ASAD - 53

Originally posted on rec.music.indian.misc in 1995

Art cannot be restricted to the confines of any man-made boundry. That's why Hindi movies and songs are popular in Pakistan. Similarly singers like GHulam Ali and Mehadi Hasan are liked in India. There are many, including me, who like Pakistani TV dramas. My favourite is Dhoop-Kinaarey. If you haven't seen it then you have missed something in life. During this TV serial, a haunting song is often played at the background, and goes like ...

seharaa = desert
baade-naseem = gentle breeze

raat yuN dil me, teri khoyi hui yaad aayi
jaise veeraane me, chupake se bahaar aa jaaye
jaise seharaaoN me, haule se chale baade-naseem
jaise beemaar ko, be-vajah qaraar aa jaaye

Such simple, delicate and beautiful Shayari is a typical Faiz creation !

He is a Shayar of this era. But still he maintains the foundation of his Shayari on the old traditions. Name of his first book is taken from the first words of "Deewaan-e-GHalib" - "Naqsh-e-faryaadi". This shows his respect for GHalib, but his style is quite different. Initially his Shayari was mainly "ishqiana shayari", but then the sociologist in him took over. He is given the credit of being among the pioneers of the style of Shayari, which goes beyond "husn-o-ishq" and talks about the problems of day-to-day life. And because of all these, Faiz is so much respected on both sides of the border.

It's because of his style, his sociologist ideals and his popularity in Pakistan ; that I said he is Pakistan's answer to our Sahir. Tomorrow I will post something about his life.

Since "yaad" is the topic of the lines given above, let me present two of his Shers on the same topic. Both are simple and magnificient !

kar rahaa tha gham-e-jahaaN ka hisaab
aaj tum yaad, behissab aaye

And

tumhari yaad ke jab zaKHm bharane lagate haiN
kisi bahaane tumhe yaad karane lagate haiN

- Abhay.
ASAD _also_ stands for "A Sher A Day" !