Fakhar Zaman is one of a few Pakistanis who are known all over the world. Fakhar Zaman after establishing himself as a leading Pakistani writer both in poetry and prose, both in Punjabi and Urdu has recently devoted his energies to English writings. He published his debut English novel ‘The life of Ahmad-Thresholds’ last year and this year he has come out with his book of poetry in English ‘The VIOD’. 228 pages, a rather small book contains 90 poems. But one should not take it lightly and if one thinks one can finish it in one go then one is wrong because every poem has a long history and background in which seasoned writer and senior, veteran poet has lot of things, philosophy and history, besides romance.
Fakhar Zaman is author of more than 40 books. His works have been translated into several languages of the world. His books are taught at post graduate level at many universities. P hd and M. Phil theses have been written on his life and works in India. Five of his books including ‘ Bandiwan’ (the Prisoner) were proscribed.
Fakhar has secured many national and international awards including Hilal-e-Imtiaz and Sitar-e- Imtiaz. He also received Shiromani Sahitak award from India and Millennium award for best Punjabi novelist of 20th century. He has been a minister in Benazir government. He also remained Chairperson of Academy of Letters. Fakhar wears many hats.
He is founder Chairperson of International Punjabi Congress and International Sufi Council and crusader of Punjab and Punjabi.
Writer tells us that few of the poems in his book of English poetry The VIOD are translation of his Punjabi poems.
Since writer is master of craft and has keen eyes to observe minute details of human psychology, so there is no doubt that every poem in this book contains deep meanings and demands serious thinking from reader to appreciate Fakhar’s poetry in English.
Since writer is a politically conscious bird so there is no dearth of political poems, also.
He has dedicated this book to his wife Fatima.
He has written shortest poem of four lines and longest of many pages.
It would be proper to reproduce some of his poems for the benefit of readers.
THE VOID
Everybody is nobody
Nobody is everybody
There is a void
Between everybody and nobody
Unsurmountable, unfathomable
HANDLE WITH CARE
Handle with care
Otherwise
My heart
Will split
Into smithereens
INCOMMINCADO
She phoned me
I said Hello
She said hello
Hello hello
Nobody knew to speak first
And we disconnected
FATIMA (third wife of author)
Fatima yu are the epitome of
Goodness affection and love
A kind soul of no parallel
How happy, how lucky I am
To have you as my
Wife
You hold my arm when
Walking
You help me board the bus and train
Your love for me profound
And unfathomably deep
But let me tell you
I love you as much if
Not more.
WRITER
A genuine writer
Like fish of Indus river
Swims against
The ferocious current
A genuine writer is osmosis process
That sweetens the salty water
A genuine writer is like a pacemaker
Which stabilizes
Heart palpitations.
KAJAL
You never wished
When you came in
You never said goodbye
When you left
I collect the dust
When you entered
And made Kajal (mascara) of
My eye!
TIME
When I meet you
I get engrossed
Into thoughts
How to chain
The passing time
LONELINESS
I am alone
Even in hustle bustle
Even in market and bazar
In a meeting
With friends
And relatives
I am alone
Only you can
Bridge my loneliness
Come to me
COIN
They say everybody possesses a coin
With love and hate on either side.
I do possess a coin
With love inscribed on both sides.
PEACE
Dove has laid eggs,
at the mouth of
a gun.
UNEXPRESSED
AND UNHEARD
I kept on talking
And she continued knitting
She went on talking
And I kept on doodling
The conversation ended
She had dropped several stitches
On my paper her image was emerging.
LOVE
Dictionary
She said
Wait for me
there is no word “late” in love dictionary
Come in the flick of eyelid.
TRIO
Pakistan ka matlab kia?
trio of
Corruption, dehumanization and extremism.
This book is very good addition to the English literature. His each poem his thought provoking. One hopes Fakhar’s debut collection of poetry THE VOID would draw the attention of readers and critics of English literature and they would not be disappointed.
In the end one may point out that like his debut English novel ‘The life of Ahmad -Thresholds’ this book of poetry is also dull. Its appearance does not appeal to reader. One don’t know why Fakhar make its presentation more attractive and pleasant to the eyes.