Latest news with #FaizAhmedFaiz
The Wire
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Singing Faiz's ‘Hum Dekhenge' is ‘Sedition': Nagpur Police Book Organisers of Vira Sathidar Memorial
A group of young cultural activists sang the lyrics of Faiz's famous poem last week. The police complaint says, 'At a time when the country valiantly fought Pakistani forces, the radical left in Nagpur were busy singing Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poem.'
The Print
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
IMF loan shows Pakistan has a slogan—beg, borrow, steal, don't give up on supporting terrorism
The Pakistani poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz recorded this bloody chapter in the subcontinent's history through his famous poem, Subh-e-Azaadi , or the Dawn of Independence. The nation of Pakistan was born of a bloody divide, tainted with the supreme sacrifice of millions. An ethnic cleansing of Hindus gave birth to the two-nation theory—when Punjabis from West Pakistan and Bengalis from East Pakistan were divided in the name of religion. A nation birthed with the blood of millions of Indians, is not likely to find any peace. There are two defining images of the India-Pakistan conflict. On our side of the border is the photo of a newly-wed woman sitting next to her husband's lifeless body in Pahalgam. And on the other side of the border is the image from the funeral of terrorists, with Pakistani army top brass attending in uniform and a casket draped in the country's flag. It clearly shows what each country is fighting for. The subsequent $1 billion IMF loan to Pakistan makes it clear the country is committed to its slogan—beg borrow steal; but do not give up supporting terrorism. 'This is not that Dawn for which, ravished with freedom, we had set out in sheer longing, so sure that somewhere in its desert the sky harbored a final haven for the stars, and we would find it.' How easily we forget that Osama Bin Laden was harboured not by his native Saudi Arabia, but was given a safe haven in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. He was eventually flushed out by Navy Seals from here. Also read: Ceasefire was Pakistan's chance to retry winning. India saw through it A stark contrast in development In Budget 2024-25, Rs 42,277 crore was allocated for various development projects in Kashmir, including 130 crore for 624 MW Kiru Hydroelectric Project, Rs 476.44 crore for the 800 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project. In June 2024, PM Modi initiated projects worth Rs 3,300 crores in J&K to transform the hitherto backward state. In 2020, IIM opened a campus in Srinagar. This April, there was a palpable air of hope, economic well being and development. The state was looking forward to an unprecedented boom in the tourist numbers, when this Hindu genocide put an end to the upcoming tourist season. Pakistan could not face the fact that Kashmir was prospering. It is in stark and sad contrast to the dismal and disastrous state of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, which has remained nothing more than a training ground for Pakistan's mainstay industry of terrorism. PM Modi has huge infrastructural plans for Kashmir, including all-weather roads, tunnels, and the much awaited rail connectivity. What plans does Shehbaz Sharif have for the development of PoK? Also read: India is not just reacting to terrorism. It is redefining the global response to it Where are the audits? The IMF has disbursed $2 billion within Pakistan's $7 billion program. It will once again be used to sponsor terrorism across the border as has been done in the past. But snakes in a backyard cannot remain hidden as can be seen in the case of Osama Bin Laden, who was the face of the Twin Towers attack, and the American journalist Daniel Pearl whose ruthless murder was also avenged by India's Operation Sindoor strikes. Bilawal Bhutto, Pakistani political royalty of sorts, has acknowledged that 'Pakistan has a past as far as extremist groups are concerned'. Even Pakistani Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif conceded that the country has 'harboured links to terrorist groups in the past'. IMF must introspect on what basis a nation known for its defaults and terrorist networks is being given loans? Islamabad has partaken of the IMF's generosity over 25 times since 1950. And as of 31 March 2025, Pakistan owes the IMF $6.2 billion. These figures are publicly available on the IMF website. The World Bank has separately provided $48 billion to Pakistan. We haven't yet counted the loans given by China. Multilateral agencies such as the IMF and the World Bank have robust lending policies in place to ensure that the aid is used for developmental activities such as climate research, sustainable development, poverty eradication, export promotion and have a definitive methodology for seeking compliance of its policy initiatives. But Pakistan has committed 'economic suicide' by focusing on its main export, terrorism, rather than building its economy through various measures as has been done by India. The Indian Rupee and Pakistani Rupee started off on par in 1947, but the PKR has seen a steady and strong decline and stood at 1 INR=3.23 PKR before the two countries went to war this week. Pakistan has been standing on the precipice of a disastrous bankruptcy, with its external foreign debt at a staggering $130 billion. It's surviving on dole from China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar along with the IMF and World Bank. The Pakistani economy was expected to 'recover' with an expected growth rate of 2.7 per cent (India's projected rate is 6.7 per cent). The IMF needs to take a hard close look to understand where this dole