Urdu poets denominated as ‘progressive poets’ are generally loud and declaratory. Faiz ahmad faiz on the other hand was mellow and soft spoken inspite of being avowedly Leftist and ‘progressive’. He belonged to the great tradition of urdu poetry as represented by mir, ghalib and iqbal. He had the distinction of employing all the artifices of classical lyrical urdu poetry and yet developing into a modern urdu poet of vast allusive charm with an aura of ideological commitment around him. He enjoyed phenomenal popularity both at home and abroad. He travelled around the world quite often. At home (in pakistan) he passed through phases of patronage, political and bureaucratic indictment, even spells of incarceration on statedly trumped up charges.
May-June 1989, volume 13, No 3