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Ahmed Faraz
Ahmad Faraz, in Toronto 2005
Ahmad Faraz, in Toronto 2005
Native name
احمد فراز
Born Syed Ahmad Shah Ali
(1931-01-12)12 January 1931
Kohat, NWFP, British India (now Pakistan)
Died 25 August 2008(2008-08-25) (aged 77)
Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan
Pen name Faraz Urdu: فراز
Occupation Urdu Poet, Lecturer
Nationality Pakistani
Citizenship Pakistani
Education Urdu literature
M.A
Persian literature
M.A
Alma mater Edwardes College, University of Peshawar
Period 1950–2008
Genre Urdu Ghazal
Subject Romance, Politics, Resistance
Literary movement Democratic Movement
Notable awards Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award
Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) Award
Hilal-e-Pakistan (Crescent of Pakistan) Award
Nigar Awards
Children Saadi, Shibli Faraz and Sarmad Faraz

Syed Ahmad Shah (Urdu: سید احمد شاہ), known to many as Ahmed Faraz, was a famous Pakistani Urdu poet. He was born on January 12, 1931, and passed away on August 25, 2008. Faraz was also a scriptwriter and helped start the Pakistan Academy of Letters. He wrote his poems using the pen name Faraz. He was known for speaking out against unfair government rules in his country.

Early Life and Education

Ahmed Faraz was born as Syed Ahmad Shah in Kohat, which is now part of Pakistan. His father was Syed Muhammad Shah Bark. His brother, Masood Kausar, later became a governor. Faraz's family moved to Peshawar when he was young.

He went to Edwardes College in Peshawar. Later, he earned his Master's degrees in Urdu and Persian from Peshawar University. During his college days, two well-known poets, Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Ali Sardar Jafri, greatly inspired him. They became his role models.

His Amazing Poetry

Ahmed Faraz wrote many popular poems. His works include Pas Andaaz, Sab Awazain Meri, Khuwab Gul, Janan Janan, and Ghazal Bahana Karoon.

His poetry became very famous, especially his ghazals. Many well-known singers, like Mehdi Hassan, Noor Jehan, Ghulam Ali, Pankaj Udhas, Jagjit Singh, and Runa Laila, sang his poems. They performed his ghazals in movies and live concerts, making them popular with many people.

Faraz also worked as the Chairman of the National Book Foundation in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Standing Up for What's Right

Ahmed Faraz was brave and often wrote poems that criticized military leaders in Pakistan. Because of his writings, he was arrested during the time of General Zia-ul-Haq. After this, he decided to live outside Pakistan for a few years. He spent three years in places like Britain, Canada, and Europe.

When he returned to Pakistan, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters. Later, he also served as the chairperson of the National Book Foundation for several years.

Awards and Recognition

Ahmed Faraz received several important awards from the Government of Pakistan. First, he was given the Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence). Later, in 2004, he received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) from the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf.

However, two years later, in 2006, Faraz returned this award. He did this to show his disagreement with the government's actions at that time. After his death, on August 25, 2008, the Government of Pakistan honored him again. They gave him the Hilal-e-Pakistan (Crescent of Pakistan) award after he passed away. This was to recognize his great contributions to poetry and Urdu literature.

His Lasting Legacy

Ahmed Faraz passed away on August 25, 2008, in a hospital in Islamabad due to kidney failure. His son, Shibli Faraz, confirmed his death. His funeral was attended by many fans and government officials.

Faraz is remembered as one of the most important and inspiring Urdu poets of the last century. He was very skilled with words and could express deep meanings in just a few lines. His poetry continues to touch the hearts of many people.

See Also

  • List of Urdu-language writers

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