ISLAMABAD: Faiz Ahmed Faiz, a revolutionary poet who represents the realistic ideas with aesthetic beauty, was remembered on his 100th birth anniversary on Sunday. Literary circles across the country organised a number of activities as the government has declared 2011 as `Year of Faiz’.
A number of activities, including seminars and Mushairaas were held by the Ministry of Culture, the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), Faiz Trusts and other literary and cultural organizations.

Books and documentaries have also been launched in connection with Faiz’s centennial celebrations, which are continuing both at federal and provincial levels.

Renowned literary figure, Ishfaq Saleem Mirza said that Faiz’s life was versatile and multi-dimensional and it was not easy to cover all aspects of his life. Faiz brought the ideas of Ghalib and Iqbal forward in his poetry, he said. Faiz presented a specific ideology in his prose and poetry regarding the life of common man and was acknowledged a progressive idealist and humanist at home and abroad, he said.

Yousaf Hassan said Faiz preferred class struggle to enlightenment in the discipline of knowledge and gave preference to artistic sense in the area of art. Such characteristics gave his poetry energy

National Language Authority Deputy Secretary Dr Rashid Hameed said that the poetry of Faiz is the reflective of people’s aspirations as well as national spirit of independence movement.

Talking to Daily Times, he said Faiz brought revolutionary changes to the way poetry was written, combining socio-political messages and revolutionary ideas with the sweetness of Urdu language.

Faiz used the medium of poetry to create awareness among the masses about the importance of independence and individual identity for which he suffered a lot during his life, but never compromised on his principles and national interest, Dr Rashid said.

Earlier, Urdu poetry was recited in an ordinary style and was full of romanticism. But Faiz’s style, after Iqbal, took Urdu poetry into a new phase. Keeping aside the routine interpretations of life, Faiz touched the realities of life in a revolutionary style.

His poetry gave the message of patriotism and struggle and the new generation should get guidance from his thought- provoking ideas, Dr Rashid said.

PAL and its provincial branches have arranged conferences on Faiz life and works on the directive of President Asif Ali Zardari. PAL has already published a special issue of Quarterly “Adbiyat” on Faiz Ahmad Faiz and an introductory book on Faiz Ahmad Faiz under the series of `Makers of Pakistani Literature’.

However, National Language Authority (NLA) will also hold a programme on Monday (today) to pay tributes to the great poet.

A week-long (Feb 7-13) celebrations are continuing at Lahore for last three days. An international Mushaira has held and celebrated Indian actress Ms Shabana Azmi and poet, lyricist Javed Akhter and prominent people from the world of performing arts from India and Pakistan participated in the celebrations.Daily time