ISLA MABAD - Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Co-ordination and Leader of House in the Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani Monday said that understanding of Faiz Ahmed Faiz in the real spirit was the best way to defeat anti-democratic forces in the country. He said this while addressing a seminar on Faiz Ahmed Faiz organised by the Pakistan Academy of Letters Monday. The ceremony was presided over by PAL Chairman Fakhar Zaman. "To acknowledge and understand Faiz with the true spirit of his thoughts and ideals was the only way to defeat the anti-democratic forces and block the way of dictators in the country", he added while addressing a seminar on Faiz Ahmed Faiz organized by Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL). Prominent literary figures including Prof Khawaja Masud, Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik, Kishwar Naheed, Prof Dr Alamgir Hashmi, Agha Nasir and Shabnam Shakeel also attended the ceremony. The special issue of quarterly Adbiyat "Beyad-e-Faiz Ahmed Faiz" was also launched in ceremony. Raza Rabbani, said that Faiz always represented the oppressed class of society in his poetry and raised voice against the exploitation of the oppressive forces. He said that Faiz was blamed for by a specific class all his life but he did not leave his stance. "What we need is to develop patience among us to create a democratic environment and listen to our opponent's opinion," he said. Fakhar Zaman said that by virtue of his thoughts and ideology Faiz is still alive and is a beacon of light for the coming generation. He was the representative of the conscious of the poor people. His poetry is full of agony, which is unprecedented. His poetry serves as light for the oppressed section of society. He said that Faiz was the loving personality. He never taunted his enemies. He is the honor and identity of Urdu poetry. He said that Faiz's progressiveness was widely popular. Those who opposed Faiz for the sake of opposition now acknowledge Faiz's greatness. There are few legends like him. To promote his thoughts and ideology is the mean of the hour. While speaking on the occasion octogenarian Prof Khawaja Masud said that Faiz lived his life in a tumultuous and revolutionary era. Faiz has deep sense of his time and history. Faiz's poetry refills the ecstasy pain and forgetfulness of a revolutionary. Agha Nasir said that Faiz's poem "Hum Jo Tareek Rahoon Main Marey Gay" is beyond time, age and geographical limits. Fateh Malik said wherever and whenever any innocent is crucified, echo of this song will attract the world to self. Kishwar Naheed said that Faiz has depicted international scenario beautifully, which has become the forward to his poetry.