Parveen Shakir

Parveen Shakir: The Voice of Emotion and Expression

Parveen Shakir, a renowned name in the world of Urdu poetry, captivated the hearts of millions with her profound verses and unparalleled ability to express the deepest emotions of the human soul. Her literary works continue to resonate with readers even today, long after her untimely departure from this world. Parveen Shakir's poetry is characterized by its sincerity, sensitivity, and an unwavering commitment to exploring the complexities of love, heartbreak, and the human experience.

Born on November 24, 1952, in Karachi, Pakistan, Parveen Shakir emerged as a prominent figure in the literary circles of her time. She started writing at a young age, and her talent was recognized early on. Her first poetry collection, "Khushbu," was published in 1976, instantly establishing her as a distinct voice in Urdu literature. Parveen Shakir went on to publish several other collections, including "Sad-barg" (Marsh Marigold), "Khud Kalami" (Talking to Myself), and "Inkaar" (Denial), all of which received critical acclaim and solidified her status as a prominent poetess of her generation.

What set Parveen Shakir's poetry apart was her ability to effortlessly weave together the realms of romance, societal expectations, and personal introspection. Her verses reflected the experiences of women in a patriarchal society, exploring their desires, dreams, and the challenges they face. Parveen Shakir's work often celebrated the strength and resilience of women, challenging societal norms and shedding light on the complexities of relationships.

One of the distinguishing features of Parveen Shakir's poetry was her use of simple yet profound language. She had a remarkable talent for choosing words that resonated deeply with readers, evoking powerful emotions and creating a lasting impact. Her verses were marked by their rawness and vulnerability, allowing readers to connect with the depth of human experiences in an intimate and relatable manner.

Tragically, Parveen Shakir's journey was cut short when she lost her life in a car accident on December 26, 1994, at the age of 42. Her untimely demise was a great loss to the literary world, but her poetry continues to live on, inspiring generations of poets and readers alike. Parveen Shakir's impact on Urdu literature remains unparalleled, and her work continues to be celebrated and studied for its artistic brilliance and profound exploration of human emotions.

Parveen Shakir's poetry transcends boundaries of time and space, touching the hearts of people from different walks of life. Her ability to capture the essence of love, longing, and the complexities of the human heart makes her a poet for all ages. Through her verses, she opened up new avenues of expression, challenging societal norms and breaking free from the confines of tradition.

In the realm of Urdu poetry, Parveen Shakir remains an iconic figure, an inspiration to aspiring poets and a voice for those seeking solace in the beauty of words. Her poetry continues to remind us of the power of language to express the deepest emotions and connect us to the universal experiences of love, pain, and the pursuit of our dreams. Parveen Shakir's legacy lives on, illuminating the path for future generations of poets and reminding us of the everlasting impact of a poet's words.

chalne ka hausla nahin rukna muhaal kar diya
ishq ke is safar ne to mujhko niDhaal kar diya
ai meri gul-zamin tujhe chaah thi ek kitab ki
ahl-e-kitab ne magar kya tera haal kar diya
milte hue dilon ke beech aur tha faisla koi
usne magar bichhaDte waqt aur sawal kar diya
ab ke hawa ke sath hai daman-e-yar muntazir
banu-e-shab ke hath men rakhna sambhaal kar diya
mumkina faislon men ek hijr ka faisla bhi tha
humne to ek baat ki usne kamal kar diya
mere labon pe mohr thi par mere shisha-ru ne to
shahr ke shahr ko mera waqif-e-haal kar diya
chehra-o-nam ek sath aaj na yaad aa sake
waqt ne kis shabih ko KHwab-o-KHayal kar diya
muddaton baad usne aaj mujhse koi gila kiya
mansab-e-dilbari pe kya mujhko bahaal kar diya

Barish hui to phulon ke tan chak ho gaye
mausam ke hath bhig ke saffak ho gaye
baadal ko kya khabar ke barish ki chah main
kitne buland-o-bala shajar khaak ho gaye
jugnu ko din ke waqt pakarne ki zid karen
bache hamare ahad ke chalak ho gaye
lahra rahi hai barf ki chadar hata ke ghas
suraj ki shah pe tinak bhi bebak ho gaye
suraj dimag log bhi iblag-e-fikr main
zulf-e-shab-e-firaq ke pechak ho gaye
jab bhi garib-e-shahar se kuch guftagu hui
lahaje hawa-e-sham ke namnak ho gaye
sahil pe jitne aab_guzida the sab ke sab
dariya ke rukh badalte hi tairak ho gaye
By : Parveen Shakir

chehra mera tha nigahein us ki
Khamoshi men bhi wo baatein us ki
mere chehre pe Ghazal likhti gain
sher kahti hui aaNkhein us ki
ShoKh lamhon ka pata dene lagin
tez hoti hui saaNsen us ki
aise mausam bhi guzaare ham ne
subahen jab apani thin shaamein us ki
dhyaan men us ke ye aalam thaa kabhi
aaNkh mahataab ki yaaden us ki
faisla mauj-e-hawaa ne likkha
aaNdhiyaaN meri bahaarein us ki
nind is soch se TuTi aksar
kis tarah kaTti hain raatein us ki
door rah kar bhi sadaa rahti hai
mujh ko thaame hue baahein us ki
More Ghazals of Parveen Shakir

