Dr. Arfa, a Devotee and Advocate of the Urdu Language

 

Dr. Arfa, a Devotee and Advocate of the Urdu Language

''She lived life on her own terms, devoted herself to knowledge, chose not to marry and championed the Urdu language across the world.''

Arfa Sayeda Zehra(1937— 2025) was a well-known educationist, historian, human rights activist, Urdu language expert and advocate for women’s rights and gender equality.

She was born in Lahore (British India) into a progressive family that rejected gender discrimination. From a young age, she was encouraged to study and think critically. She gave more than 50 years to teaching, social reform and public service. She believed education was the strongest tool for change. She passed away in Lahore at the age of 88. Sources differ slightly about her birth year, usually mentioning 1937 or 1942.

Education:

• BA (Honours) from Lahore College.

• MA in Urdu from Government College Lahore.

• MA in Asian Studies and PhD in History from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She was among the few women of her time and area to study abroad at this level.

Career:

She had a respected career in education and public service:

• Vice Principal (1985–1988) and Principal (1988–1989) at Lahore College for Women.

• Long-serving Principal of Government College for Women, Gulberg (1989–2002 or 2009 in some records).

• Member of the Punjab Public Service Commission (2002–2005).

• Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women.

• Caretaker provincial minister of Punjab.

• Professor of History at Forman Christian College University and later Professor Emeritus.

• Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for Education and National Harmony Affairs.

She also taught as visiting faculty at institutions such as LUMS and the National College of Arts and held a UNESCO Chair from 2021 to 2025.

She was a writer and scholar who focused on Urdu literature, women’s issues, history and culture. Her notable work includes:

• Aurat: Desh Desh Se Aurton Ki Kahaniya (1991), a book about women’s stories from different countries.

She also translated important works, including Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s ''Sultana’s Dream'' into Urdu as ''Sultana Ka Khawab'' and Leila Abouzeid’s ''Year of the Elephant'' into Urdu as ''Ababeel''. Her work highlighted intellectual history, South Asian social issues and the revival of Urdu.

Marriage & Kids:

She remained unmarried throughout her life and had no publicly known husband or children. Trusted sources say she kept her personal life private and devoted herself fully to her work, education and service to society. She always referred to herself as a ''man''. 

–Sahil Sharifdin Bhat