Remembering Faiz Ahmad Faiz on his 33rd death anniversary.
The man who kindled and inspired human conscience. Faiz shall be remembered for all times to come; As an acclaimed poet, progressive visionary, rational philosopher, peace activist, inspiring teacher, a great mentor and a symbol of hope for all those who continue to strive for a just & pluralistic society based on social justice and equality.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz (born 13 February 1911–20 November 1984) MBE, NI, Lenin Peace Prize was a Pakistani intellectual, revolutionary poet, and author, and one of the most celebrated writers of the Urdu language, having been nominated for the Nobel Prize for literature. Faiz also wrote poetry in the Punjabi language. A notable member of the Progressive Writers’ Movement (PWM), Faiz was an avowed Marxist, and he received the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union in 1962.
Faiz was identified as an opponent of the Prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan’s government in the Rawalpindi conspiracy case, along with the left-wing military sponsor Major-General Akbar Khan. The Military police arrested Faiz as a result, held to trial by its JAG branch, and given a long sentence. These were commuted after the assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan in 1951.
His work remains influential in Pakistan literature and arts. Faiz’s literary work was posthumously publicly honoured when the Pakistan Government conferred upon him the nation’s highest civil award, Nishan-e-Imtiaz, in 1990.
Plays, Music, and dramatic productions on Faiz-
“Hum Dekhenge” by Iqbal Bano
Sheeshon ka Maseeha by Omer Khawaja and Shabana Azmi.
Dard Aayega Dabe Paon by Sheela Bhatiya.
Kuchh Ishq kiya Kuchh Kaam written by Danish Iqbal and staged by IPTA Delhi. This multi-media Stage Production was premiered at the Sri Ram centre, New Delhi on 11 November 2011. The Play is a Celebration of Faiz’s Poetry and featured events from the early part of his life, particularly the events and incidents of pre-independence days which shaped his life and ideals. Directed by K K Kohli the musical Production featured Artists like Shamir Abadan, Jaishri Sethi, Dr Naseem, Izhar, Minhaj, Prateek Kapoor, Twinkle Khanna and Amit Bajaj in lead roles. The script was the first part of a Faiz trilogy written by Danish Iqbal on the occasion of the Faiz Centenary Celebrations.
Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan — A dramatised reading of Faiz’s letter and letters written by his wife Alys Faiz. This Production was initially done at the start of his birth centenary celebrations at India Habitat Center, New Delhi by Danish Iqbal and Salima Raza. ‘Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan’ was also done at Amritsar Faiz Festival organised by Preet Ladi, at Punjab Natshala, Amritsar, on 6 October 2011. This time it was done by Suchitra Gupta and Danish Iqbal.
2011 Drama Festival of Delhi Urdu Academy is basically devoted to Productions about Faiz. Apart from ‘Kuchh Ishq kiya Kuchh Kaam’ by IPTA, Delhi and ‘Chand Roz Aur Meri Jaan’ by Wings Cultural Society, this Festival will also feature Plays by Peirreot’s Troupe on Faiz, namely ‘Jo Dil Pe Guzarti Hai’. The festival also presented, for the first time on stage ‘Tera Bayaan Ghalib’, directed by Dr Hadi Sarmadi and performed by Bahroop Arts Group, which was an adaptation of one of Faiz’s few plays for the radio.
Ye Dagh Dagh Ujala A profound piece of poetry, written by Faiz Ahmad Faiz inspires Raj Amit Kumar to make a film Unfreedom which will be releasing on 29 May 2015 in North America. The idea behind Unfreedom came from the desire to express the lack of freedom in the socio-economic structure of our contemporary times.
