Quick Facts

• Born: January 12, 1931; Kohat, British India (now in Pakistan)
• Died: August 25, 2008; Islamabad, Pakistan
• Pen Name: Ahmad Faraz
• Full Name: Syed Ahmad Shah
• Notable Awards: Sitara-i-Imtiaz (returned), Hilal-i-Imtiaz, posthumous Hilal-e-Pakistan
• Profession: Poet, Professor, Chairman of Pakistan Academy of Letters
• Languages Known: Urdu, Pashto, Persian, English
• Spouse: Amna Faraz
• Children: Shibli Faraz (son, politician)

Ahmad Faraz was one of the most beloved Urdu poets of the modern era. Often described as the “second Faiz,” he blended romance, rebellion, and raw honesty in verses that touched both the heart and the conscience.

He was born as Syed Ahmad Shah in Kohat in 1931. As a young student, he was drawn to poetry and literature, especially the works of Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Allama Iqbal. While studying in Peshawar, he wrote his first ghazals, and it became clear that a powerful new voice was emerging in Urdu literature.

Faraz's poetry was deeply romantic in tone but never shy of addressing political and social issues. His verses often spoke of love lost, longing, and betrayal, but also of injustice, censorship, and freedom. One of his most famous lines, “Ranjish hi sahi, dil hi dukhane ke liye aa,” became a classic, sung by Mehdi Hassan and remembered by generations.

Unlike many poets, Faraz was openly critical of authoritarianism. In the 1970s, during General Zia-ul-Haq’s regime, he faced political backlash for his bold views. He was arrested, his books were banned, and he eventually went into self-imposed exile. As a sign of protest, he returned the Sitara-i-Imtiaz award he had received from the government.

Despite the political pressure, his popularity only grew. Faraz held positions like Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters and continued to write, publish, and recite his poetry at mushairas across the world. His collections like Tanha Tanha, Be-awaz Gali Kuchon Mein, and Narbada became bestsellers.

In his personal life, Ahmad Faraz was married to Amna Faraz, and they had children together. His son, Shibli Faraz, later entered politics and served as a federal minister in Pakistan.

Faraz passed away in 2008 in Islamabad, but his voice continues to echo. His poetry is still recited in gatherings, shared on social media, and printed on walls and pages as a symbol of beauty, courage, and expression.

Ahmad Faraz believed that poetry should speak for the people. And he lived that belief till his very last breath.