A captivating mime performance based on the great Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem “Umeed-e-sahar ki baat suno” (Listen to the message of hope) was performed here to show how Faiz gave the message of revolution against oppression, injustices and tyranny through his poetry, according to a press release issued by the National Language Authority on Tuesday.
Students from The University of Gujarat (UoG) performed the mime at “An evening dedicated to Faiz”. The event was organised by the UoG, in collaboration with the National Language Authority (NLA), Higher Education Commission (HEC) and National Testing Service Pakistan (NTS).
The performance depicted the hope that emerges in brutal, oppressive societies as Faiz narrated in his poetry. The actors’ expressions showed how society reacts in tyrannical regimes and how even a single ray of hope can overshadow frustration. Alia Rasheed, a Lahore-based singer, who is visually impaired, presented Faiz’s poetry with Raees Ahmed playing violin.
UoG School of Art, Design and Architecture lecturer Haroon Habib said the performance was based on the period when Faiz was arrested in the infamous Rawalpindi conspiracy case. “Through this performance, we depicted similarities between the past and present. We are currently suffering the same oppression as the people had been through two to three decades ago.” A number of literary personalities, teachers and students participated and enjoyed the musical and mime performances.
UoG Vice-Chancellor Dr Nizamudin paying tribute to the legendary poet said how Faiz addressed the youth as agent of change and advised them to play a proactive role in protecting the rights of the oppressed. Quaid-i-Azam Alumni Association Secretary General Murtaza Noor said that poetry and message of Faiz is a source of inspiration for the downtrodden and working class in society.
The event was a continuation of a series of activities, including seminars, conferences, cultural programmes and exhibitions being organised by various organisations during 2011 which has been declared by the government as the year of Faiz across the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2011.
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