An Introductuion of Shahnaz Nabi

Shahnaz Nabi is an Indian writer, poet, playwright and critic. She was born in Calcutta( now Kolkata ), West Bengal .She completed her post-graduate studies in Urdu
from Calcutta University. She received her Ph.D degree in 1989. The title of her thesis was “The Development of Urdu Criticism after 1960.”
Shahnaz started writing poems when she was hardly thirteen. Her first poem published in
a Urdu magazine in 1974. She has written short stories and dramas too. Her mother tongue is Urdu but she is well-versed in English, Bengali and Hindi. She has translated many Urdu short stories and poems into Bengali. She translated “Ghaddar”, a Urdu novel by Krishan Chandar into Bengali. She has written extensively for children. Her social and political plays have been staged throughout West Bengal.
She is a political activist . She was an elected Representative from 2k-2005 on a CPI(M) ticket and acted as a Accounts Committee Chair-person in Calcuuta Municipal Corporation.
At present she is teaching in the department of Urdu, University of Calcutta.
She is the Vice-Chairman of West Bengal Urdu Academy.

Books

. Bedi – ek Jaiza (1985 ), Bachchon Ke Dramay (1989 ), Bhigi Ruton Ki Katha (1990) , Bish-Shas Ghatak (1992), Mujhe Mat Chhuo (1993) , Lisannyat aur Daccani Adabiyat (1993), Urdu Drama, Agha Hashr aur Saide-Hawas (1998),
Ghalib aur Kalkatta (1999), Agle Padao say Pehle (2001), Fort William College Aur Husn-e-Ikhtelat (2003) , Mansurat-e-Bangala , Vol-I, Part-I Dastan/Qissa (2006).

Forthcoming books:

1. Feminism : Tarikh –o-Tanqid
2. Pas-e-Diwar-e Girya (poetic collection)
3. Mansurat-e-Bangala ,Vol-I, Part-II, Akhlaqiat-o-Mazhabyaat.

Dramas written & Staged:

1. Hawala Jatra : On Scams & other Political and Social evils.
40 Shows- Street Corner
2. Aatma Ki Pukaar : On Land Reforms -40 Shows- Street Corner
3. SholoN meiN Ghira Bachpan : On Child labour- 20 shows
4. Hum Aik HaiN : On Communal Violence in Gujrat (50 Shows)-
both hall & street corner
5. Feel Good : On wrong notion of development(2003-04),
60 Shows . street corner.
6. Laut Ke Buddhu Ghar Ko Aaye : A drama favoring Vernacular schools.
Staged. both hall & street corner
7. Kahe Ko Biyahi Bides : A drama on domestic violence. Both hall &
Street Corner.
8. Jungle Mein School : A drama on Adult Education. Played by
Children. 20 shows

Seminar Papers

1. Mere Takhliqui Moharrekat
( Why Do I Write )

Presented paper at the seminar on “ Post Modernism” organized by Delhi Urdu Academy,Delhi

2. Ghalib ka asar jadid shuara par
(The influence of Ghalib on Modern Urdu Poets )

Research paper presented at at a seminar on Ghalib, organized by W.B. Urdu Academy. Nov,1998.

3. Firaque Gorakhpuri ki shairi mein ishterakiat.
( The concept of Democracy in Firaque Gorakhpuri’s poetry)

Research paper presented on the poetry of Firaque Gorakhpuri a great Urdu poet of 20th century. The conference was organized by Janvadi Lekhak Sangh. 1998

4. Azadi ke bad Urdu shairi mein niswani lab-o-lehja
( The feminine style of poetry in Urdu after independence )

A paper on female voice in Urdu poetry afte independence presented at a seminar organized by Sahitya Academi, New Delhi. 1999.

5. Mard adeebon ke fiction mein aurat ka tassauur aur kirdar.
( The Concept and Characters of Women in the Fiction of Male Writers )

A paper on the female characters in the writings of male fiction writers, presented at the seminar organized by Deptt. of Urdu, Delhi University. 2001.

6. AaurtoN Ki Shairi MeiN Izhar ke Massail
A paper on the problems of expression in female poetry,Presented at the seminar or-
ganized by Delhi Urdu Academy .2001
( The problem of Expression In Feminine Poetry )

7. Urdu ki Taleem-o-Tarbiyat ka Tariqa-e-kaar
A research paper on the problems of Urdu teaching with special refernce to Bengal, presented at the seminar in Bombay University on 03.01.05
( The process of Teaching Urdu with special reference to Bengal )

8. Sajjad Zaheer ka Ishteraki Nazarya aur Khawateen Qalamkar
( Sajjad Zzahir’s democratic ideas and Female writers)

Paper presented at the Seminar in New Delhi. The Seminar was organized by National Council For Promotion of Urdu. Feb,05.

9. Ghalib Aur Ghar ( Ghalib’s conception of House)
Research Paper presented at the seminar in the Dept.of Urdu.C.U. on 29.03.05

10. Khawateen ke afsanoN meiN Asri Hissiyat
( The Consciousness of Time in Feminine short-story)
Paper presented at a National seminar in Calcutta University. In this paper the topics of female short-story writers are discussed who are conscious of present day problems of the society .
December, 2004.

11. Khawateen Afsana nigaron ka Samaji shaoor
( The social Consciousness infeminine short-story)
Paper presented at the seminar in The Dept.of Urdu, C.U. It depicts the social consciousness of female Urdu writers.30.03.05.

12. Premchand , Haqiqat Nigari Aur Hori
(Premchand ,reality and Hori)
Presented this paper at a seminar organized by NCPUL.In this paper the reality in Premchand’s fiction is discussed with special reference to Hori,the farmer in “Goudan”.Lucknow.August, 2005.

