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:
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.
Faraz can write a thousand times better than I can but here is my ghazal dedicated to the erroneous and greatly exaggerated news of his “demise” . May he recover soon:
ABHI TO ZINDA HEIN
by
Saleem Seyal
( Ahmad Faraz being in a Chicago Hospital July 20, 2008 )
Hawao jhoom ke aao, abhi to zinda hein
Ghatao khoob se cchao, abhi to zinda hein
tumhare saanvle mukhre ko dil tarasta hey
naqab rukh se hatao, abhi to zinda hein
udas haal hey, lumbi hey shaam-e-gham itni
haseen rubab bajao, abhi to zinda hein
woh aana aapka ghar mein, aur aa ke mur jaana
hamara dil na dukhao, abhi to zinda hein
yeh kya saleeqa hey kafn-o-dafan ki baaton ka
koi hakeem bulao, abhi to zinda hein
( dedicated to Faraz )
hamari maut ki khabron pe mat yaqeen kijay
zara si dhoom machao, abhi to zinda hein
Mein jaanta hoon musir ho, magar khuda ke liye
tum aaj raat na jao, abhi to zinda hein
namaz parh ke abhi aa rahein hein masjid se
zara sharab pilao, abhi to zinda hein
agarche shaam-e-sihai se dar naheen lagta
Saleem, shaman jalao, abhi to zinda hein
Wish You Good Health & Long Life. My Prays are with you for your recovery.
Best Regards,
SALMAN KHALID
JEDDAH-SAUDI ARABIA
Ahsan thanks for sharing a hopeful news with us.
Thanks, AHsn, for the update on Ahmad Faraz. I wish, when he gets well, he sues the PTV and other channels, for a few million dollars, for televising the false news of his death.
For all,
The latest news is :
WASHINGTON, July 17: Poet Ahmad Faraz is breathing on his own without
mechanical assistance, his physicians told Dawn on Thursday, contradicting
earlier reports that he had died.