By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
The Urdu Academy of North America held a special program on January 27, 2017 to welcome Shahida Hasan, a prominent poetess from Karachi who was visiting San Francisco Bay Area.
The literary event, held at the Chandni Restaurant Fremont/Neward CA, included recitation of poetry from the local Diaspora Urdu poets: Arshad Rashid, Kausar Saiyed, Hamid Kamal Narvi and Tashie Zaheer who is the president of the Urdu Academy.
Tashie Zaheer welcomed Shahida Hasan on behalf of the Urdu Academy.
Shahida Hasan is a published poetess. Her first poetry collection Aik Tara Hai Sarhane Mere was published in 1995. Her second collection YahaN Kuchch Phool Rakh-khe HaiN appeared in 2002. Shahida Hassan's work on Ada Jaafri's personality and poetry was published by the Literary Academy of Pakistan.
Her third poetry collection - Zameen Kaa Naqsha Badal Raha Hai - is now under publication. Shahida Hasan's critical writings and literary articles are also under publication.
Shahida Hasan has also translated Japanese poems now in the process of publication.
She has the privilege of seeing her poetry translated in English and Norwegian language.
Shahida Hasan's poetry and literary work has been recognized internationally. In 1991, she was honored with Faani BadaNyooni Award by the International Urdu Conference in New Delhi.
In 2012 she was awarded with Ali Sardar Jaafri International Award.
In recognition of her poetry, US Information Agency invited her in 1994 for a seven state tour of the US. Again in 2004, Shahida Hasan was the guest of three prominent American universities - the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Texas State and the Berkeley University.
Shahida Hasan is a widely travelled poetess. She has attended Musheras and Literary Conferences in New Delhi, London, Bradford, Birmingham, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Norway and Canada.
In 2012, she was invited to the Aligarh University Alumni Mushaera and took the opportunity to visit seven US states to participate in mushaeras
Shahida Hasan earned Master of Arts degree with honors in English Literature from the University of Karachi. She retired in 2015 as Principal from the Girls Degree College, Nazimabad Karachi.
Dr. Habib Jalbi says Shahida Hasan is a distinguished representative poetess of the young generation poets who dominated the 1970s era Urdu literary scene.
Also commenting on her second poetry collection, Shamsur Rehman says that Shahida Hasan's ghazals show a balance between the traditional ghazal themes (which is dominated by muscular) and feminism. "Her poetry is thoughtful and reflects independent thinking."
Shahida Hasan amused the audience with her recitation of poetry for more than one hour.
And finally, Dr. Anshuman Chandra, a musician singer, presented two ghazals in classical raags. His presentation was thrilling though he was not accompanied by his guitar.
At the conclusion of the special event, the Urdu Academy President, Tashie Zaheer, thanked the Urdu enthusiasts for attending the special literary event at a very short notice. He particularly thanked entrepreneur Syed Sarwat for patronizing the Urdu language in the San Francisco Bay Area.
