Faiz in new light BOOK REVIEW

Marking the 109th birth anniversary of socialist thinker and poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, indefatigable author and poet Suhail Kakorvi has recently released ‘Retelling of Faiz’. Faiz is representative of modern Urdu poetry and rather the founder of it.

Kakorvi’s father, late Moinudin Hasan Kakorvi, an English Lecturer and Urdu critic, was of the opinion that as far as the Ghazal is concerned, Faiz will survive in Urdu poetic realm till the end of the world.

It has become a pleasant practice in Urdu poetry and especially in ghazal, the most popular form of Urdu lyrical poetry that poets attempt to create verse upon verses of another poet, picking one line of verse as a model and then interpolating their own thoughts whilst following rhyme and rhythm in the same meter.

Suhail Kaorvi has selected 73 verses of Faiz, on which he has tried to build upon his own ideas, while maintaining the thought Faiz wanted to convey through his creations. Why only 73? Because it was suggested to him that the number of ghazals should be equal to the number of years Faiz lived.

‘Retelling of Faiz’ reflects the deep study Kakorvi has of the philosophy of the great poet. In his ghazals, Faiz deals with love and romance. His ghazals are musical and have been rendered by so many outstanding singers. Kakorvi uses the diction of Faiz while maintaining the intensity of thought, making his poetry admirable. Add to it his command over English and Hindi and you have each verse in Urdu, English and Hindi for readers to ruminate over.

‘Yaad kyon aaye koi manzile maqsood mujhe

jab nazar mujhko tere naqshe qadam aate hain’

[Why should I conceive the final destination any

While I am seeing thy

footprints before me]

Suhail Kakorvi’s temperament is one inclined towards poetry and he writes with an insight into human nature. Some exemplary couplets are:

‘Wahi sooraj bana aalam ke liye waqt-e-sahar

Wo jo shola mere pahlu se utha aakhir-e-shab’

[That turned into the sun ultimately at the break of morning

The very flame burning that arose from my embrace late at night]

And one on trust over divine protection:

‘Khayaal-e-khatra-e-duniya se benayaaz hun main

Wo mere saath nigehban farishte rakhte hain’

[I am careless and fearless of the dangers of the world

For He has deputed angels around me]

Earlier, Kakorvi had picked up lines from a hundred verses of Ghalib and created ‘Remnants of Ghalib’, making gems of Ghalib shine with new light, which attracted attention of critics and connoisseurs alike.

Published by Pratishthaa Publishing House, the book is now available for Rs 350.

SUHAIL KAORVI HAS SELECTED 73 VERSES OF FAIZ, ON WHICH HE HAS TRIED TO BUILD UPON HIS OWN IDEAS