Ahmed Faraz

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Ahmed Faraz

Born Syed Ahmed Shah
January 14, 1931(1931-01-14)
Kohat, N.W.F.P., Pakistan
Died August 25, 2008 (aged 77)[1]
Islamabad, Pakistan
Pen name Faraz
Occupation Urdu poet, Lecturer
Nationality Pakistani
Ethnicity Pashtoon Syed
Citizenship Pakistani
Education MA Urdu, MA Persian
Alma mater Peshawar University
Writing period 1950 - 2008
Genres Urdu Ghazal
Subjects Romance, resistance
Literary movement Progressive Writers Movement/ Democratic Movement
Notable work(s) Many
Notable award(s) Hilal-e-Imtiaz (returned)
Sitara-i-Imtiaz
Nigar Awards
Children 3 sons: Saadi, Shibli and Sarmad Faraz
Relative(s) Syed Muhammad Shah Barq (father)
Syed Masood Kausar (brother)

Ahmed Faraz (Urdu: احمد فراز) was considered one of the greatest modern Urdu poets of the last century. Faraz is his pseudonym 'takhallus', whereas his real name is Syed Ahmad Shah (سید احمد شاہ). Ahmed Faraz died in Islamabad on August 25, 2008.[2]

Ahmed Faraz, who has been compared with Faiz Ahmed Faiz, holds a unique position as one of the best poets of current times, with a fine but simple style of writing. [3] Even common people can easily understand. Ethnically a Hindko speaking Pashtoon, Ahmed Faraz studied Persian and Urdu at the Peshawar University. He later became lecturer at the Peshawar University.

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[edit] Early life

In interview to the Daily Jang, Ahmad Faraz says that he was born in Kohat. He was the son of Syed Muhammad Shah Barq and the brother of Syed Masood Kausar. [3] In an interview with Rediff he recalls how his father, once bought clothes for him on Eid. He didn't like the clothes meant for him, but preferred the ones meant for his elder brother. This lead him to write his first couplet:

Layen hain sab ke liye kapre sale se (He brought clothes for everybody from the sale)
Layen hain hamare liye kambal jail se (For me he brought a blanket from jail)

He was told by his parents once to learn mathematics from a class fellow during the summer vacation. "I was weak in mathematics and geography. I still don't remember maps and roads".

Coming from a respectable family of Syeds, descendents of ''Haji Bahadar" a famous saint of Kohat, he moved to Peshawar with entire family. Studied in famous Edwards College, Peshawar and then did his Masters in Urdu and Persian from Peshawar University.

During his time in college, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Ali Sardar Jafri were the best progressive poets, who impressed him and became his role models. Ahmed Faraz initially worked as a script writer at Radio Pakistan Peshawar and then moved on to teaching Urdu at Peshawar University. In 1976, he became the founding Director General (Later Chairman) of Pakistan Academy of Letters.

[edit] Political life

Outspoken about politics, he went into self-imposed exile during the Zia-ul-Haq era after he was arrested for reciting certain poems at a mushaira criticizing the military rule. He stayed for 6 years in Britain, Canada and Europe before returning to Pakistan, where he was initially appointed Chairman Academy of Letters and later chairperson of the Islamabad-based National Book Foundation for several years. He has been awarded with numerous national and international awards.


He was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2004, in recognition of his literary achievements. He returned the award in 2006 after becoming disenchanted with the government and its policies.

"My conscious will not forgive me if I remained a silent spectator of the sad happenings around us. The least I can do is to let the dictatorship know where it stands in the eyes of the concerned citizens whose fundamental rights have been usurped. I am doing this by returning the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (civil) forthwith and refuse to associate myself in any way with the regime..." a statement issued by the poet.

About his current writings he says: "I now only write when I am forced to from the inside."[citation needed]

Maintaining a tradition established by his mentor, the revolutionary Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he wrote some of his best poetry during those days in exile. Famous amongst poetry of resistance has been "Mahasara"

Despite his deteriorating health, he was quite active in the Judicial Crisis, in 2007. He himself joined the lawyers to protest against the government, and also encouraged his colleagues to do the same.

