Adil Najam
The recent sacking of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry, has ignited passions all over the Pakistani blogistan. That is not surprising. What is remarkable is the consensus in opinion and outrage that seems to be universal (including in the results of our ATP Quick Poll).
As I read the hundreds of comments posted all across the Pakistani blogistan, it is also striking how many times people have invoked poetry as a way to express their strongly held feelings and heartfelt emotions. As always it is in Faiz Ahmed Faiz that people find the most comfort and solace. My own favorite – hum daikhain gay – has been repeatedly invoked; so has nisaar mein teri galiyoun mein and aaj bazaar mein pabajolaaN chalo. Another great favorite of mine – kuch sanoo maran da shouq vi see; this from Munir Niazi – has also been mentioned.
I am, however, always surprised that we do not hear more of Ahmed Faraz’s poetry in these discussions. From what one can fathom, the sacked Chief Justice may not be the ‘perfect hero’ that poets commemorate, but I imagine that sitting under guard as he is he may well reading Faraz right now and feeling the intensity of at least some of the verses.
This is particularly so for the poem ‘Mohassra’, which is probably Faraz’s most prominent political poem (written during the Zia years):
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry may also find some solace in Ahmad Faraz’s Qaid-i-Tanhai. The additional verses at the end of this video clip seem equally pertinent.
Poetry is a great way of expressing ones feelings when there are no other ways to o so.
I loved the first poem. Had never heard that before.
I agree that Mohassra is one of the greatest poems of rebellion, hearing it again today again made me think of just how relevant it still is.
I think it is only because Farazis always immeditealy compared to Faiz that he does not get the credit that he deserves.
I think some of the comments here are very unfair on Faraz.
His Mohassra (which you include) is one of the greatest poems of rebellion in Pakistan’s history and written at the height of tyrrany. He also took a principled stand against Musharraf before most others in returning his medals after the Bugti killing. He has spoken against injustice consistently.
[...] We have tried to look at and make sense of these events fromvarious angles, including the poetic. But like Pakistanis everywhere we remain confused and concerned about the direction of events. Things seem to be spinning out of control. The government seems to be panicking. And public frustration with the turn of events is escalating. [...]
Found this by Habib Jalib that seemed appropriate here
aur sab bhuul gaye harf-e-sadaaqat likhanaa
rah gayaa kaam hamaaraa hii baGaavat likhanaa
laakh kahate rahe.n zulmat ko na zulmat likhanaa
ham ne siikhaa hii nahii.n pyaare baa_ijaazat likhanaa
na sile kii na sitaa_ish kii tamannaa ham ko
haq me.n logo.n ke hamaarii to hai aadat likhanaa
ham ne jo bhuul ke bhii shaah kaa qasiidaa na likhaa
shaayad aayaa isii Khuubii kii badaulat likhanaa
us se ba.Dh kar merii tahasiin bhalaa kyaa hogii
pa.Dh ke naaKhush hai.n meraa saahab-e-sarvat likhanaa
dahar ke Gam se huaa rabt to ham bhuul gaye
sarv qaamat kii javaanii ko qayaamat likhanaa
kuchh bhii kahate hai.n kahe.n shaah ke masaahib ‘Jalib’
rang rakhanaa yahii apanaa isii suurat likhanaa
Habib Jalib was an eternal revolutionary. Ahmad Faraz nationalistic detour was during Zia’s days followed by some somersaults.
Indeed a great poet…
On Faraz’s absence. I think activism in poetry died with Habib Jalib in Pakistan. The other notable poets such as Amjab Islam Amjad and Ahmad Faraz have taken different direction because the impact of poetry is insignificant these days.
I have been following all newspapers, TV channels and many websites to keep up with the what people are saying about the Chief Justice issue. I must say that of everything I have seen, this is still THE MOST thoughtful commentary in the choice of the poems but also in highlighting how poetry can help us express our strongest feelings. Keep it up.