Ahmed Faraz Still Alive But Struggling For His Life

Adil Najam

[UPDATE: Sadly, Ahmed Faraz died in Islamabad ]on August 25, 2008. Details here.]

Despite an erroneous news earlier that renowned poet Ahmed Faraz had died in a Chicago hospital, the news right now is that Ahmed Faraz is still alive, but not at all well, struggling for his life in a Chicago hospital.

Here is the latest from The News:

CHICAGO: Renowned poet Ahmed Faraz is alive and still under medical treatment at a local hospital here, said his physician Tahir Rohail, brushing aside the earlier report of his death aired by state TV. He said Ahmed Faraz is seriously ill at a hospital in Chicago where necessary medical treatment is being provided to him.

Others are still reporting his death, seemingly based on a TV channel news item. It seems – we hope – that the TV channel jumped the gun on this and Faraz Sahib is still alive.

We have, of course, written multiple times on the legendary poet – including here, here and most recently here. I shake as I type this and I pray that we will NOT be writing about his demise anytime soon. For me Faraz has always been a fighter, and we are rooting for him in this fight too. Here is some of Fawaz the fighter:

WPvideo 1.10

We certainly pray that he is and that he will remain alive and kicking for a long time. But (earlier) reports, from people close to him, seem to suggest that his condition is very critical and it has been and remains a touch and go situation. He needs our prayers.

Ikramullah says:

July 17, 2008 at 10:29 pm

I am so relieved to hear that the news earlier was wrong. I pray for his life and health.

MQ says:

July 17, 2008 at 6:11 pm

It’s so irresponsible of PTV and other channels to announce someone’s death without ascertaining the facts, particularly when that someone happens to be Ahmad Faraz! Imagine the distress it must have caused to his family, friends and fans.

I saw Faraz 2-3 weeks ago at the mushaira organized by the APPNA in DC. He was the last one to recite his poetry, a little after 2 in the morning. He looked good, recited his poems mostly from memory, in his usual booming voice, drawing wild applause from the audience. He was a bit forgetful, and a little wobbly when he walked, but for those who know Faraz it was nothing unusual. Later, we heard that he was admitted to a hospital in Chicago but was doing well.

May he recover fast, live long, and continue to sing his song — the song of resistance to status quo.

Here are two pictures from DC mushaira: