speak, because your lips are free

is another famous poem by Faiz, the translation of it is as follows:

Speak up, while your lips (thoughts) are (still) free
speak up, (while) your tongue is still yours
Speak, for your strong body is your own
speak, (while) your soul is still yours
Look at blacksmiths shop
hot flames makes the iron red hot
opening the (jaws of) locks
every chain opens up and begins to break
speak for this brief time is long enough
before yours body and words die
speak, for the truth still prevails
speak up, say what you must.

bol key lab azaad hain terey

Listen on youtube ...

L to R: Shabana Azmi, Saleema Hashmi, Javed Akhtar, Arshad Mehmood, Shama Zaidi and Ila Arun

Too tired to write right now. Will update this entry in the morning ...

P.S. Sloppy photography, because it was hard to take pictures sitting in the audience, so please don't judge :)

Update:

I am now updating my entry. Many people paid tribute to Faiz. Arshad Mehmood (Song Writer/Composer) came first and described how Faiz inspired him and helped in his career. The stage was then taken up by Ila Arun (An Indian singer) who sang the words of Faiz in her own special Rhajistani style. She also narrated her feelings when she crossed the Vagga Border earlier in the morning. She said she felt that there is just a border between the two countries and she has just stepped from one side into the other observing no change. Shama Zaidi (An Indian Screen writer/Costume designer) knew Faiz as a child and narrated some of her memories of him when he used to visit their house to meet her father. Next up were Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar who talked of their experiences with Faiz. Shabana Azmi's father was friends with Faiz and she also knows him since childhood.

Overall, it was a pleasant evening and when the daughters of two Poets hugged each other, one from India and the other from Pakistan, I felt that there is still a speck of hope and humanity left and we may see the dawn after a dark night.