13. Maghrabi Bangal Mein Urdu Sahafat
( Urdu Journalism in Bengal)
A seminar organized by Span Urdu magazine & Khuda Baksh Oriental
Library,Patna. In this paper the development of Urdu Journalism in Bengal is discussed. Patna. September,2005.

14. Sajjad Zaheer Aur naie Urdu shairi
( Sajjad Zaheer And New Urdu Poetry)
presented at a International seminar organized by Deptt. ofUrdu, Allahabad University & NCPUL. Sajjad Zaheer’s influence on modern Urdu Poetry is discussed.11-13th November, 2005.

15. Indian Languages: Harmony and interactions: Urdu with Bengali and Hindi
Presented at a seminar held at Calcuuta University (Alipur Campus) by CUTA in Collaboration with Kendriya Hindi Sansthan , Agra.23rd November,2006.

16. Premchand aur Urdu Fiction ( Premchand and Urdu Fiction)
A paper presented at a National seminar organized by The Muslim Institute, Kolkata. The contributions of Premchand to
17th February,2007

17. Akbar Allahabadi Aur talim-e- Niwwan
( Akbar Allahabadi And Female Education)
A paper presented at a seminar organized by NCPUL at Allahabad. The conception of Akbar Allahabadi about female education and the difference between eastern and western women are discussed. 9-11, February,2007

18. Urdu mein Nisaie Nazmon ke Mauzoo’aat
(Topics of Urdu feminine poetry)
The topics of feminine poetry in Urdu is discussed. This paper was presented in a seminar organized by Delhi Urdu Akademy, Delhi. 23-25 February,2007

19. Sajjad Zaheer ki Maktoob nigari
( The Letter Writing of Sajjad Zaheer )
In this paper the letter writing of Sajjad Zaheer is discussed in the light of his letters which he wrote to his wife Razia during his imprisonment . the seminar was organized by Iran Society, 17th March,2007

20. Translation and Globalization
Seminar held at Bangla Akademi. March, 2007
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Poem: O Wise Men !

By: Shahnaz Nabi

O WISE MEN!


Throwing your girl child
From the peaks of high mountains
Was called barbaric
O wise men!

The cultured nations tried to change
“ definition” as well as “history”
But since the advent of time
The ‘ root of all evils’
Was not taken as a ‘boon’
Savage tribes still trample them
As if they are lands
Cut them down as harvest
Cover them considering fathomless wells
A delicacy to be served on the dining table
Almighty’s first gift to Adam
Whom he lost in a stake of dice.

Before paradise becomes her weakness
And her pyre is prepared
With the first symbol of civilization
O wise men
Push her down
From the peaks of huge mountain.


Self translted : SHAHNAZ NABI

Poem: Renunciation

By: Shahnaz Nabi

RENUNCIATION

Who knows which stage of night it was
The body fidgeting in slumber
Felt the soft lap of the bed thorny
The sky was brimming with stars
But darkness rummaged the veins
Windows were wide apart
But eyes bulged out
Due to suffocation
Some scenes bit the gaze
Relations cracked one by one
The walls of the palace called aloud
In state of illusion
Or streams of consciousness
I came out
Never returned
Who knows how is Kapilavastu
These days.

Self Translted : SHAHNAZ NABI

Poem: Is There Anybody

By: Shahnaz Nabi

IS THERE ANYBODY

Is there anybody
With whom I shall exchange my eyes
But those
Who haven’t seen
Folding of flying arms
Getting feathers trimmed
Who never witnessed
Uprooting of green trees in spring
Dense forests plundered
Death of youthful city
Books turning to ashes
Toys in dust.


Self Translated by:
Dr. Shahnaz Nabi

Poem: Disagreement

By: Shahnaz Nabi

Disagreement

Strangely barren lands
Layers were scraped out one by one
But they kept quiet
Neither embraced a single seed
Nor delivered a sprout
Vegetation free soil
Had no communication with over-casting clouds
Lightning wondered
No terror in eyes
The arms that bent the skies
Hesitate to name the revolt “self realization”
They – faithful to a mandate
Are unaware of the weathers
Taking turns beneath the layers
Fields—negating self are about to repudiate them too.

Self translated from Urdu: Shahnaz Nabi

Poem: Somebody Should Come

By: Shahnaz Nabi

Somebody Should Come

Somebody should come
And take away
Your footprints scattered on the stairs
Each and every drop of flashing echo
Your voice created
Every gust of your wild sweat
Every draught of the ewer of intoxication
A few scratches from my glass
Moments strewn on the calendar
The width of moments
The agony of centuries
Somebody should come
And take away everything
Which witnesses
Your absence
And pick up the needles
You left on my eyes purposely
Somebody should come and drag me out of your
enchantment

Self Translated by : Shahnaz Nabi

Poem: Soliloquy

By: Shahnaz Nabi

Soliloquy

‘ I am fatigued’
The words catch me unaware
Mortified
No one must overhear
‘I am fatigued’.

‘ Who told you to glance askance at the terrace
With a bitter smile in your eyes
Who told you to cast off the shade
Wrap your self in the sun
Did they tell you
To test the mettle of the thorny briers
Stain the soil with blood from the torn feet
Till the paths glow like lamps.


Was you told to hold your head high
And speak the truth
Fill your mind to the brim with laughter
Weep till your heart breaks
Test each emotion
Scan each affiliation
Weigh the pros and cons of love
Keep your gaze steady
Look the world in the face.

‘I am weary’
The sigh escapes me once again
But even if overheard, would I
Stifle my sigh
The world is more weary than I

Translated By: Krishna Sen