The People's Poet

Mr. Gill,

I was recently introduced to Faiz while visiting Pakistan.

Dard, Iqbal, Ghalib are my favorites.
However, I am looking for translated versions of Bulleh-Shah`s works. Any suggestions on where I should look?

Re: # 59

oh we`re all rebels without a cause in our own capacity..eh? especially the one`s who feel and think of ourselves as progressive and liberal thinkers of the world.

Re: # 65: Sorry to disappoint you, but I have had the opportunity of reading the life history and ins-and outs of at least 25 Urdu poets. Now, this had nothing to do with my love or liking to delve into their lives. Having many in the family with strong poetical leaning was one thing, but having an F.Sc. course that required us to memorize the life histories of over 25 poets was a killer. Interestingly, none of the censored life stories of those poets emphasized on their drinking habits. Reading a life history or a poem or an article is quite different from meeting someone face to face. You cannot gather someone`s mannerisms and alcoholic leaning by their writing. In your world, you may have taken it for granted that good poetry is a result of good liquor. In my world, it has never occured to me that ``good liquor`` is the driving force behind a poet`s influencing poetry.

As I said earlier(a point you may have missed like many other points), drinking or no drinking is a very personal matter. A poet`s poetry and how he or she writes is also a very personal thing. I was commenting on a few experiences that I have heard about from close friends and the repeated trend. And it is very disappointing for me to expect such lousy behavior from a poet of his caliber. Since video-conferencing is in, poets do not have to be at an event in person. Those who like to indulge can do so without being present in a people`s setting. I don`t want to give more ideas. Changinging the subject, one of my favorites is,

-Dilae Mun, Musafirae` Mun
..................(end of the poem)
Surae` Kooae` Na`Shanayaan, Humaen Din Sae Raat Kurna
Kabhi Iss Sae Baat Kurnaa, Kabhi Uss Sae Baat Kurna

Tumhaen Kyaa Kahoon Keh Kyaa Hae
Shabae` Ghum Buri Balaa Hae

Humaen Yeh Bhee Thaa Ghaneemat, Jo Koyee Shumaar Hota
Humaen Kyaa Bura Thaa Murna, Agar Aik Baar Hotaa.

I have attended way too many poetical gatherings in my teen-years. I have even forgotten some famous poets I have had the opportunity of meeting in person. I feel bad that I have forgotten the exact names, but I guess I have not kept in touch with that side of my childhood and teen-age years` interest. I know it is there, but being current is something very different from reminscing. I loved Syed Zameer Jaffery`s humorous and sweet delivery. When I was a little kid, I used to watch all the mushairas where he would facilitate. Interestingly, I ran into him a few times here in NY. He always reminded me of my childhood love and leanings toward poetry. From my UET, Lahore days, I also think he was the facilitator of a very nice mushaira where Hafeez Jalandhri participated. Again, I do not recollect all the details, but there are bits and pieces that have stayed with me. Meeting someone like that in real life can be quite a nice experience. And nice experiences form nice and pleasant memories.

I Wrote this quite a while ago........



(Dedicated to the living legend of the Urdu language)


To Poet Ahmed Faraz


To this weaver of Urdu words like fine Persian Carpets
A writer in English and a weak mother tongue pays homage
As the often controversial originator of many ageless poems
Startles us all by passing the age of sixty-five
But when did this happen, a generation asks?

Armed with the ammunition of words he battled
Against tyrants who held the power of guns and jails
But defiant the poet inside strengthened by a conscience
Behind bars, solitary confinement and then exile
Into the homes and hearts of many, yet still
The poet never forgot his country and its people


That Faraz is still with us now, we are lucky
Old tyrants are gone but new critics emerge to accuse
Writers who hold the basic rights of god’s humans
Close to their work, in their self as a sacred trust, this liberty
For which they are wrongly branded as atheists and traitors
But people know the strength and feel of truth

The keepers of the literary traditions of Urdu today welcome
Faraz as one of their greatest living craftsmen of verse
This Shayir-Poet has risen to the defense of many causes
Some popular, others not, and some now necessary
Like the recent deadly embrace of atomics in South Asia
Faraz and his pen now face the prospect of a Hiroshima
In a land where he continues to offer peace and
sincere friendship
As an alternative to the new nuclear madness
Started by those who claim to be the inheritors of
Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence.


Ras H. Siddiqui 7-24-98


A special thanks to Nora Boustany who was able to
remind this writer about the importance of Faraz in the Washington Post
(July 1, 1998) in an article titled “Roses Are Red, Bombs Leave You
Dead”

Aasif:72

salaam!

I feel honoured to be considered by you somewhat significant.

