Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Encyclopedia
Faiz Ahmad Faiz was a Pakistani intellectual, poet
, and one of the most famous poets of the Urdu
language. He was a member of the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind (All India Progressive Writers' Movement)
and an avowed Marxist. In 1962, he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize
by the Soviet Union
. Despite being repeatedly accused of atheism
by the political and military establishment of Pakistan, Faiz's poetry suggested his complicated relationship with religion
in general and Islam
in particular. He was, nevertheless, inspired by South Asia's Sufi traditions.
: سیالکوٹ in Punjab
in British India to Sultan Mohammad Khan and his youngest wife Fatima.
Following the Muslim
tradition in South Asia, at an early age Faiz was sent to the Masjid (Mosque
) to be oriented to the basics of religious studies by Maulvi Muhammad Ibrahim Mir Sialkoti. He went on to the Scotch Mission School, Sialkot
, for academic education and after matriculation joined Murray College
, Sialkot, Punjab for intermediate study and graduation. His most influential teachers were Professor Yousuf Saleem Chishti, who taught Urdu, and Shams-ul-Ullamah Syed Mir Hasan, who taught Arabic
. Hasan had also taught the renowned philosopher, poet, and politician of South Asia, Allama Dr. Muhammad Iqbal
. Faiz acquired a post-graduate degree from the Government College, Lahore, a Master of Arts
in English Literature
, and he also attended the Oriental College in Lahore, where he obtained another master's degree in Arabic Literature
.
in Punjab in 1936. Also he was a Member and Secretary of this branch. He was also an Editor of Mahnama (Monthly). Faiz became a lecturer in English at M. A. O. College, Amritsar
in 1935 and then at Hailey College of Commerce, Lahore. He briefly joined the British Indian Army and was promoted to the rank of Lieut. Colonel in 1944. He resigned from the Army in 1947 and returned to Lahore to become the first editor-in-chief of the Pakistan Times. In 1959 he was appointed as Secretary, Pakistan Arts Council and worked in that capacity till 1962.
and was appointed as Principal at Abdullah Haroon College. Faiz distinguished himself as a journalist and was editor of the Pakistan Times, the Urdu newspaper 'Imroze' and the weekly Lail-o-Nihar. In the 1965 war between India & Pakistan he worked in an honorary capacity in the Department of Information and during that period Faiz was very much close to the senior officers, like Syed Fakhruddin Balley. In exile he acted as Editor of the magazine Lotus in Moscow
, London
and Beirut
.
Faiz wrote poems that opposed the bloodshed during separation of Bangladesh
from Pakistan.
. He spent much of the 1950s and 1960s promoting the cause of communism in Pakistan. During the time when Faiz was editor of the Pakistan Times
, one of the leading newspapers of the 1950s, he lent editorial support to the party. He was also involved in the circle lending support to military personnel (e.g. Major General Akbar Khan). His involvement with the party and Major General Akbar Khan's coup plan led to his imprisonment later.
. He had close relations with several Sufi saints of his time. He was a favourite of Baba Malang Sahib, a Sufi of Lahore, Wasif Ali Wasif
, Ashfaq Ahmad, Syed Fakhruddin Balley and other renowned sufis. Once when he was asked how he could compare Sufis with socialist comrades, he replied, "They [Sufis] are the real comrades". He is also credited for coining the term Ana al-Haqq in the political sense.
All these have been combined as one book Nuskha Haa-e-Wafa (Urdu
: نسخہ ہاے وفا).
with the title Seenai Keechag aa. This work by Faiz was translated by Gul Khan
while he (Gul Khan) was in jail during Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's regime for opposing the government's policies. It was published in 1980, after Zia-ul-Haq toppled Bhutto's government and freed all the political prisoners of his (Bhutto's) regime. Victor Kiernan
, British Marxist historian translated Faiz Ahmed Faiz's works into English,and transliteration in Punjabi by Mohinder Singh.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz, himself, has also translated works of notable poets from other languages into Urdu. In his book "Sar-i Waadi-i Seena" there are some translations of the famous poet of Dagestan
, Rasul Gamzatov
. "Deewa", a Balochi poem by Mir Gul Khan Nasir, was also translated into Urdu by Faiz.
. Salima is an eminent artist and Moneeza is a TV producer. Salima and Moneeza are married to brothers Shoaib Hashmi and Humair Hashmi respectively, who are noted media personalities.
, awarded by the Soviet Union
in 1963. In 1976 he was award the Lotus Prize for Literature
. He was also nominated for the Nobel Prize
shortly before his death in 1984.
.
2.'Dard Aayega Dabe Paon' by Sheela Bhatiya.
