Raziq Faani

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Raziq Faani (Persian: رازق فانی) was an Afghan poet and novelist from Kabul. He was born on 30 December 1943 in Kabul, Afghanistan, and died on 22 April 2007 in San Diego, California, at the age of 63. He published more than ten books of poetry and novels in Persian.

His work is known for being mystical, compassionate, and patriotic. Many poems describe the suffering of Afghans during decades of war and exile.

Education and early career: Faani grew up in Kabul and earned a master’s degree in political economy from Sofia University in Bulgaria in 1967. His first poetry collection, Armaghan-e Jawani, appeared in 1966. The novel Baaraana was published in Kabul in 1983. In 1987 he published a satirical collection titled Ameer-e Ba Salaheyat (Competent Director).

Life in exile: He left Afghanistan with his family in 1988, living in India for about two years, before moving to the United States in 1990. They settled in San Diego, which became their second home. While abroad, he published several more works, including Payamber-e Baaran, Aber-o Aaftaab, Shikast-e Shab, Dasht Aweena wa Tasweer, Hazrat-e Eishq, and Partaw-e Khorsheed bar Deewar. These are poetry collections in forms such as Ghazal and Qaseeda.

Family: He had a son, Jamshade Faani, and three daughters.

Death: Raziq Faani died of cancer on 22 April 2007 in San Diego at age 63. He is buried in San Diego.

Selected works: Poetry includes Armaghan-e Jawaanee (1966), Payamber-e Baaran, Aber-o Aaftaab, Shikast-e Shab, Dasht Aweena wa Tasweer, Hazrat-e Eishq, and Partaw-e Khorsheed bar Deewar. Prose includes Baaraana (1983) and Amer-e Ba Salaheyat (1987). He also contributed to plays, translations, and children’s literature.