Before I delve into all the verses please tell me the following:

1) from where did you take the title? Could you please write the Urdu/farsi--if any.
2) The `transliteration` I do not understand, if you mean writing it in roman script, it is not a transliteration--it is just in another script.
3) Poets , who value language worry a lot not only about the word but also how that word , although correct, might be misheard or misunderstood.

example:
Door o nazdeek kay sun-nay waalay woh kaan
Kaan e la`l e karaamat pe laakhon salam

In the first line kaan is referring to ears; in the second it is mineral-mine. Now whenever we use farsi words in urdu diction we never say kaan-e; it could be heard as kaanay meaning one-eyed. Poets in mushairaas can be really roasted for it. Such composition lacks ``iblaagh`` (thorough & exact communication).

This becomes even more onerous where a hamd, naat or even an ordinary Quaseeda is concerned. The taqquaddus, sanctity, is seemingly injured because of thoughtlessness. Hence Naat & Salaam are a genre which ordinary but knowledgeable poets avoid.

Your Ahmad Raza Khan Sahib could not have done this. With his stature in scholarship it just cannot be so. Please look into it a bit more deeply--I mean the urdu part. It is most likely by someone who translated or transliterated it into urdu. I am aware that there are many many versions.

4) salam is now also an english word ( it is in the dictionary) so I won`t hesitate using it.

Please take this as a sincere desire on my part to state the truth & nothing but the truth.

Please inform, henceforth, on your ``Dew`` board.

I strongly resent calling this boor, ``a people`s poet``!

Probably, debauch men are attracted toward debauchery. What`s new? In civil societies, the norms of decency have different requirements. It`s different when you see a drunk african american youth getting wild and misbehaving. If a public figure and ``a people`s poet`` is acting in the same manner while uttering some poetical jargon then that is unacceptable. The poor comprehension of some ``naqis`al`aql`` on board is quite amusing.

Since Faraz is alive, his mannerisms as a poet, in public gatherings will be questioned. Had he been dead, things would have been different. You cannot change anything in a dead poet. Can you?

Re: # 69
Salamz. Could you take a look at my latest translation effort on Chowk (Dew from Truth`s Garden) and give me your views since I value your opinion on Urdu poetry highly?

Jazak Allah! Asif

Re: # 70
Khamkhwa -- most genius artists and celebrities have groupies of their talents -- they also have their own idiosyncrasies which they are entitled to have along with their superb talents.

they have earned their right to be admired -- and in turn admire -- they need not to be called debauch and drunkard -- piety is in the eyes of the beholder -- and socialists of are not supposed to starve nowadays -- they are now called ``Surmayadar Ishtrakis`` -- look at the chinois commies --

but you are exactly right especially educated people should focus and enjoy the superb talents of the artist -- not become the gossipy editors of National Enquirer tabloids

nasah, zahraj, inquirer...
faraz is a known debauch and drunkard...i never denied that...what i was trying to convey was that despite hit personal trait and shortcomings, his work is of the highest order...any one who knows a bit of peshawar social scene would attest to his infamous affair with begum k.s... furthermore, he is a drawing room socialist who cries for the plight of downtrodden yet his monthly rental income from his three properties in sector f-7 in islamabad alone is about rs. four lacs a mnoth...however, the point under discussion is his poetry which is top class and not his personal character which in simple language sucks...

Some might like it:
chupkay sey kabhhee jubb yaad miri

Chupkay sey kabhhee jubb yaad miri, supnoaN sey tujhhay chaunkaa dey.
toO khoal jharoakaa, chaan sey kehnaa:``uun sey mujhhay milaa dey``

Someday when, stealthily , your memory of me disturbs your dream, then
Open the window, and say to the moon: `` Please arrange a tryst with him``

Re: # 57:
Your personal testimony is most important.

HaaN wo nahiN khudaa parast, jaao wo bewafaa sahii;
Jisko ho diin-odil ajiiz, uskii galii meiN jaaye kyooN.

#66, nasah; #65, khamkhwa; and #64, ZahraJ:

As an outsider in this war of thoughts, may be I can help. nasah and khamkhwa, you guys are not putting enough emphasis on social graces which for a woman are most important. It does not matter what you say, it is how you say it. Manners override the content!

ZaharaJ: A truly great poets does not balance things for social graces, ``sach munh se nikal jaataa hai, guzaarish nahiin kartaa.`` The monitors of social graces disappear in fifty years, great poetry lives for hundreds of years. So the poets work for the long run, of course, noncalculatively.

#63, freethinker: Very good poem. Since there is some surprize at Faraz` s mastery of Urdu, could you give a brief biographical description of his life? From what nasah says about Faraz in #61, I am finding another reason to like Ahmed Faraz.

