Parveen Shakir
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Parveen Shakir (; 24 November 1952 – 26 December 1994) was a Pakistani poet and civil servant of the
government of Pakistan The Government of Pakistan () (abbreviated as GoP), constitutionally known as the Federal Government, commonly known as the Centre, is the national authority of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a federal republic located in South Asia, con ...
. She is best known for her poems, which brought a distinctive feminine voice to
Urdu literature Urdu literature (, ) comprises the literary works, written in the Urdu language. While it tends to be dominated by poetry, especially the verse forms of the ''ghazal'' () and '' nazm'' (), it has expanded into other styles of writing, includin ...
. Since her death in a road accident at a young age, the "Parveen Shakir Urdu Literature Festival" has been held every year in
Islamabad Islamabad (; , ; ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's tenth-most populous city with a population of over 1.1 million and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital Territory. Bu ...
in her memoriam.


Early life and education

Shakir was born on 24 November 1952 in
Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...
, Pakistan. Her father Shakir Hussain Saqib, also a poet, was from
Laheriasarai Laheriasarai is a town and serves as the Administrative centre, administrative center for the Darbhanga district and Darbhanga division, division. It is situated within the Urban area, urban expanse of Darbhanga district, Darbhanga. It is very ...
in the
Darbhanga district Darbhanga district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar States and territories of India, state in eastern India, and Darbhanga city is the administrative headquarters of this district and 5th largest city of Bihar as well. Darbhanga d ...
of
Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
and had migrated to Karachi after the
partition of India The partition of India in 1947 was the division of British India into two independent dominion states, the Dominion of India, Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan. The Union of India is today the Republic of India, and the Dominion of Paki ...
. She received two undergraduate degrees, one in
English literature English literature is literature written in the English language from the English-speaking world. The English language has developed over more than 1,400 years. The earliest forms of English, a set of Anglo-Frisian languages, Anglo-Frisian d ...
and the other in
linguistics Linguistics is the scientific study of language. The areas of linguistic analysis are syntax (rules governing the structure of sentences), semantics (meaning), Morphology (linguistics), morphology (structure of words), phonetics (speech sounds ...
(from Sir Syed Government Girls College), and obtained MA degrees in the same subjects from the
University of Karachi The University of Karachi (; informally Karachi University, KU, or UoK) is a public research university located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Established in June 1951 by an act of Parliament and as a successor to the University of Sindh (which is ...
. She also held a PhD, and another MA degree in Bank Administration. In 1982, Shakir qualified for the Central Superior Services (CSS) Examination. In 1991, she obtained an MA degree in
public administration Public administration, or public policy and administration refers to "the management of public programs", or the "translation of politics into the reality that citizens see every day",Kettl, Donald and James Fessler. 2009. ''The Politics of the ...
from
Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
.


Poetic career

Shakir started writing at a very young age. She wrote both prose and poetry, contributed columns in
Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...
newspapers, and a few articles in English dailies. Initially, she wrote under the pen-name "Beena". After teaching for nine years, she joined the
Civil Service of Pakistan The Central Superior Services (CSS; or Civil Service) is a permanent elite civil service authority and the civil service that is responsible for running the bureaucratic operations and government secretariats and directorates of the Cabinet of ...
in October 1982 and worked in the customs department. In 1986, she was appointed second secretary of the Central Board of Revenue (now
Federal Board of Revenue The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) (), formerly known as Central Board of Revenue (CBR), is a federal law enforcement agency of Pakistan that investigates tax crimes, suspicious accumulation of wealth, money-laundering make regulation of collec ...
) in
Islamabad Islamabad (; , ; ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's tenth-most populous city with a population of over 1.1 million and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital Territory. Bu ...
, Pakistan. In 1976, Shakir published her first volume of poetry ''
Khushbu Khushbu Sundar (born Nakhat Khan; 29 September 1970) is an Indian politician, actress, film producer and television personality. She is known for her work predominantly in Tamil cinema, Tamil language films and in a few Telugu cinema, Telugu ...
'' (''Fragrance'') to great acclaim. She was awarded one of the highest honours of Pakistan, the
Pride of Performance The Pride of Performance (), officially known as the Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sp ...
, for her outstanding contributions to literature. She subsequently published other volumes of poetry including ''Sad-barg'' (''Marsh Marigold'') in 1980, and ''Khud Kalāmi'' (''Soliloquy'') and ''Inkār'' (''Denial'') in 1990. These poetry books are collected in ''Māh-e-Tamām'' (''Full Moon''). She also published a collection of her newspaper columns, titled ''Gosha-e-Chashm'' (''Corner of the Eye''). ''Kaf-e-Āina'' (''The Mirror's Edge'') was released posthumously with works from her diaries and journals.


