Re: Faiz - A controversial interview
First you give me definition of masses? Masses doesn’t mean people living in all over Pakistan. masses means a sizeable community with distinguished characteristics. If I say a particular work of a particular writer was appreciated by masses, it doesn’t mean whole of the Pakistan approved it. masses for artistic work means intended target (readers, listeners, viewers).
Most of the time a particular poet of particular language is only known in the masses who speak that language, but it doesn’t mean that there work is only limited to readers of that language. Iqbal / Shah Latif / Shaikh Ayaz have been translated in different languages of the world. Besides that if not translated, many regional languages are interlinked in sub-continent that one having good knowledge of his / her own language can appreciate poetry of other language.
Besides, I think the interviewer was also asking about common men in street (a rikshaw driver, a hotel wala, etc), he is not talking of suited booted elite class, who can appreciate poetry in Persianised urdu, becuase common men doesn’t get time to look at Feroz ul lughaat while reading such poetry. They would prefer listening filmi songs in understandable language rather than going through the difficult poetry. This fact is proven by the popularity of filmi songs over Ghazals in such people. I’ve yet to see a taxi driver listen to ‘Bazecha e atfaal hai dunia mere aage’.
Lets agree to disagree for all the time that rural Pakistan is not illiterate and ignorant and we all know how women is treated / respected in urban areas.
Again you are interpreting the poetry on the face of it. By this verse no sufi promoted illiteracy. Sufis were themselves well educated knowing language and other contemporary subjects of their time.
Can’t comment on this, until you bring exact lines.