London echoes with Faiz: ‘no justice, no peace’ roars at 13th Faiz Amn Mela at SOAS

The SOAS Gallery in Russell Square turned into a living, breathing festival of resistance, poetry and hope as the 13th Faiz Amn Mela

LAHORE/LONDON : The SOAS Gallery in Russell Square turned into a living, breathing festival of resistance, poetry and hope as the 13th Faiz Amn Mela lit up London on Saturday, 3rd October, from 2:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

Organized by Faiz Cultural Foundation UK in collaboration with SOAS South Asia Institute, the Mela has become the biggest non-commercial progressive cultural gathering of the South Asian diaspora in the United Kingdom.

*A Packed House, A Powerful Message:*

From 2:30 PM sharp, the gallery was packed. British-Pakistani families, Indian and Bangladeshi community members, SOAS students, professors, trade unionists, human rights activists and second-generation youth — all sat together on the floor and chairs, with no VIP protocol.

This year’s central theme was unequivocal and timely: “No Peace Without Justice in the World” — _Dunya Mein Insaf Ke Baghair Amn Qaim Nahi Ho Sakta._

Speakers agreed that Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s vision of peace was never silent — it was peace with social justice, equality, human dignity, and resistance against oppression, authoritarianism and imperialism.

A deeply emotional tribute was paid to the late progressive intellectual and Pak-India peace icon Professor Amin Mughal (1935-2026), remembering his decades-long struggle for democracy, free expression and cross-border friendship.

*Who Spoke — Full Line-Up:*

*Jeremy Corbyn, Former UK Labour Leader:* In his keynote, Corbyn called for international solidarity of peace movements and hailed Faiz as a global poet of the oppressed. He linked Faiz’s message to current global struggles for justice.

*Dr. Ammar Ali Jan, Academic and Activist:* Delivered a fiery address on structural authoritarianism, Kashmir, and the power of youth-led resistance. He said progressive literature remains the last honest space for truth in South Asia.

*Moneeza Hashmi, Daughter of Faiz Ahmed Faiz:* Shared a special video presentation with rare, intimate memories of Faiz — his prison days, his tenderness, his unwavering commitment to people.

*Sohail Ahmed, Acclaimed Actor:* Spoke on how satire and comedy can become powerful weapons to question power and social hypocrisy.

*Noor Zaheer, Indian Feminist Author:* Brought a cross-border secular perspective, urging South Asian writers to stand together for peace and against communalism.

*Mira Hashmi, Naeem Mirza and Atif Tauqeer:* Moderated powerful panels on progressive Urdu literature, media as resistance, and why Faiz speaks to Gen-Z in London today more than ever.

*Neha Bora, Student Activist:* Represented youth voices, talking about grassroots struggles, student unions and art as activism.

*The Cultural Soul — Music That Moved Hearts:*

As evening fell, the Mela became a mehfil.

*Wahdat Rameez, Pakistan’s Classical Sensation:* On his debut UK tour, Rameez mesmerized the hall with Faiz’s _Bol_ and _Hum Dekhenge_ in his soul-stirring classical voice. Pin-drop silence, then thunderous applause.

*BaluchTwins, Folk-Fusion Duo:* The young sibling duo set the stage on fire, mixing Balochi folk rhythms with modern beats, drawing youth to dance and sing.

*Soul String, Sufi-Rock Band:* Closed the night with soulful, progressive Sufi-rock anthems that carried Faiz’s spirit.

Faiz’s iconic poems — _Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat Mere Mehboob Na Maang, Dasht-e-Tanhai, Dono Jahan Teri Mohabbat Mein Haar Ke_ — were recited in Urdu and English, connecting British-born youth to their revolutionary heritage.

*Why Faiz Mela Matters:*

Unlike commercial mushairas, Faiz Amn Mela is crowd-funded, volunteer-run and free from corporate sponsorship. No VIP culture. Professors, taxi drivers, students and grandmothers shared tea and Faiz together.

A Minute Mirror correspondent at the venue noted: _”For six hours, SOAS felt like Lahore’s Mall Road in the 1970s — where poetry was politics and music was resistance.”_

The night ended with the entire hall chanting together — _Hum Dekhenge_ — with a collective pledge that progressive art will continue to unite hearts across borders.