3.'Kuchh Ishq kiya Kuchh Kaam' written by Danish Iqbal and staged by Impresario Asia. This multi-media Stage Production is being premiered at Sri Ram centre, New Delhi on 11th November, 2011. This Play is basically a Celebration of the Faiz's Poetry and featuring events from the early part of his life, particularly the events anf incidents of pre-partition days which shaped his life and ideals. Directed by K K Kohli this musical Production featured Artists like Shamir Abadan, Jaishri Sethi, Dr Naseem, Izhar, Minhaj, Prateek Kapoor, Twinkle Khanna and Amit Bajaj in lead roles. This script is the first part of Faiz trilogy written by Danish Iqbal at the occasion of Faiz Centenary Celebrations.
4. 'Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan' - A dramatized reading of Faiz's letter and letters written by his wife Alys. This Production was initially done at the start of his birth centenary celebrations at India Habitat Center, New Delhi by Danish Iqbal and Salima Raza. Later the same Production, again by Danish Iqbal and Salima Raza, was the concluding item at the JNU Urdu Festival, under the aegis of Wings Cultural Society. 'Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan' was also done at Amritsar Faiz Festival organized by Preet Ladi, at Punjab Natshala, Amritsar, on 6th October, 2011. This time it was done by Suchitra Gupta and Danish Iqbal.
5. 2011 Drama Festival of Delhi Urdu Academy is basically devoted to Productions about Faiz. Apart from 'Kuchh Ishq kiya Kuchh Kaam' and 'Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan' this Festival will also feature Plays by Peirreot's Troupe on Faiz, namely 'Jo Dil Pe Guzarti Hai'.
Profiles and tributes
Works
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, and one of the most famous poets of the Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
language. He was a member of the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind (All India Progressive Writers' Movement)
Progressive Writers' Movement
The Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind or Progressive Writers' Movement was a progressive literary movement in the pre-partition British India, consisting of a few different writers groups around the world....
and an avowed Marxist. In 1962, he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize
Lenin Peace Prize
The International Lenin Peace Prize was the Soviet Union's equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize, named in honor of Vladimir Lenin. It was awarded by a panel appointed by the Soviet government, to notable individuals whom the panel indicated had "strengthened peace among peoples"...
by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Despite being repeatedly accused of atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
by the political and military establishment of Pakistan, Faiz's poetry suggested his complicated relationship with religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
in general and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in particular. He was, nevertheless, inspired by South Asia's Sufi traditions.
Early life
Faiz Ahmad Faiz was born in Kala Kader village, SialkotSialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
: سیالکوٹ in Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
in British India to Sultan Mohammad Khan and his youngest wife Fatima.
Following the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
tradition in South Asia, at an early age Faiz was sent to the Masjid (Mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
) to be oriented to the basics of religious studies by Maulvi Muhammad Ibrahim Mir Sialkoti. He went on to the Scotch Mission School, Sialkot
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
, for academic education and after matriculation joined Murray College
Murray College
Government Murray College Sialkot , formerly known as Scotch Mission College, is located in Sialkot in the Punjab province of Pakistan.-History:...
, Sialkot, Punjab for intermediate study and graduation. His most influential teachers were Professor Yousuf Saleem Chishti, who taught Urdu, and Shams-ul-Ullamah Syed Mir Hasan, who taught Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
. Hasan had also taught the renowned philosopher, poet, and politician of South Asia, Allama Dr. Muhammad Iqbal
Muhammad Iqbal
Sir Muhammad Iqbal , commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal , was a poet and philosopher born in Sialkot, then in the Punjab Province of British India, now in Pakistan...
. Faiz acquired a post-graduate degree from the Government College, Lahore, a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
, and he also attended the Oriental College in Lahore, where he obtained another master's degree in Arabic Literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
.
Career
Faiz started a branch of Progressive Writers' MovementProgressive Writers' Movement
The Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind or Progressive Writers' Movement was a progressive literary movement in the pre-partition British India, consisting of a few different writers groups around the world....
in Punjab in 1936. Also he was a Member and Secretary of this branch. He was also an Editor of Mahnama (Monthly). Faiz became a lecturer in English at M. A. O. College, Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
in 1935 and then at Hailey College of Commerce, Lahore. He briefly joined the British Indian Army and was promoted to the rank of Lieut. Colonel in 1944. He resigned from the Army in 1947 and returned to Lahore to become the first editor-in-chief of the Pakistan Times. In 1959 he was appointed as Secretary, Pakistan Arts Council and worked in that capacity till 1962.
