91st birth anniversary of poet Ahmad Faraz celebrated

Late legendary poet Ahmad Faraz’s 91st birth anniversary was observed on Thursday.

Syed Ahmad Shah better known by his pen name Ahmad Faraz was born on 12 January, 1931 in Kohat. Faraz had earlier moved to Peshawar from Kohat District with his family. He studied at Edwardes College, Peshawar and received his Master's degree in Urdu and Persian from Peshawar University.

He was greatly influenced by the work progressive poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz during his college life. Although he was often compared with his then contemporary Faiz Ahmad Faiz but he always regarded Fiaz as his role model. 

He is considered as one of the best poets of current times, with a fine but simple style of writing that was easily understood by common people. 

Faraz’s poetry revolved around romantic themes but he also used poetry as an instrument for political resistance. He raised his voice against the military dictatorship of Zia-ul-Haq and was arrested for it.

He went into a self-imposed exile following that arrest and stayed in Britain, Canada, and Europe for six years. He returned to Pakistan and was initially appointed as Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters and later chairperson of the Islamabad-based National Book Foundation for several years. 

Ahmad Faraz died of kidney failure in a private hospital in Islamabad on 25 August 2008. His funeral was held on the evening of 26 August, among many admirers and government officials at H-8 Graveyard, Islamabad, Pakistan. 

Faraz is credited for writing Pas Andaaz, Sab Awazain Meri, Khuwab Gul, Janan Janan, and Ghazal Bahana Karoon.