104th birth anniversary: Lok Virsa celebrates Faiz’s poetry

ISLAMABAD:

Several events marked the 104th birth anniversary of famous poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz in the capital.

The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa)   screened various songs based on Faiz poetry sung by leading artists like Farida Khanum and Mehdi Hassan to celebrate the event.

Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed said “Faiz is the founder of all cultural institutions in Pakistan,” and maintained that the poet suggested a number of important steps that the government should take to document, preserve and promote Pakistan’s cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, speakers at a seminar held at the Pakistan Academy of Letters (Pal) praised the progressive poet for his relentless lifelong struggle for an egalitarian and a peaceful society.

Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said Faiz was against exploitation by the ruling class, and continuously struggled against the feudal system in the country. “An advocate of global peace, Faiz was the shining star of Pakistani literature,” Ahsan said.

Federal Capital, Archaeological and Historical Association of Pakistan Chairperson Ghazanfar Mehdi lamented that the 18th Amendment might have served some purposes, but had orphaned over 18 literary institutions and bodies. He said that Pakistan National Council of Arts, Pal, Lok Virsa and other institutions were deteriorating because of the state’s neglect.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2015.