Saibaba Translates Faiz: A Revolutionary Literary Dialogue

GN Saibaba’s Telugu translation of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry was published by Horu Publishers in 2025. While Faiz’s work has been translated into Telugu before, this edition creates a meaningful conversation between two revolutionary thinkers.

The translation highlights the shared struggle against oppression and gives voice to the suffering of those who are marginalized and silenced. Through Saibaba’s translation, Faiz’s poetry finds a new resonance, reflecting the struggles of ordinary people against injustice.

It is not surprising that Saibaba chose to translate Faiz, as their lives have many parallels. Both were English professors, and both were actively involved in revolutionary literary movements. Faiz was a member of the Progressive Writers’ Association, while Saibaba was part of the Revolutionary Writers’ Movement (Virasam – Viplava Rachayitala Sangham).

Both poets faced severe persecution from the state. Faiz was falsely accused in the Rawalpindi conspiracy case against then-Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan in 1951 and was imprisoned multiple times for his beliefs. Similarly, Saibaba was arrested in 2014 for alleged Maoist links and spent many years in prison. His long imprisonment affected his health, ultimately contributing to his death.

Saibaba’s translation of Faiz is more than a literary work; it is a bridge connecting the struggles of two revolutionary voices across time. It reminds readers of the courage it takes to speak against oppression and the enduring power of poetry to inspire resistance and hope.