Faiz Ahmad Faiz is one among the few poets and writers who managed to wake an entire nation with just his words. His revolutionary poems still resonate with millions, in today’s time. When asked by a television host about the fact that his words stand true decades after him having written them, he said “meine jo likha so likha, ab mein kya keroun ke aap ne apne haalaat hi nahi badley” (I wrote what I wrote all those years ago, what can I possibly do that you didn’t try changing your circumstances)? Today, on his death anniversary, we celebrate the man’s written word and remind you just how great he was as a poet.

1. Gulloun mein rang bhare

Qafas udaas hai, yaaro saba se kuch tau kaho

kahin tau bahr-e-Khuda aaj zikr-e-yaar chaley

challey bhi aao ke gulshan ka karobaar chaley

2. Donoun jahaan teri muhabbat mein haar ke

Veeraan hai mai’kada, khum-o-sagar udaas hai

tum kya gaye keh rooth gaye din bahaar ke

3. Kub tak dil ki khair manayein

Beeta deed umeed ka mausam, khaak urti hai aankhoun mein

kab bhejo ge dard ka badal kab barkha barsaoge?

4. Kuch pehle in aankhoun aagey

Thhe kitne ucchey log ke jin ko apne gham se fursat thi

sub pooche thhe ahval jo koi dard ka maara guzra tha

5. Raaz e ulfat chhupa ke dekh liya

Aur kya dekhne ko baaqi hai

aap se dil laga ke dekh liya

6. Shaam e firaq ab na pooch

Bazm-e-khayaal mein tere husn ki shama’a jal gayi

dard ka chand bujh gaya, hijr ki raat dhal gayi

7. Tum aaye ho na shab-e-intezaar guzri hai

Junoon mein jitni bhi guzri bekaar guzri hai

agarche dil pe kharaabi hazaar guuzri hai

8. Mujhse pehli si muhabbat

Mein ye samjha tha keh tu hai tau darakshaan hai hayat

tera gham hai tau gham-e-dehr ka jhagra kya hai

9. Raat yun dil mein teri khoyi hui yaad aaye

Jese sehra mein chaley hauley se baad-e-naseem

jese bemaar ko bewajah qaraar aajaye

10. Mere dil mere musafir hua phir se hukam saadir

Ke watan badar houn hum tum, dein galli galli sadaayein,

Karein rukh nagar nagar ka, ke suraagh koi laayein, kisi yaar-e-naam-a-bar ka

11. Woh loug bohat khusqismat the, jo ishq ko kaam samajhtey they, hum jeetey ji masroof rahay

Kaam ishq ke aarey aata raha

aur ishq se kaam ulajhta raha…

Faiz‘s work will forever hold  special place in Pakistan’s literary history. What is your favorite work of Faiz Ahmad Faiz?

Cover image via: chaichalk.com