Imtiaz Dharker
Encyclopedia
Imtiaz Dharker is a Scottish Muslim, poet, artist and documentary film-maker.
to Pakistan
i parents. She was brought up in Glasgow
where her family moved when she was less than a year old. She was married to Simon Powell, the founder of the organization Poetry Live
, who passed away in October 2009 after surviving cancer for eleven years. Dharker divides her time between London
, Wales, and Mumbai
. She says she describes herself as a "Scottish Muslim Calvinist". Her daughter Ayesha Dharker
, whose father is Anil Dharker
, is a well known actress in international films, TV and stage.
(1989), Postcards from God (1997), I speak for the Devil (2001), The Terrorist at my Table (2006) and Leaving Fingerprints (2009) (all self-illustrated).
She is a prescribed poet on the British AQA
GCSE English syllabus. Her poems Blessing and This Room are included AQA
Anthology, Different Cultures, Cluster 1 and 2 respectively.
The main themes of her poetry include home, freedom, journeys, geographical and cultural displacement, communal conflict and gender politics. All her books are published by the poetry publishing house Bloodaxe
. Purdah
And Other Poems deal with the various aspects of a Muslim woman's life where she experiences injustice, oppression and violence engineered through the culture of purdah
.
She was part of the judging panel for the 2008 Manchester Poetry Prize
, with Carol Ann Duffy
and Gillian Clarke
. For many she is seen as one of Britain's most inspirational contemporary poets.
Family and background
She was born in LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i parents. She was brought up in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
where her family moved when she was less than a year old. She was married to Simon Powell, the founder of the organization Poetry Live
Poetry Live
Poetry Live, also known as Poetry Live! for GCSE, is a series of annual events in venues across the UK where poets perform their poetry to English school children....
, who passed away in October 2009 after surviving cancer for eleven years. Dharker divides her time between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wales, and Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. She says she describes herself as a "Scottish Muslim Calvinist". Her daughter Ayesha Dharker
Ayesha Dharker
Ayesha Dharker is a British-Indian actress. She is known for her performance in the Tamil Indian film, The Terrorist , for which she was awarded Best Artistic Contribution by an Actress at the Cairo International Film Festival and nominated for a Chlotrudis Award and National Film Award for Best...
, whose father is Anil Dharker
Anil Dharker
Anil Dharker is an Indian columnist. His articles appear in several Indian newspapers such as the Times of India, Mid-Day, The Hindu, Gulf News, and other similar publications. He has been editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India, The Independent, MidDay, Sunday MidDay...
, is a well known actress in international films, TV and stage.
Poetry
As of 2010 she has written five books of poetry PurdahPurdah
Purdah or pardeh is the practice of concealing women from men. According to one definition:This takes two forms: physical segregation of the sexes, and the requirement for women to cover their bodies and conceal their form....
(1989), Postcards from God (1997), I speak for the Devil (2001), The Terrorist at my Table (2006) and Leaving Fingerprints (2009) (all self-illustrated).
She is a prescribed poet on the British AQA
Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
AQA is an Awarding Body in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It compiles specifications and holds examinations in various subjects at GCSE, AS and A Level and offers vocational qualifications. AQA is a registered charity and independent of the Government...
GCSE English syllabus. Her poems Blessing and This Room are included AQA
AQA
AQA could refer to or stand for:* aqa, the ISO 639-5 for the unspecified Alacalufan languages* Any Question Answered – an SMS message service providing the answer to any question, based in London, United Kingdom....
Anthology, Different Cultures, Cluster 1 and 2 respectively.
The main themes of her poetry include home, freedom, journeys, geographical and cultural displacement, communal conflict and gender politics. All her books are published by the poetry publishing house Bloodaxe
Bloodaxe
Bloodaxe can refer to:*Eric Bloodaxe, a Viking king*Erik Bloodaxe , an alias of American computer hacker Chris Goggans*Bloodaxe Books, a publisher*Bloodaxe , a Marvel Comics anti-hero*Bloodaxe , a Viking metal band...