Re: # 65

you have a point there Khamakhwa --

one of the yester years progressive poet who did not drink was Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi -- look what happened to hechaaray Qasmi sahib for not having an affair with Dukht-e Ruz --

as they used say in vernacular ``bigRaa gavaiyaa qawwaal/bigRaa shair mursiya go`` -- now bigRa taraqqi pasand shair Naat go...

...the poor man now a days writes Humds & Naats -- Kamli walay bolalay Madeenay mujhay.....

Re: # 64
zahraj...
obviously you have never read or seen john elia, josh malihabadi, jigar moradabadi, faiz ahmed faiz, ghalib, munir niazi, makhmoor sayeedi, abdul hameed adam and a host of many other urdu poets of great standing who were at their best when drunk...and no one has condemned their poetry till you came along with your personal standard of making a judgement on their work vis a vis their character...for further details, you may read my i-log which gives you some more information about urdu poets who did not drink...i know only three...how about you...

Regadless of his cultural affinity and literary prowess, a poet/public figure must be able to conduct himself in a decent manner in public. Excessive drinking or no drinking is a personal matter. But when the said icon is in public then he better be sober. In case of excessive drinking, he should stay home till he becomes sober. There is no need to make the audience feel repulsive by being a boor.

Interactors:

Allow me to change the direction by the following ghazal of Faraz.

beniyaaz-e-Gam-e-paimaan-e-vafaa ho jaanaa
tum bhii auro.n kii tarah mujh se judaa ho jaanaa

mai.n bhii palako.n pe sajaa luu.Ngaa lahuu kii buu.Nde.n
tum bhii paabastaa-e-zanjiir-e-hiinaa ho jaanaa

Khalq kii sang_zanii merii Khataao.n kaa silaa
tum to maasuum ho tum duur zaraa ho jaanaa

ab mere vaaste tariyaq hai ilhaad kaa zahar
tum kisii aur pujaarii ke Khudaa ho jaanaa

Be well,

Mohammad Gill

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!

Re: # 44, rashis_s:
Thanks for the analysis of the Ghalib`s sher.

It was a pleasure to read Qamar`s sher.

TaaroN ki bahaaroN mein bhi Qamar,
Tum afsurdaah sey rahtey ho;
PhooloN ko to deykho, kaaNtoN mein,
Hans, hans key guzaaraa kaerty haiN.

Re: # 42, echoboom:
Thanks alot. This is a jewel!

I have attended a couple of sessions of Faraz’s poetry recitals. As said else where here, he has copious amount of entertainment and I noticed it did affect his performance as the night wore off!

Faraz was not particularly enamoured by singers like Mehdi Hassan etc he said, for he alleged that they did not respect the ‘copy right’ issues.

# 27 has quoted Ghalibs praise for Meer. It may not be the case with you Freethinker, but it is commonly understood to mean that Ghalib accepted Meer as his ustaad in Urdu poetry.
I have read a bit of Ghalib and have been impressed by his articles and letters on various issues too.

Ghalib comes out as a uniquely self-confident person and full of “Khudari”, to the extent that I believe that he would not admit to any body being above him. Hence the shaer:

Rekhta`h kay tum hi ustad naheen ho Ghalib
Kehtay hai`n uglay zamanay mein ko`i Meer bhi thaa,

needs to be analysed such that the ‘tu-mhi’ --stresses that there is also another Usdtaad, namely Meer, not above or in exclusion to Ghalib, but equal to him. Then he limits Meer’s expertise to Rekhta’h, which as I understand, in his time was a bit different to and not as linguistically sophisticated to Urdu, with the additional connotation that Rekhtah was the art of spontaneous poetry. Again the kehtay hai’n-- leaves the room for us to assume that he too, just like us, had ``heard`` from others that Meer was an Ustaad. Not Ghalib`s original thought!

I never the less love Meer and Ghalib both. May I say that in sheer impishness, particularly for an old wiry, lean and pious getup, my favourite is Qamar, who uses his name ‘Qamar’ =full moon - as no body else close to the real meaning:

Jalwa gar bazm-e hasinaa’n mey hai’n is shan say
Chaand jesay aey ‘Qamar’ taaro’n bhari mehfil may hai

Mainay jo upna naam btaayaa unhai’n `Qamar`
Khenay lagay khe daag dikhao jigar may hai? (The full moon has lots of marks on it)


Just an excuse to take part in your mehfil- Rashid_s

RE: Delhiwala

The style, substance and presentation are similar

but I have never used any other name except

for my own here on CHOWK.


Ras

something a little different: a treat nonetheless

The earliest (1904) ones of the recordings in India

Gohar Jan: An armenian jew, settled in calcutta--Fascinating life stories of armenian jews like Nadia & helen (the dancer) , and David: Only if one has enough time to read them all!

enjoy!

