The People's Poet

Re: # 60

Ras - It`s not the disagreement that is provoking. It is the weird analogies and immature conclusions that are offensive. Thank you for taking pride in some desi traits which are very obvious from the contradictions in your interacts. I was connecting some funny dots here. Hopefully, as a reasonable man (with basic intelligence) you can explain the correlation between a poet`s poetry and his religiosity? Is that how you weigh a poet`s prowess? Don`t harp on the age-old excuse about Ahlae` Zubaan vs. non-Ahlae` Zubaan. That is obsolete now. Since you cover some journalistic initiatives, I was sure that you must have written a eulogy on Faraz. It does not seem you could have captured anything beyond the obsolete views and traditional insecurities.

``In my opinion Faraz is the greatest ``People`s Poet`` since Faiz ``(Ras)

I agree with you Ras 100% -- drinking or not drinking Ahmed Faraz is one of the most civilized shaista, humble, simply dressed, down to earth, easy to talk, courteous without an iota of arrogance -- poet.

for the knowledgeable -- he is the Poet Laureate of contemporary Urdu poetry -- a Baadshah of Urdu verse -- who espouses the CAUSE of Indo-Pak amity -- and fights for progressive secular democratic Pakistan -- whose powerful pen is the living nightmare for the Fazoolu`s Fundamentalists and the Donkey`s Dictators....


``And for others who are interested, how did THIS Pathan conquer
Urdu in Pakistan?`` (Ras)

same way Ras -- the OTHER great Pathan -- with his imposing height -- and humble bearings -- from the same ferocious Pathan Land -- conquered the hearts of both Hindus and Muslims of undivided India -- with his concept of Passive Disobedience and Non-Violence....the Great Baadshah Khan of yester years!

RE: #58 by ZahraJ

If someone disagrees with you, there is no need to get personal.

I do not know you and you do not know me. Do not try to tell

people you do not know how to conduct their lives.

Please stick to the topic.

And for the record, I am proud to be a Desi!!!

In my opinion Faraz is the greatest ``People`s Poet`` since Faiz

but Faiz was in a class all by himself.


So let us try to stick to that discussion.


And for others who are interested, how did this Pathan conquer

Urdu in Pakistan?


Ras

Ah, on being a rebel -

I am sure Mohtaram Qibla Ahmed Faraz Saheb was and is, ``A rebel without a cause.``

Re: # 57

Ras - The women who attended the gathering were embarassed by his gestures. He was becoming real wild. In his drunken mode, he even crossed the basic limits of decency. If a man cannot control his bloody self in public after getting drunk then he better not drink. He should stay home. This has nothing to do with piety or religiosity. What a typical backward desi`s remark!!! On the one end, you believe in ``supervised gatherings`` and on the other end you are defending a ``drunken`` poet who has been misbehaving in public with women(and not men, Ras). Mr. Jailor: you aren`t even setting good example for your prisoners. Probably, you should revise your mantra on life :)

Did he ever find a woman who cared to be with him in a long term relationship? I am sure you must have maintained the inside information.

I do not need to repeat my views on his poetry, but I do need to mention that he has a very leacherous look on his face. It`s just like nature is warning the fairer-sex to stay away from him. Anyone who believes that basic decency has anything to do with piety or religiosity, needs to consult some experts.

There are some poets who have some class and are sweet. There are others who have too much internal turbulence that begs to come out. Of course, they are poets as well.

Last but not least, there is no comparison between Faiz and Faraz. I guess someone was trying to be funny by posting an inappropriate comparison.

I do not remember how many times I have met Faraz Sahib.

But on all those occasions never has he behaved badly.

So, he is not a Namaz-Perhezgar poet but his work speaks

for itself. Poets are another breed.

I have seen him during his Bohemian phase consuming

the spirits in quantity. I have tried to follow

but in my case I could not write worth a damn (not that I

can normally).

Faraz is a Rebel. He may not have the sophistication

of Faiz (who used to indulge in the spirits probably more).

But since Faiz, Pakistan has not pruced a better ``People`s Poet``

than Faraz.

And on a final note, what we really need to discuss here on CHOWK

is how a Pathan (from Kohat?) has ruled the world of Urdu in Pakistan

leaving the Ahle Zaban in wonder.


Ras

it simply amazes me how we only degrade ourselves by degrading and indulging in character assassinating of our own cultural gems and literary geniuses......

....I have spent with my family and other friends hours with Ahmed Faraz so many times in Mushiaras and at friends houses -- once in all night poetry recital session -- and have never seen Faraz Sahib behave in any manner other than in a civil way.

