Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1911-1984) is one of Pakistan’s most revered poets. He was listed four times for the Nobel Prize. Faiz’s multifaceted personality led him to become, amongst other things, an activist for human rights, a journalist, editor of the magazine of the Afro-Asian Writer’s Association, a trade unionist, a filmmaker, and a promoter of cultural institutions. It is, however, his poetry which will best survive the test of time.

 

Apart from inventing the modern Urdu love poem, Faiz revolutionized the classical form of Urdu poetry, the Ghazal, giving it a powerful socio-political resonance. He used ancient forms of poetry, such as the Qawwali and the Geet, to convey his message of humanism without reference to caste, colour or creed.