Lahore – MUNIR NIAZI He was one of the best-known and admired Urdu poets from Pakistan who also produced good poetry in the Punjabi. His effective imagery conveys pictures in few words. He has experimented with poetic forms and has tried to create a new style, rhythm and diction in Urdu poetry. Innocence, mythology, nostalgia, dreams, eroticism, and romance are some of his most common themes. His popular Urdu publications were “Taiz Hawa Aur Tanha Phool”, “Jungle mein Dhanak”, “Dushmanoon Kai Darmiyan Sham” and “Mah-e-Munir,” whereas “Safar di Raat”, “Char Chup Cheezan” and “Rasta Dasan Walay Tarey” were his Punjabi publications.
Sitaray jo damaktay hain
Kissi ki chashm e hairan main
Mulaaqaatain jo hoti hain,
Jamaal e abr o baaraan main
Ye naa aabad waqton main
Dil e naashaad main hogi
Mohabbat ab nahi hogi
Yeh kuch din baad mian hogi
Guzar hain gay jab yeh din
Yeh unki yaad main hogi
PARVEEN SHAKIR – She was a popular Urdu poetess, a civil servant and a teacher who did her masters in English Literature and Linguistics from Karachi University. Her inimitable honour is that when she appeared in Central Superior Services Examination in 1982, there was a question on her poetry in the Urdu exam. Her poetry indeed was a breath of fresh air especially for the modern readers.
She added an exception by using the first person feminine pronoun in poetry. Her famous publications include, “Khushbo”, “Sad-barg”, “Inkaar”, “Maah-e-Tamaam”, “Kaf-e-Aa’ina” and “Khud-kalaami”
Koo bakoo phail gai baat shanaasai ki
Us nay khushboo ki tarah meri pazerai ki
Kaisay keh dun us nay chor dia mujhko
Baat to sach hai magar baat hai ruswai ki
Who kahin bhi gaya loata to meri paas aya
Bas yahi baat hai achi meray harjai ki
Us nay jalti hui paishaani pay jab haath rakha
Rooh taka a gai taaseer maseehai ki
Celebrating life through death anniversaries
