Faiz’s book, which started a new tradition in Urdu

It was March 9, 1951 when Faiz Ahmad Faiz was put behind bars in connection with the Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case. He was the editor of Pakistan Times at that time and a collection of his poetry was published under the name of ‘Naqsh Frayadi’.
Faiz Sahib’s poetry continued in prison and his poems and ghazals continued to be published in literary journals and newspapers, especially daily Imrooz. Abdul Raouf Malik has written in his book ‘Faiz Jansi’ that ‘by using the Rawalpindi conspiracy case as an excuse, the government created an atmosphere of terror and fear, the memory of which still makes the body shiver. The government gave the impression through all its media that the hand of the Communist Party of Pakistan was behind this alleged conspiracy, so in this regard, numerous party workers and sympathizers were arrested, they were subjected to torture, physical and mental torture.
Abdul Rauf Malik has written that because he was a full-time member of the Communist Party and was running the People’s Publishing House on the instructions of the party, the government’s activities against him were intensified.
Abdul Rauf Malik wrote a letter to Faiz in which he mentioned his difficulties and sought permission to publish his collection of poems. Not only did Faiz respond to his letter in his characteristic sympathetic manner, but in a letter to his wife Alice on November 9, 1951, which is part of his collection of letters, ‘Salibeen Mere Dreeche Mein’, he mentioned it. . He wrote to Alice that ‘I have received a very painful letter from Rauf Malik of the People’s Publishing House, who has written that the conditions of these people are very bad and if I give them my poems and articles for publication, they will print them on the same terms. will give that which has been agreed with the present publisher, it is difficult for me to refuse this request. It doesn’t matter to us and nowadays there will be very few people who help Rauf Malik, so I don’t mind.’
The correspondence between Faiz and Abdul Rauf Malik continued continuously. A perusal of Faiz’s letters to Ellis suggests that the special permission of the tribunal set up to hear the Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case was also obtained for the publication of Dast Saba. On October 26, 1952, Ellis wrote in a letter to Faiz that it would be appropriate for him to thank the members of the tribunal at the press conference for the launch of Dast Saba. Because if they wanted, Duran Asiri and Sue could have banned the publication of this book, but they regularly gave written permission for this book to be published, so I think we should be thankful for that.
In another letter written two days later on October 26, 1952, Alice Faiz also mentioned this proposed press conference. He wrote that ‘Rauf believes that after the completion of the book we should hold a press conference in connection with the book in which some important friends, poets and writers will also be invited. In this meeting we will present the book. I have to say something about it. Now you tell me what to do? You also write the names of some people who should be called in the press conference.’

Faiz and his wife, whose Islamic name is Kulsoom (Public Domain)

In the last four to five months of 1952, the series of writing and other publishing stages of Dast Saba continued. Dast Saba was published in the third week of December 1952.
Abdul Rauf Malik writes that ‘publicity of the book was started even before its publication. Advertisements were published in Pakistan Times and Imrooz from time to time, so the book became very popular and the fans of Ahle Zoq and Faiz all over the country eagerly waited for the publication of the book. I myself was getting very excited. Because the publication of Dast Saba was not only an important event in the world of poetry and literature of Pakistan at that time, but it was also a source of great pride for me. To introduce the book, I did not limit myself to giving advertisements in newspapers in the traditional way, but also thought of new ways to project the book.
Abdul Rauf Malik further writes that ‘one day I was talking to Mrs. Faiz in this regard, so I said that Faiz is not here, he would have presented his book to his friends and loved ones, why don’t we do something on the occasion of the publication of the book. Hold a press conference by inviting journalists, Faiz’s friends and loved ones and present the books to them on Faiz’s behalf.

It should be remembered that this is from 1952, at that time it was not customary to hold any ceremony on the publication of a book, but the idea of ​​such a ceremony was not even in the minds. So, when I mentioned to Mrs. Faiz about organizing such an event, she could only name it as a press conference because at that time the formula of ‘Taqreeb Runmai’ had not been developed yet. Even the term (Book Launching Ceremony) was not commonly used in English. Therefore, Mrs. Faiz also wrote to Faiz about my proposed event regarding the press conference, to which Faiz wrote in his letter dated 25 October 1952:
How far has the book been published? Holding a press conference for this collection of disturbed thoughts seems to me a little excessive, but perhaps there is some merit in it. I don’t know exactly what to say on such occasions. Perhaps it can be said that all literature, whether it is related to a political ideology, a school of thought or a person, is a part of the national asset, therefore, whatever the circumstances, the creation of literature is a payment of national service for which some acknowledgment is made. And there must be some value. Perhaps it can also be said that like every servant of the nation, every writer must have at least the freedom to perform this service. From this point of view, if this person’s personal freedom is violated, not only his personal freedom is affected by this measure, but many people are affected.
Rauf Malik writes that ‘Faiz was in jail and I and my organization People’s Publishing House were under reprimand, many of my colleagues were also in jail. Under these conditions, holding any event on our part was nothing less than bringing a lion’s share. The CID was always there like a shadow and even the waiters of the restaurant were harassed. In view of such a situation, I could not even think of requesting an influential person or minister etc. to preside over the ceremony. So I requested my old neighbor and mentor Mr. Abdul Rahman Chaghatai for the presidency which he accepted without hesitation. Earlier, on the request of Faiz and me, he had also designed the cover of ‘Dast Saba’.

