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

### Literary work

As a poet, Shaheen wrote fourteen to eighteen 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" which translates as 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".
Publication
| S.No | Book Name | Description |
| 01 | Abaseen Da Tarikh pa Aina Ke | It is a history of the river Indus, published in 1980 by Pashto Academy |
| 02 | Roohi Sandari | Language Pashto, published in 1983 by Pashto Academy. Collection, compilation and research on Pashto folk, songs (Tappa) |
| 03 | Roohi Sandari, Vol. II | Language Pashto, published in 1983 by Pashto Academy. Collection, compilation and research on Pashto folk, songs (Tappa) |
| 04 | Nawai Sahar | Language Pashto, a collection of Poetry |
| 05 | The Pakhto Tappa, Muasharati Au Saqafati Asar | An introduction of the Pashtoon Society through a particular poetic form Tappa published in 1985 by Pashto Academy |
| 06 | Zah Hum Hagha Si Wara Way | A collection of Pashto Poetry in 1996 |
| 07 | Ka Ranna Shawa | A novel published in 1998 |
| 08 | Kani Ao Azghi | Short Stories collection, 2001 |
| 09 | Dil Or Ankhein Cheen Me | Safar Nama |
| 10 | Modern Poems in Pashto | Research |
| 11 | Ravail | -- do -- |
| 12 | Modern Poems in Pashto | -- do -- |
| 13 | Peshawar City and Tradition | Lok Virsa Project, Islamabad, Pakistan |
| 14 | Musical Instrument of Pashtoon | Lok Virsa Project, Islamabad, Pakistan |
Research Paper written by Dr Salma Shaheen are following:
Research Papers
| S.No | Publication | Journal | Month | Year |
| 01 | Da Pakhto Da Bannar Tair | Pashto | November, December | 1978 |
| 02 | Parwaz | Pashto | September | 1980 |
| 03 | Hayat-e-Dard Yow Tanqeed | Pashto, Pashto Academy | December | 1980 |
| 04 | Khushal Khan Da Naswani Hussan Shidai | Pashto, Khushal No. | March, April | 1980 |
| 05 | Da Islam Nomawarii Fatiheen Ao Jarnallan | Pashto | January, February | 1980 |
| 06 | Da Nazmoono Ao Maqaalo Fihrist | Pashto | July, March | 1981 |
| 07 | Da Ghani Palwashai | Pashto, Pashto Academy | December | 1983 |
| 08 | Pa Tappa Ki Da Meni Ao Badi Dardoona Ao Takorona | Pashto | October | 1984 |
| 09 | Da Pakhtano Da Ulasi Zound Paltana Da Tapai Ra Ranna Ki | Pashto | April | 1984 |
| 10 | Da Tapai Painandgalo | Pashto | January, February | 1984 |
| 11 | Sur-Ara Zama Pa Nazar Ki | Pashto Aatiraf No. | ---- | 1988 |
| 12 | Pukhto Rasmul Khat Ta Yowa Sar-Sare Kattana | Pashto Seminar | October | 1991, 1992 |
| 13 | Pa Pakhto Tappa Ki Muasharati Nafsiyat | Pashto | May, August | 1993, 1995 |
| 14 | Da Zaitoon Bano Fun Au Shakhsiyath | Pashto | November, December | 1995 |
| 15 | Tappa Au Ulasi Zound | ----- | ----- | 1995, 1996 |
| 16 | Adab Saqafat Au Jamhooriat | University Journal | ----- | 1996, 1997 |
| 17 | Shaere Ghani | Pashto | April | 1997 |
| 18 | Pukhto Academy ki Pa Ulasi Adab Shwee Karoona | University Journal | ----- | 1998, 1999 |
| 19 | Pakistani Khawateen Aur Pashto Adab | Pakistan Academy of Letters Adbiat | ----- | 2001 |
| 20 | Alama Iqbal Aur Iqiswee Sadi | ----- | ----- | 2002 |
| 21 | Study of women in Pashtoon Society | ----- | ----- | 2002 |
| 22 | Badalti hoi Dunia mai Adab ka Kirdar | Pakistan Academy of Letters Adbiat | February | 2005 |
| 23 | Akeshwein Saddi, Pakistani Zubano ka mustaqbil | ----- | August | 2005 |
| 24 | Pakistani Saqafat Aalmi Tanazur main | ----- | August | 2005 |
| 25 | Allama Iqbal aur Akeshwein Saddi | ----- | ----- | |
| 26 | Improvement in the Quality of Life in the N.W.F.P in the future | Pashto | October – December | 2008 |
| 27 | Khawateen ki Haqooq Pashtoon Saqafat ki Roshni main | ----- | March | 2009 |
| 28 | Pashtoon Khawateen Nasar Nigar | Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad | March | 2009 |
| 29 | Ajmal Khattak & Modern Poem | Pashto | October – December | 2010 |
| 30 | The Secrets of the Afghans (Eighteenth Century) | Pashto | October, June | 2011, 2012 |
| 31 | Qambar Ali Khan Orakzai (An elegy and ghazal poet of the southern district) | Pashto | October, June | 2011, 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.