Renowned poet Ahmed Faraz remembered on death anniversary

Islamabad (Web Desk): The 18th death anniversary of Legendary Urdu poet Ahmed Faraz was observed on Tuesday with literary circles and fans paid tribute to his enduring influence on Urdu literature.

Faraz was born on January 12, 1931, with the name Syed Ahmad Shah. In the early stages of his literary career, he wrote using the name Ahmad Shah Kohati.

Later, renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz encouraged him to adopt the pen name Ahmed Faraz, which eventually became one of the most recognisable names in contemporary Urdu poetry.

His fascination with poetry began during his student life. Before even completing his graduation, he had already published his debut poetry collection, Tanha Tanha, setting the stage for a distinguished literary career.

Faraz entered professional life by working as a scriptwriter at Radio Pakistan Peshawar. He subsequently joined Peshawar University, where he served as a lecturer.

Over the course of his career, he transformed the way emotions and ideas were expressed through Urdu poetry. His verses combined straightforward language with powerful feelings, allowing his work to connect deeply with ordinary readers as well as literary audiences.

His notable literary works include Jana Jana, Pas-e-Andaz-e-Mausam, Nayaft, Be Awaaz Gali Kuchon Mein, Sab Awazain Meri Hain, and Ghazal Bahana Karun.

Faraz earned widespread admiration for the elegance of his poetry, with readers particularly drawn to the simplicity of his expression and the emotional intensity behind his words.

For his outstanding services to literature, the Government of Pakistan recognised him with several major honours, including the Adamjee Literary Award, Sitara-e-Imtiaz and Hilal-e-Imtiaz.

Ahmed Faraz passed away on August 25, 2008, and was laid to rest in Islamabad. Years after his passing, his poetry remains deeply popular, continuing to touch readers and inspire new generations of poetry lovers.