Death

On 26 December 1994, Shakir's car collided with a bus while she was on her way to work in Islamabad. The accident resulted in her death. The road on which the accident took place is named after her as Parveen Shakir Road in sector F-7 Islamabad.Parveen Shakir's death anniversary observed
Dawn (newspaper), 27 December 2016, Retrieved 1 June 2019


Style of poetry

The two main styles she wrote in were
ghazal ''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
and ''āzād nazm'' (
free verse Free verse is an open form of poetry which does not use a prescribed or regular meter or rhyme and tends to follow the rhythm of natural or irregular speech. Free verse encompasses a large range of poetic form, and the distinction between free ...
) where she utilized several literary techniques and examined delicate topics to create a full image of the female experience.


''Ghazliat''

Shakir's ''ghazliāt'' are considered "a combination of classical tradition with modern sensitivity", and mainly deal with the feminine perspective on love and romance, and associated themes such as beauty, intimacy, separation, break-ups, distances, distrust, infidelity and disloyalty. Most of Shakir's ''ghazliāt'' contain five to ten couplets, often interrelated. Sometimes, two consecutive couplets may differ greatly in meaning and context, an example of this can be noted in the following couplets: The ''ghazliāt'' rely heavily on metaphors and similes, which are repeatedly and thought-provokingly used to bring force and lyricism in her works. A fine example of this is seen in one of her most famous couplets: Here, Shakir relates fragrance to an unfaithful lover, air to the unfaithful person's secret loves, and flower to the person being cheated. Other metaphors Shakir commonly uses are ''titlī'' (butterfly) for a Romeo, ''bādal'' (cloud) for one's love, ''bārish'' (rain) for affection, ''āṅdhī'' (storm) for difficulties and ''chāṅd'' (moon) for loneliness. An example with the central theme of loneliness using the moon as a metaphor is: Some of her ''ghazliāt'' have gained iconic status in
Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...
literature. Another notable couplet that is often quoted to comment on the often surprising knowledge and awareness of the younger generation is:


Free verse

Compared to her ''ghazliāt'', Shakir's free verse is much bolder and explores social issues and taboos, including gender inequality, discrimination, patriotism, deceit, prostitution, the human psyche, and current affairs. It is written in a way which was and is still considered modern in Pakistan. Other than topics of femininity and female sexuality, Shakir also used free verse to write about topics related to economic disparities and the tendency of society to exploit the weak and poor. Several of her poems lament the harsh reality that many low-income laborers around the world face. For example, her poem "Steel Mills Worker" speaks about the deplorable conditions and long hours workers find themselves doing every day. The poem also describes how these workers are taken for granted and used as a means to an end by those who employ them. The last lines of the poem paint this stark picture vividly. Another one of her poems, "We Are All Dr Faustus", delves deeper into this subject and directly addresses the prevalence of corruption in wealthy and powerful circles of people. She claimed that the rich achieve their goals but at a grave price, and used these arguments to critique economic systems such as
capitalism Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and their use for the purpose of obtaining profit. This socioeconomic system has developed historically through several stages and is defined by ...
. The length of Shakir's free verse poems can range from a few to many lines. Most are written with a central theme while some are written in the mode of
stream of consciousness In literary criticism, stream of consciousness is a narrative mode or method that attempts "to depict the multitudinous thoughts and feelings which pass through the mind" of a narrator. It is usually in the form of an interior monologue which ...
. Parveen Shakir is known for her use of pop culture references and English words and phrases – a practice that is generally considered inappropriate and is criticised in Urdu poetry. An example is the poem ''Departmental Store Mein'' (In a Departmental Store), which is named thus despite the fact that the title could have been substituted with its Urdu equivalent. She also used words like "natural pink", "hand lotion", "shade", "scent" and "pack", and made references to cosmetics brands like Pearl,
Revlon Revlon, Inc. is an American multinational company dealing in cosmetics, skin care, perfume, and personal care. The headquarters of Revlon was established in New York City on March 1, 1932, where it remains. Revlon was founded by brothers Charle ...
,
Elizabeth Arden Elizabeth Arden (December 31, 1881 – October 18, 1966), also known as Elizabeth N. Graham, was a Canadian-American businesswoman who founded what is now Elizabeth Arden, Inc., and built a cosmetics empire in the United States. Backg ...
and Tulip in the poem. Other examples are her poems ''Ecstasy'', ''Nun'', ''Duty'', ''Flower show'', and ''Picnic''. Shakir's free verse also contains a few credited works and poems that are translations of, or inspired by, other authors. Examples are "Wasteland", a poem inspired by Eliot's poem of the same name, "''Benasab Wirsay Ka Bojh''" (The Burden of Illegitimate Inheritance), a translation of Yeats' "Leda and the Swan", and "''Banafshay Ka Phool''" (A Violet), inspired by
Wordsworth William Wordsworth (7 April 177023 April 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication '' Lyrical Ballads'' (1798). Wordsworth's ...
's "A Violet under a hidden rock".