is being utilised. Do they really want to taint their hands with the blood of innocents like Vinay Narwal? Also read: Did India achieve deterrence? Depends on whether Pakistan was psychologically bruised Why did IMF approve the loan? India abstained from the vote at IMF meet. India believes that rewarding continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism sends a dangerous message to the global community, exposes funding agencies and donors to reputational risks, and makes a mockery of global values. Fungible inflows from international financial institutions, like IMF, could be misused for military and state sponsored cross border terrorist purposes. It would have been appropriate to conduct audits and delay the funding as the timing of the disbursement is very inopportune. At the very least, the sanctioning of the loan could have been used as a 'carrot' to persuade Pakistan to abstain from sponsoring terrorism. This state sponsored terrorism had led to the suspension of military aid to Pakistan during Trump's first stint. It was on the grounds that Pakistan was providing a safe haven to the Afghani Taliban and the 'vicious' Haqqani group which had been targeting the American forces in Afghanistan. One is left wondering about the lack of will of the governing board of the IMF to condemn Pakistan or give it a rap on its knuckles. The IMF suggests the promotion of tourism is an economic opportunity to make a country self-sufficient. It would be pertinent to note that the IMF has itself strangled the nascent Rs 12,000 crore industry in Kashmir which contributes 7-8 per cent of the region's GDP, in a swift debilitating move to grant Pakistan aid. We hope and pray that wisdom prevails and truth is learned. Meenakshi Lekhi is a BJP leader, lawyer and social activist. Her X handle is @M_Lekhi. Views are personal. (Edited by Theres Sudeep)
Scroll.in
21-04-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
When home becomes history: The house on Faiz Road
In Delhi's busy Karol Bagh area, there is a two-lane street called Faiz Road, divided by a metal fence. Strangely, however, it's not very long, about one kilometre or under a mile. The neighbourhood is difficult to classify as either a commercial or residential area – it's best described as a mix. There are scattered shops with flats above them, a few traditional mohallah-type houses – closely packed homes with shared walls, inner courtyards, and balconies overlooking narrow lanes – alongside apartments, some small hotels, and a lot of traffic. It's an old part of town, not in the best condition. Old Delhiites know it well and everyone seems to have some idea about it – but what exactly is it famous for? It appears to be just a short stretch of road, mainly a connecting route. Passers-by likely don't even glance at the street sign; they use it simply to get from one place to another or perhaps to visit a few shops along the way. However, some who do notice the street sign might wonder why it's called Faiz Road. They might assume it was named after the famous Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. It certainly seems like a tribute to him. However, Faiz Ahmed Faiz became well known in the 1940s and likely published his first works around 1946, whereas this road's name has existed since the early days of Karol Bagh, a pre-Partition area. Ancestral ties For me, a Pakistani, this road in Delhi holds special significance, because my father lived here, growing up in a house on this road before Partition, when Karol Bagh was a predominantly Muslim area. In fact, most of the houses here once belonged to his extended family. Even the masjid on the road, I believe, was built by my father's Bare Abba – Agha Abdul Aziz, his father's elder brother. Growing up, we heard many stories about Faiz Road from older family members. We were told that there is a road in Delhi named after my great-grandfather, Muhammad Faiz Bakhsh. The story goes that his eldest son, Agha Abdul Aziz – then the Kotwal (chief officer) of Delhi, likely around the 1920s – named an obscure road near Kala Pahar 'Faiz Road' to honour his father, Muhammad Faiz Bakhsh from Chauntra in Himachal Pradesh in northern India. My grandfather, Muhammad Amin, later built a house on this road in the early 1930s. He named it Faiz Manzil (house), again in memory of his father. It was a beautiful, sprawling bungalow where the family lived for many years. By some miracle, it still stands today – perhaps as a silent memory of Faiz Bakhsh's family, who once inhabited the area. The family migrated from Delhi in September 1947 to Lahore, Pakistan, amidst the Partition riots. By then, my great-grandfather had passed away. That ill-fated night, as an angry crowd gathered outside, my grandfather, Muhammad Amin, realised it was no longer safe to be here. He decided it was best for the family to take refuge in a safer part of town and reassess the situation the next day. Sadly, they never returned home after that night. They left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, heading to a new country they had never seen before – a land they knew nothing about. By then, because of the mass killings in Punjab, the trains had stopped operating. My grandfather, being a government servant, was able to arrange for a small plane to evacuate the women and children. They flew from Palam Airport in Delhi to Karachi. My grandfather stayed behind, and for over a month, the family had no idea where he was or whether he was even alive. Luckily, he made it to Rawalpindi by the end of October, leaving the house on Faiz Road behind forever. Home again We grew up hearing stories about Faiz Road. Any family member who had the chance to visit India made a trip to the house. My father's younger brother, a