Zehra Nigah


Zehra Nigah is a prominent Urdu poet and scriptwriter from Pakistan, affectionately known as 'Zehra Apa'. As one of the pioneers of Urdu poetry by women, Nigah was one of the first female poets to gain recognition in a male-dominated field. Nigah's achievements are particularly notable in the realm of mushaira, where she is regarded as the first female poet to fully participate and leave a lasting impact. Additionally, Nigah occasionally works as a songwriter and scriptwriter.
Highly revered in the literary community for her blend of modern feminine and classic poetry, Nigah is esteemed not only for her expertise but also for her charismatic personality. She frequently presides over literary events and sessions, including serving as the chair of the presidium for both the Aalmi Urdu Conference and the Women's Conference. Nigah has received numerous accolades, including the Pride of Performance, the LLF Lifetime Achievement Award, the Allama Iqbal Award, the UBL Literary Lifetime Award, and the Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award. Her notable works include "Shaam Ka Pehla Tara," "Warq," "Firaq," and "Gul Chandni." Her poetry compilation, "Lafz," was recently published.

Personal life

Zehra was born in Hyderabad, British India. She was 10 years old when she and her family migrated to Pakistan after the 1947 partition of India. Her father was a civil servant with an interest in poetry. Zehra's elder sister, Fatima Surayya Bajia, was also a writer. One of her brothers, Anwar Maqsood, is a writer, satirist and a television host and another brother, Ahmad Maqsood was Secretary to the Government of Sindh. Zehra married Majid Ali, who was a civil servant and had interest in Sufi poetry.

Career

Zehra Nigah began her writing career during her childhood. When she was 14 years old, she learned the poetry of prominent poets by heart. She herself began to compose at the age of 14 and at 15 was already participating in a mushaira in India. She is inspired by classical tradition of Urdu poetry.
Front Line magazine states:
In 2012, an event was held by the fellow writers at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi to launch a CD of Zehra Nigah's poetry in her own voice. The event was presided over by the writer Intizar Hussain and also included the famous humorist Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi.

Awards and recognition

Honours

Publications

Shaam Ka Pehla TaraWaraqFiraaq
  • '''Gul Chandni'''