Daily Times

Legendary Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz often dubbed as the voice of revolution, is being remembered nationwide on his 107th death anniversary today.

Faiz Ahmed Faiz was born on February 13, 1911, in Sialkot, and after having completed his education, he worked as a teacher, journalist, and a politician.

Faiz joined Pakistan Times in 1947, a local newspaper of progressive narrative. In 1951, he became part of a failed coup in Pakistan and was charged in what is now called the ‘Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case’.

Fortunate enough to be released later onwards, he once again became a strong proponent of communism in Pakistan in the 1960s and 1970s. He also paid a visit to Russia several times.

He also became a close confidant to then Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who in the 1960s headed a public campaign against President Ayub Khan.

His poetry has been translated into several languages including Russian and English. His major literary works include ‘Naqsh-e-Faryadi’, ‘Dast-e-Saba’, ‘Zindan-Nama’, ‘Dast-e-Tah-e-Sung’, ‘Mere Dil Mere Musafir’ and ‘Sar-e-Wadi-e-Sina’.

Faiz was also part of the first ever official Pakistani delegation to visit Bangladesh. On conclusion of the Bangladesh tour, he wrote his famous Ghazal “Hum Kay Thehray Ajnabi”.