Remembering Faiz: ‘Sometimes I still dream about cricket’

Faiz's old friends offer A peep into less known aspects of the poet's life.

LAHORE: A peep into less known aspects of Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s life – an unrealised dream, his habit of pleasing friends and the reason to which he attributed his “failure to love” – was offered by some of Faiz’s oldest friends.

Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi, the humourist and satirist, and Iftikhar Arif were among those who shared anecdotes about Faiz’s life with an audience at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) during the international colloquium held in connection with Faiz’s centennial celebrations.

Yusufi read excerpts from his original 31-page essay, which according to some was a “befitting tribute to Faiz on his 100th birthday”. In his unique style known for subtlety of humour, excellent flow and vivid narration Yusufi amused the audience that ranged from friends and fans of Faiz to poets, writers, teachers and students. “When Faiz was in England,” Yusufi narrated, “a Sardar Sahib requested – while he was reciting poetry to the members of Halqa Niazmandaan-i-London – to accompany him to Birmingham. Faiz obliged to discover that Sardar ji had taken him to inaugurate a bakery. When Faiz Sahib returned, he wondered why nobody in England or Pakistan had ever invited him to inaugurate a book store. Faiz followed that comment with ‘But the biscuits were very tasty,’” Yusufi recounted, to which the audience burst into laughter.

Relating another incident Yusufi said, “Once in London Faiz Saheb was reciting his poem ‘Raqeeb say’ to his friends. When he started to read the last stanza of the poem, Saqi Farooqi asked Faiz Sahib not to recite any further and he stopped. All others in attendance requested him to complete the poem but Faiz said, “If Saqi doesn’t want me to read beyond that, I won’t.”

“Faiz thought that he did not have the time and leisure that should be dedicated to love,” he continued, “I think that was naïve of him because there are many who have a lot of free time but still cannot love,” Yusufi added bringing smiles to the audience’s faces.

Faiz’s old companion remembered him as someone “who didn’t take anything from the world but gave a lot to it”. “His poem Bol shows that he was a voice that will always remain relevant. It was written years ago but it’s more relevant now than ever,” Yusufi opined.

The house, including people like Javed Akhrat, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Amjab Islam Amjab and Kishwar Naheed, gave Yusufi a standing ovation when he had completed reading through his essay.

Iftikhar Arif spoke about his correspondence with Faiz. A book based on the letters was launched at Alhamra on Friday. A previously unseen interview of Faiz by Iftikhar Arif and Ahmad Faraz was also shown on the occasion. When Iftikhar Arif asked Faiz what was his one regret Faiz replied, “I wanted to be a cricketer. Sometimes I still dream about cricket.”

Lums faculty member Nomanul Haq spoke about the beautiful use of metaphor in Faiz’ poetry. He said, “Faiz is a rainbow bridge between the past and the present”.

Ashfaq Hussain, who came from Toronto, spoke about the time Faiz had been in exile. He said that it was intolerance in his own country that had forced Faiz into exile.  Javed Akhtar, Arifa Syeda, Salima Hashmi and Salim Arif also shared their thoughts about Faiz’s work and personality.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2011.