Khammam poet wins state award

Khammam poet wins state award
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Highlights

Dr Shajahana is a feminist to the core. It reflects in her poetry and literature. In a nutshell, she is the voice of Muslim women. Shajahana, who in one of her writings equated Muslim women’s life to that of cattle in the cowshed and fowls in the farmhouse (free translation), has on Monday got selected among 24 Eminent Women by the Telangana State Government. She will be honoured on the occasion o

Khammam: Dr Shajahana is a feminist to the core. It reflects in her poetry and literature. In a nutshell, she is the voice of Muslim women. Shajahana, who in one of her writings equated Muslim women’s life to that of cattle in the cowshed and fowls in the farmhouse (free translation), has on Monday got selected among 24 Eminent Women by the Telangana State Government. She will be honoured on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8 in recognition for her literary work.

Born in a middleclass family, Shajahana, of Kamalapuram village, finished her schooling in Pandillapalli, Vallabhi and Nelakondapalli before shifting to Kothagudem where she completed her intermediate and graduation. Later, she did her MA in Women’s College in Koti, Hyderabad.

She got a gold medal in M.Phil from Telugu Vishwavidyalayam in Rajahmundry. Later, she was conferred with a doctorate from Osmania University for her work on ‘Teulugulo Muslimvada Sahityam’. She worked with several Non-government Organisations like Asmita and Shaheen for the empowerment of women. Working for the Anveshi Research Centre for Women's Studies, she focused on Dudekula women life.

Prasen, poet and senior journalist, says: “Poetry is in Shajahana’s genes. Her father Dilawar, a retired government lecturer, and sister Shamshad Begum, who lives in US, are also well-known for their literary works. Incidentally, her life partner Skybaaba is also a poet and writer.”

Speaking to The Hans India, the 43-year-old Shajahana said: “I believe in poetry and writing in bringing a social change. I was moved by the issues faced by the women, especially Muslims. I find a solace in literature that reflects the lives of suppressed sections.”

The poem ‘Nakhaab’ written by Shajahana, along with her husband Skybaaba, was translated into English, Hindi, Kannada and German. This apart, her works also figured in the 20th Century Telugu Poetry, published by the Oxford. Her ‘Silsila’ story was translated into English and Samyukta, a Journal of Women Studies. ‘Just Between Us’ (Women Speak About Their Writings) and ‘Sweeping The Front Yard’ are some of her prominent works.

Shajahana, who also actively participated in the Telangana Movement, has represented India in the Frankfurt Book Fair held in Germany in 2006 and Mascow Book fair in Russia in 2009. She is the recipient of Rangavalli Memorial Award (2000), Sanskriti Puraskaram, Delhi (2005), Rangineni Ellamma Award (2005), Venkata Subbu Award (2016), Nandivada-Shyamala Award (2015), Gurram Jashua Award (2015) etc.

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