By Our Correspondent
Celebrated poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz was fondly remembered at the 12th International Seminar held by Bazm-e-Urdu Qatar, which has been promoting Urdu Language and Literature in Doha since 1959.
The event titled “Faiz Seminar” was recently held in the Fareej Bin Omran’s well-known extensive library, Allama Ibn Hajr Library to much heartening participation.
Born on February 13, 1911, Faiz, who is the recipient of Lenin Peace Prize was an influential intellectual, and is one of the most regarded poets of Urdu language. He is considered among the most popular Urdu poets along with noted classical poets Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Asaduallah Khan Ghalib and Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
Faiz was nominated four times for the Nobel Prize in literature in his life. A notable member of the Progressive Writers’ Movement (PWM), Faiz received the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union in 1962. He died in Lahore in 1984, shortly after receiving a nomination for the Nobel Prize.
Throughout his tumultuous life, Faiz continually wrote and published, becoming the best-selling modern Urdu poet in both India and Pakistan. While his work is written in fairly strict diction, his poems maintain a casual, conversational tone, creating tension between the elite and the common, somewhat in the tradition of Ghalib, the renowned 19th century Urdu poet.
Faiz is especially celebrated for his poems in traditional Urdu forms, such as the ghazal and his remarkable ability to expand the conventional thematic expectations to include political and social issues in his nazm (poems).
A lecture on Faiz titled “Literary Values in Faiz’s Poetry” was delivered at the seminar by Dr Syed Taqi Abedi, Canada-based physician, intellectual, poet and writer. Dr Abedi has authored over 35 books on Urdu Literature on innovative topics and is recognised as an authority on Faiz with his two enlightening books, Faiz Fahmi and Faiz Shanasi.
Dr Abedi presided over the seminar while well-acknowledged poet Malikul Aziz from India was the chief guest of the evening. Patron of Bazm-e-Urdu Qatar and a member of Bazm-e-Alig (Aligarh Muslim University Alumni), Zafar Siddiqui, who is known for his keen interest in Urdu literature, was the guest of honour.
India Urdu Society’s Founding Vice-President Atiq Anzar was the master of ceremony of the seminar. Anzar, who hails from India, is a reputed poet in the Qatar’s Urdu community. He is particularly known for his command over most popular forms of Urdu poetry, the ghazal and nazm.
Muhammad Rafiq Shad Akolvi, president of Bazm-e-Urdu Qatar, delivered the welcoming speech. He explained how Dr Abedi’s presence in Doha was a great opportunity for Doha Urdu enthusiasts to learn about Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry and thoughts.
Dr Abedi was then invited to the podium to deliver his lecture. The scholar began with an introduction into the life and times when Faiz started to write. He explained what the sub-continental society was going through those times. He provided insight into the kind of poetry that was being written during those days. With this background, he showed how Faiz’s poetic endeavours were unique for those times.
He reasoned that it was mainly due to Faiz’s distinctive diction and worldview that he managed to carve a name for himself within a community that was already awed by legendary poets including Josh Maleehabadi, Jigar Muradabadi, Firaq Gorakhpuri and Majaz Lucknavi. Dr Abedi also recited several poems of Faiz.
The seminar was followed by Bazm’s annual poetic symposium (Mushaira) where local poets along with guest poets from Canada and India enthralled the audience.
Poets including Vazir Ahmed Vizir, Roase Mumtaz, Iftekhar Raghib, Fartash Syed, Shad Akolvi, Atiq Anzar, Jaleel Nizami, Malkul Azeez, and Dr Syed Taqi Abedi recited their poetry to an appreciative audience and had the attendees spellbound by their high-quality poems. Towards the end of the programme, shields of appreciation were presented to Dr Abedi and Malikul Aziz for their contribution to Urdu language and literature.
