A Scottish-Pakistani poet is expected to be named as Britain’s poet laureate next month.
Imtiaz Dharker, 65, would be the first poet of minority heritage and only be the second woman in history to become the poet laureate, a prized place in literature as the country’s official bard.
The role stretches back some 350 years and carries the obligation to write a poem for significant national events, including royal births.
Born in Lahore, Ms Dharker grew up and studied in Glasgow, Scotland and her poems are currently part of the syllabus in UK secondary schools for GCSE and A Levels. The works explore themes of religion, cultural identity and feminism.
Dharker was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2014, and is a former poet-in-residence at Cambridge University.
Speaking to BBC Radio Four in 2015, Ms Dharker identifies as a hybrid “Calvanist Muslim, adopted by India and married in Wales… Don’t try to put me in a box… I’m a cultural mongrel”.
A committee of literary experts is believed to have chosen the 65-year-old, although the Queen makes the final decision.
Previous poet laureates include Ted Hughes, William Wordsworth, and Lord (Alfred) Tennyson.
Carol Ann Duffy, the first woman to hold the role, is the current poet laureate.
