Remembering Faiz

The legendary poet and writer Faiz Ahmed Faiz is being remembered on his 35^th Death Anniversary.

His literary work and poetry influenced Urdu literature all over the world.

He is one of the most celebrated and popular poets. Faced political repression for his revolutionary views.

The poet was awarded Pakistan`s highest civil award Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 1990 in recognition of his services in literature. He also won Lenin Peace Prize in 1962.

His birth took place in the year 1911, in Sialkot, Punjab, from where he did his basic education from Church Mission School. Later on, he did his Masters in English and Arabic from Government College, Lahore. During his college days, he continued to pursue his poetic aspirations.

In 1936, he took up the post of an English lecturer at M.A.O. College, Amritsar. When the Progressive Movement in India gathered momentum in 1936, he was one of the protagonists. Faiz beautifully blended the grief of love with sorrows of life in his poetry which struck a chord with youth.

He also assumed the responsibility of editorship of ‘Adab-e-Lateef’. In 1940, Faiz was appointed lecturer at the Hailey College of Commerce, Lahore.

In 1947, Faiz took up a position in the Pakistan Times.

After that, he became editor of “Imroz” and received accolades in journalism too. After Pakistan came into existence, he began working for the rights of labor and was appointed Vice President of the Trade Union Federation. He participated in the I.L.O. Geneva Conference as a spokesperson for labor.

Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s collections of work include Naqsh-e-faryadi, Dast-e-saba, Zindaan Naama and Sham-e-Sheher-e-Yaaran.

His poetry has been translated into several languages including Russian and English.

Faiz passed away on this day in Lahore in 1984.