DASKA – The 27th birth-anniversary of legendary Urdu poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz was celebrated here on Sunday. Faiz was born on Febrery 13, 1911, in Qila Kader village in Sialkot. At an early age, he was sent to a mosque to learn religious studies from Maulvi Muhammad Ibrahim Mir.
After matriculation, he joined Murray College from where he passed his intermediate and graduation examinations. His prominent teachers were Professor Yousuf Saleem Chishti and Shams-ul-Ulema Syed Mir Hasan who taught him Urdu and Arabic, respectively. Mir Hasan had also taught renowned philosopher-poet Allama Dr Muhmmad Iqbal. Faiz acquired his masters’ degree from Govt College Lahore.
During 1930s, Faiz Ahmed Faiz married a British woman, Alys Faiz. They had two daughters, Moneeza Hashmi and Salima Hashmi. Salima is an eminent artist and Moneeza is a TV producer. Salima and Moneeza are married to Shoaib Hashmi and Humair Hashmi, respectively. Both the brothers are noted media personalities. Faiz launched a body of progressive writers’ movement in Punjab in 1936. He was also the editor of a monthly.
Faiz became a lecturer in English at MAO College, Amritsar, in 1935 and then at Hailey College of Commerce, Lahore. He joined the British Army and was promoted to the rank of Lt-colonel in 1944. He resigned from the army in 1947 and returned to Lahore to become the first editor-in-chief of Pakistan Times. In 1959, he was appointed as secretary, Pakistan Arts Council, and worked in that capacity till 1962.
Returning from London in 1964, he settled in Karachi and was appointed principal at Abdullah Haroon College. Faiz was also the editor of Urdu newspaper ‘Imroze’ and weekly Lail-o-Nihar. In exile he worked as the editor of the magazine Lotus in Moscow, London and Beirut. Faiz wrote poems against bloodshed during the 1971n war. As a poet, Faiz wrote poems on the themes of love, beauty and revolution as well as on social and political issues.
Faiz used his poetry to promote the cause of socialism. He was a committed poet who regarded poetry as a vehicle of serious thoughts. He did not accept the maxim of art for art’s sake. Faiz, an admirer of Karl Marx and a poet of the people, was awarded by Soviet Russia the prestigious Lenin Peace Award. His poems have been translated into Russian language. His poetical collections include Naqsh-e-Faryadi, Dast-e-Saba, Zindannama and Dast-e-Tah-e-Sang. Faiz passed away in 1984.
Security arrangements made on Eid Mila-un-Nabi: Strict security arrangements have been finalised to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) in a befitting manner in Daska, Sambria, Pasrur and Sialkot. Chairing a meeting, DCO Mujahid Shardil said all-out efforts would be made to maintain law and order, besides providing a safe and pleasant atmosphere to the faithful on this occasion.
He said the officers concerned had already been directed to clear the routes falling on the way of Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) processions, by removing all kinds of obstacles and encroachments. He said the distribution of free food should be made in a disciplined manner to avoid any untoward incident on this sacred occasion.