Re: # 32
DrSohail,
What is your opinion on Gay-Marriages in Canada?
Do you think that they should be legailized?

Ras: Are you DrSohail?
My jassoseey 6th sense is hyper these days.

Re: # 35

Talking of agnostic poetry, I like these ash`aar by Sahir

saza ka haal suanayen, jaza ki baat karen
khuda mila ho jinhe, woh khuda ki baat karen


har ek daur ka mazhab naya khuda laaya
karen to hum bhi magar kis khuda ki baat karen

Re: # 31, freethinker:
``I am sorry you related Iqbal with ``bitter pills``. Many people disagree with Iqbal regarding his philosophy but if you read Iqbal for his poetry, you`ll be gripped by its beauty.``

****There is no doubt Iqbal`s poetry is superb, though for my equipment in Urdu, it is difficult to understand. But I take care of using the dictionary. The high climax of Iqbal is matched by the low trough of his personal quality as a disrupter of India par excellence. But selfishly, I enjoy his poetry and ignore his social philosophy. Nazar Hayat Khan has summarized him quite well on the thread running on Iqbal currently at Chowk.****

``Please don`t take any offense if I unwittingly made a remark about your comprehension of Iqbal because I am not aware of your background.``

****It is kind of you to make this statement. Being from Allahabad, I have my own pride about the beauty and knowledge of Urdu but my personal beef with Iqbal and Jinnah is that their actions prevented me from learning more Urdu in School. As you can imagine subsequent to the partition of India Urdu had fallen out of favor in all schools except those run by the Masjids.****

``For many readers, Ghalib is difficult to read and comprehend. But he is unique. ``

****Though the culturally conservative Hindus often criticize Ghalib`s escapade with Umrao Jan, Ghalib is by far the greatest poet in Urdu firmament. His poetry has the no political ax to grind. He reaches where a poet ought to dwell, namely, in the domain of personal psychology+ spirituality.****

Let me take this opportunity to congratulate you for providing many worthwhile fora at the Chowk and I am happy at the dimensions of your personality which is inquisitive, eclectic, shows intersest in deeper things.

In the war of Mind and heart..

Faiz captured the hearts with his mind but lost his own war..*Alas..*..

Ata Turk and Faiz met the same fate..

...while faraz the ghazal poet is known and loved by most poetry lovers, not many have appreciated his nazm-nigari... in my humble view, he is probably the greatest nazm nigar after josh malihabadi...his famous nazms``khandar``, ``aag``, ``kharidaar`` and many more are amzing in their fluidity and depth... i would post one of his more famous nazms, ``bano ke naam`` which is the story of a young beautiful maid who was killed on the orders of the Begum of JunagaRh... wife of Nawab of JunagaRh...

malukiyat ke mahal ki gunahgaar kaneez
voh jurm kya tha ke tujh ko sazai marg mili
voh raaz kya tha ke tazir-e-narava ke khilaf
teri nigaah na bhaRki, teri zabaN na hili
voh kaun sa tha gunah-e-azeem jis ke sabab
her aik jabr ko tou sah gayee ba-taib-e-dili

yehi suna hai buss itna qusoor tha tera
ke tou ne qasr ke kuch talkh bhed janay thay
teri nazar ne voh khilvat kadoN ke daagh ginay
jo khwaajgi ne zar-o-seem meiN chupaane thay
tujhe ye ilm nahin tha ke iss khata ki saza
hazaar tauq-o- salasal thay taziyanae thay

ye rasm taaza nahiN hai agar teri laghzish
mizaj-e-qasr nasheenaN ko nagawaar hui
hamesha oonche mahallat ke bharam ke liye
her aik daur meiN tazeen-e-tauq-o-daar hui
kabhi chuni gayee deewaar meiN anarkali
kabhi shakuntala pathraao ka shikaar hui

magar ye takht ye sultaN ye begumaat ye qasr
muarrakheen ki nazroN meiN bay gunaah rahe
ba-faiz-e-waqt agar koi raaz khul bhi gaya
zamane waalay tarafdaar-e-kajkulaah rahe
sitam ki aag meiN jalte rahe awaam magar
jahaN panaah hamesha jahaN panaah rahe

Great article, Gill sahib. The lines from Faraz have the ring of truth to them - religion has sadly proved in practice to be just that, nafraton kay saheefay.

``Inn rasoolo’n ki kitabain taaq mein rakh dau Faraz
Nafrato’n kay yeh saheefay umar bhar dekhay ga kaun``

HP: #33

Thanks for reproducing Khatir Ghaznavi`s ghazal in your post. I had read its opening verse a long time before and I remembered where I had read it. It was quoted by Anwar Sadeed who had written a short review of Khatir Ghaznavi`s new (new in 1985/86) book ``Khwab dar Khwab.`` It (the review) was published in ``Auraq,`` October-November, 1986. Fortunately, I still have this magazine in my collection. After reading your post, I took it out and read the review again to refresh my memory.

