Ahmed Faraz lauded for his simple and heart-touching poetry

In connection with the death anniversary of renowned Urdu poet Ahmed Faraz, who died on August 25, 2008, the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) on Saturday held an event to pay homage to the poet.

The event was presided over by poet Zehra Nigah. She said it was important to keep remembering such literary figures who had left behind a rich legacy.

"Ahmad Faraz has left us with beautiful and enchanting ghazals," she said. She also remarked that Faraz was lucky with respect to the popularity he got during his life as very few poets were valued during their lifetime.

She was of the opinion that poets were historians who recorded the pulse of their times and unraveled the sorrows of the era they lived. She also expressed pleasure at the fact that Faraz remained a popular poet among the youths.

Zehra said Faraz’s gift was the finesse with which he employed words in his poetry. She added that Faraz was a successful man in terms of the love he received and the verses he composed.

Journalist Ghazi Salahuddin was of the view that Faraz's diction was simple but his poetry would leave a profound impact on the hearts of its readers. Praising the late poet for his verses that resisted the status quo, the speaker said composing poetry of resistance was not easy as it invited opposition of powerful circles.

Salahuddin said Faraz faced all opposition with courage.

Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui expressed his gratitude to the ACP for organising an event in memory of Faraz. "Both Ahmed Faraz's romantic and resistance poetry are still very popular today. He supported me at every step. He had a complete understanding of the language of poetry,” he said, adding that a poet achieved greatness when their inner turmoil aligned with the societal unrest.

Journalist Mazhar Abbas stated that Faraz emerged as a resistance poet in an era when luminaries like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Josh Malihabadi and Habib Jalib were already present. "His poetry also had a strong romantic element."

Poet Ambreen Haseeb Ambar described Faraz as a man of high character with a refined temperament. "Very few poets have achieved the stature in Urdu poetry like Ahmad Faraz in his lifetime. His poetry reflects a clear struggle against class differences, and is filled with hope, confidence and the vision of a brighter future. He was a progressive and humane poet," she remarked.