He once came to glasgow at the invitation of Zia ul haq Qureshi, a Pakistani businessman and father of human rights campaigner, Robina Qureshi. Mr Qureshi loved poetry, philosophy and was instrumental in raising the funds to build Glasgow Central Mosque.

[edit] Death

In July 2008, a rumour was spread that Ahmed Faraz had died in a hospital in Chicago. Faraz's physician, Tahir Rohail MD who was a childhood friend of Faraz's son Shibli Faraz, was quick to deny this erroneous report, but it was confirmed that Faraz was exceedingly ill.

Faraz's health continued to deteriorate and he died from kidney failure in a local Islamabad hospital on 25 August 2008. His funeral was carried out on the evening of the 26th, by many admirers and government officials on at H-8 Graveyard, Islamabad, Pakistan.

[edit] Samples of poetry

One of the famous poetic verse of Faraz is:

In Urdu(English Script):

Inn barishoon se dosti achi nahi FARAZ, Kacha tera makan hai kuch tou khayal kar(Edited by Waqar Hemani)

One more sample of his poetry is:


Who offers to share such a burden?

Look at me, O stranger friend
I have come to remind you of something...

My heart beats during the din of the journey,
Would someone come to ask me to return back?

Now I realise even crying makes me ache,
Perhaps I will come to my senses now.

Did a ghetto burn down again, somewhere?
Is that why people have come out to celebrate?

Lie down in the lap of death, Faraz,

Who knows when Sleep will come!

[edit] Nazm: Khwaab Martay Naheen
(Dreams Do Not Die)

Khwaab maratay nahii.n

Khwaab dil hai.n, na aa.Nkhe.n, na saa.Nse.n ke jo
 rezaa, rezaa huwe to bikhar jaaye.nge
 jism kii maut se ye bhii mar jaaye.nge

Khwaab maratay nahii.n
 Khwaab to raushanii hai.n, navaa hai.n, havaa hai.n
 jo kaalay pahaa.Do.n se rukatay nahii.n
 zulm kii dozaKho.n se bhii phukatay nahii.n
 raushanii aur navaa aur havaa ke aalam
 maqtalo.n me.n pahu.Nch kar bhii jhukatay nahii.n

Khwaab to harf hai.n
 Khwaab to nuur hai.n
 Khwaab suqraat hai.n
 Khwaab mansuur hai.n

Dreams do not die.

Dreams are not heart, nor eyes or breath
Which shattered, will scatter (or)
Die with the death of the body.

Dreams do not die.
Dreams are light, voice, wind,
Which cannot be stopped by mountains black,
Which do not burn in the hells of cruelty,
Ensigns of light and voice and wind,
Bow not, even in abattoirs.

Dreams are letters,
Dreams are illumination,
Dreams - Socrates,

Dreams - Mansur!'

[edit] Awards

National Awards

Ahmed Faraz's grave, just after he was buried.jpg
  • Adamji Award (Pakistan's highest literary award), 1966
  • Abaseen Award, 1970
  • Dhanak Award, 1971
  • Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Award, 1991
  • Naqoosh-e-Adab Award, 1992-93
  • Sitara-i-Imtiaz, 1993
  • Kamal-e-Fan Award, 1994
  • Pakistan Academy of Letters Award, 2000
  • Hilal-e-Imtiaz, 2004 (returned in 2006)

International Awards

  • Firaq International Award (India), 1982
  • Academy of Urdu Literature Award (Canada), 1991
  • JN Tata Award (India), 1992
  • 2000 Millennium Medal of Honors (USA), 1999
  • First Kafi Azmi Award (UAE), 2002
  • ETV Kamal-e-Fan Award (India), 2004

[edit] In culture

Ahmed Faraz was mentioned by actor Shahzada Ghaffar in the Pothwari/Mirpuri telefilm "Khai Aye O".

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pak_poet_Ahmed_Faraz_dies_at_77/articleshow/3409068.cms| Pak poet Ahmed Faraz dies at 77
  2. ^ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C08%5C26%5Cstory_26-8-2008_pg1_9 Daily Times
  3. ^ a b http://www.chowk.com/articles/12127 Ras Siddiqui at Chowk.com

[edit] Sources

[edit] External links

from newtech computer center sukkur
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