Salma Shaheen

Salma Shaheen (born 16 April 1954) is a Pakistani poet, fiction writer, researcher, and the first Pashto-woman novelist, who also served as the first-woman director of a language regulatory institution Pashto Academy of University of Peshawar.[2][3] She primarily wrote poems in Urdu and Pashto languages since started her literary work. Shaheen is recognized one of the prominent women writers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who is believed to have made a significant contribution to Pashto language, culture and to its literature.[4][5]

Professor

Salma Shaheen
Native name
سلمہ شاہین
Born (1954-04-16) 16 April 1954[1]
Baghdada, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Occupation
  • Poet
  • Writer
  • Researcher
  • Novelist
LanguagePashto, Urdu
EducationDoctorate
Alma materWomen University Mardan
Genre
Subject
  • Literature
  • Culture
  • Social
  • Tradition
Notable awardsTamgha-e-Imtiaz
Years active19xx–present

Early life

Salma was born on 16 April 1954 in Baghdada town in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She did her secondary schooling from a government school in 1971, and later attended the Women University Mardan (formerly Government College for Women, Mardan) in 2002 and completed further education, including graduation, and doctor's degree with Modern Pashto poem.

Career

Shaheen was initially involved in writings and started her career during childhood. It is believed she originally began writing when she was studying in eighth standard. Her father played a significant role in her career and encouraged her to earn moral authority for Pakhto women. As a director of Pashto Academy, she restored language regulatory institution in 2011 which was previously merged into a not-known institution called Centre for Pashto language and literature. She is also credited for bringing out 120 Pakhtunwali books on hujra, music, dance and jirga.

Literary work

As a poet, Shaheen wrote fourteen to eighteen books in Urdu and Pashto languages, and as a researcher, she wrote folk songs or a research book on folk music titled "Pashto Tapa", short stories, including "Kanri Auo Aghzi" which translates as stones and thorns. Her poetic books include "Za Hum Haghse Wara Way" and "Nawey Sahar" which was originally published in 1982.[1][6] As a researcher, she has published 42 publications on various topics, including social, culture, tradition and language barriers. Her poetry is focused on Pashto culture, literature, and traditions. She is credited for writing two novels titled "Ka Rana Shawa" and "Kani Au Azghi". She also wrote poems which are recognized one of prominent books which includes "Abasin Da Tarikh", "Muasharati Au Saqafati Asar" and "Awami Sandare". As a writer, she represented Pakistan in numerous countries at literary events such as seminars and conferences and was nominated member of a cultural delegation to China. During her visit to China, she wrote a book titled "Dil Aur Ankhein Cheen Main".

Awards

Shaheen is the receipt of numerous awards for her contribution to Pashto literature, social, culture and tradition. Her awards include Abasin Art Council Award, Pakistan Culture Association Award, Pakistan Academy of Letters Hijra and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz which was conferred by the government of Pakistan in 2009.[7]

References
  1. Shinwari, Sher Alam (19 May 2014). "Writer sees bright future for Pakhtun women". DAWN.COM.
  2. "ڈاکٹر سلمہ شاہین خواتین کیلئے رول ماڈل ہیں ' خوائندو ادبی لخکر اُردو پوائنٹ پاکستان". UrduPoint.
  3. "BBC Urdu". www.bbc.com.
  4. "Women writers asked to benefit from available freedom | ePaper | DAWN.COM". epaper.dawn.com.
  5. "ڈاکٹر سلمہ شاہین خواتین کیلئے رول ماڈل ہیں ' خوائندو ادبی لخکر". jang.com.pk.
  6. Report, Bureau (25 January 2018). "Ex-director of Pashto Academy lauded for literary contribution". DAWN.COM.
  7. "Salma resolves to make Pashto Academy real centre of research". www.thenews.com.pk.
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