Faiz Ahmed Faiz has to one of the most celebrated poets of the subcontinent. After Allama Iqbal and Ghalib, Faiz is the most celebrated Urdu poet that the subcontinent has seen. And there’s no reason why he should not be. Not that he needs awards and accolades to tell the world of his greatness, but he’s won quite a handful, for his written word. He shared the Lenin Peace Award with Pablo Picasso in 1962, and the coveted Lotus Prize for Literature in 1976.  Faiz Sahab was also nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature. It’s like the world keeps validating what we already know.Our government also awarded him, belatedly so, with the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, in 1990.

To say that Faiz is now bewilderingly under-appreciated, would be an understatement. For a man who led revolutions with his words, words that still stand as true today as they did over 50 years ago; a man who was exiled and jailed for trying to awaken a sleeping nation, we hardly give him his due credit. We host Faiz festivals and melas but how many of us actually tried finding out what his words really meant?

And with his death anniversary just having passed, here are some pieces of his writing, along with their beautifully sung/recited renditions, that will prove why Faiz’s work is as hauntingly beautiful as it is.

1. Mujhse Pehli Si Muhabbat Mere Mehboob Na Maang

We’ve all heard a hundred renditions of this poem, but there’s still a lot of conflict over whether this was written for a lover or for the country. Irrespective, it definitely sends chills down one’s spine. Just the depth of the title is enough, where Faiz, almost dejectedly, asks not to expect the same love as before from him, and we’ve all been there: things have changed, it’s not you it’s me wala scene.

Here’s Tina Sani explaining it a hundred times better than I just did:

2. Kab Yaad Mein Tera Saath Nahi

Tina Sani, once during a performance, said that we’re always waiting for someone to come and lead us; that we keep waiting for our Nelson Mandela, but we don’t ever think that we can be our own leaders.

And if you don’t believe me, here’s the legend Nusrat sahab telling you it’s okay to love, and love with all your heart.

3. Hum Ke Thehre Ajnabi Kitni Madaraatoun Ke Baad

This piece of writing came about when Faiz returned from  a very disappointing trip to Dhaka. One where he thought he would get a very warm response, but he didn’t. His ‘friends’ avoided him completely or were extremely cold towards him. All in account of his failure to condemn the killings conducted by the Pakistani army against the Bangladeshis in 1971. So on his return from Dhaka, he wrote the words

“Un se jo kehne gaye thhe Faiz jaan sadqa kiye,

Ankahi hi reh gayi wo baat har baatoun ke baad…”

Here’s Nayyara Noor singing the words that go straight into our hearts.

4. Mere Dil Mere Musafir

This, if understood rightly, is one of the saddest pieces of writing by Faiz. He wrote it in London, in 1978. The closing verse “humein kya bura tha marna ager ek baar hota..” is written by Ghalib and Faiz, the magician that he was, weaves his own words around it. 

And here’s Tina Sani giving you an extra dose of goosebumps.

5. Guloun Mein Rang Bhare

Perhaps one of the most famous poem of Faiz Sahab’s. Adapted quite a few times, and originally sung by Mehdi Hassan and most recently by Arijit Singh for Haider. And what’s more, even a gori sang it.

6. Shaam e Firaq Ubh Aur Na Pooch

Sung by the legends of the Pakistani music industry – the likes of Farida  Khanum, Jagjit Singh, Begum Akhtar, Tina Sani and of course, Abida Parveen.

7. Tum Aaye Ho Na Shab e Intezaar Guzri Hai

Of love gained and lost, one can almost feel the pain in Faiz Sahab’s words, and when Amanat Ali sings it in his signature style, it becomes all the more intoxicating. .

8. Tum Mere Paas Raho

The sweetness of this poem is only enhanced by Nayyara Noor’s voice. The yearning with which Faiz asks his beloved to stick by him when times go sour, is something a lot of us have experienced.

9. Dasht e Tanhai

There isn’t enough said about this masterpiece, as there should have been. Probably the most famous poem of Faiz Sahab’s, that has haunted many a souls, and been sung in countless voices. From men to women, from Iqbal Bano to Meesha Shafi, we’ve heard it all.

10. Nisar Mein Teri Galliyoun Ke Ae Watan

This one hits right home. To think that what Faiz wrote all those years ago, still applies is very sad. That the country has not progressed in the last few decades.

And if you don’t understand what’s written above, here’s Zia Moheyuddin Sahab reciting it, and making you feel all sorts of things.

11. Hum Dekhein Ge

Probably one of the few poems to have a WikiPedia page for itself. Hum Dekhein Ge has to be the anthem for millions of people.

There isn’t a single Faiz mehfil that is complete without a rendition of the poem, and the energy that the crowds respond with is literally contagious.

Here’s Tina Sani performing it in Kathmandu, and still managing to connect with the crowd present.

It’s unfortunate that our generation does not pay much attention to Faiz Ahmed Faiz. A man who has seen his fair share of trouble and fame, and one who has given so much to the country, and stood by the people of his country, even when  he was left all alone, needs to be celebrated a lot more than an annual Faiz Festival (whiiich is also amazing, by the way!).