[Reader-list] Two Iqbals & One Faiz

[Rahul Asthana]

Hi Kshmendra,
Faiz was a "dehria" communist,if you know what I
mean.Iqbal was an Islamist.Being a poet and a
philosopher is not contrary to being an Islamist.So,in
that sense,there can be no greater contrast.
Iqbal's philosophy of religious existentialism-
mard-e-momin, khudi etc was based on Islam.I do not
see the same celebration of "khudi" in Faiz.
Also,Iqbal was not sufi either.Iqbal wrote a lot in
Persian.Poetry in every language has a soul of its
own.When you write in Persian,you cant but help poets
like Hafez and Rumi whispering in your ear;and the
mysticism rubs off on you.That can be found in Iqbal
too.But,Iqbal's philosophy has nothing to do with
sufism.In fact,my impression is that in his dialog
Iblees o Jibrael, he is deriding sufis-
"Main khataktaa hoon dile yazdaan mein kaante ki
tarah,
tu faqat, alla hoo alla hoo ,alla hoo."
This IMO, is Nietzsche style existentialism.

So,I really don't see much similarity in Faiz and
Iqbal besides the fact that they were the greatest
living Urdu poets of their times.

regards
Rahul


--- Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Dear Yasir
>    
>   Long overdue. Didnt want to let it go.
>    
>   Fleetingly addressing ".....they both received a
> similar religious education while growing up in
> Sialkot - however apparently contradictory that
> sounds." 
>    
>   For me there is not much of a contradiction. Both
> were revolutionaries. Both had a "sufi" bent of
> mind. Both seemed to celeberate "khudi".  
>    
>   In my opinion the seeming contradiction might
> arise out of a limited understanding of Iqbal. More
> philosopher than "Islamist" (also more Philosopher
> than Poet). A purist (a Salafi???) who primarily
> stuck to the finest precepts from the "Quran"
> (somewhat a Parvaizi). A "Shikvah" is not the work
> of an ordinary soul subscribing to the "expected".
>    
>   In my opinion, Iqbal's politics (the egging on of
> Jinnah) was more towards "a Nation for Muslims"
> rather than an "Islamic (shariah) Nation". The 1940
> Lahore resolution and Jinnah's Constituent Assembly
> speech are just 2 pointers.
>    
>   I am sure I sound quite disjointed. Khair.
>    
>   Thanks for Maniza Naqvi's translation of "Hum
> Daikhaingay". I thought the "anthem", the challenge,
> the rousing up, the defiance is missing.
>    
>   Here is an interesting 'variation' by Raamesh
> Gowri Raghavan. In his words:
>    
>    
>   Here is a transcreation based on Faiz A Faiz's
> revolutionary Urdu nazm 'Hum dekhenge', and written
> to the metre of another revolutionary song, the
> Marseillaise.
> 
> "Destiny"
> 
> Fear no more my fellow countrymen
> The day we dreamed of has now come!
> Oh! See the vile ziggurats crumble
> Reduced to ignominous dust!
> Reduced to ignominous dust!
> Can you hear the revolution
> Rumble in the angry streets
> It thunders fire and lightning
> To strike the oppressors' nemesis!
> 
> Our destiny is come
> The day given to us
> Arise! Arise!
> For the cast-iron pledge
> Must now be redeemed! 
> 
> Fear no more my fellow countrymen
> The day we dreamed of has now come!
> Look! From the temple of our faith
> The evil is now exorcised!
> The evil is now exorcised!
> The good are now restored to their
> High exaltations again!
> See the generals' stars stripped away
> And their thrones, their baubles destroyed!
> 
> Our destiny is come
> The day given to us
> Arise! Arise!
> For the cast-iron pledge
> Must now be redeemed!
> 
> Fear no more my fellow countrymen
> The day we dreamed of has now come!
> Only His name shall prevail:
> Who's Nobody, yet Everybody!
> Who's Nobody, yet Everybody!
> He Oversees, is the Overseen
> His reign shall persist forever!
> For He is I and He is You
> He is I and He is You!
> 
> Our destiny is come
> The day given to us
> Arise! Arise!
> For the cast-iron pledge
> Must now be redeemed!
> 
> 
>   The original by Faiz"-
> 
> "Hum dekhenge 
> Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge 
> Wo din ke jis ka wada hai 
> Jo looh-e-azl pe likha hai 
> Hum dekhenge 
> 
> Jab zulm-o-sitam ke koh-e-garan
> Rooi ki tarah ud jayenge 
> Hum mehkoomon ke paaon tale 
> Ye dharti dhad dhad dhadakegi 
> Aur ahl-e-hukum ke sar oopar 
> Jab bijli kad kad kadakegi 
> Hum dekhenge 
> 
> Jab arz-e-Khuda ke kaabe se 
> Sab butth uthwae jayenge 
> Hum ahl-e-safa mardood-e-haram 
> Masnad pe bithaye jayenge 
> Sab taaj uchhaale jayenge 
> Sab takht giraaye jayenge 
> Hum dekhenge 
> 
> Bas naam rahega Allah ka 
> Jo ghayab bhi hai hazir bhi 
> Jo naazir bhi hai manzar bhi 
> Uthega an-al-Haq ka nara 
> Jo mai bhi hoon aur tum bhi ho 
> Aur raaj karegi Khalq-e-Khuda 
> Jo mai bhi hoon aur tum bhi ho
> 
>    
>   Hum dekhenge 
> Lazim hai ki hum bhi dekhenge 
> Hum dekhenge"
>    
>    
>   Kshmendra Kaul
>   
> 
> yasir ~ <yasir.media at gmail.com> wrote:
>   I cannot but fail to note and be heartened that
> both sides (or as
> many) find inspiration in Faiz Ahmed Faiz and
> Muhammad Iqbal -
> Kshemendra quoting Niya Shivaalaa, Cashmeeri quoting
> Meray Dil Meray
> Musafir and Rashneek going back to Baang e Dara.
> 
> Besides the Kashmeer connection it is not an
> unimportant note that
> they both received a similar religious education
> while growing up in
> Sialkot - however apparently contradictory that
> sounds.
> 
> I will let Iqbal Bano sound it - Faiz's Hum
> Dekhenge. it becoming an
> anthem during the zia years.
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6kiQjZePbc
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