WITH reference to the lead story The genial genius (November 21), the article is an attempt to inquire into the circumstances that made Faiz a ‘tolerant’ human being, a ‘forgiving person’ with ‘generosity towards all’. I am not an admirer of Faiz, rather a lover of Faiz’s poetry.
It appears we have made Faiz a sacred cow. Faiz is the greatest Urdu poet after Iqbal. He belongs to the elite of subcontinent. He was a sympathizer of communism and, to some extent, of Punjabi nationalism. In view of the features of his personality, the Karachi school of Urdu literature is reluctant to discuss the less favourable aspects of his life. The other school of Pakistani Urdu literature (viz. Lahore), is also divided into the ‘left’ and ‘right’. For the leftists, Faiz is a guru or a mahaguru. Only the Punjabi right can write something adverse.
Ataul Haq Qasim in his literary magazine Muasir published an article on Faiz by Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi. Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi narrates some instances which cast a shadow of doubt about the traits of Faiz that have been listed in the Dawn Magazine article. Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi has mentioned that Faiz did not forgive Nadeem for his negative comments on a few aspects of Iqbal as well as Manto’s remarks about a poem recited by Nadeem during the All India Mushaira. He also writes that Faiz had a long lasting grudge against Zaheer Kashmiri for some altercation between the two during their stay at Amritsar’s M.A.O College. He has also mentioned the contempt for the Kammis, the down trodden artisans of Punjab village. Faiz dismissed one of his critics by saying that Faiz does not want to debate with the son of a village black smith.
The Nadeem article created quite a stir in 2001; but no one rebutted what was written therein. As a matter of fact many writers, some of them admirers of Faiz poetry, praised the article for being a balanced article. ALVI A. RAHIM
Islamabad
Women’s woes
WITH reference to the article Women’s woes (November 7), though I agree with the writer for rightly depicting the plight of Pakistani women, I disagree with her when she says that awareness of their own rights can do the women good. By reading Ibsen, Wolf or Simone de Beauvoir women may find some breathing space in this otherwise claustrophobic society. And as far as their environment is concerned, it remains as hostile and unchanged as ever. Very few in this society seem to understand a woman’s point of view. Both these points combined, this awareness eventually adds to the muted sufferings and untold miseries in their lives. SADIA RIAZ
Lahore
An open letter to Bush
WITH reference to the article An open letter to Bush (November 7), like many people in the city, I also own a small car and I am pulled over by law enforcing agencies quite often while travelling the stretch of road that straddles the US Consulate. During these routine checks, I have never seen any luxury car, for instance a Mercedes or a BMW being pulled over for security concerns.
Therefore, like the writer, I also humbly request the president to shift his consulate to a relatively safer or less populated area. REHAN AHMED
Karachi
What a mess!
WITH reference to the article What a mess! (November 21), I fully agree that the condition of medical education and health sector needs serious attention. The government needs to realize and fulfil its responsibilities and improve the condition of medical education and healthcare in the country. Recruitment of medical graduates also needs urgent improvement so that a medical graduate can pursue a better career in his own country instead of thinking about migrating to western countries.
Instead of building new and huge campuses, college professors should improve the standard of education imparting patient centred quality education. DR SARWAT FATIMA
Karachi
