‘Faraz wrote for oppressed’

Son Shibli Faraz recalls the poet’s life, vision

ISLAMABAD:

Late poet Ahmed Faraz used his work to spread the message of humanity and love, raising his voice for the oppressed and was lucky enough to receive love from people across the country.

This was stated during a reference and prayer meeting held to pay tribute to poet Ahmed Faraz on his 12th death anniversary. A wreath was laid and fateha was offered at the poet’s grave.

The event had been organised by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) - an organisation whose foundations Ahmed had set up - at its offices.

The poet’s son, Shibli Faraz, who currently holds the portfolio for the federal information and broadcasting minister, said that Ahmed raised his voice for the Kashmiris, helpless Palestinians and people of Africa.

“Ahmed was sincere with these principles, and lived his life with a special purpose,” Shibli said, adding that his poetry carried the message of standing firm against injustice and oppression. “He never backed down from these ideals,” the federal minister said.

میں کہ صحرائے محبت کا مسافر تھا فراز
ایک جھونکا تھا کہ خوشبو کے سفر پر نکلا

بارہویں برسی کے موقع پر احمد فراز صاحب کو اپنی دعاؤں میں یاد رکھیئے pic.twitter.com/rNUuc3Fjft

— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) August 25, 2020

Shibli added that if a society does not value its celebrities, then fewer tall personalities are born in that society.

“In our society, no poet or writer gets the reverence they deserve,” he said, adding that Ahmed was fortunate to have received such acceptance and love from the public at every level,” he said.

On PAL, Shibli said that this institution needs to work hard to achieve its founding objectives and goals in promoting literature.

“It is hoped that Dr Khushk will run the PAL as per its original purpose and vision of Ahmed,” the minister hoped.

Saadi Faraz said that Ahmad remained connected with the society until his last moment. He felt the pain of the people and expressed it in the form of poetry along with the truth of his feelings.

There are many facets to Faraz’s poetry and in each facet, he wrote about love, justice and against oppression.

“He fought for justice as well as poetry.”

PAL Chairman Dr Yousuf Khushk said that Ahmed can be considered a ‘trendsetter poet’. What distinguished feature Ahmad from his peers, Dr Khuskh said, was that his work was equally popular amongst other poets and the public. The depth and depth of consciousness, as well as the element of immediately understanding the subject, was prominent in his poetry.

Writer Hafeez Khan said that Ahmed was not just a great poet but a great man as well who listened to what people had to say. “We will continue to benefit from the influence of his pen,” Hafeez said.

Abdullah Jan Abid said he was working on translating Ahmed’s poetry into Pashto so that even more people can understand it.

Hameed Shahid said that Ahmed’s poetry is about oppression and love, and we can move forward as a society if we adopt his style of thinking.

Mahmoud al-Hassan said that Ahmed was an ideological man, his message to future generations is to fight against oppression.

Ayesha Masood said that he was a courageous poet who remained attached to his thinking and ideology.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2020.