. Purdah
Purdah
Purdah or pardeh is the practice of concealing women from men. According to one definition:This takes two forms: physical segregation of the sexes, and the requirement for women to cover their bodies and conceal their form....
And Other Poems deal with the various aspects of a Muslim woman's life where she experiences injustice, oppression and violence engineered through the culture of purdah
Purdah
Purdah or pardeh is the practice of concealing women from men. According to one definition:This takes two forms: physical segregation of the sexes, and the requirement for women to cover their bodies and conceal their form....
.
She was part of the judging panel for the 2008 Manchester Poetry Prize
Manchester Poetry Prize
The Manchester Poetry Prize is a literary award celebrating excellence in creative writing. It was launched by Carol Ann Duffy and The Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2008, and was the first phase of the annual Manchester Writing Competition.Open internationally...
, with Carol Ann Duffy
Carol Ann Duffy
Carol Ann Duffy, CBE, FRSL is a Scottish poet and playwright. She is Professor of Contemporary Poetry at the Manchester Metropolitan University, and was appointed Britain's poet laureate in May 2009...
and Gillian Clarke
Gillian Clarke
Gillian Clarke is a Welsh poet, playwright, editor, broadcaster, lecturer and translator from Welsh.-Life:Clarke was born in Cardiff and brought up in Cardiff and Penarth, though for part of the Second World War she was in Pembrokeshire...
. For many she is seen as one of Britain's most inspirational contemporary poets.
Film and Illustration
Dharker is also a documentary film-maker and has scripted and directed over a hundred films and audio-visuals, centring on education, reproductive health and shelter for women and children. In 1980 she was awarded a Silver Lotus for a short film. An accomplished artist, she has had nine solo exhibitions of pen-and-ink drawings.Publications
- PurdahPurdahPurdah or pardeh is the practice of concealing women from men. According to one definition:This takes two forms: physical segregation of the sexes, and the requirement for women to cover their bodies and conceal their form....
. (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1989) - Postcards from God. (Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
: BloodaxeBloodaxeBloodaxe can refer to:*Eric Bloodaxe, a Viking king*Erik Bloodaxe , an alias of American computer hacker Chris Goggans*Bloodaxe Books, a publisher*Bloodaxe , a Marvel Comics anti-hero*Bloodaxe , a Viking metal band...
, 1997) ISBN 1-85224-407-0 - I Speak for the Devil. (BloodaxeBloodaxeBloodaxe can refer to:*Eric Bloodaxe, a Viking king*Erik Bloodaxe , an alias of American computer hacker Chris Goggans*Bloodaxe Books, a publisher*Bloodaxe , a Marvel Comics anti-hero*Bloodaxe , a Viking metal band...
2001; Penguin BooksPenguin BooksPenguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, 2003) - The Terrorist at my Table (BloodaxeBloodaxeBloodaxe can refer to:*Eric Bloodaxe, a Viking king*Erik Bloodaxe , an alias of American computer hacker Chris Goggans*Bloodaxe Books, a publisher*Bloodaxe , a Marvel Comics anti-hero*Bloodaxe , a Viking metal band...
2006; Penguin BooksPenguin BooksPenguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
2007) - Leaving Fingerprints, (BloodaxeBloodaxeBloodaxe can refer to:*Eric Bloodaxe, a Viking king*Erik Bloodaxe , an alias of American computer hacker Chris Goggans*Bloodaxe Books, a publisher*Bloodaxe , a Marvel Comics anti-hero*Bloodaxe , a Viking metal band...
2009. ISBN 1-85224-849-1)
External links
- British CouncilBritish CouncilThe British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
's Contemporary Writers in the UK bio and review of Dharker's works - Guardian review of the collection Leaving Fingersprint 5 December 2009 Accessed 2010-04-19
- Times review October 30, 2006 of the Dharker poem Purdah I Accessed 2010-04-19
- Imtiaz Dharker reading her poetry. 13 April 2010. British Library sound archive.