ISLAMABAD, Nov 20: A large number of people, including poets, writers and other literary figures, paid homage to Faiz Ahmed Faiz on his 17th death anniversary observed on Tuesday.

A special session in this regard had been arranged by Majlis-i-Faiz at Sarfraz Iqbal’s residence, the poet’s usual abode during his stay in Islamabad.

Ms Sarfaraz Iqbal, who hosted the great poet on a number of occasions, recalled Faiz’s last visit 17 years ago, when eminent literary figures including Mumtaz Mufti, Shafiqur Rahman, Gulzar Fatima, Col Ziauddin and Arbab Jahangir, gathered at her house.

In her opinion, these personalities hardly visited her house before, but on that day they were drawn there irresistibly, as if they had a premonition that they would be seeing the great poet for the last time. Four days later, Faiz passed away in Lahore, she added. She recalled that like a mystic, Faiz was not given to angry outbursts.

Pakistan Academy of Letters chairman Iftikhar Arif, who presided over the session, maintained that in the post-Iqbalian period, Faiz exercised the most indomitable influence on the minds of young generation.

He said the great poet’s verses were immersed in profound musical quality and lyricism. With his towering personality and a unique quality of treating everyone with respect, Faiz became a legend in his own life-time.

Mr Arif recalled an incident in London University, wherein Faiz invited to dinner two boys, who had been constantly badgering him on his way to car. The poet’s unprecedented mannerism completely mystified the youths, he added.—Joinaid Iqbal