career diplomat, was posted to New Delhi in 1976, after diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan were restored following the 1971 war. This allowed my grandmother and my three aunts to visit India and see their beloved Faiz Manzil once again. By then, the house had been divided and given to three or four refugee families from Punjab. These families welcomed them warmly. My uncle, my father's youngest sibling, also had the opportunity to visit in the 1990s. One of my cousins visited the house in 2004; by then, it was being used as a packing factory for bedcovers. It still had the name 'Faiz Manzil' written on the front parapet in Urdu. The manager introduced her to the workers as 'one of the owners'. Not all family members got a chance to visit, but for those who did, it was almost like a pilgrimage – returning to their roots, seeking some form of closure. When I first visited India with my daughter in 2006, visiting Faiz Road was at the top of my itinerary. Back then, we didn't have smartphones or GPS, just physical maps. My father drew a detailed map to help me find the house. I remember the names he wrote – Rohtak Road, Hakim Ajmal Khan Road, Tibbia College, Eidgah. These names were completely unfamiliar to me but deeply meaningful to him. It was fascinating how he remembered the details so clearly. Using his map, we were able to guide the driver and reach the house directly. Although the house was locked, it was still an emotional moment. It was heartbreaking that my father wasn't there to see it himself, but I felt like I was seeing it through his eyes – his house, his Bare Abba's house, the masjid on the road. The following year, I returned with my mother, my phuppo (father's sister), and my sister. My phuppo remembered the area well, having visited India a couple of times before. Roaming the streets where my ancestors once lived was a surreal experience, though Faiz Manzil remained locked. Years later, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, my mother visited Delhi. That day, however, the traffic was so bad that we couldn't even stop. Memories In 2017, by some twist of fate, I moved to Delhi. One day, feeling a bit lost and lonely, I decided to go for a drive. On a whim, I spontaneously told the driver to take me to Faiz Road. It was a rainy afternoon, and traffic was unusually light. As we approached the house, I noticed a security guard sitting outside – and for the first time since my initial visit in 2006, the door was open. I asked the driver to park, got out of the car, and, on impulse, walked toward the house. I asked the guard if I could take a look inside, but before he could respond, I walked in. In hindsight, it probably wasn't the safest thing to do, but at that moment, I didn't care. Faiz Manzil was abandoned, in a state of disrepair – just the physical remains of what was once a vibrant home. It was surreal. I kept thinking: My father lived here, 90 years ago, and today, I am walking through the same house, yet no one here even knows who he was. As if he, my grandparents, and their entire life in this house had been erased – lost in time. Wandering through the empty rooms, I imagined the lives once lived there. As I stood there, I felt the weight of their absence and a deep longing. I realised that time had moved on, but memories still lingered in its walls. Though the people had gone, their stories remained. Faiz Manzil may no longer belong to my family, but it holds a strangely special place in our hearts. Reema Amin is a Pakistani educator and steadfast advocate for peace in Southasia who supports the Southasia Peace Action Network. She has also been actively involved with the Aman ki Asha Initiative, which fosters cross-border dialogue and deepens mutual understanding between India and Pakistan. An avid reader and passionate student of history, she lives in Delhi with her Indian husband.
Express Tribune
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Over 20 sessions cover diverse issues at Faiz Festival
LAHORE: The three-day Faiz Festival concluded at Alhamra Arts Council on Sunday after drawing a large number of literary enthusiasts, intellectuals and art lovers. The festival dedicated to the legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz featured a series of academic, literary and cultural sessions. More than 20 sessions were organised on the final day, covering a diverse range of topics related to literature, politics, society, film, history, culture and media influence. Panel discussions focused on figures like writer Saadat Hasan Manto, as well as issues such as Palestine, secularism, women's rights, the environment, heritage, tourism and the evolving relationship between social media and politics. The craft of film writing was also explored.
Express Tribune
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Faiz Festival's 2nd day brims with art, literature
LAHORE: The second day of the 9th Faiz Festival transformed the Alhamra Arts Centre into a vibrant celebration of art, literature, and music, drawing an enthusiastic crowd. The day commenced with a dance performance by students of Lahore Grammar School. Literature enthusiasts engaged in a compelling discussion on Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poetry, featuring personalities Zehra Nigah and Iftikhar Arif. Meanwhile, a session on "Women in Media" brought forth powerful narratives from Samina Peerzada, Bee Gul, and Uzma Hassan. Adding to the literary richness, book launches such as "You Can't Please All: Memoirs 1980-2024" and "Forgotten ImagesColonial Era Postcards" provided deep insights into history and personal experiences. Satire took centre stage with renowned author M Hanif, who captivated audiences with his humor-laced commentary.
