Sitam ke Koh-e-garaan
When the mountains of cruelty and torture
Ruii ki Tarah Urd Jain Gay
Will fly like pieces of cotton
Hum Mehkumoon ke Paun Talay
Under the feet of the governed
Yeh Dharti Dhard Dhard Dhardkay gi
This earth will quake
Aur Ehl-e-Hukum ke Sar Uper
And over the head of the ruler
Jab Bijli kard Kard Kardke gi
When lightening will thunder
Hum Dekhain Gay
We shall see
Jab Arz-e-Khuda ke kabay se
When from God’s Mecca
Sab but Uthwaaiy Jain gay
All the idols will be shattered
Hum Ehl-e-Safa Mardood-e-Haram
We people standing in the mosque
Masnad pe Bithaaiy jain gay
Will be elevated to a higher platform
Sab Taaj Uchalay jain gay
All the crowns will be tossed
Sab Takht Giraaiy Jain gay
All the thrones will be toppled
Bas Naam rahay Ga Allah ka
Then only God’s name will remain
Jo Ghayab Bhi hai Hazir Bhi
Who is both absent and present
Jo nazir bhi hai manzar bhi
Who is both the observer and the view itself
Uthay ga Analhaq ka Naara
When the anthem of truth will be raised
Jo Main bhi Hun aur Tumbhi ho
Who I am and you are as well
Aur Raaj karay gi khalq-e-Khuda
And the people of God will reign
Jo main bhi hun aur tum bhi ho
Who I am and you are as well
Hum Dekhain Gay
We shall see
Lazim Hai ke hum Bhi Dekhain Gay
It is necessary that we shall also see
Hum Dekhain Gay
We shall see
اور راج کرے گی خلقِ خدا !!!!
bus naam rahega Allah ka
ko ghayab bhe hay hazir bhe
jo nazir bhe hy manzar bhe
uthe ga anal haq ka naara
jo mai bhe hoon aur tum bhe ho
aur raj karegi khallq-e-khuda
jo mai bhe houn or tum bhe ho
hum dekhaingay lazim hy k hum bhe dekheingay
hum dekhaingay
faiz sahab! your dream will live on until it is fulfilled
Hum parvarish e loh o qalam karte rahen ge,
Jo dil pe guzerti hai raqam karte rahen ge.
Faiz the Man!
dasht-e-tanhaai mein, ai jaan-e-jahaan, larzaan hain
In the desert of my solitude, oh love of my life, quiver
teri avaaz ke saaye,
the shadows of your voice,
tere honthon ke saraab
the mirage of your lips
dasht-e-tanhaai mein,
In the desert of my solitude,
duri ke khas-o-khaak tale
beneath the dust and ashes of distance
khil rahe hain tere pehlu ke saman aur gulaab
bloom the jasmines and roses of your proximity
uht rahi hai kahin qurbat se
From somewhere very close,
teri saans ki aanch
rises the warmth of your breath
apani khushbuu mein sulagti hui
smouldering in its own aroma,
maddham maddham
slowly, bit by bit.
dur ufaq par chamakati hui
far away, across the horizon, glistens
qatra qatra
drop by drop
gir rahi hai teri dil daar nazar ki shabnam
the falling dew of your beguiling glance
is qadar pyaar se hai jaan-e jahaan rakkhaa hai
With such tenderness, O love of my life,
dil ke rukhsaar pe
on the cheek of my heart,
is vaqt teri yaad ne haath
has your memory placed its hand right now
yun guman hota hai
that it looks as if
garche hai abhi subah-e-firaaq
(though it’s still the dawn of adieu)
dhal gaya hijr ka din
the sun of separation has set
aa bhi gaye vasl ki raat
and the night of union has arrived.
Bahar aayee
to jaisey yak baar laut aaye hain phir adum se
woh khaab sarey, shabaab sarey
jo terey honton pe mar mittey they
jo mit ke har baar phir jiye they
nikher gaye hain gulaaab sarey
jo teri yadon se mushkboo hain
jo terey ushaak ka lahoo hain
bahaar aayee to
ubal parey hain azaab sarey
malaal-e-ihbay-e-doastaan bhi
tumharey aaghosh-e-mehvashaan bhi
ghubar-e-khatir ke baab sarey
tirey humarey sawaal sarey, jawaab sarey
bahaar aayee
to khul gaye hain
neye sirrey se hisaab sarey
aa k wabasta hain us husn ki yadein tujh se
jise ne is dil ko parikhana bana rakha tha
jiskie ulfat main bhula rakhi thi duniya humne
dehr ko dehr ka afasana bana rakha tha
ofcourse the poem:
aaj bazar main pa ba jaulan chalo
and many many more
sheikh sahib say rasm-o-rah na ki
shukr ha zindagi tabah na ki
teray dast-e-sitam ka ejaaz nahi
dil hi kafir tha, jis nay ahh na ki
kon qatil bacha ha shaher may, faiz
jis say yaron nay rasm-o-rah na ki
Chashm-e-nam jaan-e- shoreeda kaafi nahi;
Tuhamat-e-Ishq Posheeda kafi nahi;
Aaj bazar mein………..
i love faiz
benazeer abbas
raat yuuN dil meN terii khoii huuii yaad aaii
jaise viraane meN chupke se bahaar aa jaae
jaise sahraaoN meN haule se chale baad-e-nasiim
jaise biimaar ko bevajah qaraar aa jaae