Today is the birth anniversary of the charismatic Ahmed Faraz

Renowned poet was born on this day in Kohat eighty-seven years ago

ISLAMABAD: Renowned poet, Ahmad Faraz was remembered on his 87th birth anniversary across the nation on Friday, Radio Pakistan reported.

As part of its celebration, the state radio sought to inform the national audience about the life and times of the great man.

Faraz was actually named Syed Ahmad Shah when he was born in Kohat on January 12, 1931. He held a Masters degree in multiple languages, including Urdu, Persian, and English Literature.

The charismatic poet began his professional career from the platform of Radio Pakistan. He later joined Peshawar University as a lecturer.



Ahmed Faraz also lived in Britain, Canada and Europe for a number of years before returning to Pakistan.

Upon his return, Faraz was initially appointed to head the Academy of Letters, and also served as chairperson of the Islamabad-based National Book Foundation for several years.



His famous works include Tanha Tanha, Dard-e-Ashub, Nayaft, Shab Khoon, Meray Khwab Reza Reza and Janan Janan, among many others.

He breathed his last in Islamabad on August 25, 2008, and was laid to rest in the main graveyard of the city.

Ahmed Faraz was conferred with numerous awards, including the Adam Jee Literary Award, Sitara-e-Imtiaz and Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the government of Pakistan in recognition of his literary contributions to the Urdu language.

This article originally appeared on Radio Pakistan