Poetic themes

Shakir's poems are known for their in-depth exploration of sensitive topics rarely talked about, especially for women. Her poems aimed to encompass all parts of being a woman, from the innocence to the start of being conscious of one's own sexuality, and more adult struggles as well. These include the hardships of love, the restrictions and social pressures faced uniquely by women, and the need for women to be more represented in all areas of society. One aspect of writing that Shakir is particularly known for is her introduction of female pronouns, both first person and third person, as a way to normalize femininity in poetry, specifically within the realm of Urdu poetry, a traditionally masculine field. Through her ghazals in particular, she continued to embody a feminine voice through grammatical choices, giving a voice to females and the female experience. Shakir's personal life was extremely influential in the choice of style and topic that she chose to pursue. An example of this would be the tumultuous divorce between her and her husband, which resulted in her losing custody of her son due to Pakistani law. This event was one of the reasons her writing focused heavily on women's issues in regards to their place in society. Many of her poems lament the discrimination women face, especially as a divorcee living in a more conservative country.


Legacy

Shakir's poetry was well-received, and after her untimely death she is now considered one of the best and "most prominent" modern poets Urdu language has ever produced. Hailed as a "great poetess," her poetry has drawn comparisons to that of Iranian poet
Forough Farrokhzad Forugh Farrokhzad (; 28 December 1934 – 14 February 1967) was an influential Iranian poet and film director. She was a controversial modernist poet and an iconoclastic,* feminist author. Farrokhzad died in a car accident at the age of 32. Ear ...
, and she is considered among the breed of writers "regarded as pioneers in defying tradition by expressing the 'female experience' in Urdu poetry." Her poems were unique in the sense that they exposed and even encouraged freedom of expression among women. She did not shy away from taboo themes; instead, she claimed them and used them to create provocative poems that challenge the dependency of women on men. As influenced by her experience with Pakistani tradition, literary analysts suggest she tried to use her poems to offer a refuge for women fighting misogyny, specifically in South Asian culture. Her first and most well-known work, ''
Khushbu Khushbu Sundar (born Nakhat Khan; 29 September 1970) is an Indian politician, actress, film producer and television personality. She is known for her work predominantly in Tamil cinema, Tamil language films and in a few Telugu cinema, Telugu ...
'', was specifically monumental in this regard. In Shakir's writing, she touched on the theme of separation. Shakir's book explored the theme not only in the sense of not only emotionally being alone, but also in regards to unjustly losing social capital as a woman in the absence of a man. Her poems allude to not only what a man provides of her emotionally and physically, but also financially and in terms of societal expectations. Shakir's work has been acknowledged by several other poets and the media in general. A source states, "Parveen ... seems to have captured the best of Urdu verse ... Owing to erstyle and range of expressions one will be intrigued and ... entertained by some soul-stirring poetry." Another praises "her rhythmic flow and polished wording". Pakistan's noted literary figure Iftikhar Arif has praised Shakir for impressing "the young lot through her thematic variety and realistic poetry," for adding "a new dimension to the traditional theme of love by giving expression to her emotions in a simple and pellucid style," and using a "variety of words to convey different thoughts with varying intensities." ''The Delhi Recorder'' has stated that Shakir "has given the most beautiful female touch to Urdu poetry." Shakir's work in writing, teaching, and government service inspired many women to follow suit. After learning about Shakir's pioneering career, many women decided to join work sectors that seldom contained women before, such as journalism and public service. The first substantial selection of Shakir's work translated into English was made by the poet Paiker-e-Hussain in 2011. In 2019, a collection of 100 selected poems of Shakir were translated into English by Naima Rashid and published by the Oxford University Press under the title "Defiance of the Rose".


