About Me - A bio for the membership profile
A South Asian Canadian writer of fiction and poetry, Fauzia has published three novels: ‘Keerru‘ Punjabi (shahmukhi, Sanjh Publications 2019 Lahore PK), ‘Skeena‘ English and Punjabi (gurmukhi, 2019 Patiala IN. English 2011, Surrey CA. shahmukhi, 2007 Lahore PK), and ‘The Adventures of SahebaN: Biography of a Relentless Warrior’ English (Libros Libertad 2016 Surrey CA). Her eBook of poems ‘Holier Than Life’ was published in 2013. Earlier, she edited an anthology of writings of women of South Asian origin, ‘Aurat durbar: The Court of Women’ (Toronto 1995). In Pakistan, Fauzia worked as a journalist and screenwriter.
In 2020, Fauzia received the City of Surrey’s Arts & Heritage Literary Arts Award, and, her novella Keerru won Ali Arshad Mir Award for the best book in Literature (prose). Her short story ‘The position of her power’ was a Finalist for the Sequestrum 2018 Editor’s Reprint Awards. In 2013, Fauzia declined Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. She was recognized in 2012 by peer group WIN Canada as ‘Distinguished Poet & Novelist’ for her first novel ‘Skeena’ (Libros Libertad 2011) and the first chapbook of English and Punjabi poems ‘Passion Fruit/Tahnget Phal’ (Uddari Books 2011).
Most of her work centers around the empowerment of women, writers and artists; positioning against religious oppression, class/caste based prejudices, systemic racism, homophobia and ableism; and supporting the struggles and rights of POC, Indigenous Peoples, Queer communities, refugees, and migrants. Through creative writing, blogging and community development work Fauzia supports the struggles for equality. She publishes blogs on Punjabi literature, and, she is a co-founder and the coordinator of Surrey Muse Arts Society (SMAS).
