Book on Faiz Ahmed Faiz launched

‘Faiz Ahmed Faiz -Muntakhib Mazameen’(Selected essays on Faiz)

Published in Pakistan Observer (14 Jan. 2011)
Sana Jamal

ISLAMABAD: In these times of chaos and intolerance, Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s writings can help the individuals to realize our real identity in order to emerge as a tolerant, peaceful nation. This was the message of the scholars speaking at the launch of the first book on Faiz Ahmed Faiz, titled “Faiz Saddi: Muntakhib Mazameen” (Selected essays on Faiz) on Thursday at National Language Authority (NLA).

2011 has officially been declared the Faiz Centenary Year and to begin the celebrations of the 100th birth anniversary of Faiz, an exclusive book has been compiled by renowned poets and scholars Professor Yousaf Hasan & Dr. Rawish Nadeem and published by NLA. The book launching ceremony organized by Progressive Writer’s Association, Islamabad-Rawalpindi branch and attended by a large number of scholarly figures of the country paid tribute to the renowned Pakistan poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

The ceremony was chaired by International Islamic University (IIU) Rector Professor Fateh Mohammad Malik and the chief guests of the occasion were Prof. Yousaf Hasan and Dr. Rawish Nadeem.

Renowned writers and scholars Iftikhar Arif, Chairman NLA; Agha Nasir, Kishwar Naheed, Ashfaq Saleem Mirza and Dr. Salahuddin Derwaish spoke on the occasion discussing the contents of the book on Faiz, his poetry and personality.

Reciting one of the poems of Fiaz “Siyaasi leader ke Naam”, Professor Malik, a literary critic said that in order to comprehend the real message of Faiz “we should not only read Faiz’s poems in literary context but also in the socio-political context by discovering the background of the poem.”
Sharing Faiz’s contribution in Pakistan culture, Prof. Malik recalled that “Pakistan National Council of Arts, National Theatre and Folf Heritage, are all brainchild of Faiz Ahmed Faiz.”

Prof. Yousaf Hasan, a literary critic and compiler of the book narrated the evolution of Progressive Writer’s Association on the occasion as Faiz was on the leading front of the progressive writers’ movement with all his scorching poetry, as well as dialogues from different platforms, he added.
Faiz started a branch of Progressive Writers' Movement in Punjab in 1936. Yousaf speculated if the centenary celebrations of Faiz will only remain confined to the personality of Faiz or will extend to expand the message of progressive writers in the society.

Dr. Rawish Nadeem, said that the compilation of the book provided him a wonderful opportunity to re-read Faiz’s poetry and comprehend in a better manner.

Chairman NLA, Iftikhar Arif said that the book was an extraordinary work on the literary figure in Urdu, who ignited the movement for the rights of the marginalized people in the country. “It is the first ever book on Faiz in relation to his centenary celebrations that contains even those articles in which he had been criticized by his contemporary writers and critics”, claimed Arif.
‘Faiz Ahmed Faiz’ — Muntakhib Mazameen’ explores the various aspects of the life and work of Faiz Ahmad Faiz at different periods of time. It also reflects Faiz’s intellectual resentment against an unjust social order, which he rejected on rational grounds as inhumane. The aim of Faiz to project the real image of Pakistan by disseminating the message of humanity, peace and brotherhood was also reiterated by the scholars at the book launch.

Agha Nasir, one of the companions of Faiz, congratulated Iftikhar Arif on publishing a tremendous book on Faiz and also recited few passages from the book.

Kishwar Naheed believed that the book can be a useful for reference for literati as it “book compiles diverse aspects of Faiz” which have not been compiled before.

Ashfaq Saleem Mirza recited “Meray Dil, Meray Musafir” by Faiz and discussed few passages from the book on Faiz by prominent writers of the country.