Parveen Shakir Urdu Literature Festival

Due to Shakir's far-reaching impact in the poetry world, the Parveen Shakir Trust was established in 1994. The trust now hosts the Parveen Shakir Urdu Literature Festival in
Islamabad Islamabad (; , ; ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's tenth-most populous city with a population of over 1.1 million and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital Territory. Bu ...
every year. During the festival, works from various poets, including Shakir, are displayed in an attempt to create awareness and interest in traditional Pakistani forms of writing and poetry. The festival particularly targets youth in order to increase the amount of younger individuals dedicated to this type of study, although it welcomes those of all ages who attend. According to the organizers of the festival, the event serves as a way to honor past writers, continue the influence of their writing, and promote creativity among the general public.


Awards and accolades

Shakir's first book, ''Khushboo'', was awarded the Adamjee Literary Award in 1976. Later, she was awarded the
Pride of Performance The Pride of Performance (), officially known as the Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sp ...
, one of
Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
's highest honours in 1990. Upon her death, the Parveen Shakir Trust was established by her close friend, Parveen Qadir Agha. The trust organises a yearly function and gives out the "Aks-e-Khushbu" award.


Commemorative postage stamp

In 2013, Pakistan Post Office issued a commemorative postage stamp of rupees 10 denomination to honor Shakir on the 19th anniversary of her death. Postage Stamp to mark Parveen's death anniversary
Dawn (newspaper), 23 December 2013, Retrieved 1 June 2019


Tribute

On 24 November 2019,
Google Google LLC (, ) is an American multinational corporation and technology company focusing on online advertising, search engine technology, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, consumer electronics, and artificial ...
celebrated Shakir's 67th birthday with a
Google Doodle Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google's homepages intended to commemorate holidays, events, achievements, and historical figures. The first Google Doodle honored the 1998 edition of the long-running annual Bu ...
.


Books

Following is a list of Shakir's published books. English translation of each book's title follows in italics. Volumes of Poetry * • "''
Khushbu Khushbu Sundar (born Nakhat Khan; 29 September 1970) is an Indian politician, actress, film producer and television personality. She is known for her work predominantly in Tamil cinema, Tamil language films and in a few Telugu cinema, Telugu ...
''" (1976) – ''Fragrance'' * • "''Sad-barg''" (1980) – ''Rosa Centifolia'' * • "''Khud-kalaami''" (1990) – ''Soliloquy'' * • "''Inkaar''" (1990) – ''Denial'' * • "''Maah-e-Tamaam''" (1994) – ''Full Moon'' (Compilation of the books above) * • "''Kaf-e-Aa'ina''" – ''The Mirror's Edge'' (Posthumous release compiling works from diaries) Prose * • "''Gosha-e-Chashm''" – ''Corner of the eye'' (Compilation of newspaper columns)


See also

*
Ghazal ''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
* Ada Jafri * Fehmida Riaz * Kishwar Naheed *
Forough Farrokhzad Forugh Farrokhzad (; 28 December 1934 – 14 February 1967) was an influential Iranian poet and film director. She was a controversial modernist poet and an iconoclastic,* feminist author. Farrokhzad died in a car accident at the age of 32. Ear ...


References


External links

*
Parveen Shakir Ghazals
– Parveen Shakir Ghazals on rekhta.org website
Parveen Shakir Selected Poetry
– The Website has research based segregation of Parveen Shakir's Poetry into Love, Sadness, Social, Political and Religious Poetry

– Parveen Shakir: A Note and Twelve Poems, by C.M. Naim
Hashmi – Five poems by Parveen Shakir, translated by Alamgir Hashmi

Where am I? , Wo bin ich?
Retrieved 19 Jan 2016 {{DEFAULTSORT:Shakir, Parveen 1952 births 1994 deaths Muhajir people Harvard Kennedy School alumni Urdu-language poets from Pakistan Pakistani civil servants Pakistani feminist writers Poets from Karachi 20th-century Pakistani poets Pakistani women writers 20th-century women writers Road incident deaths in Pakistan Recipients of the Adamjee Literary Award Recipients of the Pride of Performance University of Karachi alumni Pakistani people of Bihari descent Parveen Shakir