Arifa Shahzad, born on June 15, 1974, in Layyah, with ancestral ties to Jhang. She has been currently residing in Lahore and working as Associate Professor, Department of Urdu Language and Literature, Oriental College, Punjab University, Lahore for the past twenty-eight years, Arifa’s literary journey unfolded through the art of crafting stories for children, a passion that laid the foundation for her poetic exploration at the age of 15.
Arifa Shahzad’s literary repertoire includes nine books: one collection of Urdu poetry “Aurat Hoon Na” (A Woman, I’m!) 2016; two volumes of Punjabi poetry “Chali Chithiyan” (Forty Letters) and “Aakhia Nein Si” (I Had Told You Already); one novel “Mein Timsaal Hoon” (I’m An Effigy); five books on research and criticism: “Jadeed Urdu Shairi Mein Kirda’ri Nazmein” (Character Poems in Modern Urdu Poetry), Angrezi Mein Urdu Adab Ki Tanqeed (Criticism of Urdu literature (in English), Zinda Javed (Immortalized), Majeed Amjad Ki Shairi Ke Angrezi Trajum” (English Translations of Majid Amjad’s Poetry), Teen Shair, Teen Muba’his” (Three Poets, Three Debates). She is expected to publish soon a compilation of poetry “Khud Kalami Ka Roznamcha” (The Diary of Monologue) and her novel is also expected to be published in India.