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Remembering Parveen Shakir — poet's 21st death anniversary observed

Remembering Parveen Shakir — poet's 21st death anniversary observed

The poet who shares her death anniversary with poet Munir Niazi was among the few female poets to have cemented her name
27 Dec, 2015

ISLAMABAD: The 21st death anniversary of the renowned poet, teacher and civil servant Parveen Shakir was observed on Saturday.

Members of the Parveen Shakir Trust and Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) chairperson Qasim Bogio visited Ms Shakir’s grave this morning, and placed wreaths at her grave.

Ms Shakir began writing at an early age, and her first volume of poetry, ‘Khushbu’, was published in 1976.

Her works ‘Sad Barg’, ‘Khud Kalami’ and ‘Kaf-i-Aina’ were published during the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Ms Shakir also wrote columns in newspapers under the title Gosha-i-Chashm, and received the Pride of Performance award for her outstanding contribution to literature.

Ms Shakir was a teacher for nine years before she joined the civil service, and worked in the customs department. In 1986, she was appointed CBR second secretary in Islamabad.

When Ms Shakir appeared in her Central Superior Services examination in 1982, the exam reportedly included a question on her poetry.

On Dec 26 1994, Ms Shakir was in a fatal car accident near Zero Point in Islamabad. The road on which she died was named after her. Ms Shakir was survived by her son Syed Murad Ali.

Parveen Shakir Trust chairperson Parveen Qadir Agha told Dawn that a Quran Khwani was also held at her resident in G-6/4.

“In the evening, we also held a poetic symposium to remember Parveen Shakir. Moreover, Jamiluddin Aali (who died this year) and Munir Niazi (whose death anniversary is also on Dec 26) were remembered,” she said.

She said the symposium was attended by the poets Anjum Khaliq, Khawar Ahmed, Najiba Arif, Mehboob Zafar, Shahzad Nayyer and others.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2015

Comments

F/7 Dec 27, 2015 11:43am
It was a very sad rainy day, when we saw her scrumbled up blue Starlet in a traffic light intersection. Our national irresponsible driving habits have taken many lives, including this starlet who was not only a remarkable poet but her personal life struggle and success was symbolic for our courageous women who refuse to submit to our societal injustices.
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M Dec 27, 2015 11:44am
This article should have included a few lines from her famous poems .
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tasleemul arifeen Dec 27, 2015 12:53pm
these all legend Poets were assets for all and we just remember them, but some has learned and most are learning these world renown Personalities.
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