Culture
End of an Era: Remembering Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra
Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra, a name long associated with intellect, integrity and inspiration, leaves behind a life’s work that few can match. Her contributions reshaped how Pakistan thinks about education, culture and moral courage.
Born in Lahore in 1937, Dr Zehra pursued education at a time when few women could, setting out to change that reality for generations to come. From Lahore College for Women and Government College University to the University of Hawaii, where she earned a PhD in History, her focus remained clear: understanding how ideas and culture shape nations.
Over the next four decades, she devoted herself to teaching and mentorship. As Principal of Lahore College for Women, and later as Professor Emeritus at Forman Christian College, she inspired generations of students to think critically, speak truthfully and live with integrity. Her classes were remembered not just for their academic rigour but for the warmth and wisdom she brought to every conversation.
Her impact was felt not only in classrooms, but across Pakistan’s cultural landscape.
She advised the Prime Minister on education and national harmony, and served as Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women. Through these roles she became one of Pakistan’s most respected voices on ethics, equality and public education. As the UNESCO Chair in Cultural Heritage at the National College of Arts, she worked to preserve Pakistan’s intellectual and literary traditions, reminding us that the Urdu language is not a relic of the past but a living expression of who we are.
For her contributions, Dr Zehra received numerous honours, including the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for public service, the Fatima Jinnah Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Hawaii. Yet for her, recognition was never the goal. She believed the true measure of success lay in one’s ability to think, question and contribute to society with integrity and empathy.
Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra passed away on 10 November 2025, leaving behind a generation she taught to think. Students, writers and leaders have called her passing an irreparable loss. Her voice, filled with intellect, conviction and compassion, will echo through those she taught for years to come.
