A Social and Feminist Analysis of the Autobiography of Māh Pārah Ṣafdar

ماہ پارہ صفدر کی خودنوشت سوانح حیات کا سماجی و تانیثی تجزی

Abstract

Mahpārah Ṣafdar is a renowned newsreader, columnist, and journalist who began her professional career in 1977 as a newscaster with Pakistan Television (PTV). In 1980, she joined Radio Pakistan News, further strengthening her presence in broadcast journalism. In 1990, she became part of the BBC Urdu Service, where she served for twenty-five years, presenting various programs and contributing columns based on her personal memories and professional experiences for the BBC Urdu website. In 2022, she published her autobiography, Mērā Zamāna, Merī Kahānī, through Jhelum Book Corner. The autobiography is divided into three major parts: the first focuses on her childhood, the second narrates her university life along with reflections on Pakistan’s political history from 1970 to 1980, and the third documents her experiences as a journalist working in London with the BBC Urdu Service. Through her life journey, Mahpārah Ṣafdar addresses numerous personal and professional challenges that reflect broader societal issues, particularly social inequality and systemic constraints faced by women within a patriarchal framework. Her narrative highlights the significance of feminist consciousness in interpreting these experiences and illustrates how she negotiated space, agency, and recognition within a male-dominated media industry. The autobiography thus serves as an important text for understanding the intersection of gender, media, and social structures in contemporary South Asian society.