Tariq Ali Gets 2008 Faiz Ahmed Faiz Award
Pictures above : Glimpses of the award ceremony. In the first picture Dr Agha Saeed addresses the gathering. Mr Tariq Ali is seen standing on the left |
Newark, CA: The Pakistan American Democratic Forum (PADF) gave its four internationally recognized awards to Tariq Ali, Peter Camejo, Syed Sarwat and Raana Faiz.
Founded as a grassroots organization in 1982 to support Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD), the PADF, among other things, strives to reinforce Pakistan’s abiding values, ideals and principles.
To that end it gives out awards to highlight the historic missions, messages and legacies of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Maulana Zafar Ali Khan, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and Habib Jalib.
Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1911–1984), a great South Asian poet of freedom and emancipation, has come to signify the spiritual strength acquired by the colonized, oppressed and exploited peoples through their long draw out struggles. His vision can be summed up in William Faulkner’s words: “Man will not merely endure; he will prevail.” That is to say, prevail against all forms of tyranny, oppression, and degradation.
This year’s Faiz Ahmed Faiz Award was given to Tariq Ali. A British citizen of Pakistani origin, Tariq Ali is a public intellectual with noteworthy achievements as historian, novelist, journalist, filmmaker, lecturer, activist and political commentator.
His recent books include The Duel: Pakistan on the Flight Path of American Power (2008), Pirates of the Caribbean: Axis of Hope (2006), Conversations with Edward Said (2005), Bush in Babylon (2003), and Clash of Fundamentalisms: Crusades, Jihads and Modernity (2002).
Noted Pakistani political thinker Abid Minto had received the Faiz Ahmed Faiz in 2005.
The plaque given to Tariq Ali reads: Presented in Appreciation To Tariq Ali: A World Class Public Intellectual “For dedicating his entire adult life to worldwide movements against imperialism, neocolonialism, militarism, feudalism, tribalism, and all types of fundamentalisms; for his distinguished role in fighting against hegemonic ideologies in art, culture, literature, politics, and philosophy; and for his dedication, integrity, courage and intellectual excellence in furthering human rights, women’s rights, minority rights and rights of the working classes.”
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Peace Award
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1890 – 1988) was a 20th century freedom fighter who preached and practiced nonviolence, public service, social reform, mass education, pluralism, and principled resistance to British imperialism. Khan, who spent 33 years, exactly one-third of his life, in British and Pakistani prisons, called for peaceful and friendly relations with Pakistan’s neighbors including India. He was great champion of amity among Hindus and Muslims.
The first full-length documentary about the life and philosophy of Abdul Ghaffar Khan's exceptional life will be premiered in New York on Nov 8. The documentary, titled "The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, a Torch for Peace," is the work of filmmaker and writer T.C. McLuhan, who spent 21years to bring the story to the screen.
“McLuhan says” reports the LA Times, “her long commitment to her project grew from her feeling about Khan's "uncommon greatness. And that was accompanied by, certainly, uncommon courage."
The Second ‘Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Peace award’ was posthumously given to Green Party leader Peter Miguel Camejo who died a few weeks ago. The award was accepted by the Green Party National Co-Chair Jo Chamberlain on Camejo family’s behalf.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
