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 S.NoBook NameDescription01Abaseen Da Tarikh pa Aina KeIt is a history of the river Indus, published in 1980 by Pashto Academy02Roohi SandariLanguage Pashto, published in 1983 by Pashto Academy. Collection, compilation and research on Pashto folk, songs (Tappa)03Roohi Sandari, Vol. IILanguage Pashto, published in 1983 by Pashto Academy. Collection, compilation and research on Pashto folk, songs (Tappa)04Nawai SaharLanguage Pashto, a collection of Poetry05The Pakhto Tappa, Muasharati Au Saqafati AsarAn introduction of the Pashtoon Society through a particular poetic form Tappa published in 1985 by Pashto Academy06Zah Hum Hagha Si Wara WayA collection of Pashto Poetry in 199607Ka Ranna ShawaA novel published in 199808Kani Ao AzghiShort Stories collection, 200109Dil Or Ankhein Cheen MeSafar Nama10Modern Poems in PashtoResearch11Ravail-- do --12Modern Poems in Pashto-- do --13Peshawar City and TraditionLok Virsa Project, Islamabad, Pakistan14Musical Instrument of PashtoonLok Virsa Project, Islamabad, Pakistan Research Paper written by Dr Salma Shaheen are following:

Research Papers S.NoPublicationJournalMonthYear01Da Pakhto Da Bannar TairPashtoNovember, December197802ParwazPashtoSeptember198003Hayat-e-Dard Yow TanqeedPashto, Pashto AcademyDecember198004Khushal Khan Da Naswani Hussan ShidaiPashto, Khushal No.March, April198005Da Islam Nomawarii Fatiheen Ao JarnallanPashtoJanuary, February198006Da Nazmoono Ao Maqaalo FihristPashtoJuly,

March 198107Da Ghani PalwashaiPashto, Pashto AcademyDecember198308Pa Tappa Ki Da Meni Ao Badi Dardoona Ao TakoronaPashtoOctober198409Da Pakhtano Da Ulasi Zound Paltana Da Tapai Ra Ranna KiPashtoApril198410Da Tapai PainandgaloPashtoJanuary, February198411Sur-Ara Zama Pa Nazar KiPashto Aatiraf No.----198812Pukhto Rasmul Khat Ta Yowa Sar-Sare KattanaPashto SeminarOctober1991,

199213Pa Pakhto Tappa Ki Muasharati NafsiyatPashtoMay, August 1993,

199514Da Zaitoon Bano Fun Au ShakhsiyathPashtoNovember, December199515Tappa Au Ulasi Zound----------1995,  199616Adab Saqafat Au JamhooriatUniversity Journal-----1996, 199717Shaere GhaniPashtoApril199718Pukhto Academy ki Pa Ulasi Adab Shwee KaroonaUniversity Journal-----1998, 199919Pakistani Khawateen Aur Pashto AdabPakistan Academy of Letters Adbiat-----200120Alama Iqbal Aur Iqiswee Sadi----------200221Study of women in Pashtoon Society----------200222Badalti hoi Dunia mai Adab ka KirdarPakistan Academy of Letters AdbiatFebruary200523Akeshwein Saddi, Pakistani Zubano ka mustaqbil-----August200524Pakistani Saqafat Aalmi Tanazur main-----August200525Allama Iqbal aur Akeshwein Saddi----------26Improvement in the Quality of Life in the N.W.F.P in the futurePashto October – December200827Khawateen ki Haqooq Pashtoon Saqafat ki Roshni main-----March 200928Pashtoon Khawateen Nasar NigarAllama Iqbal Open University, IslamabadMarch200929Ajmal Khattak & Modern Poem Pashto October – December201030The Secrets of the Afghans

(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.

References