Sohail;
A couple of ideas after reading your mail. It is axiomatic that no one
book (or even several) can ever capture the total essence of a person,
especially one who participated in significant historical events of his
or her lifetime. Any book, essay, TV program, movie etc is but a
snapshot that captures an aspect of a person. I do not think, therefore,
that we need to concern ourselves with writing the 'definitive'
biography of Faiz or his work. Rather, we shall hope that it is a useful
contribution to the Faiz literature already in existence and serves as a
starting point for other writers in the future.
It seems that your library of Faiz books is much larger than mine, so
please do send me the interview that you mentioned. I have read several
'overviews' that Faiz gave of his life and artistic development
including one just a few months before his death so I am familiar with
the broad outlines but would be very interested in another view.
I am very happy about this exchange and how it simplifies, for future
authors, the process of beginning to write a book. When, in the past, I
have read essays, lectures and books by socialist/Marxist activists, the
thing that has impressed me most is their refusal to bow to authority
including authority claimed from scholarship, learning etc. In other
words, they would not be intimidated by so called 'experts' thus
practically, in real life, demonstrating their commitment to common
people.
I have only met Sheema a time or two many years ago. She, too, is a
living breathing example of how we are all 'standing on the shoulders of
giants' and how, if it were not for the hard work and dedication of
ordinary people who continue to serve their craft without regard for the
rewards of fame and money, there would not exist a Faiz, an Iqbal, a
Ghalib, a Sartre, Marx or Che Guevara. You pointed out in a chapter of 'Samaaji
Tabdeeli' that some people by virtue of their craft become a symbol of
their age which I think is absolutely true. It is also true that they
are only able to do this because of the toil and dedication of countless
others who never become as celebrated but yet are just as crucial to the
'finished product'.
Let us hope our little endeavor will also be a small contribution to
this journey.
(I will point out with a smile that the Sufi way actually discourages
beginning a journey without a master so perhaps it is not quite as
democratic. It is true though that 'when the student is ready, the
master will appear')
Ali