rasta bhi kaThin, dhoop meiN shiddat bhi bohat thi
saaye se magar us ko mohabbat bhi bohat thi
kheme na koi mere musaafir ke jalaaye
zakhmi tha bohat paaoN musaafat bhi bohat thi
sab dost mre muntazir-e-parda-e-shab the
din meiN to safar karne meiN diqqat bhi bohat thi
barrish ki duaaoN meiN nami aaNkhi ki mil jaaye
jazbe ki kabhi itni rafaaqat bhi bohat thi
kuchchh to tere mausam hi mujhe raas kam aaye
aur kuchchh mri miTTi meiN baghaawat bhi bohat thi
phooloN ka bikharna to muqaddar hi tha lekin
kuchchh is meiN hawaaoN ki siyaasat bhi bohat thi
is tark-e-rafaaqat pe pareshaaN to hooN lekin
ab tak ke tere saath pe hairat bhi bohat thi
khush aaye tujhe shehr-e-munaafiq ki ameeri
hum logoN ko sach kehne ki aadat bhi bohat thi
Perveen Shakir

mushkil hai ab shahar men nikle koi ghar se
dastaar pe baat aa gai hai hoti hui sar se
barsaa bhi to kis dasht ke befaiz badan par
ik umr mere khet the jis abr ko tarse
is baar jo indhan ke liye kaT ke giraa hai
chiDyon ko baDaa pyaar thaa us buDhe shajar se
mehnat meri aaNdhi se to mansoob nahi thi
rahnaa tha koi rabt shajar ka bhi samar se
Khud apne se milne kaa to yaraa na tha mujh men
main bhiD men gum ho gai tanhai ke Dar se
benaam musafat hi muqaddar hai to kyaa Gam
manzil kaa ta'yyun kabhi hotaa hai safar se
patthraya hai dil yuN ki koi ism paDhaa jaaye
ye shahar nikalta nahin jadu ke asar se
nikle hain to raste men kahin shaam bhi hogi
suraj bhi magar aayegaa is raah-guzar se
Parveen Shakir

kuu-ba-kuu phail gai baat shanaasaai ki
us ne Khushbuu ki tarah meri paziraai ki
kaise kah duuN ki mujhe chhoD diyaa hai us ne
baat to sach hai magar baat hai rusvaai ki
vo kahin bhi gayaa lauTaa to mere paas aayaa
bas yahi baat hai achchhi mere harajaai ki
teraa pahalu tere dil ki tarah aabaad rahe
tujh pe guzare na qayaamat shab-e-tanhaai ki
us ne jalati hui peshaani pe jo haath rakhaa
ruuh tak aa gai taasir masihaai ki
Perveen Shakir

justaju khoye huon ki umr bhar karte rahe
chaaNd ke ham_raah ham har shab safar karte rahe
raaston kaa ilm thaa ham ko na simton ki Khabar
shahar-e-naamaalum ki chaahat magar karte rahe
ham ne Khud se bhi chhupayaa aur saare shahar se
tere jaane ki Khabar dar-o-divaar karte rahe
vo na aayegaa hamen maalum thaa us shaam bhi
intazaar us ka magar kuchh soch kar karte rahe
aaj aayaa hai hamen bhii un uDaanon kaa Khayaal
jin ko tere zaum men be-baal-o-par karate rahe
Perveen Shakir

rukane kaa samay guzar gayaa hai
jaanaa teraa ab Thahar gayaa hai
ruKhsat kii ghaDii khaDii hai sar par
dil ko_ii do-niim kar gayaa hai
maatam kii fazaa hai shahar-e-dil men
mujh men ko_ii shaKhs mar gayaa hai
bujhane ko hai phir se chashm-e-nargis
phir Khvaab-e-sabaa bikhar gayaa hai
bas ik nigaah kii thii us ne
saaraa cheharaa nikhar gayaa hai

vo to Khushbuu hai havaaon men bikhar jaayegaa
masalaa phuul ka hai phuul kidhar jaayegaa
ham to samajhe the ke ek zaKhm hai bhar jaayegaa
kyaa Khabar thii ke rag-e-jaaN men utar jaayegaa
vo havaaon kii tarah Khaanaa_bajaaN phirataa hai
ek jhonkaa hai jo aayegaa guzar jaayegaa
vo jab aayegaa to phir us kii rafaaqat ke liye
mausam-e-gul mere aaNgan men Thahar jaayegaa
aaKhirash vo bhii kahiin ret pe baiThii hogii
teraa ye pyaar bhii dariyaa hai utar jaayegaa
Parveen Shakir

terii Khushbuu kaa pataa kartii hai
mujh pe ehasaan havaa kartii hai
shab kii tanhaa_ii men ab to aksar
guftaguu tujh se rahaa kartii hai
dil ko us raah pe chalanaa hii nahiin
jo mujhe tujh se judaa karatii hai
zindagii merii thii lekin ab to
tere kahane men rahaa kartii hai
us ne dekhaa hii nahiin varnaa ye aaNkh
dil kaa ehavaal kahaa kartii hai
beniyaaz-e-kaaf-e-dariyaa angusht
ret par naam likhaa kartii hai
shaam paDate hii kisii shaKhs kii yaad
kuuchaa-e-jaaN men sadaa kartii hai
mujh se bhii us kaa hai vaisaa hii suluuk
haal jo teraa ana??? kartii hai
dukh huaa karataa hai kuchh aur bayaaN
baat kuchh aur huaa kartii hai
abr barase to inaayat us kii
shaaKh to sirf duaa kartii hai
masalaa jab bhii uThaa chiraaGon kaa
faisalaa sirf havaa kartii hai
Parveen Shakir