Accepting Pride of Performance will be an insult to Fahmida Riaz's struggle, says daughter Veerta

Two years ago, Pakistan lost the feminist icon and renowned poetess, Fahmida Riaz. She always raised her voice for women's rights and democracy.

This year, the late poetess has been conferred with a civil honour. The list of honourees was announced on this year's Independence Day. However, her daughter Veerta Ali Ujan has shared in a Facebook post that it won't feel right to accept the award at this time on her mother's behalf as it would be everything against Riaz struggled for.

"Awards section contacting me about Ammi's award investiture ceremony," Ujan penned, adding, "How can I accept an award for her work at this time? It would be an insult to her whole life's struggle for justice and equality."

She went on to add, "Harassers being awarded. Karachi left to rot in sewage. So, no thank you. I am refusing the presidential award for my mother's work. I'm sure she would have refused it if she was alive today."

Born in Meerut, India on July 28, 1946, Riaz rose to fame due to her unique writing style and human rights work. She wrote 15 books during her lifetime. The late activist received her education from the University of Sindh, after which she began working as a newscaster for Radio Pakistan. She was fluent in Urdu, Sindhi and Persian and wrote her first poem aged 15, which went on to be published in Funoon magazine.

She also headed the National Book Foundation.

Riaz remained an activist in her academic life. She spoke and wrote against the ban on student politics during General Ayub’s regime. In the 1980s she and her husband lived in exile in India after both of them were jailed by the dictator for their liberal and politically charged views.

She has been a prominent voice in the feminist struggle in Pakistan, where her poems, both directly and indirectly grind down at the foundations of male dominance.

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