Alys Faiz
Encyclopedia
Alys Faiz (September 22, 1914 - March 12, 2003 ) was a British-born naturalized Pakistani poet, writer, journalist, human rights activist, social worker and teacher.
She is best known as the wife of the famous Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz
. She was also the aunt of the assassinated Punjab governor Salman Taseer. By birth she was British but later adopted Islam and Pakistan as her religion and country. She married Faiz Ahmed Faiz
in the 1930s. They had two daughters: Salima Hashmi
and Moneeza Hashmi.
After her death, Habib R. Sulemani
wrote in The Dawn newspaper, “During my decade-long stay in Lahore, as a silent observer of the literary-scene, I was fascinated by her life-story which made me believe that women are stronger than men and have an immense power and talent for reconciliation and bridging the gaps between two families or nations. Alys gave courage to many western women who were married to Pakistanis and now live here as citizens. Alys gave many sacrifices. Faiz Ahmad Faiz's life and poetry have influenced hundreds of thousands of people in one way or the other, but Alys has shaped his life and poetry. A study of Faiz, as a person and a poet, cannot be complete without a study of Alys. Rather I should say she needs a special treat on her own right as a writer and a poet.”
She is best known as the wife of the famous Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Faiz Ahmad Faiz was a Pakistani intellectual, poet, and one of the most famous poets of the Urdu language. He was a member of the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind and an avowed Marxist. In 1962, he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union...
. She was also the aunt of the assassinated Punjab governor Salman Taseer. By birth she was British but later adopted Islam and Pakistan as her religion and country. She married Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Faiz Ahmad Faiz was a Pakistani intellectual, poet, and one of the most famous poets of the Urdu language. He was a member of the Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanafin-e-Hind and an avowed Marxist. In 1962, he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union...
in the 1930s. They had two daughters: Salima Hashmi
Salima Hashmi
Salima Hashmi is a Pakistani painter, artist, writer, anti-nuclear weapon activist and a professor who served for four years as the head of the National College of Arts...
and Moneeza Hashmi.
After her death, Habib R. Sulemani
Habib R. Sulemani
Habib R. Sulemani is a poet, writer and journalist, living in Pakistan. He has been writing in three languages: English, Urdu and Wakhi....
wrote in The Dawn newspaper, “During my decade-long stay in Lahore, as a silent observer of the literary-scene, I was fascinated by her life-story which made me believe that women are stronger than men and have an immense power and talent for reconciliation and bridging the gaps between two families or nations. Alys gave courage to many western women who were married to Pakistanis and now live here as citizens. Alys gave many sacrifices. Faiz Ahmad Faiz's life and poetry have influenced hundreds of thousands of people in one way or the other, but Alys has shaped his life and poetry. A study of Faiz, as a person and a poet, cannot be complete without a study of Alys. Rather I should say she needs a special treat on her own right as a writer and a poet.”