Re: # 54

Echo,

I am sorry but I did not get a chance to read your prose or poetry on this board. I was kind of ticked off to read ``The People`s Poet``. The man has a repulsive and vulgar persona. Yes, his poetry is deceptively fine. Unfortunately, it is a real disappointment when you meet a boor who writes fine poetry or even tries any kind of prose.

I have had the pleasure of meeting, hearing and attending various gatherings where Syed Zameer Jaafri and Hafeez Jallundhri were invited. They were much older than Faraz. But there was certain sweetness and basic decency about the said poets` persona that I do want to mention. See, it does not sound good to read any words of wisdom or passion from a leacherous man. How distasteful! My friends who had attended the private gathering were both young and old. They all felt very umcomfortable in this uncouth fellow`s company. I think it will be fair to say that he represents ``uncultured/brazen/vulgar men of his soil``. Saying that he is ``the people`s poet`` is quite misleading and inaccurate.

Hope that clarifies my previous post.

Zahraj:53
Many similar incidences I`ve observed with such kind. I hope you did take note of what I wrote:

[[# 19 echoboom
Please refrain from advancing agendas & politics using the boor, the rascal & the lout`s poetry. ]]

One can still appreciate the art, while ignoring the artist. Most ,rather majority, of artists or even celebrities, turn out to be lilliputans--but its not their fault its; our own lens & scale that we mis-use.

Only that this guy overdoes being a boor & a lecher.

There is something about Faraz that I have never liked. Despite the inherent tinge of sadness in his poetry, some of his poems/ghazals are nice. I cannot stand Mehdi Hasan`s voice, strange expressions and scary forehead lines. With that said, I have never enjoyed listening to this ``Ranjesh piece``. Both Malika Pukhraj and Tahira Syed have sung some classics and that includes some of Faraz`s ghazals...I have forgotten the exact lyrics, but it was something to do with ``Sukhn Dard Kaa.`` I think a singer also adds a lot life to the lyrics. So, some credit is due to Malika Pukhraj as well.

In late 90s, Ahmed Faraz was invited to several mushairas and private gatherings in NY/NJ. His poor mannerisms and drunken state were always the talk of the town. At one gathering, women were asked not to sit in the front row since Faraz had a tendency to misbehave in his drunken state. To me, that was extremely uncouth and repulsive. Some friends who had attended the private gathering and others who had hosted the event were equally disgusted and embarrassed by his boorish behavior. Personally, I would not like to attend a gathering with this boor as a key poet.

Asif: 51

I`ve posted ``Khushaal Khan kee vasiyat`` on Allama Iqbal board. Sorry I had missed your post where you requested me for it.

A good article about a great, sensitive poet.
His ghazal ``Sunna hai log ussay aankh bhar ke dekhte hain`` which I translated for Chowk a while ago is one I am still trying to find a sung version of by Salamat Ali...

Gill Saheb:

After Bhutto was sent to the gallows, a few friends formed a Committee for democracy and justice in New York. They are left leaning Pakistani students. At that time, I met Fraz in New York many times.

He lived in London during exile. On my business trips, I stopped in London and met Fraz in London pubs. I asked him the question about Faiz. He told me that Sahir Ludhianavi influenced him. Second thing he mentioned that poetry can not be forced. Accoding to him, he was in the USA for six months and every day he tried to write poetry but encountered complete blockage. Then after visiting many places in the USA, he landed in Washington DC. His friend took to Vietnam memorial. There the dam broke and he wrote `` Kali Dewaar``.

My favourite poem is:

Qurbatoon Mein Bhi Judai Key Zamanay Mangay

Dil Woh Be Maher Kay Ronay Kay bahanay Mangay

Hum Na Hotay To Kissi Aur Kay Churchay Hotay

Khalqat-i-Shehr to Sun Nay Ko Fasanay Mangay

Apna Yeh Haal Key Jee haar chukay Lut Bhi Chukay

Aur Mohabbat Wohi Andaz Puranay Mangay

Dil Kissi haal pay Qanaey he Nahein jaan-i Faraz

Mill Gayae Tum bhi To Kya Aur Na Jaaney Mangay

48:
nayyara Noor!

Notice the lehr when she says ``aajaa`aa`--AA--anay`` the second time.

I was searching this for quite some time: glad you like it.

Re: # 47: Hey, who is the singer?

Tuk dair jo aajaanay meiN janaaN ney lagaee

``Aaa daikh ye dil meiN miray, laalay kee cee kiyaari
bin daikhay tiray sair gulistaaN meiN lagaee.``

vah vah vah!