PESHAWAR: The speakers at a literary event here on Monday praised Urdu poet Ahmad Faraz declaring him one of the most popular and loved Urdu poets.

The event was jointly organised by the Khyber Student’s Societies and Urdu department of the Islamia College University to mark the 86th birth anniversary of Ahmad Faraz (1931-2008) at the university’s Roos Keppel Hall here.

Students, teachers and fans of Ahmad Faraz attended the event in large numbers.

Former provincial governor and Ahmad Faraz’s brother, Barrister Masood Kausar, presided over the function, while Shibli Faraz, son of Ahmad Faraz, was the chief guest on the occasion.

They shared some interesting aspects of Faraz’s life with participants.

ICU vice–chancellor Prof Habib Ahmad said the historic Islamia College, Peshawar, had always felt proud of Ahmad Faraz as he taught there during late 60s.

Popular Urdu poet’s birth anniversary marked at Islamia College University

He said the poet contributed immensely to the promotion of Urdu literature.

Prof Suhail said Faraz’s poetry had reflected all hues of life and conveyed his thoughts and emotions in a befitting manner.

He said the poet used easy diction and ruled hearts of millions due to his unique way of expression.

“Ahmad Faraz was one of the most popular and loved Urdu poet,”

Prof Izharullah Izhar said Faraz was only a poet but a phenomenon who had carved out a niche for himself in Urdu literature.

He said Faraz would always be remembered for his creative and imaginative flight.

Noted poet Shahid Zaman said Ahmad Shah alias Ahmad Faraz had studied at Edwards College, Peshawar and Peshawar University from where he had received his degrees of master’s programmes in Urdu and Persian.

“Faraz began his career as a producer in Radio Pakistan. Later, he worked as a lecturer at Islamia College in Peshawar. He disapproved of the military rule in the country and expressed himself unreservedly for which he had been arrested. On release, he preferred to live in a self-imposed exile in Europe and Canada for six years,” he said.

The poet said on homecoming, Faraz took up senior positions of administrative nature at Pakistan National Centre, Academy of Letters, Lok Virsa and National Book Foundation.

Noorul Amin Yousafzai said Faraz had launched writing poetry while he was a young college student.

He said Faraz had emerged as a gifted ghazal poet with an individual signature of his own.

“While he penned down poems on traditional subjects of love and romance, he also wrote the ‘spirit of age’ in his poetry with all its despairs and disappointments and produced some of the finest specimens of resistance poetry,” he said. He said Ahmad Faraz was a prolific poet with several anthologies to his credit.

Aziz Ejaz, Bushra Farrukh, Shaukat Swati and Shaheen Umro also spoke at the event.

Professor Abaseen moderated the event and gave away college souvenirs as token of respect to the guests.

Published in Dawn January 17th, 2017