Surjeet Kalsi is a renowned Canadian Punjabi writer, poet, storyteller, playwright, and translator. She was born in Amritsar, Punjab, into a Punjabi Sikh family. She earned her M.A. degrees in English and Punjabi from Punjab University, Chandigarh. Surjeet Kalsi worked for five years as a news-reader and translator at All India Radio, Chandigarh. In 1973, she married Ajmer Rode and moved to Canada. After arriving in Canada, she completed an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and an M.Ed. in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia. From 2001 to 2012, she taught a bilingual course in Family Interpreting with Vancouver Community Services. Currently, she is associated with Abbotsford Community Services, where she provides group therapy to Indo-Canadians, support to women victims of violence, and counseling to families.
Surjeet Kalsi's literary journey began after arriving in Canada with the magazine *Vatanu Door*. However, she had started writing from a young age. During her Giani studies and J.B.T. training at Mission Training School, Moga, she edited a children's magazine. Her first stories and poems were published in local newspapers. Her debut book was *Paunān nāl Guptgū*, and to date, nearly twenty of her books have been published. Her works are in both Punjabi and English. Surjeet Kalsi's creations focus on women's rights, immigrant life, and social injustice.
Surjeet Kalsi has received several prestigious honors for her contributions to Punjabi literature and society. Some of the key ones include the University of British Columbia Writers Lifetime Achievement Award, Writers International Award Canada Best and Distinguished Poet Award, India Club Literary Achievement Award, and Vishwa Punjabi Sahit Akademi Honor, among others.
Surjeet Kalsi's literary journey began after arriving in Canada with the magazine *Vatanu Door*. However, she had started writing from a young age. During her Giani studies and J.B.T. training at Mission Training School, Moga, she edited a children's magazine. Her first stories and poems were published in local newspapers. Her debut book was *Paunān nāl Guptgū*, and to date, nearly twenty of her books have been published. Her works are in both Punjabi and English. Surjeet Kalsi's creations focus on women's rights, immigrant life, and social injustice.
Surjeet Kalsi has received several prestigious honors for her contributions to Punjabi literature and society. Some of the key ones include the University of British Columbia Writers Lifetime Achievement Award, Writers International Award Canada Best and Distinguished Poet Award, India Club Literary Achievement Award, and Vishwa Punjabi Sahit Akademi Honor, among others.