Aziz Jahan

Aziz Jahan, better known by her pen name Ada Jafarey, was born on 22 August 1924 in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh. She grew into one of the most respected voices in Urdu poetry and is often remembered as the first major published female poet in the tradition.

She began writing under the name Ada Badayuni, later becoming Ada Jafarey after her marriage to Nurul Hasan Jafarey. Following the Partition of India, she moved to Karachi, where she continued her literary journey until her passing in 2015.

Her poetry covered a wide spectrum of forms, from ghazals and nazms to free verse and haiku. She also made her mark as an anthologist and memoirist. Her first poetry collection, Main Sāz Dhoondti Rahi, was published in 1950. She went on to compile Ghazal Numa and wrote her autobiography Jo Rahi So Bekhabari Rahi.

For her contribution to literature, Ada Jafarey received several awards including the Adamjee Literary Award (1967), the Medal of Excellence (1981), and the Pride of Performance (2003).

Ada Jafarey’s legacy stands as a pioneering voice that gave generations of women poets the courage to write and be heard.