In 2014, Surjeet Kalsey was accorded a lifetime achievement award as part of the Harjit Kaur Sidhu Memorial Program. The award is given annually to a British Columbia Punjabi author by the Asian Studies Department of the University of British Columbia. [See below] On April 11, 2015, the Abbotsford Arts Council awarded Surjeet Kalsey for an Outstanding Contribution to Literary Art for the 11th Annual Arty Award.

Born in Amritsar, Punjab, Surjeet Kalsey received her M.A. in English and Punjabi at the Punjab University Chandigarh. She afterwards worked as a radio journalist at All India Radio as Punjabi Regional News Anchor and came to Canada in 1974. She 'started life all over again' after her marriage in 1973 with Ajmer Rode., a computer engineer from Canada. Having attained her creative writing degree in 1978, Surjeet Kalsey has worked as a freelance interpreter and translator, as well as a writer, whose work has appeared in various anthologies and magazines in Canada and in India. She has recited her poetry at many venues, including the Harbourfront Reading series in Toronto. After obtaining her M.Ed. in Counselling Psychology at UBC, she has been employed as a family therapist and has taught part-time in conjunction with her Court Interpreting Certification (bi-lingual component) at Vancouver Community College.

ANCESTRAL BACKGROUND: Punjabi Sikh family background

EMPLOYMENT OTHER THAN WRITING: Family Therapist, Abbotsford Community Services

BOOKS:

Colours Of My Heart (Tarlochan Publishers 2011). Poetry.

Rom Rom Vich Jagdey Deevay (LokGeet Parkashan, Chandigarh 2005) - Poetry

Poetic Ocean of Faiz Ahmed Faiz (Urdu poet from Pakistan), Edited, 2004 Urdu poetry in Punjabi script. Trilochan Publications Chandigarh, India

Identical Study of Mohan Singh (Punjabi Poet from the Punjab) & Faiz Ahmed Faiz(Urdu Poet) comparative and literary study, 2003, Trilochan Publications Chandigarh.

A collection of Plays- Behind the Palace Doors, 2002. Raghbir Rachna Parkashan, Chandigarh, India.

Woman, Words and Strength, Poetry, 2001 RRP Chandigarh.

Distant Women, Collection of Short Stories, 1996, Nanak Singh Book Series (Pustakmala) Publications Amritsar, Punjab,India.

Foot Prints of Silence, Poetry 1988, The Third Eye Publications, London Ontario.

Glimpses of Twentieth Century Punjabi Poetry in English Translation, 1994 Includes works of 55 Punjabi poets. Ajanta International Publications, Delhi.

Speaking To The Winds, Poetry 1982, The Third Eye Publications, London Ontario.

Paunan Nal Guftagoo, Poetry 1979, RRP Chandigarh.2nd edition 1989, the Third Eye Publications, London Ont.

ALSO:

Sandscape (Poetry)
Naam Tiharey (Poetry)
Katha Teri Meri (Short Stories)

[BCBW 2015] "Punjabi" "Poetry" "Theatre"