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