Remembering Faraz

Continuing the unfortunate tradition of forgetting the national heroes, the first death anniversary of renowned Urdu poet Ahmad Faraz largely went unnoticed on Tuesday, excluding single ceremony was organised by BIAZ for remembering and paying tribute to the legend of Urdu literature. TV Channels also showed special programmes .A floral wreath was laid on the grave of Ahmed Faraz and prayers were offered for the poetry legend on his first death anniversary, organized by Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL).

Hindko-speaking Ahmad Faraz was born on January 14, 1931 in Kohat in Pathan family and died in Chicago on August 25 last year. Faraz adopted profound style but converted his thoughts and dreams in a simple language commonly spoken by an ordinary people. Faraz produced maximum literature against dictatorship saying that he would not die before the closure of dictatorship in his beloved country. Surprisingly former president Musharraf resigned on August 18 and Faraz died on August 25 last year. The great revolutionist of literature even refused to accept the presidential Sitara-e Imtiaz award from former dictator Pervez Musharraf. “I am working according to my conscience as I cannot stay a silent spectator of the pensive happenings around us,” Faraz once said. Ahmad Faraz was exiled during the Zia-ul Haq regime after his arrest for reciting certain revolutionary poems at various Mushairas criticising hard the military rule. Faraz spent a long time of six years outside Pakistan, in the UK, Canada and Europe before his return to Pakistan where he was initially appointed as the chairman of the Academy of Letters and later Chairman of the National Book Foundation for several years. Presiding the ceremony organised by BIAZ at his home, a renowned Urdu poet Khalid Ahmad said that Ahmad Faraz was a real advocator for the poor and downtrodden. He said that Faraz, the master artist, is more alive today than his life time, adding his works are closer to hearts than the closure of his life chapter. His political stand is a beacon to all Pakistani writers to come, he added.The other speakers including poets and writers said Faraz presented a beautiful imagery in his poetry of love and protest. His romantic poems and Ghazals have turned Faraz a beloved celebrity by the youth. A young poet Arshad Shaheen recited a beautiful couplet of Ahmad Faraz and made the participants sad saying:

Silsilay Tour Gaya Wo Sabhi Jatay Jatay Warna Itnay Tu Marasim Thay Keh Atay Jatay