Both Faiz and Faraz were like the poet John Milton, ‘a party of one.’

Both Faiz and Faraz were like the poet John Milton, ‘a party of one.’

Dreams do not die

Ahmed Faraz, poet of love and revolution, languished under official approval

F. S. Aijazuddin

Friday, August 29, 2008

Faraz’s role model was Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and it is interesting to compare the careers of both as they acquired reputations as social rebels. For Faiz, the Lenin Prize awarded to him by the Soviets hung like some albatross around his neck, marking him as a Communist when all he wanted was a place to sit, a desk to write on, and the peace of mind that poets seek but is denied them. But in his later years, even Faiz had to stoop in order to survive. In 1972, when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto came into power, he appointed Faiz sahib in the as head of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts - an honour that paid the bills but starved his Muse.

http://www.newageislam.com/both-faiz-and-faraz-were-like-the-poet-john-milton,-%E2%80%98a-party-of-one.%E2%80%99-/islamic-culture/d/661