Zubair Qureshi
Ahmed Faraz (Jan 12, 1931-Aug 25, 2008) never compromised when it came to raising voice for the oppressed communities and nations of the world and he always stood steadfast for the cause of their freedom and empowerment.
These views were expressed by Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Shibli Faraz as Chief Guest at the Ahmed Faraz National Literary Conference organized by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) in connection with the great poet’s 90th Birth Anniversary on Tuesday.
The seminar was attended and addressed by a large number of poets, scholars, men of letters and fans of Ahmed Faraz who had come to pay tributes and share their memories.
Shibli Faraz who is also the son of Ahmed Faraz thanked the PAL Chairman Dr Yousuf Khushk and other participants for reliving the memory of his father and said it was the right time we sought guidance from Faraz’ thought and took inspiration from his poems.
The national literary seminar was jointly presided over by Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik and Muhammad Izharul Haq while among the noted speakers who addressed on the occasion and paid their respects to Faraz included Muhammad Hameed Shahid, Ayesha Masood Malik, Dr Ravish Nadeem, Akhtar Usman, Khawja Najamul Hassan, Dr Abid Siyal and Dr Humaira Ashfaq.
Mehboob Zafar poet conducted the proceedings of the seminar while Zahid Ali Khan and Bau Rehmat presented Faraz’ kalam in melodious voice.
Shibli Faraz was of the view that resistance against tyranny and oppressions was an integral part of the work of true literary geniuses and he was proud that his father never backed out from doing this. Ahmed Faraz weaved poems for the people of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), Palestine and the Africa countries and also wherever people were subjected by the rulers, said Shibli.
Faraz was known as a poet of love and humanity and in the world wherever people speak and understand Urdu, Faraz is a well-known name. Prof Fateh Malik said Faraz wrote patriotic poems that reflect his deep love and association with his soil. Faraz excelled both in poems of love and revolution, said Malik. He was of the view that Faraz wrote poems at a time when our intelligentsia fearing the rulers lowered their voices and went into hiding.