Return to Pakistan
Returning from London in 1964 he settled down in KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and was appointed as Principal at Abdullah Haroon College. Faiz distinguished himself as a journalist and was editor of the Pakistan Times, the Urdu newspaper 'Imroze' and the weekly Lail-o-Nihar. In the 1965 war between India & Pakistan he worked in an honorary capacity in the Department of Information and during that period Faiz was very much close to the senior officers, like Syed Fakhruddin Balley. In exile he acted as Editor of the magazine Lotus in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
.
Faiz wrote poems that opposed the bloodshed during separation of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
from Pakistan.
Communism
Faiz was a communist and was associated with the Communist Party of PakistanCommunist Party of Pakistan
The Communist Party of Pakistan is a communist party affiliated with Communist Party of the Russia. Before the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the party had long association and ties with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union ....
. He spent much of the 1950s and 1960s promoting the cause of communism in Pakistan. During the time when Faiz was editor of the Pakistan Times
Pakistan Times
Pakistan Times is an independent online daily newspaper. It is published from Islamabad.-External links:**...
, one of the leading newspapers of the 1950s, he lent editorial support to the party. He was also involved in the circle lending support to military personnel (e.g. Major General Akbar Khan). His involvement with the party and Major General Akbar Khan's coup plan led to his imprisonment later.
Sufism
Faiz was an avowed supporter of SufismSufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
. He had close relations with several Sufi saints of his time. He was a favourite of Baba Malang Sahib, a Sufi of Lahore, Wasif Ali Wasif
Wasif Ali Wasif
Wasif Ali Wasif was a teacher, writer, poet and sufi intellectual from Pakistan. He was famous for his unique literary style. He used to write short pieces of prose on topics like love, life, fortune, fear, hope, expectation, promise, prayer, happiness, sorrow and so on. He was the regular...
, Ashfaq Ahmad, Syed Fakhruddin Balley and other renowned sufis. Once when he was asked how he could compare Sufis with socialist comrades, he replied, "They [Sufis] are the real comrades". He is also credited for coining the term Ana al-Haqq in the political sense.
Major works
- Naqsh-e-Faryadi (1943)
- Dast-e-Saba (1952)
- Zindan-Nama (1956)
- Dast-e-Tah-e-Sung (1965)
- Mere Dil Mere Musafir
- Sar-e-Wadi-e-Sina
All these have been combined as one book Nuskha Haa-e-Wafa (Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
: نسخہ ہاے وفا).
Translations
Faiz Ahmad Faiz's poetry has been translated into many languages, including English and Russian. A Balochi poet, Mir Gul Khan Nasir, who was also a friend of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, translated his book Sar-e-Wadi-e-Seena into BalochiBalochi language
Balochi is a Northwestern Iranian language. It is the principal language of the Baloch of Balochistan, Pakistan, eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. It is also spoken as a second language by some Brahui. It is designated as one of nine official languages of Pakistan.-Vowels:The Balochi vowel...
with the title Seenai Keechag aa. This work by Faiz was translated by Gul Khan
Mir Gul Khan Naseer
Mir Gul Khan Nasir, also widely regarded as Malek o-Sho'arā Balochistan was a prominent politician, poet, historian, and journalist of Balochistan, Pakistan. Born on 14 May 1914 in Noshki, Gul Khan Nasir was at the forefront of the Baloch Nationalist Movement and was most active between 1935 to 1980...
while he (Gul Khan) was in jail during Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's regime for opposing the government's policies. It was published in 1980, after Zia-ul-Haq toppled Bhutto's government and freed all the political prisoners of his (Bhutto's) regime. Victor Kiernan
Victor Kiernan
Professor Victor Gordon Kiernan was a British Marxist historian and a former member of the Communist Party Historians Group with a particular focus on the history of imperialism ..Kiernan was born in Ashton upon Mersey, Sale to Congregationalist lower-middle class parents...
, British Marxist historian translated Faiz Ahmed Faiz's works into English,and transliteration in Punjabi by Mohinder Singh.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz, himself, has also translated works of notable poets from other languages into Urdu. In his book "Sar-i Waadi-i Seena" there are some translations of the famous poet of Dagestan
Dagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
, Rasul Gamzatov
Rasul Gamzatov
Rasul Gamzatovich Gamzatov was probably the most famous poet writing in the Avar language. Among his poems was Zhuravli, which became a well-known Soviet song....
. "Deewa", a Balochi poem by Mir Gul Khan Nasir, was also translated into Urdu by Faiz.
Personal life
In the 1930s Faiz Ahmad Faiz married a British woman, Alys Faiz. They had two daughters, Moneeza and Salima HashmiSalima Hashmi
Salima Hashmi is a Pakistani painter, artist, writer, anti-nuclear weapon activist and a professor who served for four years as the head of the National College of Arts...
