News
Saturday, November 19, 2011
100th birth anniversary of Faiz Ahmed Faiz* Centennial celebrations begin at a ceremony at Sindh CM House
* Sindh Culture Department hosts dinner in honour of foreigners
By Asad Farooq
KARACHI: Faiz centennial celebrations were launched at a ceremony at the Sindh Chief Minister House here on Friday to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, a renowned poet.
Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who was the guest of honour at the ceremony, also presented awards and shields to distinguished guests.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the chief minister recalled Faiz’s era and paid tribute to him for his struggle for the sanctity of humanity.
Shah also presented special shields to the heirs of Faiz’s companions of prison and his progressive struggle. Zafarullah was the only alive friend of Faiz who received a shield.
Earlier, Sindh Culture Department had hosted a dinner in the honour of foreign delegations arrived in the metropolis to participate in the centennial celebrations of Faiz at the National Museum’s garden, here on Thursday night.
Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo, while addressing the participants said that Faiz Ahmed Faiz was one of the most famous poets, who spread the message of love, peace and harmony, besides urging people towards a revolution of social justice and equity.
She was of the view that Faiz was born in Punjab, but he was similarly popular in Sindh like Punjab. She said Sindh had arranged a larger number of programmes to pay homage to the legendry poet.
Palijo also shed light on the revolutionary sprit of Faiz’s poetry. She said that Faiz’s poetry is still alive. The minister said that Pakistan People’s Party government was committed to spread the message of Faiz’s poetry.
Talking about the ongoing development in Pakistan and India dialogue, she said that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave a positive response to the initiative, being taken by the country. She concluded her speech on welcoming the foreign participants, particularly those belonging to India.
On the occasion Sindh Culture Secretary Abdul Aziz announced that following the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, Faiz’s poetry and prose would be translated into Sindhi language under the Faiz development scheme. He further announced that a fund with generous amount of Rs 20 million would be established for the welfare of poets and literary figures of the province.
Guests were also fascinated with traditional music, folk songs and poetry of the revolutionary poet.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk