The 17th death anniversary of noted poetess Parveen Shakir is being observed on Monday.
Prominent literary figures will also lay floral wreaths on the grave of late poetess. It may be recalled that Parveen Shakir, 42, was died in a road accident on December 26, in 1994.
Born on November 24, 1952 in Karachi, she was a noted Urdu poetess, teacher and a civil servant. She did her master in English Literature and Linguistics from Karachi University.
She was a professor at Karachi University and Trinity College, Connecticut, USA, for 9 years before joining the Civil Service, where she served in the Customs department. In 1986, she was appointed second secretary, CBR in Islamabad.
In 1990, she taught at Trinity College, Connecticut, USA, and then did her masters in public administration at Harvard University in 1991.
Her poetry was a breath of fresh air in Urdu poetry. She used the first person feminine pronoun, which is rarely used in Urdu poetry even by female poets.
The feminine perspective of love and the associated social problems were her theme. Critics compare her poetry to that of Iranian poet Forough Farrokhzad.
Her first book, Khushboo, won the Adamjee Award. Later she was awarded the Pride of Performance.
I would like to dedicate this thread to ‘Parveen Shakir’ poetry collection …
aks-e-Khushboo hoon bikharne se na roke koi
aur bikhar jaun to mujhe na samete koi
kaanp uthti hun mai ye Tanhai me
mere Chehre pe tera naam na parhle koi
jis tarah khwab mere ho gaye reza reza
is tarah se na kabhi toot ke bikhre koi
mai ti is din harasan hun ke jab hukam mile
khushk phoolon ko kitabon me na rakhe koi
ab to is raah se wo shakhs guzarta bhi nahi
ab kis umeed se darwaze se jahnke koi
koi awaaz,koi ahaat,koi chaap nahi
dil ki galyan badi sunsaan hain aye koi …
