Born on November 24, 1952, in Karachi, Parveen Shakir displayed an early inclination towards poetry, encouraged by her father, Shakir Hussain Thaheem, who himself was a poet. After completing her education, including a Master’s degree in English literature, she began her career as a teacher. However, her passion for poetry led her to publish her first collection, “Khushbu,” at the age of 25, which garnered widespread acclaim. She received the Adamjee Literary Award for this collection.
Commenting on Parveen’s poetry, her mentor Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi remarked that her poetry propagated the same enchantment of longing as Ghalib’s couplet, “Phoonkta hai kis ne gosha-e-mohabbat me Aye Khuda * Afsana-e-intezar tamanna kahin jise.” He stated that this longing, the spell of waiting, from Homer to Ghalib, taught all the great and true poetry to pulse in the human heart, and Parveen Shakir carried forward this enchantment in Urdu poetry with her magical touch.
Parveen Shakir revolutionized Urdu poetry with a language that was the most refined, unique, and captivating. She tackled the delicate issues, complexities, domestic dilemmas, personal struggles, societal anxieties, and the treacherous valleys of beauty and love in her poetry in a remarkably unique style. She was the first to use the singular conscience as the speaker in Urdu literature to bring to light the issues of the sensitive genre, attracting readers to her magnetic force.
Her collected works, including “Khushbu,” “Sad-barg,” “Khud Kalami,” and “Inkar,” are testament to her ability to captivate readers with a fragrance of various hues, like a garden full of blossoms that inevitably draw the beholder’s attention.
Parveen Shakir’s poetry was not just about the words; it was a journey into the depths of human emotions, struggles, and aspirations. She had a rare talent for weaving together words in a way that not only painted vivid images but also resonated deeply with the reader’s soul. Her verses were a reflection of her own experiences, observations, and insights into the human condition.
Through her poetry, Parveen Shakir gave voice to the silent struggles of women, the complexities of love and relationships, and the longing for freedom and self-expression. She broke new ground in Urdu literature by daring to explore themes and topics that were often considered taboo or too controversial.
Parveen Shakir’s legacy continues to inspire new generations of poets and readers alike. Her unique style, heartfelt expression, and fearless exploration of sensitive topics have earned her a permanent place in the annals of Urdu literature. She remains a beacon of sensitivity and empathy, reminding us of the power of words to illuminate the human experience.
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