Exploring the Depths of the Psyche: A Psychoanalytic Study of Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s Poem Dasht-e tanhā.ī
Shabeer Ahmad Shah
Chetana Pokhriyal
DOI https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.13292450
Abstract
Faiz Ahmad Faiz (1911-1984) one of the most revered poets of the 20th century, crafted his poetry with a profound sensitivity to the human condition and a deep engagement with social and political issues. He is the most popular poet on both sides of the border, in Pakistan and India, and a courageous public intellectual whose political vision was vast. His works are notable for their progressive and humanistic thoughts, as well as their revolutionary spirit. Faiz’s poetry is distinguished by its strong, evocative language and its capacity to communicate complex emotions and ideas in an accessible way. His poetry addresses issues such as power dynamics, freedom of expression, unrequited love, nostalgia, sorrow, and existential reflections. It has been translated into multiple languages. The present study aims to understand the hidden motives, emotional conflicts, and societal factors that shape Faiz’s artistic creations. The analysis seeks to contribute to a deeper comprehension of the intricate interplay between poetry and the human psyche, highlighting the enduring relevance of Faiz’s poem “Dasht-e tanhā.ī” in the realm of psychoanalytic literary studies.
Keywords
poetry, psychoanalysis, longing, despair, solitude
Works Cited
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Shabeer Ahmad Shah is a Research Scholar in the department of English, School of languages at Doon University Dehradun. His area of interest is in Translation Studies with a focus on the works of Faiz Ahmad Faiz. He also holds an M. Phil. on Reading Faiz in English, a select study of English translations by Agha Shahid Ali and Shiv K. Kumar. His academic journey revolves around exploring the loss and gain in translation, Linguistic and stylistic issues in translation, Cultural issues in translation, particularly within the context of Faiz’s poetic oeuvre.
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0061-6168
shahshabir993@gmail.com
Dr. Chetana Pokhriyal serves as the Dean of the School of Languages at Doon University, Dehradun. With an impressive career spanning 33 years, she is a distinguished scholar in the fields of Modern Critical Theories, Eco-criticism and postcolonial literature. Her extensive experience and profound knowledge have significantly contributed to the academic community, inspiring countless students and colleagues.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4938-395X
chetanapokhriyal@gmail.com
Exploring the Depths of the Psyche: A Psychoanalytic Study of Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s Poem Dasht-e tanhā.ī by Shabeer Ahmad Shah & Chetana Pokhriyal is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 