The opening line of the review, roughly translated in English, reads as follows:

``Khatir Ghaznavi is one of those fortunate poets whose only one verse ensures their eternal fame. And then this verse always helps in the progression of the graph of their success.. ..`` And then he quoted his verse:

go zaraa sii baat par baraso.n ke yaaraane gaye
lekin itanaa to huaa kuchh log pahachaane gaye

Thanks, HP, for the whole ghazal.

Mohammad Gill

Ahmed Faraz was a professor at Islamia College, Peshawar. He had a running rivalry with another Professor Khatir Ghanzvi of Islamia College. I think they were both in the Urdu Dept.

Zeemax perhaps knows more about that. The story is that Khatir Ghaznavi gained popularity when Mehdi Hassan sang this ghazal (see below).

Ahmed Faraz went ballistic and claimed that he wrote this Ghazal and another one that too was sung by Mehdi Hassan. Khatir Ghaznavi denied that though he never wrote another ghazal worth anything after Faraz left Islamia College.

If Faraz really wrote this gahazl then it is perhaps his best...better than Ranjish hee sahi...

go zaraa sii baat par baraso.n ke yaaraane gaye
lekin itanaa to huaa kuchh log pahachaane gaye

garmii-e-mahafil faqat ik naaraa-e-mastaanaa hai
aur vo Khush hai.n ki is lahafil se diivaane gaye

mai.n ise shoharat kahuu.N yaa apanii rusvaaii kahuu.N
mujhase pahale us galii me.n mere afasaane gaye

yuu.N to vo merii rag-e-jaa.N se bhii the nazadiik tar
aa.Nsuuo.n kii dhu.Ndh me.n lekin na pahachaane gaye

vahashate.n kuchh is tarah apanaa muqadaar ho gaii.n
ham jahaa.N pahu.Nche hamaare saath viiraane gaye

ab bhii un yaado.n kii Khushbuu zehan me.n mahafuus hai
baarahaa ham jin se gulazaaro.n ko mahakaane gaye

kyaa qayaamat hai ki `Khatir` kushtaa-e-shab bhii the ham
sub_h jab huii to mujarim ham hii gardaane gaye

Re: # 30

Dear Inquirer...Being a Secular Humanist I believe all citizens of a state need equal rights

and privileges. I also believe in separation of state and religion, religion being a private

matter and state laws based on secular values. I hope one day we see more and more

secular states all over the world. sincerely sohail

Inquirer: #29

I am sorry you related Iqbal with ``bitter pills``. Many people disagree with Iqbal regarding his philosophy but if you read Iqbal for his poetry, you`ll be gripped by its beauty. True, it`s not romantic, but its beauty of expression, fluency, musicality and depth is very overpowering. Read his Tasweer-e-dard in Baang-e-Dara (you may have already read it, for all I know), it`s beautiful although it is now outdated. It was addressed to all the Indians before partition of India. His Shama aur Shaer is superb. Please don`t take any offense if I unwittingly made a remark about your comprehension of Iqbal because I am not aware of your background. His Farsi kalam is excellent.

For many readers, Ghalib is difficult to read and comprehend. But he is unique. He took great pains to screen his own diwan. He discarded many ghazals which did not measure to his own standard. The remaining diwan as we see it now is great, ghazal after ghazal after ghazal. I think I am getting carried away; I better stop here.

Mohammad Gill

Re: # 8: drsohail:
Pakistan can improve in religious amicability when its constitution is written in the same manner as Indian Constitution was written. Just as Ambedkar the low caste untouchable drew up India`s constitution, a Hindu has to write the Pakistani Constitution.

It is only when you HAVE genuine faith in equality, fairness and justice the a Just Constitution is prepared not by the fanatics like Zia Mohammad who was a total misfit in the modern world.

But before all that can happen, South Asia will become one nation!

Thanks, freethinker for writing this. I read it in one attempt. It is such a delight to read Faraz ghazals. What a relief to think of him after the bitter pills of Iqbal`s!!

drsohail: #22

Yes, I had read your interview at your website and, if I remember correctly, I had asked you to write an article on Faraz at chowk. You probably were busy doing other things. Recently, I heard ``ranjash hee sahee...`` on one of the CD`s while I was driving to my gym. I wasn`t aware of this CD in my car, so it came as a surprise. It kind of obsessed me for a couple of days. Then I thought that the best way to rid myself of this obsession was to write this article and share it with others at chowk.

Mohammad Gill

wasif2 and others:

Thanks for your interest in Faraz.

