Parveen Shakir
Parveen Shakir (1952–1994) redefined the Urdu love poem by writing from a woman's point of view. Her debut collection Khushbu (1976) made her a household name; she died in a road accident at 42, leaving behind some of the most quoted verses in contemporary Urdu.
The woman who gave the ghazal a second voice
Parveen Shakir was born in Karachi in 1952 and studied English literature. After teaching, she joined the Pakistani civil service and rose to senior positions in the customs department.
Her first collection, Khushbu (1976), earned the Adamjee Award and made her a household name. Later volumes include Sad-barg, Khud-kalami, Inkaar and Mah-e-tamam.
She died in a car accident in Islamabad on 26 December 1994, aged 42.
Recurring themes
- Women's inner life
- Fragrance and memory
- Dignified self-assertion
- Love as negotiation
- Quiet independence
Where to start
Begin with Khushbu and read the ghazals aloud; her rhythms are subtle and easy to miss on a quick read.
Worth knowing
She was one of the first major Urdu poets to write openly about love from a woman's perspective without borrowing a masculine voice.
Classical Couplets by — Parveen Shakir
Wo to khushboo hai hawaaon mein bikhar jaayega,
Masla phool ka hai phool kidhar jaayega.
Main sach kahungi magar phir bhi haar jaaungi,
Wo jhoot bolega aur laajawab kar dega.
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