FAIZ IN YORKSHIRE
Faiz Ahmed Faiz 1911 – 1984
Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s centenary is being marked by some of the largest ever events held to honour a poet, hosted by the Presidents of Pakistan and India. Bangladesh and Nepal are also organising a series of events to commemorate his centenary. Even in death, Faiz’s extraordinary ability to bring together nations, often entangled in bitter disagreements, persists. His continuing importance, to the 21st century, as a major literary voice whose words continue to have the power to move peoples’ hearts and minds the world over cannot be overstated. Yorkshire is fortunate to be the only region hosting a three-day programme involving Faiz’s daughter, the gifted artist, Salima Hashmi. In three very different presentations Salima focuses on three distinct strands of Faiz’s writing – freedom, peace and conflict and Faiz’s use of traditional poetic Urdu imagery as a call to action. She will be supported at each event with live music provided by saxophonist David Wilson and tabla player Inder “Goldfinger” Matharu.
FAIZ in Yorkshire
Salima Hashmi (born 1942) Zones of Dreams (detail), 1996, Tea wash, gold leaf, acrylic and collage; Collections of Bradford Museums and Galleries
Presented by Alchemy as part of the Allegories of Power programme in association with the Faiz Centenary National Organising Committee
Event 1: – FREEDOM
Wednesday 8th June 6.30pm
Opera North, Leeds
Salima Hashmi: Remembering Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Activist, Prisoner, Poet
If they snatch my ink and pen,
I should not complain,
For I have dipped my fingers
In the blood of my heart.
Qata (Quatrain) Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Friend of Pablo Neruda and four times nominated for the Nobel Prize, Faiz was one of the foremost poets of Pakistan. Although imprisoned for his political views in the 1950s, Faiz never stopped calling for a more equal society and an end to corruption. In this special event Faiz’s daughter, Salima Hashmi, herself a celebrated artist and human rights activist, remembers Faiz and reads from his poetry, which has often been presented as song.
Part of Opera North’s ON LIBERTY season www.operanorth.co.uk
Faiz Centenary National Organising Committee UK
www.faizcentenary.org info@faizcentenary.org
Event 2: – PEACE & CONFLICT
Thursday 9th June 6.30pm
Harewood House, Leeds
Salima Hashmi: My father – Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Teacher, Poet, Progressive
let them bring an army of enemies, we will meet them tomorrow;
let them come to the execution yard, we will join the spectacle tomorrow
no matter how heavy this last hour may seem, my friend
we will see the light hidden tonight shine brightly tomorrow
we will see the morning star sparkle as today edges into tomorrow
The Execution Yard Faiz Ahmed Faiz
This unique occasion marks the life and work of an extraordinary man – Faiz Ahmed Faiz – winner of the Lenin Peace Prize and one of the very few artists who can lay claim to the fact that the Heads of both India and Pakistan pleaded with him to choose their respective countries after the Partition of 1947. Faiz’s daughter, Salima Hashmi, an acclaimed artist, curator, educationist and activist in her own right, will read from poems and letters that powerfully articulate Faiz’s relentless opposition to the series of military dictatorships that were draining Pakistan of its lifeblood – an opposition that resulted in Faiz spending several years either in prison or in exile. To this day, Faiz’s poetry immediately resonates with very different people from all over the world.
Free entry; please book in advance
To book a place please email: valeriebooker@alchemyanew.com OR contact
www.faizcentenary.org info@faizcentenary.org
Event 3: – A POET’S CALL TO ACTION
Friday 10th June 11am
National Media Museum, Bradford
Salima Hashmi on Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Poet, Marxist, Polemicist
When all of God’s earth shall be swept of all the idols
And we, the faithful, and the banished of the palace
Shall sit once more, upon the throne
We Shall See (Hum Dekhenge) Faiz Ahmed Faiz
A rare opportunity to hear renowned Pakistani artist, curator and educationist Salima Hashmi talk about her father, the legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Through readings from his poems and letters Salima presents a vivid picture of a major literary voice who chose poetry as his arena for a call to action. The poems, often at the risk to Faiz’s own freedom and life, explore, challenge and subvert the manner in which oppressive political and extremist bodies have misused sacred texts to reinforce fundamentalist agendas.
Free entry; please book in advance
To book, please contact:
Culturalevents@nationalmediamuseum.org.uk
www.faizcentenary.org info@faizcentenary.org
Best regards
Pervez Fateh
Secretary – National Organising Committee
Faiz Centenary Celebrations UK
Tel: 07958541672
Leave Your Comments