This was announced by Peshawar University Vice-Chancellor Dr Azmat Hayat Khan at a function held in connection with Faraz’s birth anniversary at the auditorium of Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayum Museum in the varsity on Tuesday.
“Faraz Chair will be established at the Institute of Urdu and Persian Languages and Literature,” Dr Khan said, adding that all archives relating to the life, works and collection of books and research on the revolutionary poet would be documented. It would be later converted into a research institute.
He said Ghani Khan Chair would be established at the Pashto Department to research the life and work of the great Pashto poet, painter and intellectual. Both the poets were great sons of the soil and establishing chairs in their name would be an honour for the university, Dr Khan remarked.
Speaking on the occasion, Mehboob Zafar, a friend of the poet, said Faraz’s poetry was kaleidoscopic and passionate and his personality was clearly reflected in his thoughts. “Faraz is the most prolific Urdu poet and melody is dominant in his poetry.”
Majeed Riaz also touched upon the dimensions of Faraz’s poetry and said it was matchless for its flow and depth. He said Faraz revived ghazal when it was losing its charm after partition for being a remnant of colonial and feudal legacy.
The poet’s son, Shibli Faraz said they have set up an Ahmed Faraz Trust to document the poet’s works and its ultimate aim was to establish Faraz Museum by 2013. He was a born poet who believed in optimism and never bothered about the consequences, he added.
Dr Sadia Tariq, Shahid Zaman, Nishat Sarhadi, Aziz Ejaz, Mehboob Zafar, Sajjad Babar, Nazir Tabassum, Riaz Majeed and Iftikhar Khan also addressed the function. They said Faraz was a timeless poet as he always raised his voice against injustices.