Salma Shaheen

Salma Shaheen (born 16 April 1954) is a Pakistani poet, fiction writer, and researcher. She is recognized as the first woman novelist in the Pashto language and served as the first female director of the Pashto Academy at the University of Peshawar. Shaheen began her literary career primarily writing poems in Urdu and Pashto. She has written on Pashto language, literature, and culture, particularly focusing on women writers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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 with bringing out 120 Pakhtunwali books on hujra, music, dance and jirga.

Literary work As a poet, Shaheen wrote at least 14 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" (Eng: "Stones and Thorns"). Her poetic books include "Za Hum Haghse Wara Way" and "Nawey Sahar" which was originally published in 1982. 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".

Publications Research Paper written by Dr Salma Shaheen are following:

Research Papers

199213Pa Pakhto Tappa Ki Muasharati NafsiyatPashtoMay, August 1993,

(Eighteenth Century)Pashto October,

June2011,

201231Qambar Ali Khan Orakzai (An elegy and ghazal poet of the southern district)Pashto October,

June2011,

2012

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.