Parveen Shakir: Combination of Poetry and Pathos

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 26 December 2024 Death at any age and of any person is painful. But it's all the more sad and painful when the person dies rather young. Whenever the name of Parveen Shakir comes to mind, the thought that she passed away young and at the zenith of her poetic genius, makes all of us sad. She shuffled off the mortal coil at the age of 42 on December 26, 1994. Yet, the corpus of her works is considerable as well as significant. No poet has had the meteoric rise in the last three decades, like the one Shakir did. By the time her first book, Khushboo (Fragrance) was published, she was already renowned. The book was republished within six months, still a rare honour in Pakistan. Very beautiful and elegant, Parveen's poetry was even more elegant with a tinge of reclusiveness. Parveen Shakir ----- Her poetry had Hashmat-E-Tanhai ( grandeur of loneliness): Itne Ghane Baadal Ke Peechhe/ Kitna Tanha Hoga Chaand (Behind a thick plumage of clouds/ Moon is so alone). Longing was the leitmotif of her poetry: Kuchh Toh Hava Bhi Sard Thi, Kuchh Tha Tera Khayal Bhi/ Dil Ko Khushi Ke Saath-Saath Hota Raha Malaal Bhi (The air had a pleasant nip in it along with your memories/ My heart was happy and a trifle sad simultaneously). Parveen's poetry had a streak of refreshing candour: Kaise Kah Doon Ki Mujhe Chhod Diya Hai Us Ne/ Baat Toh Sach Hai Magar Baat Hai Ruswai Ki (How can I say that he left me/ Though it's true, it's also a blot on my reputation). Shorn of poetic embellishments and linguistic adornments, Parveen's poetry strikes you with its honest and genuine simplicity: Hum Toh Samjhe Thay Ki Ek Zakhm Hai Bhar Jayega/ Kya Khabar Thi Ki Rag-E-Jaan Mein Utar Jayega (I thought that it was a mere wound that would heal soon/ Never knew that it'd descend into the vein of life). It's said that candour and disenchantment (not exactly, 'despair') often go together. Her poetry shows that: Dushmanon Ke Saath Mere Dost Bhi Aazaad Hain/ Dekhna Hai Kheenchta Hai Mujh Pe Pahla Teer Kaun (Both my friends and foes are at large/ Let's see, who releases the first arrow). A Pakistani Urdu critic called her poetry, Aahon Ki Shayari (poetry of sighs): Raat Ke Shayad Ek Baje Hain/ Sota Hoga Mera Chaand (It could be 1 am at night/ My moon may be fast asleep). It's worthwhile to mention that Parveen and Meena Kumari's poetry had certain similarities. Sadness suffused their poetry and both were very versatile, in addition to being strikingly beautiful. Parveen was an exceptional observer with a deep understanding of human psychology, esp. gender-related preferences and idiosyncrasies: Ladkiyon Ke Dukh Ajab Hote Hain, Sukh Uss Se Ajeeb/ Hans Rahi Hain Aur Kaajal Bheegta Hai Saath-Saath (Women have strange sorrows and their joys are even more strange/ They laugh and cry at the same time). Meena Kumar said in a similar vein: Honth Agar Hans Bhi Padein, Aankh Chhalak Uthti Hai (Even when lips smile, tears well up in the eyes). She was a Muhajir in Pakistan. Parveen Shakir's father, Shakir Hussain Saqib, was a poet from Laheriasarai in the Darbhanga district of Bihar. He migrated to Karachi after the partition of India. She was the fragrance scattered in the breeze. Reading her poetry gives you a sense of familiarity and Déjà vu, expressed so well and articulately. Lastly, she was a teacher and civil servant of the government of Pakistan and studied at Harvard University and University of Karachi. Who says, beauty and brains never gel? Also Read: Parveen Shakir's Poetry Subverts the Rhetoric of Women's Liberation Parveen Shakir: Her Poetry & Persona Parveen Shakir: A Poem in Love of the Indus River پروین شاکر: سندھو دریا کی محبت میں ایک نظم Parveen Shakir: A Pakistani Devotee of Radha Krishna Parveen Shakir: Her Couplets from Different Gazals; Part 6 پروین شاکر: مختلف غزلوں سے ان کے اشعار ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/parveen-shakir-poetry-pathos/d/134146 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism