Faiz Amn Mela pulls crowd

“Faiz Amn Mela pulls crowd” No doubt, this was one of the largest gatherings of the Left, progressive forces and youth in years. Over 3000 packed the Open Air Theater Lahore. Nationally known potes and artists presented the revolutionary poetry reciting and the famous Faiz songs.The Lahore saw once again some glimpse of the revolutionary traditions of organizing Melas. The Mela was divided in two parts. In initial part, a Moshaira (poetry reciting) event was organized with Aslam Gurdaspuri on the chair. Over 20 poets paid tribute to Faiz by reciting their progressive and revolutionary poetry. The very responsive audience heard Saadulah Shah, Dr. Khalid Javed Jan, Qaim Naqvi, Shafiq Ahmad Shafiq, Arif Prohna, Azmat Malik, Rizi Haider, Abid Hussain Abid and several others for two hours.  It brought home the memories of the Mashairas of the seventies.Later Shahida Mini, Hamid Ali Khan, Surraya Khanum and several more presented faiz Ahmad Faiz revolutionary poetry and thrilled the audience. “Lazim Hain Keh Hum Bhee Dekhian Ghai” was sung by Shahida Mini and Surray Khanum was the height of the event. There were no speeches but I was asked to speak on Faiz message and relevance today. I spoke about Socialism and the fight for a just society. I raised the question of US imperialism, religious fundamentalism and militarization of the society and why we must get rid of it.Faiz Ahmad Fiaz daughter Moneezey Hashmi was among the audience for hours.  Most of the Left activists were there and enjoyed the evening. “ I feel at ease today after months of sloganeering at the advocate movement, I am relaxed and we need such events to get together and net working of the Left forces” was the remarks of Rabia Bajwa, one of the best known activists of the advocate movement.There were several dozens of advocates and many hundreds youth from different universities and colleges. The organizers had made sure that posters must be fly posted at the main universities of Lahore including University of Punjab .Over 40 civil society organizations got together to organize this Mela that was once a yearly tradition in Lahore . It was four years that there was no such event to remember the great revolutionary poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz. Labour Education Foundation took an initiative to call the first meeting for this Mela.Their office became the center of the meetings.The Mela left a tremendous positive impact on all those who attended this five hours event. It has brought back the left on the scene. It has generated many of those who were once the Left but were disheartened by the series of disillusionments. It was announced the Faiz Amn Mela will be organized every year from now on.