Hope and Disillusionment: The Paradox of Poetry of Revolution in Pakistan

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explore the link between poetry and possibilities of revolution in Pakistan.  Hope and disillusionment are two dominant features of the poetry of revolution. There is a strong hope and desire for a revolutionary change and at the same time there is an element of disillusionment with aesthetics. Firstly, the researcher tends to analyze the nature of this hope and form of revolution expected by these poets. Secondly, the purpose is to decipher the elements of disillusionment. The poets actually seem disillusioned with other poets and artists who are not playing their role that aesthetics can play for radical change in the society. Literature plays a vital role in paving a path for revolution as the poets and artists played a pivotal role during the ‘Pakistan Movement’, but unfortunately, according to the contemporary poetry, the poets and artists have been unable to play an honest to role to make people resist against the exploiting forces. This is the reason, the poets who wrote about revolution in Pakistan have displayed an ambivalent attitude towards the possibility of revolution. Poetry by Habib Jalib and Faiz Ahmad Faiz, have been focused for this purpose. The researcher has also linked these poets with the tradition of poetry of revolution that existed before the creation of Pakistan.