Let’s have A look at the Biography of All-Time Best Shayar: Ahmad Faraz

                        ab ke ham bichhde to shayad kabhi ḳhvabon men milen

                   jis tarah sukhe hue phuul kitabon men milen

Pen Name: 'Faraz'

Real Name: Syed Ahmad Shah

Born: Jan 21 1931 | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kohat

Dies: Aug 25 2008 | Pakistan, Islamabad

  

Syed Ahmad Shah (1931-2008), who used the pen name Faraz, became known as Ahmad Faraz, a poet. He was born in Nav Shahra, with the fact that his family belonged in Kohat. He attended Islamia College in Kohat, Edwards College in Peshawar, and Peshawar University, where he earned M.A. degrees in Urdu and Persian.

He started his career as a producer for Radio Pakistan. Later, he served as a lecturer at Islamia College, Peshawar. Faraz opposed Pakistan's military government and spoke out openly about it, which led to his detention. After his release, he chose to live in self-imposed exile in Europe and Canada for six years. Back home, he held prominent administrative roles such as Resident Director of Pakistan National Centre and, later, Director of Akademy Adabiyat Pakistan, Lok Wirsa, and Chairperson of the National Book Foundation.

A widely respected poet, Faraz received several awards. Some of these include Adamji Award, Abaseen Award, Kamal-e-Fun Award, and Hilal-e-Imtiyaz award, which he returned registering his displeasure with the country’s governance. He was decorated with the Hilal-e-Pakistan award by the Government of Pakistan posthumously.  

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Faraz began composing poems while still a young college student. He evolved as a ghazal poet with his own unique signature. While he drew on traditional subjects such as love and passion, he also wrote about his time, with all of its despairs and disappointments, producing some of the finest examples of resistance poetry.

He was a prolific poet, having contributed to various anthologies. These are Tanha Tanha, Dard-e-Aashob, Janan Janan, Shubkhoon, Merey Khwab Reza Reza, Beaawara Gali Koochon Mein, Nabeena Shar Mein Aaeena, Pus Andaz Mausam, and Khwab-e-Gul Pareshan Hai. His poetry translations appear in Sub Awazein Meri Hain.

He also compiled a selection of Kunwar Mahinder Singh Bedi's poems in Ai Ishq Junoon Pesha. His Kulliyat was published with the encompassing title Shahr-e-Sukhan Aaraasta Hai.