The short list of the poets that I gave in the article was my own personal choice; it was not meant to be a universal one. I am aware of Meer`s status in Urdu poetry but I haven`t read much of him. Ghalib wrote of Meer:

Rekhta`h kay tum hi ustad naheen ho Ghalib
Kehtay hai`n uglay zamanay mein ko`i Meer bhi thaa

Mohammad Gill

Too good. Faraz is simply the best. Also listen to the nazm, ``SHAYAD`` sung by jagjit singh. I always wonder how these poets can think of making such beautiful sense out of mere words. Offcourse thats what makes them poets and us mortals mere spectators. But offocurse I will say we are more fortunate, as we can just concentrate on eating the mangoes, and dont have to count the drupes. The poets, have to really feel the heat of the world to produce the shayari that overflows with sense which makes you feel that out of world feel .

Cheers

Mr Gill.... No mention of Meer and Nasir Kazmi in your list ? In my humble view a short history of urdu poetry should go like this: Meer, Ghalib, Iqbal, Faiz, Nasir, Faraz. And of course Noon Meem Rashed and Meeraji in azaad nazm.

Permit me to share one verse of each of the above.

Meer:

Dil kharaashi o jigar chaaki o khoon afshaani
Hoon to naakaam pe hotay hain mujhe kaam bohat

Ghalib:

Urr kay jaata kahan kay taaron ka
Bichha rakha tha aasmaan nay daam

Iqbal:

Agar kajj rau hain anjum, aasman taira hai ya maira ?
Mujhe fikr e jahan kioon ho, jahan taira hai ya maira ?

Faiz:

Changg o nai rangg pay thay apnay lahoo kay dam say
Dil nay lai badli to madham hua har saaz ka rang

Nasir:

Gali gali mairi yaad bichhi hai pyaray rasta daikh kay chal
Mujh say itni vehshat hai to mairi hadon say door nikal

Faraz:

Gharoor e dost say itna bhi dil shikasta na ho
Phir uss kay saamnay daaman e iltija lay ja..........



# 4 vsgopal2000....ranjish hi sahi is in Daadra. Six beats.

As a young teenager in late eighties, I attended a Mushaira in UET Lahore (we lived in the neighbourhood). Faraz was the star attraction. He was in dark blue shalwar qameez. When he was called to render his poetry, some Islami Jamiat studends started shouting ``Rushdie, Rushdie``. Faraz got the mike and said that he was going to start with a ``Naat``. There was no disturbance afterwards.

In the early nineties, I attended a music program ``Mehdi Hassan sings Ahmed Faraz`` at Alhmara Lahore. It was probably the best music concert I ever attended. That evening, Mehdi Hassan sang some of the memorable ghazals by Faraz, Faiz and other poets. After the concert, we tried to get Faraz` autographs but did not succeed. Iffat Rahim (now Iffat Omer) was also one of the autograph seekers. Faraz paid special attention to her, he asked her name and wrote on her autograph book something to the effect, ``For Iffat with love``.

I am a great fan of Mehdi Hassan. My favourite Faraz poem by Khan Sahib is ``Shola sa jal bujha hoon, hawain mujhe na dou``.

I read Faraz` Tanha Tanha again a few day back and came to the conclusion that people like Wasi Shah, Abrar Umar simply lack the intesity and craft of Faraz` poetry. My favourite living poet is Munir Niazi though.

The first time I interviewed Faraz Sahib was about 14 years ago

in Berkeley. I was taken aback by the quantity of refreshment

in his hand, but as the evening progressed his delivery only

became better.

Faraz is really a Peoples Poet. A true Pakistani who wants

sincerely to have peace with India (even way back in 1992-3

when it was not acceptable).

``Mahasarah`` is I believe his finest political work but it is

still his haunting ``Ranjish`` that stays with the listener

for a lifetime (immortalized by Ustad Mehdi Hasan).

But there is also a surprize for all of us:

How many have heard Asif Mehdi Hasan sing

``Dekhtay Hain`` by Faraz?

If not, please acquire it!

Ras

Re: # 10

Dear Mohammad Gill...I was curious whether you read the interview I and Ashfaq Hussain

took when Faraz was in Toronto. It is on my website www.drsohail.com in Interview Section.

