Let's celebrate legacy of hope and peace
Pakistan
Faiz Ghar - a symbol of hope and peace
By Salman Khan
LAHORE - Feb 13 is an unforgettable day for the literary and avant-garde circles of the country. This year, it marks the 113th birth anniversary of country’s first-generation literary giant – the inimitable Faiz Ahmad Faiz.
Faiz Sahib, as he was and is affectionately called, is someone who doesn’t need stock phrases and cliched superlatives for any tribute. He was above such accolades.
As his fond memories continue to inspire a legion of his admirers, we - at Dunya News - take it as an opportunity to share with the readers a page from history as a gesture of respect for him.
So let’s have a glimpse of Faiz Ghar – an initiative of the Faiz Foundation Trust – which has been built to carry on the legacy of hope and resilience the icon stood for.
Harking back
“It’s lovely the way history has been so lovingly captured here. Makes it difficult for the younger generation to forget our nation’s heroes,” so goes one of the impressions recorded in the visitors’ book at Faiz Ghar, Lahore.
Some people have described the visit as a “spiritual journey” while others have paid homage to the literary icon by putting down his couplets.
It is for such a legion of admirers and people from various callings the house (126-F, Model Town) has been converted into a centre of literary and cultural pursuits. It promises to become a ‘landmark’ in the days to come.
Also Read: Iconic poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz being remembered on 113th birth anniversary
At a time when the city’s literary and academic horizon seems to have worn a murky look, this place offers a silver lining to the connoisseurs of arts and literature.
Memorabilia
With a simple exterior which seems to retain the original touch but pride of intellectual glow, Faiz Ghar plays host to scholars, researchers, academics, students and above all, his devotees who can have a glimpse of his memorabilia, including his personal effects, original manuscripts, certificates, medals and photographs.
An array of displayed items greets one in the entrance room which offers a unique learning experience.
Among the cameos and archives preserved in glass showcases are the original manuscripts of Faiz’s ‘Nikahnama’ in Persian and its English translation, hand-written wedding cards of his daughters, drafts on the letterhead of The Pakistan Times, postcards to children and grandchildren, and Sadequain’s hand-written invite (to an exhibition) on Faiz’s 60th birthday.
A specimen of Faiz’s visiting card and identity card also attract the curious eye.
Picture gallery
The picture gallery showing many facets and seasons of Faiz’s life presents a perfect mosaic of memories. One can find a large collection of portraits, mounted and framed, in which Faiz enjoys the blissful company of his family and friends and appears in official assignments and on special occasions.
Portraits of Faiz and Alys together with their children and grandchildren capture the happy memories and are an asset to his posterity.
Read More: Faiz lovers bask in his fond memories at annual festival
One of these shows Faiz being interviewed by the BBC Urdu Service in London on Dec 31, 1968; others include Faiz’s group photo with Pakistani journalists at the ILO Conference in San Francisco (1949), Faiz in army uniform (Delhi, 1942), a BBC Mushaira in London (1980) and the editorial team of The Pakistan Times in Lahore (1947).
Library
A collection of books on and by Faiz and rare publications and magazines adorns the shelves in the library which is also equipped with a scanner and digital accessories to facilitate a visitor’s journey into the realm of knowledge.
The small but beautiful library is fast gaining pride of a place. A hall downstairs serves as a stage for regular sittings, classes and documentaries, as does the lawn outside.
The upper portion of the building houses the library which holds special appeal to readers. Books from Faiz’s own collection on a variety of subjects reflect the range of his interest in literature, history, religion, arts and science, music and sports.
Besides works of Lenin and a collection on Marxism, An Introduction to the Study of Literature by Hudson, Sartre’s The War Diaries, Seven Pillars of Wisdom – a triumph, (T.E. Lawrence, 1946), the work of Muhammad Iqbal - a collection of articles by Soviet scholars (edited by Abdur Rauf Malik), Jawahar Lal Nehru speeches, 1957-1963, The Awakening of Asia by H.M. Hyndman and The Eye of Picasso by Roland Penrose (a publication of Fontana Unesco Art Books) bear testimony to the diversity endearing to Faiz and his love for the written word.
Standing out for its sublime language and theme is the prized possession -- John Arlott’s The Ashes (Pelham Books).
The one-line dedication “For Robert – an alibi for my summer absences” speaks volumes for the writer’s power of expression.
The language section also preserves A Manual of Style which contains typographical and other rules for authors, printers and publishers and is recommended by The University of Chicago Press.
A Black Rainbow Over My Homeland, edited by Kalyana Sahni, is a tribute to Faiz’s literary genius as it commemorates him along with two other literati – Alex la Guma (South African novelist) and Mouin Besseiso (Palestinian poet).
A reminder of Faiz’s stay in Beirut, original copies of Lotus magazine (Afro-Asian Writers’ Association) in the library are a source of inspiration, as are the volumes of the weekly Viewpoint, a journalistic endeavour of the late Mazhar Ali Khan.
Background
A project of the Faiz Foundation Trust, a non-profit organisation which aims to promote the poet’s work and message, progressive vision and humanistic ideas, Faiz Ghar was launched on March 1, 2009.
It promises to be the latest haunt of Lahore’s culture buffs and visitors to the city alike.
