Renowned Pakistani Urdu poet Zehra Nigah in New Delhi, March 2012.
| Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

From the ancient verses of the Therigatha, composed by Buddhist nuns over 2,600 years ago, to present-day feminist poetry, the struggles of women resonate across time. The Story of Eve, an anthology of 75 poems by Zehra Nigah, translated by Rakhshanda Jalil, reflects on this timeless theme — women’s survival and dignity in a society that frequently tries to suppress their voices.

For those familiar with Urdu poetry, Nigah is a towering figure in contemporary literature, a poet who has spent over six decades writing verses that are both political and deeply personal. As one of the first women to gain acclaim in the largely male-dominated field of Urdu poetry, she is now celebrated as one of its living greats. Nigah writes with a keen awareness of socio-cultural undercurrents, addressing not only individual experiences but the collective journey of women.

The titular poem ‘Havva Ki Kahani’ (‘The Story of Eve’) offers a fresh interpretation of the age-old tale of Adam and Eve, questioning the traditional blame laid upon Eve. Nigah’s Eve is not portrayed as a seductress or sinner but as a figure of loyalty, tasting the forbidden fruit out of love for Adam, not out of seduction or defiance. Nigah captures this perspective with these simple lines:

I did not compel you to eat the apple.

Nor was that grain of wheat grown on my palm,

And the serpent — he was no friend of mine.

If I had a friend, it was you.

If I loved someone, it was you.

A moral urgency

Another powerful piece, ‘Mai Bach Gayii Ma’ (‘I Was Saved, Mother’), demonstrates Nigah’s sensitivity as a social critic. Responding to the grim reality of female foeticide, the poem addresses violence against women with piercing simplicity. Here, Nigah does not merely comment; she condemns. Her words uncover the deeply ingrained biases that define a woman’s worth, challenging a society that professes to honour her yet repeatedly subjects her to harsh scrutiny. The poem transcends individual experience to portray the struggles of countless women, infusing Nigah’s voice with a moral urgency that resonates throughout the volume.

Many more gems lie within its pages. Each poem reflects on the cost of being a woman in a patriarchal system, touching on themes of poverty, helplessness, and resilience.

Jalil’s translation, preceded by the original Urdu verse, beautifully captures the essence of Nigah’s expression, bringing her poetry to an English-speaking audience while retaining the subtlety and strength of the original. This careful rendering allows Nigah’s words to speak directly to readers, preserving the richness of her perspective.

In these poems, the age-old journey of Eve — for self-respect and autonomy — finds a modern voice. Through Zehra Nigah’s words, this journey remains alive, reminding us that the fight for women’s independence is as urgent today as ever.

The reviewer is a Mumbai-based novelist, screenwriter, and banker.

The Story of Eve: Selected Poems

Zehra Nigah, trs Rakshanda Jalil

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