Nizar Qabbani was the renowned poet and publisher in the land of Syria known for his feminist and progressive outlook. Nizar Tawfiq Qabbani was born in the capital of Syria, Damascus to a middle class merchant family on 21st March in 1923. He was one of the intellectuals of his time who served the State even as a diplomat. Qabbani earned his education from the national Scientific College School in Damascus between 1930 and 1941. Once he completed his general studies, he enrolled at the Damascus University (known as Syrian University until 1958) to study law. In the year of 1945,
Nizar Qabbani secured his bachelor's degree in law.
After completing his graduation,
Nizar Qabbani started working as consult for the Syrian Foreign Ministry in several capital cities like Cairo, Istanbul, Beirut, Madrid, London. In 1959, he was appointed the Vice-Secretary of the UAR for its embassies in China. He continued with his diplomatic affairs until he resigned in 1966.
Even when
Nizar Qabbani carried with his diplomatic responsibilities, he did not cease composing poems. Some of his famous poems had been composed during his tenure in China. Since his college days,
Nizar Qabbani had been engaged in composing poems. During that time he composed his famous collection of poems entitled 'The Brunette Told Me'. These poems created a wave in the conservative society of Damascus because
Nizar Qabbani referred to a woman's body in his poems. But at last these romantic verses got the recognition when the then Minister of Education Munir al Ajlani wrote the preface for Nizar's collection of poems.
Few of the poems by
Nizar Qabbani that have been translated to the English language include:
- Arabian Love Poems
- On Entering the Sea
- Republic of Love
