Parveen Shakir's Concept of Woman

پروین شاکر کا تصورِ عورت

Abstract

Parveen Shakir’s poetry presents the concept of woman in Urdu literature from a unique and profound perspective, where feminine consciousness, love, separation, social rebellion, and romanticism intertwine to reflect the inner and outer world of a woman. In her work, a woman is not merely a victim or a romantic figure; rather, she emerges as a self-aware, resistant, and dignified entity who raises her voice against societal oppression, gender biases, and masculine exploitation. Drawing from her personal experiences, particularly the failure of her marriage and the anguish of loneliness, Parveen Shakir blends these with the emotional and psychological dimensions of womanhood, transforming her poetry into a collective voice for the Eastern woman. Her poetic collections—"Khushboo" (1977), "Sad Barg" (1980), "Khud Kalami" (1990), "Inkaar" (1990), and "Kaf-e-Aaina" (1994) portray the multifaceted roles of a woman as a mother, daughter, wife, and an independent being with remarkable beauty and sensitivity. Her poetry captures a woman’s innocent desires, the complexities of adult life, the experiences of union and separation, and protests against social injustices with artistic finesse. This paper examines the diverse facets of Parveen Shakir’s concept of woman, highlighting how she not only portrays a woman’s vulnerability but also underscores her strength and autonomy, making her poetry a luminous example of feminist thought.

Keywords: Parveen Shakir, Feminine Consciousness, Love,  Separation,  Loneliness, Social Rebellion, Romanticism, Gender Bias, Self-Awareness, Eastern Woman,  Social Exploitation