You might enjoy it. Once when I asked Faraz why he did not write his autobiography, he

smiled and said, ``Main adha sach nahin likhna chahta and meri qoam abhi poora sach

sunnay kay liay tayyar nahin hay`` (I do not want to write half truth and my nation is not

ready for the whole truth). It is unfortunate that we do not have a well developed tradition

of auto-biographies in Urdu. sincerely sohail

Gill sahab,

Thanks for this article. It was great reading about Faraz.
Indeed, the rendition of Ranjish Hi Sahi by Mehdi Hassan is one of my favourite ghazals.. and the poetry is just superb

Best,

Faraz is one of the greatest living poets of our time...
He is loved by every sentimental, sane, insane, sensitive and sensible citizen of the subcontinent, especially by opposit sex and he knows it well:
AUR FARAZ CHAHIEIN KITNI MOHABATEIN TUJHAY
MAON NAY TERAY NAM PAR BACHOH KA NAM RAKH DIA

His search is ongoing and never satisfied like Faiz and his favorit Ghalib:
ABHI TALAK TO NAH KUNDAN HUWAY NA RAKH HUWAY
HAM APNI AAK MEIN HAR ROZ JAL KAY DEKHTAY HAEN

Noor jahaN: sings Faraz``

In my opinion this is the best his sung ghazal.

P.S: Quite a stuff I can write, but why not let entertainment rather ``ideology`` and enjoyment rather than ``philosophy`` be the self-evident ``critiques``.

P.S: Please refrain from advancing agendas & politics using the boor, the rascal & the lout`s poetry.

After Majaz, he was perhaps the second ``pop`` poet.

Free thinker -- that anecdote reflects more on our younger generation literary taste than on Faiz sahib ot Faraz`s inabillity to sing....what to talk about the younger generation -- the shabby treatment Faraz Sahib received from the current government speaks volumes about our literary tastes and appreciation of Urdu`s literary giants....

your column`s ode to Faraz is most welcome in this context....

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Popularity of Faraz, at least in India, owes a great deal to Mehdi Hassan

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apart from ``ranjish hi sahi.....``, the other ghazal sung by Mehdi Hassan, which I love to listen to again and again is:

ab ke ham bichha.De to shaayad kabhii Khvaabo.n me.n mile.n
jis tarah suukhe hue phuul kitaabo.n me.n mile.n

Dhuu.NDh uja.De hue logo.n me.n vafaa ke motii
ye Khazaane tujhe mumkin hai Kharaabo.n me.n mile.n


tuu Khudaa hai na meraa ishq farishto.n jaisaa
dono.n insaa.N hai.n to kyo.n itane hijaabo.n me.n mile.n


Gam-e-duniyaa bhii Gam-e-yaar me.n shaamil kar lo
nashaa ba.Dataa hai sharabe.n jo sharaabo.n me.n mile.n

aaj ham daar pe khe.nche gaye jin baato.n par
kyaa ajab kal vo zamaane ko nisaabo.n me.n mile.n

ab na vo mai.n huu.N na tu hai na vo maazii hai `Faraaz`,
jaise do shaKhs tamannaa ke saraabo.n me.m mile.n

I was once upon a time listener of ghazals. Liked them when I did, but haven`t much time
lately. I heard a few ghazals from Mehdi Hassan. And to be honest can`t figure whats so
great about him. On the contrary, Ghulam Ali is someone to whom you can listen for
hours. On this side of the border, it is Ahmed Hussain and Mohammed Hussain brothers
whom I think one should listen to.
Jagjit Singh has a couple of good compositions - but I dare anyone to listen to the full
album (any). He becomes monotonous (with a capital M) very soon.
Pankaj udhas - I don`t know why he entered the industry.

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Mr Gill, are you a Eurpoean by any chance?
Your last name is also shared by Kelly-Mc-Gills (Top Gun) wale..

Just let me know, so that I know if Ia m interacting with a DESI or Gora person.

Interactors:

Thanks for your interest in the article. A good poet inspires people in many different ways.

drsohail:

Thanks for providing the background to Faraz`s verse with which I started the article. With that kind of intellectual provocation, no wonder that he wrote that verse. Incidentally, I believe the verse is correct as I wrote it; at least that is how I read it in the discussion in Pakistan Times.

I have an Ahmadi friend from our school days. He could have hated me for his religious reasons and I could have done the same for ``my religious`` reasons but we stayed friends for life. He is very religious and tried to convert me. He gave me several books written by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. The more I read of these books the more I felt the hollowness of religion. I am what I am and he is still very religious but we are friends.

nasah:

I understand your point. For many, Mehdi Hassan is Faraz. But Faraz cannot be Mehdi Hassan for obvious reasons. Thanks for your feedback.

