Written by: Salma Chaudhry
Posted on: November 19, 2018 | 
| 中文
(L-R) Saleema Hashmi, Shabana Azmi, Adeel Hashmi and Javed Akhtar
Poetry and prose have the ability to fuel ideas, stimulate movements and alter the way people perceive themselves and their societies. In the South Asian context, the name that always comes to mind while talking about such power to influence progressive thought is none other than Faiz Ahmad Faiz. For the last few years, Faiz Ghar, in collaboration with various other organizations, have been organising the Faiz International Festival to celebrate this great poet and what he stood for. This year’s festival, “Parwarish-e-Lauh-o-Qalam” was one of the biggest so far, with artists like Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi participating from across the border.
The session on the lives and works of the two greatest poets of South Asia, Kaifi Azmi and Faiz Ahmad Faiz was definitely the most popular amongst the many talks organized at the festival. Adeel Hashmi and Mira Hashmi were in conversation with the daughters of both writers, Shabana Azmi and Saleema Hashmi. Adeel Hashmi opened the conversation with his usual wit. On the question of how Faiz and Kaifi influenced their young children, Saleema Hashmi narrated a story where she once got a chance to distribute Faiz’s famous book, “Dast-e-Saba,” which he wrote during his time in jail. At the distribution event, Hashmi was surprised to see that people were so fond of her father’s work, “That was perhaps the first time when I realized that my father was someone held in high esteem, and that his work was not ordinary,” she told the audience. Shabana Azmi, while speaking about her father Kaifi Azmi, said, “Initially, I always thought that my father doesn’t do anything. It was only after I was introduced to poetry at school that I realized the significance of his work.” Saleema Hashmi and Shabana Azmi were of the view that Kaifi and Faiz both shared one ideology, which was apparent not only in their friendship, but also in the way they led their individual lives. The two progressive writers from two different countries shared one world view, based on equality and respect for humanity, which is not an easy belief to uphold and preach, but they were both fearless people. Both writers also shared a great sense of humour, humility and the strength to cope with adversity through their honesty and courage. The speakers further added that Kaifi and Faiz are widely regarded as the most pivotal figures in progressive poetry, and the pioneers of the Progressive Writers Movement. Their work was ingenious for the way they unequivocally addressed social and moral issues of the day, with much more candour than the society was prepared for. The session ended with Javed Akhtar reciting two of his beautiful poems, Waqt and Aansoo, and Shabana Azmi singing the famous poem by Faiz, “Bol ke lab azad hain tere,” paying tribute to both Kaifi and Faiz, who were the great feminists of their time.
The session “Habib-e-Amber Dast,” focused on Patras Bukhari as a friend, diplomat, teacher and writer. Panelists included Usman Peerzada, Dr. Khalid Aftab, Shahid Malik and Shahnawaz Zaidi. Tauseeq Haider, the moderator, opened the session by briefly talking about Patras Bukhari and his various talents. Usman Peerzada told the audience about the friendship that his father Rafi Peerzada had with Patras, which was characterized by a respect for each other’s work where they encouraged each other. He narrated a story, where Rafi once wrote a script and went straight to Patras’ office at Radio Pakistan, and not only entered his room without permission but also started reading the 45 minutes long script. Patras did not interrupt him, and listened intently. The script went on to become one of the best Punjabi plays on National Radio and the rest is history. Dr. Khalid Aftab enlightened the audience about Patras’ contribution as a diplomat and a permanent member of the United Nations. “It was Bukhari Sahib’s wit and eloquence that allowed him to champion multiple causes at the UN General Assembly. The contribution he made in resolving the Tunisian crisis and his support to keep UNICEF functional is one of his greatest achievements at the UN,” Aftab elucidated. Patras was also known as the “Citizen of the World” and “Diplomat’s Diplomat,” in the diplomatic circles. Shahid Malik talked about Patras as a teacher and principal, who made Government College University into a great institution through his hard work and wonderful management skills. As a teacher, he inspired some great minds of the subcontinent including Faiz and N.M. Rashid, who were both his students. “He was not just a teacher in the classroom, but also a friend and an actor, who used humour to engage his students,” Malik explained. But most people know Patras because of his writings. As a writer, he wrote essays in a style that nobody had used before him. Tauseeq Haider shed light on how Patras used simple vocabulary and intelligent articulation to influence his readers. Shahnawaz Zaidi brilliantly read Patras’ famous essay, “Saweray Jo Kal Ankh Meri Khuli,” causing the audience to burst into laughter.
Faiz Ahmad Faiz had such a great impact on our society that his name has become an adjective, used to describe work reminiscent of his own distinctive approach. To this day, whenever someone highlights the oppression of a faceless system, Faiz’s words echo in our minds. But Faiz International Festival was not just a celebration of this one poet. It paid homage to all progressive poets and writers, who struggled to change an inequitable and unjust system.
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