Aims & Objectives - Punjabics.com

Iftikhar Alam

LAHORE - The Faiz International Festival featured an important discussion on Punjabi poetry
of resistance on Sunday, the concluding day of the three-day event.

Punjab Institute of Language and Culture director Dr Sughra Sadaf was the moderator while
panelists included prominent Punjabi poets Munnu Bhai, Anjum Azam Qureshi and Mushtaq
Sufi. Actor and filmmaker Usman Peerzada also shared his thoughts during the discussion
which held in the gallery of Al-Hamra.

The venue not only remained packed with audience during one hour session, it also took an
extra 15 minutes due to increasing interest of the gathering in listening revolutionary verses
of Punjabi from the speakers.

Dr Sughra opened the discussion with her views on literary importance of “maan boli” (mother
tongue). She talked about the importance of Punjabi language for spreading message of love
and peace in the country. Giving reference from Punjabi poetry of legendary poet Faiz Ahmed
Faiz, she highlighted the need for abolishing class system, poverty and hunger in the society.

“Faiz promulgates his message of revolution by using romantic language: Aand gawand deway
balday, Raba sada chanan ghal day, jug wasda aay main v wasaan, kidhray na paindyan
teryan dasaan.”

Peerzada pointed out that Pakistan could get rid of extremist thoughts if masses read and
follow the message of great Sufi saints of Punjab Baba Bhulay Shah, Shah Hussain and others.

Anjum recited her Punjabi verses which was the translation of one of Faiz’s Urdu poems. The
poem put a spellbinding impact on the gathering. “Resistance has always been a part of
Punjabi poetry, during its classical era as well as modern times,” she held.

Mushtaq Sufi highlighted the need for implementing liberal ideas of great Punjabi poets of the
region. He said Sufi saints of Punjabi gave great importance to woman in their poetry and
talked about gender equality. He was of the view that religion should strictly be dealt as
personal belief and it incurred a solution to the country’s problems.

“Resistance poetry is not just about politics and rebellion but it focused on the mind and inner
self of man. Fighting against prevailing thoughts of human inequality is itself a resistance. All
Punjabi poets like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Munir Niazi, Shev Kumar Batalvi are the flag bearers of
Punjabi poetry of resistance of our time.”

Munno Bhai spoke against the religious intolerance in the society which he said came in
Pakistan after General Zia’s era. Citing examples from the poetry of Faiz, Ustad Daman and
others, he paid tribute to the legends who resisted against the oppression of former dictator
through their poetry. Reciting his verse “Haq di khatir larna painda-aay, Jevan day lae marna
painday-aay, he emphasised the need for continue struggle at both collective and individual
level to remove the walls of tyranny and poverty.

Meanwhile, another sitting was held to pay homage to great artist and National College of Arts
former principal Shakir Ali. Samina Iqbal hosted the event while the speakers included known
writer Kishwar Naheed, prominent architect Nayyar Ali Dada, known progressive write Sibt-e-
Hassan’s daughter Naushaba Zuberi and Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s daughter Salima Hashmi.

The panelists paid glowing tribute to the services of late Shakir for development of art and
culture in Sub-Continent. They shared their memories of encounter with Shakir, highlighting
his personality as a teacher, friend and administrator. They said Shakir Ali was the first artist
in Indo-Pak who well studied western and eastern art, travelled a lot and then promulgate
his message in his work.

Source:The Nation, November 21, 2016

Haq di khatir larna painda aye