BOOK REVIEW : The Thought of Faiz by Dr Nisar Turabi By Dr Maqsood Jafri Dr Nisar Turabi is a well-known poet, educationist and critic. It was very kind of him to call on me last day along with Professor Mohammad Safdar and Professor Abbas Hussain. He presented me his latest Urdu book titled Fikr-e-Faiz (The Thought of Faiz) compiled by him. It is published by Multi Media Affairs, Lahore. The articles of prominent critics have been collected in this book. There are thirty-seven articles in this book. The writers have covered all important aspects of the life, art and thought of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Particularly, the essays of Dr Nisar Turabi, Dr Tahir Toonsavi, Dr Jamal Naqvi, Prof Sahar Ansari, Iftakhar Arif, Dr Kalid Iqbal Yasir, Dr Sughra Sadaf, Ms Aisha Masud and Dr Tariq Hashmi deal with the modern literary and political movements that influenced the mind of Faiz and then absorbing the revolutionary spirit, Faiz influenced his contemporaries world wide. Dr Anwar Ahmed Ejaz elaborately explained the ideological relation between the great Turkish poet Nazim Hikmat and Faiz. Similarly, we find the influence of Dr Iqbal on the mind of Faiz in the essay of Dr Khan Mohammad Sajid. The rest of the contributors have also beautifully commented on the facile poetry of the literary legend of our times. It must be mentioned that the poetry books of Faiz portray his literary ingenuity. His poetry books such as Dast-e-Saba, Zindan Namah, Dast-e-Tah-e-Sang, Naqsh-e-Faryadi and others make him one of the greatest Urdu poets of 20th century. He is the best combination of revolution and romance. There is no doubt that Josh, Sahir and Habib Jalib are well known poets for their revolutionary ideas. But we rank Faiz among the world-renowned poets for the sublimity of his idiom and sensitivity of his subjects. His diction is traditional. It is Persianised. It is mellifluous, melodious and lyrical. I have been fascinated by the Persian musical diction of Hafiz Sherazi and Amir Khusrou. In the poetry of Faiz, I find a flow and current of music that moves us. In this traditional diction, he purported the novelty of imagery and message. As he was a Muslim socialist, he propounded and supported socialist economy and outright condemned feudalism and capitalism. He was pro-Soviet Union. I personally had visited the Soviet Embassy in Islamabad on his wish in 1972 and had met with a great Persian poetess Khanum Gul Chehra. I had presented my Persian poetry in that meeting. Faiz was awarded Lenin Peace Prize by the Government of Soviet Union. He was jailed for nearly five years in a conspiracy case. Then during the dictatorial regime of General Ziaul Haq, he spent some years in self-exile in London. He also worked for the Palestinian Liberation Organisation of Yasir Arafat. He was the chief editor of ‘The Lotus Magazine’, an organ of the PLO. The book compiled by Dr Nisar Turabi is indeed a great task. Its’ importance is beyond comprehension for it reflexes the research of some eminent critics and poets on Faiz. The books of Dr Tahir Tounsavi, Mr Ashfaq Hussain of Canada and others have also a special place so for as their literary importance is concerned. I have read some material in Urdu and English languages on Faiz. The efforts of critics done in this regard are praise worthy. Every one has shed light on the universal poetry of Faiz through his own angle. In America, England, Russia, India and Pakistan, much has been written on Faiz. But, honestly speaking, the present treatise compiled by Dr Nisar Turabi is a splendid contribution as it contains the writings of eminent critics and poets on Faiz. I am sure this book will be widely read by the lovers of Faiz. It must be treasured not only in the bookshelves, but in the repository of minds. It is like a relic for the lovers of poetry. I congratulate Dr Nisar Turabi for compiling this book.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 11:28:37 +0000
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