Mohammad Gill

I also like Faraz`s poetry but I see that a grave error is being committed here by equating quality rendition of ghazals with quality of poetry. These are two different things. A master singer can weave magic out of completely ordinary poetry simply by passionate emoting of voice and lending intensity to it while some very classy poetry are very difficult to put to mausikii.



tuu paas bhii ho to dil beqaraar apanaa hai
ke ham ko teraa nahii.n intazaar apanaa hai

mile ko_ii bhii teraa zikr chhe.D dete hai.n
ke jaise saaraa jahaa.N raaz_daar apanaa hai

vo duur ho to bajaa tark-e-dostii kaa Khayaal
vo saamane ho to kab iKhtiyaar apanaa hai

zamaane bhar ke dukho.n ko lagaa liyaa dil se
is aasare pe ke ik Gam_gusaar apanaa hai

`Faraz` raahat-e-jaa.N bhii vahii hai kyaa kiije
vo jis ke haath se siinaa_fiGaar apanaa hai

Dear Mohammad Gill...It is nice to see Faraz presented and discussed on chowk I always

felt that in spite of his popularity he did not receive as much serious attention as he

deserved. I met him on a number of occasions in Peshawar when I was a student in

medical college and when he visited Toronto for mushairas. He was very affectionate

towards us as students. When I was in fourth year medical school we wanted to have a

mushaira. At that time in 1973 we found out that poets had a fee to present their poetry.

Faraz was 1000 rupees for the evening, Qasmi 500 rupees and Mohsin Ehsan 200 rupees.

I was quite surprised by the hierarchy. We went to Faraz and told him that we would love to

invite him but as students we did not have too much money. He smiled and promised to

come and did not charge us a cent. We were thrilled. I never forget his act of generosirty.

When I asked him about the verse you quoted

nafraton kay ye saheefay umr bhar dekhay ka kaun

(I am not sure if your first line is fully correct)

he stated that he was going to his house and he saw students putting fire to the books

and clothes of a professor who they thought was a Ahmedi. Faraz tried to stop them but

they did not listen to him and said ``Do not worry we are not putting fire to your house.``

He said ``He is your teacher. You need to respect him.``

That teacher used to teach us in medical school. He was a secular person but was from

Ahmedi family. After students burned his house he mysteriously disappeared with his

family. It was sad and a great loss for us. We lost a wonderful professor because of

religious fanaticism. When Faraz read that sheyr he was a Director of Arts Council.

He was later on asked to leave. Faraz has paid many prices for his outspoken poetry.

He used to visit Toronto when he was in exile. It is sad to see religious intolerance

increasing in Pakistan. We need more poets who can speak their mind and tell the truth

and bring a message of peace. We need more poets like Habib Jalib who criricized all the

dictators in Pakistan. thank you for your article. sincerely sohail

it`s interesting that both gems of Urdu poetry suffered the same fate at the hands of that donkey`s army......the illiterate army of illiterate asses

Gill great piece on our current poet Laureat Ahmed Faraz --

some of the interactors remind me of an anecdote about Faiz Sahib -- there was a noisy crowd around someone in one of the campuses in London -- one of the by passing by students told his friend to go and check what`s happening -- the student came back and said oh nothing there is a bugger who obviously can`t sing is trying to sing Mehdi Hasan`s Ghazals without the Harmonium and the stupid crowed is saying wah wah.....

re: Mohammad Gill

The poetry of Faiz and Faraz under Zia`s rule was the battle cry of the oppresssed and the down trodden. The words were given a life by singers like Mehdi Hassan and Iqbal Bano and Farida Khanum, because they too, as artists, felt the suffocation by the censor of their art. The verses of Faraz and Faiz written and uttered in those dark days of fear and silent sufferings were the embodiment of a nation`s muted cries and the expression of its most vocal cry for freedom.

The words and the songs of that era had a special message and they were appreciated because the words to the songs reflected the real pain, which was quite evident in the Pakistan of those days.

Ciao

Mehdi Hasan is my favourite ghazal singer.When I think of Mehdi, I almost invariably think of Ranjishhee sahee. There were years I used to hear this song on the cassette every day. Once on a public platform I rendered it (I sang it). I was very good with the tune but did not clearly know the taal (whether dadra or kehrwa or what). After a little while the tablchi stopped and only the harmonium man went along with me!

V.S.Gopalakrishnan

Thanks for introducing his work. Very nice ghazals.

Faraz Saheb was my Urdu professor for a while at university. There was always a bevy of girl students hanging around him, and at least one always accompanied him (somewhere) in his car after school. Quite a guy.

However, by his own admission, Faraz Saheb is not one of those poets `jo key shear kehtey haen`. He is one of those ones `jo key shaer ghartey hain`. He always called himself a `theatrical` shaier.

Jiss tarah sookhey huey phool etc etc is a good example of that.

``Like Faiz, Faraz wanted peace between India and Pakistan. He is as popular in India (if not more) as in Pakistan.``

Faraz has always stood for peace... just like Faiz...

But Faraz was very despondent at this current bonhomie... when asked why on a TV show by our own satirist drag queen Begum Nawazish Ali ... he said ``I am for friendship and not rolling over and playing dead.``

This is very important. Like Faiz... Faraz is first and foremost a patriot.