Jaswant Singh Zafar Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Jaswant Singh Zafar

• His maternal village was Sanghe Khalsa in the Nurmahal area of Jalandhar district, Punjab.

• Jaswant Singh Zafar grew up in Jalandhar, Punjab. Later, his family moved to village Gahlewal near Koom Kalan, district Ludhiana, Punjab.

• During his college days, he was interested in literature, theatre, drawing, and other creative activities. He also started writing poetry during this period.

• His early writings were influenced by the difficult political situation in Punjab during the 1980s.

• In an interview with a media outlet, Jaswant Singh Zafar stated that he used to write poems in 1985 when Punjab was going through terrorism and violence. His feelings about the situation became the subject of some of his early poems.

• His talent was recognised when he was a student.

• In 1988, Jaswant Singh Zafar won the Inter-University Shiv Kumar Batalvi Poet Gold Medal from Panjab University, Chandigarh.

  

  Jaswant Singh Zafar during his college days

• In 1993, his first poetry collection titled Do Saahan Vichkar, was published. The book explains the political and social conditions of Punjab during that period.

• Jaswant Singh Zafar then went on to publish many poems, including Asin Nanak De Ki Lagde Haan (2001), Eh Banda Ki Hunda (2010), Piare Aao Ghare, Mennu Buddhu Hona Chahida (2024), and Ik Katora Chanani.

• Some of his eassays include Sikh So Khoj Lahe (2007), Mainu Eho Laggeya (2015), Bhagat Satguru Hamara (2016), Nanak Aivein Janiye (2021), and Chameli De Phull (2023).
  

  The cover of a book by Jaswant Singh Zafar

• Apart from being a writer, he was also an engineer.

• After completing his engineering degree, Jaswant Singh Zafar started working at the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).

• Later, he worked in the many power organisations of the state.

• After that, he became a Deputy Chief Engineer in the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

• In an interview with a media house, Jaswant Singh Zafar once explained that he did not treat writing as a full-time job during his engineering career.

• He used to spend his free time, especially weekends, for writing and other creative work. He believed that working in a profession gave a writer more experience of real life.

  

  Jaswant Singh Zafar during his period at Punjab State Power Corporation Limited

• Jaswant Singh Zafar has written the play Budha Dariya, which was published in 2019.

• As an environmentalist, he has spoken about the rivers of Punjab, water crisis, pollution and environmental problems.

• In 2019, he participated in a discussion on the water crisis in Ludhiana, Punjab. He said that the condition of Punjab could be understood by looking at its rivers, canals and water bodies. He also spoke about the condition of the Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana.

• He regularly promotes tree plantation drives and other environmental campaigns.

• In 2022, he encouraged people to plant trees in memory of singer Sidhu Moose Wala and stated that it was a useful way to turn grief into an environmental effort.
  

  Jaswant Singh Zafar while checking a tree

• In 2023, he retired as Deputy Chief Engineer.

• Some of his Hindi poems were published in Jeeti Jaagti Baat in 2021.

• After that, some of his selected English translations were published in The Other Shore of Words.

• In 2024, the Punjab government appointed him as Director of the Language Department, Punjab. He took charge in Patiala on 27 June.

• In 2025, he announced the of the Hindi and Urdu Best Book Awards of Language Department, Punjab.

• That same year, Jaswant Singh Zafar was summoned by the Akal Takht over the dance performance at a government event in Srinagar. The event was organised at the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

• After that, on 1 September 2025, he appeared before the Akal Takht to submit his written clarification.

• As a cartoonist, painter, and photographer, during his earlier career, he drew political cartoons for Punjabi publications and also held exhibitions of his cartoons, paintings, and photographs in Ludhiana.

• He has been involved in activities for young people and education. He often delivers lectures at colleges and literary events and encourages students to read and stay connected with Punjabi language and culture.
  

  Jaswant Singh Zafar while delivering a lecture at an event

• Jaswant Singh Zafar regularly supports activities related to sports, youth welfare, and social issues.

• Apart from literature, he regularly works in the fields of education, environment, and community.

• He has served as a Secretary at Punjabi Sahit Akademi, Chandigarh and Ludhiana.

• He often participates in poetry readings, literary programs, television and radio interviews.
  

  Jaswant Singh Zafar during a poetry reading event

• Jaswant Singh Zafar regularly organises literary and cultural programs, including events related to Sufi music and poetry.

• He writes about Punjab, Punjabi language, religion, Guru Nanak, love, nature, pollution, farming, politics, human behaviour, and social problems.

• In 2026, he made his acting debut in the Punjabi film Rehmat, which was directed by Gurvinder Singh. He played the role of Harjap Singh, a grieving father. He appeared alongside well-known actor Naseeruddin Shah and Suvinder Vicky.
  

  Jaswant Singh Zafar in a still from the film Rehmat

• The film premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland in August 2026.
  

  Jaswant Singh Zafar at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland in 2026

• He likes travelling to distant places in his free time.
  

  Jaswant Singh Zafar during a trip