ISLAMABAD: The 29th death anniversary of eminent and distinguished poetess, Parveen Shakir, affectionately referred to as the “Poetess of Fragrance”, is being observed today (Tuesday).
Born in Karachi on November 24, 1952, Parveen Shakir gained prominence in the literary world after successfully clearing the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam.
In 1977, she entered the literary scene with the publication of her first poetry collection, ‘Khushbu’ (Fragrance), which received widespread acclaim in literary circles. Her subsequent collections like ‘Sad Barg’ (One Hundred Leaves), ‘Khood-Qalami (Self-Talk), and ‘Inkaar’ (Denial) further established her as a distinguished Urdu poet.
The complete works of Parveen Shakir were published under the title ‘Mah-e-Tamam’ (The Full Moon), and her final poetry collection, ‘Kaf-e-Aina’ (The Mirror’s Edge), was released posthumously. Parveen Shakir brought a unique and refreshing style to Urdu poetry, earning her accolades and recognition. The Government of Pakistan honoured her with the prestigious President’s Award for Pride of Performance in acknowledgment of her outstanding contributions.
On December 26, 1994, Parveen Shakir tragically lost her life in a traffic accident in Islamabad and rests peacefully in the central cemetery of Islamabad.
