"Conversations with My father, a book by legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz's daughter, Muneeza Hashmi, was unveiled at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi at Hasina Moin Hall.
Saleema Hashmi, Zehra Negah, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, Ghazi Salahuddin, and Arshad Mahmood, as well as a large number of fans of Faiz participated in the event. Samira Khalil performed the duties of moderator.
President Arts Council Muhammad Ahmad Shah said that Faiz Ahmed Faiz's memories are still present on the walls of the Arts Council. He has played a major role in its founding. He was also the vice president of the Arts Council for three years, he recalled.
Whether it is PNC Islamabad or Lahore Arts Council, people of Sindhi, Balochi, Pakhtun, Punjabi, Seraiki, and other languages in Pakistan considered Faiz Ahmed Faiz as their idol and still think of him as a role model, he said.
Talking about her book, Muneeza Hashmi explained that it is not a novel, but there are some memories. "He used to think a lot about Palestine. Ghazi Salahuddin said it was unfortunate that Muneeza Hashmi could not spend much time with her father.
"Muneeza Hashmi answered her father's letters forty years later. The way she talked to her father, only daughters can understand. After reading the book, I still could not get out of her spell."
Mehtab Akbar Rashidi said that the lesson of life given by Faiz was still continuing to this day. Saleema Hashmi added Muneeza's book is a link of memories. "When the pages of the book started turning, the maps of the past came to light. I used to speak in Urdu till I was five years old. Fawad Khan, a well-known director, and storyteller listened to the letters and poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2022.
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