Faqir Muhammad Faqir [1900-1974], a prominent poet, writer and editor, was one of the important literary figures of the 20th century who spent all his life promoting Panjabi language and literature. His literary career spread over five decades which saw some fundamental transformations in Punjab’s society as it involved the accentuation of colonial structure, struggle for independence and the Partition which resulted in the emergence of Pakistan as a new state. These were monumental changes that affected all especially the writers.

Faqir started composing poetry in his early age. His best known collection of poetry is ‘Mawaate [Wisps of straw]’. Themes in his pre-Partition poetry revolve around rejection of colonial identity, Muslim nationalism and religious resurgence. After the Partition he emerged as a staunch exponent of patriotism and Pakistani nationalism. Stress on upholding the traditional ethical values was another theme that inspired his poetry.

Faqir’s lasting contribution has been the classics texts which he collected and collated in an effort not only to preserve them in their original form but also to introduce them to contemporary readers. The retrieved texts played a significant role in reviving the interest in the classics which provided a firm foundation for new creative writings in the last half of the 20th century in the West Punjab where the alienation from this splendid heritage was painfully acute. The classical texts brought out by him included verses of Baba Farid, Bulleh Shah, Pilu, Hafiz Barkhurdar, Hashim Shah, Khawaja Ghulam Farid, Mian Muhammad Bakhsh and Hidayatallah. It was a great literary feat which helped attract focus on Punjab’s rich creative tradition spanning a millennium.

In view of his services to language and literature, the Punjabi Department, Oriental College, Punjab University, established Dr. Faqir Muhammad Faqir Research Chair in 2013. The Chair has published collection of Faqir’s poetry titled “Sangi [Comrade/ Companion] with introduction and some explanatory notes. The book has been compiled by Junaid Akram, a poet and writer, who apart from holding the Chair also happens to be a grandson of late Faqir. Sangi consisting of over 500 pages makes a thick volume. It’s in fact a long poem in the traditional genre of “Masnavi [tale/ legend] but it contains no single theme as usually is the case with Masnavi.

Multiple themes run through the poem connecting its different fragments through the poet’s vision of moral and social life. The didactic nature of poetry places the poet among traditionalists who employ poetic art more as a social tool than aesthetic exploration.

Faqir like a good classicist has a complete command over the language which in itself can be a source of pleasure for the readers. He freely borrows from various dialects of Punjab and creates his own blend which is rich and rewarding. You will enjoy this poetry if you care for the pleasures the Punjabi language offers in ways manifest and hidden.

“Aa Hun Hijar Mukaa [End the Speration now] is Junaid Akram’s book of poetry published by Bazm-e-Faqir, Lahore. It contains verses he composed in the years from 2011 to 2019. Junaid Akram is poet and writer who like his grandfather Faqir Muhammad Faqir upholds the banner of patriotism and Muslim revivalism which naturally results in his being a staunch conservative. Orthodox poetic worldview rarely allows poet to tread the unbeaten path. But again it’s for the poet to choose what helps develop his/her creative being. It’s obviously rare for a writer with such a background to appropriate the non-conservative modes of expressions. Non-conventional thinking demands non-conventional means for its objectification.

Junaid Akram logically employs traditional genres which are perfectly suitable for the communication of his experience. His verses touch different themes such as nationalism, religious sentiments, social evils, ethical values etc. He uses chaste central dialect which has the potential to communicate across a wider range of readers. His most interesting poem in the book is ‘Bara Mah” which is on the weather patterns in the region, on the twelve months of the year, to be exact. It’s a good poem that juxtaposes the changes in weather against the changing human moods.

“Bara Mah’ is one traditional genre that’s still relevant as it deals with the phenomenon that has become a matter of great urgency with the passage of time due to increased environmental degradation. Junaid Akram has highlighted anew the significance and relevance of the classical genre.

Gulistan-e-Ramuz, a book of selected verses of great classical poet Mian Muhammad, compiled by Chaudhry Muhammad Ismail Chichi, has been published by Rozan Publishers, Gujrat. The verses have been culled from the most celebrated legend “Safarul Ishq” popularly known as “Saiful Maluk” penned by Mian Muhammad who undisputedly is one of the great master craftsmen of Punjabi language. The book in the words of the compiler has been inspired by the following verse of the master: “Nobody has the passion, to begin with, to listen to the verse, who pays heed to it? / Even if they do, they go for the superficial. None will sift the scraps of signs”.

Mian Muhammad said this in the context of 19th century Punjab which was in the talons of colonialism that with its ingress in the linguistic scene triggered the process of alienation between the readers and the writers of indigenous language not seen before. But Ismail Chichi seems to have a completely different understanding of it due to his unconditional devotion for the poet. He instead of choosing verses difficult to grasp for the lay readers for their aesthetic subtleties and skillful craft selects what deals with different social and moral issues. So he ends up compiling a book that reflects thematic diversity of social and moral nature. He misses the new poetic challenges Mian Muhammad faced and hinted at in a completely changed socio- cultural conditions in the society of his times. If you ignore his claim you find that what he has selected reflects socially and morally relevant themes we come across in “Saiful Maluk”. The book offers delights of poetry that introduces us to a creative individual’s angst and collective wisdom simultaneously. — soofi01@hotmail.com

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2019