Zehra Nigah: The Prominent Poet and Scriptwriter of Sindh

Zehra Nigah

 The Prominent Poet and Scriptwriter of Sindh

Zehra Nigah is an eminent Urdu poet and scriptwriter from the state of Pakistan. She was believed to be one of two female poets to gain prominence in the time period of 1950s when the scene was dominated by men. She has written many television drama serials. She has also acquired several awards involving Pride of Performance in recognition of her literary works in the year of 2006.

Background of Zehra Nigah

Zehra was born in the Hyderabad city, British India. She shifted to the state of Pakistan after the 1947 independence of Pakistan. Her father was a civil servant with an interest in poetry. Zehra’s elder sister, Fatima Surayya Bajia, is 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. She married Majid Ali, who was a civil servant and had interest in Sufi poetry.

Career

Zehra Nigah started her writing career during her childhood. When she was 14 years old, she learned the poetry of notable poets by heart. She is inspired by classical tradition of Urdu poetry.

In the year of 2012, an event was organized by the fellow writers at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi city 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

• Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in the year of 2006.] According to a major newspaper of India, “Zehra Nigah is a much loved and highly respected poet in Pakistan.”

Publications

• Shaam Ka Pehla Tara
• Waraq
• Firaq