. Salima is an eminent artist and Moneeza is a TV producer. Salima and Moneeza are married to brothers Shoaib Hashmi and Humair Hashmi respectively, who are noted media personalities.
Awards
Faiz was the first Asian poet to receive the Lenin Peace PrizeLenin Peace Prize
The International Lenin Peace Prize was the Soviet Union's equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize, named in honor of Vladimir Lenin. It was awarded by a panel appointed by the Soviet government, to notable individuals whom the panel indicated had "strengthened peace among peoples"...
, awarded by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1963. In 1976 he was award the Lotus Prize for Literature
Lotus Prize for Literature
The Lotus Prize for Literature was a literary award presented annually to African and Asian authors by the Afro-Asian Writers' Association .The Bureau, as the Association was initially known, was founded in Sri...
. He was also nominated for the Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
shortly before his death in 1984.
Plays and Dramatic Productions on Faiz
1.'Sheeshon ka Maseeha' by Omer Khawaja and Shabana AzmiShabana Azmi
Shabana Azmi is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. An alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India of Pune, she made her film debut in 1974 and soon became one of the leading actresses of parallel cinema, an Indian New Wave movement known for its serious content and...
.
2.'Dard Aayega Dabe Paon' by Sheela Bhatiya.
3.'Kuchh Ishq kiya Kuchh Kaam' written by Danish Iqbal and staged by Impresario Asia. This multi-media Stage Production is being premiered at Sri Ram centre, New Delhi on 11th November, 2011. This Play is basically a Celebration of the Faiz's Poetry and featuring events from the early part of his life, particularly the events anf incidents of pre-partition days which shaped his life and ideals. Directed by K K Kohli this musical Production featured Artists like Shamir Abadan, Jaishri Sethi, Dr Naseem, Izhar, Minhaj, Prateek Kapoor, Twinkle Khanna and Amit Bajaj in lead roles. This script is the first part of Faiz trilogy written by Danish Iqbal at the occasion of Faiz Centenary Celebrations.
4. 'Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan' - A dramatized reading of Faiz's letter and letters written by his wife Alys. This Production was initially done at the start of his birth centenary celebrations at India Habitat Center, New Delhi by Danish Iqbal and Salima Raza. Later the same Production, again by Danish Iqbal and Salima Raza, was the concluding item at the JNU Urdu Festival, under the aegis of Wings Cultural Society. 'Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan' was also done at Amritsar Faiz Festival organized by Preet Ladi, at Punjab Natshala, Amritsar, on 6th October, 2011. This time it was done by Suchitra Gupta and Danish Iqbal.
5. 2011 Drama Festival of Delhi Urdu Academy is basically devoted to Productions about Faiz. Apart from 'Kuchh Ishq kiya Kuchh Kaam' and 'Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan' this Festival will also feature Plays by Peirreot's Troupe on Faiz, namely 'Jo Dil Pe Guzarti Hai'.
External links
- In-depth special for Faiz Sahab at DawnDawn (newspaper)Dawn is Pakistan's oldest and most widely read English-language newspaper. One of the country's two largest English-language dailies, it is the flagship of the Dawn Group of Newspapers, published by Pakistan Herald Publications, which also owns the Herald, a magazine, the evening paper The Star and...
Profiles and tributes
- Faiz Ahmed Faiz - Tum Yeh Kehtay Ho Ab Koee (short film: Ali Kapadia)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK5ceY1NKPM&feature=player_profilepage (Faiz Mela London)
- Faiz - aaj kay naam (a multimedia CD on Faiz)
- A tribute to Alys Faiz
- Mushaira.org entry on Faiz Ahmed Faiz
- GetPakistan Profile
- Village of Faiz Ahmed Faiz on map
Works
- http://www.jinnahsequaid.com/8048/legendary-works-faiz-ahmed-faiz/
- Faiz Ahmad Faiz at Kavita Kosh (Hindi)
- Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Complete Poetry at punjabi-Kavita.com in Punjabi/Gurmukhi
- Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Urdu translation of Gul Khan Nasir's "Deewa"
- Gul Khan reading his Balochi poem while Ata Shaad reads Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Urdu translation of it
- Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Urdu Poem "Dua" With Balochi translation by the Baloch poet Gul Khan Nasir
- Selected poetry of Faiz
- Kuch Ishq Kya Kuch Kam Kya' English translation by Qazi Muhammad Ahkam
- Audio recitation and ghazals, nazms, qitaat of Faiz in Roman transliteration
- Poem of Faiz in Karachi
- Bol Ke Lab Aazad, Singer: Tina Sani
- Selected couplets of Faiz Ahmed Faiz