So on December 22, 1952, in the afternoon, in a restaurant called ‘Argentina’ on Mall Road (Quaid-e-Azam), this press conference or opening ceremony was held and I can say without exaggeration that a book in the history of Pakistan This was the first inauguration ceremony held in the same style and arrangement as such functions are usually held today. When I read in newspapers about book launch events, my mind goes to the event organized by me on the occasion of the publication of ‘Dast Saba’ and this poem of Faiz, which was written in that era. It reminds me of what I used to do in Dast Saba’s advertisements.

The event was organized by Rauf Malik (Public Domain).

The style we have invented in the cage
The same style of expression has remained in Faiz Gulshan
On the evening of December 22, 1952, the publication ceremony of ‘Dast Saba’ was held and its news was published in the newspapers of Lahore on the next day. Imrooz newspaper published the news of this event by its staff reporter as follows:
Publication ceremony of ‘Dast Saba’, the second collection of poetry of Pakistan’s famous poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz: Faiz Ahmed Faiz is a great artist. He is a seeker of beauty. This is the biggest secret of his popularity and his new collection of poems ‘Dast Saba’ has proved how the poet can grasp the difficult subject.
These were the words that the famous artist of Pakistan and India Abdul Rahman Chaghatai said today while presiding over an event. The event was organized by Qaumi Darul Asha’at, publishers of Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s new collection of poetry ‘Dast Saba’, and was attended by the top intellectuals of Lahore. In which Sufi Ghulam, Mustafa Tabasim, Dr. Baqir, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Dr. Ibadat Barelvi and Hafeez Hoshiar Puri were also included.

First Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s daughter Salima distributed the books among the guests, after which Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi read a short commentary on this new collection of Faiz’s poetry ‘Dast Saba’.

He said, “I think all literary friends of our country agree that Faiz Ahmad Faiz is the most popular poet of this era and I think they will also agree that Faiz’s second collection ‘Dast Saba’ Publication is a major event in our literary history.
On this occasion, Honorable Abdul Rauf Malik of the National Publications Office also read out the congratulatory messages received from India.
In this news, National Publishing House refers to People’s Publishing House because 60 years ago, the practice of using English words and idioms in Urdu writings was not as common as it is today.
The congratulatory messages from India referred to in the above news were received by me from the editors and progressive writers of the Communist Party of India Spokesperson newspaper. This event was discussed for several days in literary gatherings and gatherings, and wherever some scholars and intellectuals gathered, Faiz’s poetry and ‘Dast Saba’ were discussed.

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Because ‘Dast Saba’ was the most important book of its time and its publication was considered a historical event in Pakistani poetry and literature. Even before the publication of ‘Dast Saba’, most of his poems and ghazals had been published in various magazines and journals and had become popular among the readers.
‘Dast Saba’ was Faiz’s second collection of Kalam. After that, five more collections of Faiz were published one after the other and then by combining all these collections Faiz’s Kaliyat was also published under the name of ‘Nashkha Hay Wafa’. But it is a historical fact that the popularity and recognition that ‘Dast Saba’ got was not achieved by any of his other collections.

This does not mean at all that what ‘Dast Saba’ achieved was not achieved by any of his other collections. This does not mean at all that other than ‘Dast Saba’, the other collections of Faiz’s poems are less artistically and creatively, but his poetry seems to touch new heights in other collections, but only with regard to ‘Dast Saba’. Articles based on Faiz’s poems and thoughts were prepared in which the interpretations and explanations of his poetry and ideas were clearly presented.
This first edition of Dast Saba was printed in the number of two thousand. Its cover was made by the renowned artist of the country, Mr. Abdul Rehman Chaghtai and it was published by Mr. Abdul Rauf Malik under the auspices of Qaumi Darul-e-Shaaat, Lahore.
Syed Mazhar Jameel has written in his book ‘Alice Faiz Ki Kahani, Kuch Meri Kuch An Ki Zali’ that ‘Dast Saba was attributed to Kulsoom. For Dil Dadgan Faiz, it was rather sensational that even among Faiz’s close friends no one was aware of Kulsoom’s reality.

Therefore, in this context, the possibilities of happy speculations and imaginations were wider and people used to see a glimpse of a beautiful beloved in this attribute. Therefore, among Faiz’s colleagues, there was also an interesting question to see who is this Kulsoom? But no one had the courage to ask directly. If anyone knew about this secret, it was Alice and Faiz themselves. So, Faiz was enjoying this situation, but after a few days this surprise ended and the truth of Kulsoom was revealed to the people that Kulsoom was the eastern name of Alice which was adopted at the time of marriage and after that she was called There was no need to repeat.’
The organization of the press conference till the publication of ‘Dast Saba’ was the starting point of a new chapter in the literary world of Urdu. In 1961, on the occasion of the publication of his book ‘Shaksat Shab’, Mohsin Bhopali organized a formal event organized by the literary and cultural institution Fun Kada of Hyderabad, and for the first time organized the launch of any Urdu book with regular cards printed. And the speakers (Mirza Abid Abbas, Prof. Syed Mohammad Naseer, Sahak Ali Shaar and Prof. Khalid Wahab) and the special guest (ZA Bukhari) discussed the book and the author of the book.

The opening ceremony or reception ceremony for the publication of literary books has now become a regular event in the literary world, but it is based on the press conference on the publication of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s Dast Saba or the publication of ‘Shakst Shab’. The ceremony is considered the unveiling