Perveen Shakir was born in
Karachi on 24th of November, 1952. Her father's name was Syed Shakir Hussain.
She received her education in Karachi, obtaining two Masters Degrees one in
English Literature in 1972 and the other in Linguistics in 1980, both from
Karachi University. She joined Abdullah Girls College, Karachi as lecturer in
English Department in 1973 where she taught for nine years. She got married to
Doctor Syed Naseer All, her aunt's son, in 1976 in 1979, she was blessed with a
son, Syed Murad All Her married life ended in 1987 due to divorce. She never
married again
Perveen Shakir qualified the
Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations and joined Civil Services Academy
in 1982. She was posted as Assistant Collector Customs, Karachi in 1984. She
was posted as Second Secretary Central Board of Revenue, Islamabad in 1986.
In 1982, she graduated from John
F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, USA with a master degree in Public
Administration.
Perveen Shakir passed away on
26th December 1994 in a road accident when a passenger bus smashed her car at
the crossing of Faisal Avenue and Margalla Road of Islamabad
Poetry of Perveen Shakir:
Perveen Shakir had a prominent
place among her contemporary poets. She gained unprecedented popularity,
admiration and acclaim from the general readers, literary critics, electronic
media and press at a very young age.
Her poetry is initially based on
romanticism and she expressed the intensity of a woman's emotions, particularly
of a young girl, remarkably well. The landscape of feminine psyche has been
very artistically portrayed by her. Main themes of her poetry include love,
betrayal, beauty, devotion, solitude, separation, distrust and agony.
Occasionally, her poetry focused on the contradictions inherent in a male
dominated society
Perveen Shakir was not just a
romantic poet. She was very much aware of the social and political issues
prevalling in our society. Her political acumen is reflected in her work. She
has expressed her concem in many of her poems as well as her columns
Gosha-e-Chashm It pained her to see any kind of suffering and inequality. Her love
for motherland is reflected in her poetry Pakistan was always very close to her
heart. She was a patriot to the core
Spontaneity of expression,
skilful use of metaphors & similes and simple diction are the main features
of her poetry. She impressed her readers through her realistic poetry, novelty
of style and creative excellence
Perveen Shakir was fully aware of
the importance of classical heritage of poetry and she assimilated it well in
her poetry. Eastern style is prominent in her poetry. Her verses reflect her
deep psychological insight. She never lost her sweetness of expression even
while focusing on the bitter realities of life
Her first colection of poetry
(Khushboo) was published when she was just twenty live years old. It became so
popular that the word "Khushboo" itself became the metaphor of
Perveen's personality and a symbol of her poetry. Her second collection of
poetry "Khud-Kalami" was also widely admired. In "Sad
barg", her third poetic collection, collective consciousness and the
realization of hard realities of life seemed emerging in her poetry. In
"Inkaar", her fourth poetic collection, Perveen Shakir's creative
personality appeared as even more mature, non-conformist and refusing the
status quo. In "Kaf-e-Aina", her last poetry book, those ghazalyaat
and poems are included which were collected from her diaries and other papers,
after her death.
Books of Perveen Shakir:
Her first book
"Khusboo" was published in 1977, "Sadbarg" in 1980,
"Khud Kalami" in 1985, "Inkaar" in 1990, and "Mah-e-Tamam"
in 1994.
The following of her books were
published after her death: "Kaf-e-Aina", "Talking to
Oneself", "Geeta Anjali" and "Gosha-e-Chashm".
Awards and Distinctions
Throughout of her life, Perveen
Shakir received many awards and distinctions:
1. The Best Poet Award, by the
United States Information Service (USIS), Karachi 1970
2. The Adamjee Award, for Best
Poetry, for her book "Khushboo" Karachi in
3. A Gold Medal for the best poet
of the year, at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Sir Syed College for Women
Karachi in 1979
4. Second Position in the Central
Superior Service (CSS) Exam 1981
5. Best Probationer's Award,
Civil Services Academy, Lahore 1982
6. Allama Iqbal Hijra Award for
Poetry for her book "Khud Kalami" Lahore in 1985
7. Awarded the Zahoor Nazar Award
for Urdu Nazm India in 1986
8. Selected as Member of the
Writers Delegation by the Government of Pakistan to visit China in 1987
9. Graduate Award for best TV
Compere (Literary Programmes), Lahore in 1988
10. Awarded the Faiz Ahmad Faiz
International Award for Poetry, by the World Urdu Conference, New Delhi, India
in 1989
11. Represented Pakistan in the
4th South Asian Poetry Festival, Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1989
12. Selected as Fullbright
Scholar-in-Residence, Hartford Consortium for Higher Education, Hartford, Conn.
USA in 1990
13. Received the Thomas Jefferson
Fellowship for Edward S. Mason Program, to study at the J.F.K. School of
Government, Harvard University, Mass, USA in 1991
14. Received the President's
Award for Pride of Performance for Literature, in 1991
15. Recommended for conferment of
Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 1993
After her death, following awards were given to her:
1. Nishan-e-Fazeelat, by the Old
Students Society of Karachi University, UNIKARIANS in 1995
2. All Pakistan Newspaper APNS
12th Journalist Award (13th Annual), Lahore in 1995
3. Shield of Recognition by the
Karachi Women's Peace Committee on International Women's Day, 50 Years in
Pakistan in 1997
4. Golden Women of Pakistan Award
by the Ladies Forum, Karachi in 1997
5. Life Time Achievement Award in
the field of poetry and for her untiring endeavors in bringing life to the
Federal Capital by the Takshila Margalla Festival Award, Islamabad in 2004
On Poets of Pakistan Series Perveen Shakir, Pakistan Post is issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs. 10/- denomination on December 26, 2013.
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