The poet was arrested in 1951 for the Rawalpindi conspiracy case and spent the next four years mostly in solitary confinement. After the sentence was announced, in a telegram to his wife Alys, Faiz said: “Now it’s over: we can start counting the days.” In solitude and exposed to harsh realities of life, Faiz wrote two of his greatest works Dast-e-Saba and Zindan-Nama.
A symbol of resistance, Faiz went into self- exile in Beirut when General Ziaul Haq came to power after a military coup. During this period, Faiz wandered from country to country and wrote a poem that highlights his pain away from home. In a poem called ‘Meray dil meray musafir, Faiz wrote “har ik ajabi se poochain, jo patta tha apnay ghar ka” (Asking every stranger where one’s home was)
(Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2010.)
As secretary of the Pakistan Peace Committee formed after partition, he worked to establish peace between India and Pakistan. A UK-based newspaper called Faiz “a brave enough man to fly from Lahore to Delhi for Gandhi’s funeral at the height of Indo-Pakistan hatred,” as quoted in the ‘Requiem for an unsung messiah.”
Faiz had much respect and admiration for Mahatma Gandhi as was obvious in an editorial called “Long live Gandhiji!” that he wrote for the Pakistan Times in February 1948. “Though he is dead, he will live through ageless time,” Faiz wrote.
(Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2010.)
At the time of Second World War, Faiz Ahmed Faiz served in the British Indian army in Delhi. After independence in 1947, he resigned from the army, moved to Lahore and became the editor of the leftist-English language daily, Pakistan Times. He also served as managing editor of the Urdu daily Imroz.
For Muslims:
Sabaq Parh Phir Sadaqat ka Adalat ka Shuja'at ka,
Liya Jaye Ga Tujh se Kaam Dunya Ki Imamat ka!
Tere Seeney Mai Hai Posheeda Raz e Zindagi Keh Day,
Musalman Se Hadees e Soz o Saz e Zindagi Keh dy!
This Shair Depicts the Reality of Muslims, and the secret of spending happy life according to Quran and Sunn'ah. And according to the rules of ISLAM!
Zameer e Lala Mai Roshan Chiraagh e Aarzoo Kar Dey,
Chaman k Zarre Zarre Ko Shahed Justujo kardey!
He motivated the Muslims by his poetry! A true lover of Islam and Muslim Umm'ah!
Posts
