KARACHI, Nov 30: Lavish complements were paid to Faiz - the person and the poet -at a meeting held in his honour by Pakistan Academy of Letters on Monday at the City Officers Club. Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui presided over the function.

Among those who submitted papers on Faiz included Prof Saher Ansari, Mahmood Sham, Qamer Yusufzai, Shahnaz Shoro and Ahmad Saghir Siddiqui. Poet Khursheed Ahmar paid complement in his verse.

Dr Siddiqui spoke about the family background of Faiz, the child who had suffered a lot and had developed a natural sympathy for the poor and oppressed people. After Ghalib and Iqbal, it was Faiz some of whose poetic lines became popular like idioms.

He was an in-born poet who employed the phrases and images traditionally used by the classical poets and yet gave them a revolutionary colour and the melody of hope and optimism. Poetry, unless linked with the tradition, cannot be a modern poetry, Dr Siddiqui said.

Prof Saher Ansari recalled the most purposeful years of his life when he joined Faiz in the compilation of the latter's poetry collections, like Sar-i-Vadiay Seena, Meray Dil meray Musafir and his letters to Elys during the poet's detention, titled 'Saleebain meray dareechey mein'. Faiz had utmost love and sympathy for the poor and marginalized people and for those fighting for their independence, he said.

Mahmood Sham, who was chief guest of the evening, recalled Faiz as a humane and most tolerant person who would never lose his temper against any amount of provocation. Mahmood Sham shared the honour of being an old Ravian with Faiz, and said he was all love for the traditions and respect for the values of our life.

Ahmad Saghir Siddiqui paid tributes to the poet Faiz and the person who drew nothing but respect even from his detractors. Qamer Yusufzai remembered the period when Faiz was imprisoned in Hyderabad jail and he (Mr Qamer) managed to meet him as a student and enjoyed his brief movements of patronage. He recalled his sophisticated manners and modest ways. Resident director Agha Noor Mohammad thanked the guests.