Tribute paid to Faiz
Peerzada Salman
KARACHI: While 2011 was celebrated as the birth centenary year of Faiz Ahmed Faiz as all year round programmes were arranged throughout the world to pay homage to the distinguished poet, the trend seems to have continued with the same fervour.
‘Bahaar Aayee’, organised by a local bank at a hotel, was a decent attempt at reading the poet’s writings (prose and poetry) with some off-the-beaten-track music to pay a heartfelt tribute to Faiz Ahmed Faiz on Friday. His daughter, Moniza Hashmi, delivered a succinct and meaningful speech to start off the programme. She said she was tied to Karachi because some significant things that happened to her or in her life took place in this city. She went to college here, got married, experienced motherhood, and chose a career, she explained. She touched on her father’s involvement in her life in a poignant way and remarked that she was privileged to be his daughter. She ended her speech by reciting the couplet, Tumhari yaad ke jab zakhm bharney lagtay hain/ Kisi bahanay tumhein yaad kernay lagtay hain.
Faiz’s grandson and TV artist Adeel Hashmi then made an appearance with a young pianist, Asad Anees. He first spoke about some of Faiz’s letters that he wrote to his wife while he was in jail (from 1951 to 1955) claiming that not many people were familiar with them. He then introduced Mr Anees to the audience saying that despite acquiring international recognition the young piano player had decided to say goodbye to the form of art as not many acknowledged it in Pakistan (koee sunenay wala nahin hai). Somehow, Mr Hashmi claimed, he managed to persuade the pianist to perform at the event. And it was a sheer delight listening to the musician, because not only did he play with tremendous skill but also sounded soulful, something that not many pianists can boast of.
Mr Hashmi started off with a letter that Faiz wrote in 1951 and followed it up with another. The letters were suffused with Faiz’s indomitable spirit and at the same time his longing for his family. Mr Hashmi interspersed the letter-reading with lines from the poet’s known poems. While it’s commendable that he chose to present his grandfather’s prose before poetry lovers, it has to be said that Mr Hashmi needs to work on his Urdu pronunciation and diction. In the Urdu language, as in any other language particularly during a recital or reading sessions, the use of ‘vowels’ is of utmost importance. In Urdu poetry it is one of the vital factors vis-à-vis the concept of wazn (metrical balance). Also, he was reading a tad too quick.
However, he did very well when he read out a letter in which Faiz’s sense of humour was more than evident. He did not seem to be in a hurry to finish off the stint. Another wise thing that the artist did was the selection of a poignant piece that Faiz wrote after his brother’s death. Mr Hashmi rounded off his performance by reciting one of the most celebrated Faiz poems, Zindan ki aik shaam (An evening in prison cell).
The highlight of the show was Mr Anees’s brilliant performance on the piano. He chose classical pieces to accompany Mr Hashmi’s readings.
Though he usually played at the beginning or end of the reading, he created an atmosphere which was apt for the occasion. If the young artist is encouraged by the powers that be, he can go places.
Eminent singer Tina Sani then appeared on stage for the finale. She began with the ghazal, Nahin nigah mein manzil to justuju hi sahi, after which she sang some of the famous Faiz poems such as Aa ke wabasta hai us husn ki yaadein tujh se… and Bahaar aayee.
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