Parveen Umm-e-Mushtaq (1866-1915) was an influential but relatively obscure Urdu poet from the classical period. She was born in Delhi in 1866 into a highly educated and noble family. Her upbringing was deeply rooted in the rich literary traditions of the era, and she received her education at home, where she mastered classical poetry and literature. Due to her family’s strict adherence to the practice of purdah, or seclusion, she did not socialise outside her home.
Her talent for writing poetry was recognised early in her life. She married into a noble family from Jaipur and became known as “Bari Begum.” Despite her isolation, her literary work gained recognition among a select circle of poets and scholars.
Parveen Umm-e-Mushtaq is primarily known for her single major work, a collection of poetry titled Diwan-e-Parveen. This collection was not published during her lifetime. It was compiled and published posthumously in 1915 by her youngest son, who undertook the effort to preserve his mother’s legacy. The Diwan-e-Parveen is a significant contribution to classical Urdu literature, featuring her works in traditional poetic forms, such as ghazals, salams, and qaseedahs. While a detailed critical analysis of her work is scarce, her poetry is considered to be in the classical style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In recognition of her literary talent, Parveen Umm-e-Mushtaq received a notable honour from the then-Nawab of Hyderabad, Mir Usman Ali Khan. He awarded her a khila’at (a robe of honour) and a cash prize of 500 Rupees, a significant sum at the time. This recognition highlights her esteemed status within literary circles of the time, even though her work was not widely known to the public during her life.