Against the Grain: Political Dimensions in Perveen Shakir’s Poetry

Abstract Perveen Shakir (1952–1994) is celebrated as one of Pakistan’s pathbreaking Urdu poets. Her literary talent has been showcased through her skillful introduction of a feminine voice in traditionally masculine verse forms. Along with her poetry, her public and private personas have captivated the popular imagination. Yet, Shakir remained maligned within Urdu literary and intellectual circles during her lifetime and beyond. Regarded as a poet of sound structure but not content, Shakir was berated for her inability to reckon, in verse form, with the social and political realities around her. This article pushes back against the claims of sociopolitical apathy leveled against Shakir, to prove that she was an engaged interlocutor with the realities of her age. Using her poetic writings as a primary source, I argue that Shakir demonstrates a deep, critical understanding of the Pakistani nation-state and its various power structures.