Neruda and Faiz: Great Contemporary Poets

Re: # 10

Both Faiz and Neruda created great social and linguistic wealth thorugh poetry. They should be judged in broader liteary and political perspective. One may have reservations about their political affiliations, but nobody can deny their invaluable contribution in the field of poetry and their commitment towards socio-economic issues of their times. Human suffering was addressed by them with great pain and anguish. They were humanists per excellence.

Kindly note that Masadi sb continues to remain in illegal detention. Plese join me in demanding his immediate release. Posting on his behalf

Fuzair writes"So it is fine to be a lackey of Soviet Imperialism but not of British Imperialism."

This is a common illiterate argument of military thugs that back US imperialism around the globe, (deleted). There was never any such thing as "soviet imperialism". The soviets were playing the US game and the irony of it was that for people powerless to change they had to cling to the soviets, as the Cubans did even though their revolution was indigineous. Imperialism does not define 'power to the people', it is the very opposite of that and Faiz's poetry bears witness to that spirit which makes him an anti imperialist and an anti colonialist. Fuzair with his PMA education does not qualify as a historian or a commentator. On the other hand it is tragic to see echo surrender so quickly to that (deleted) Fuzair

Regards

Faiz was the greatest Pakistani-

I rate him higher than all those Islami bhoots that have possessed the Pakistani intellectual horizon.

Re: # 8
Fuzair
Please quote me a reference from Neruda and Faiz, in praise of Stalin, oppression, murders and wars.

MalikR,

I wasn't referring to Communism per se but to their slavish adherence to Stalin--two completely different things. In any case, Communism as it was practised is the antithesis of democracy and human rights. If Marx achieved anything, it was indirectly creating the German Social Democratic Party, which you might be able to argue helped usher in the modern welfare state.

In any case, go read Lenin and the importance of the vanguard of the proletariat and find out what Lenin thought of the ordinary people.

Who wouldn't cherish the intimately arousing and fiery Neruda's love poems. Faiz also wrote intensly. The point to be noted that apart from all the social and political association they were poets too. Not a normal achievement. Good write up.

Re: # 2
Do you think Mao Tse Dong was a lackey of Russian Imperialism? Communism was a social/political movement that signified the power of ordinary people in the first half of the twentieth century. The political system they established in Russia fell apart because individual freedom was lacking but their effort towards gender equality and rights of citizen within a state excelled democracy worldwide. The freedoms you enjoy in today's world is built on the aspirations communism infused in the otherwise segregated world of nobility.

Interesting link-hopefully we'll read a discussion that explores possible points of discourse in their work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgvGrqSuYBc

Right On Fuzair,

Being an ardent fan of Faiz it is quite a quandry for people like me to agree with his politics. Fateh Muhammad Malik has done a real good job as a critic to tone down the mindless adulation of the poet and the timeless appeal of his poetry.

Amazingly and perplexingly both Iqbal and Faiz are two such poets who are equally loved for their poetry by Jammat-i-Islamis and People's Party types..both love to use them in their oratory.

In conclusion let me say that they are both superbly great both in persona and in poetry....Politics is very unsubstantial and temporal....these guys should be valued above such pettiness. I hope , perhaps being a great person yourself, you'll forgive them for their human frailities.

I'm curious how you consider Faiz to be anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist considering he served in the British Indian Army (ISPR if I recall). Unless I am mistaken, he (along with the entire Indian communist party) went from opposing the British to backing them to the hilt as soon as they got orders from Moscow to change their stance. After WWII, Faiz again happily followed orders from Moscow. Faiz and Sajjad Zaheer came to Pakistan because they were ordered to by Moscow.

Neruda himself was a fervent Stalinist who, apparently, used his Chilean diplomatic posts to help NKVD assasins get in and out of countries--although he later regretted his die-hard support of Stalin (or so he said) he still remained committed to the Party and suppressing all opposition to it.

So it is fine to be a lackey of Soviet Imperialism but not of British Imperialism. Why is Soviet Imperialism so much better than British? Just because the Soviets are willing to help you overthrow British so that they could rule you? This is as bad as Subhas Chander Bose willingly helping the Japanese because they would appoint him as the puppet ruler of India if they succeeded.

Jo teray husn kay faqeer huay
unko tashweesh-e-rozgaar kahan
dard baychengay geet gayengay
Iss say khushwaqt karobar kahan
Faiz