On June 8, 2025, Arfa Khanum Sherwani remains a well-known name in Indian journalism. She is a senior editor at The Wire, a popular Indian news website. Arfa is famous for her bold and honest reporting. She has worked in journalism for over 24 years. Her journey is inspiring for many young people in India.
Early Life And Family
Arfa Khanum Sherwani was born on November 1, 1980, in Khurja, a small city in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. She grew up in a simple family. Her family was progressive, which means they supported new ideas. Her parents wanted their daughters to be independent. Arfa has a brother and four sisters. One of her sisters, Bushra Khanum, is also a journalist. Not much is known about her parents. Arfa keeps her personal life private. She once shared that her father moved to India from Pakistan, leaving his sister behind. This was a big decision for her family.
When Arfa was young, she saw a difficult event. On December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid was demolished. Arfa was just 12 years old. Her family had to run to stay safe. She carried her one-month-old brother during this time. Some women in burkhas helped them find safety. This event left a deep mark on her mind. She often wondered why she was safe with those women but not elsewhere. This experience shaped her views on society and justice.
Education
Arfa studied in her hometown, Khurja, for her early education. She completed her intermediate studies there. Then, she joined Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut. She earned a B.Sc. degree from this university. Arfa always loved learning. She wanted to become a journalist. So, she joined Aligarh Muslim University to study journalism. She completed a diploma in journalism there. Later, she went to Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi. She did her doctoral studies there. Her research was about Muslim and Dalit communities in India. This shows her interest in understanding people’s struggles.
Arfa Khanum Sherwani Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Education, Religion, Husband, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Arfa Khanum Sherwani |
| Date of Birth | November 1, 1980 |
| Place of Birth | Khurja, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Family | - Parents: Not much known; father migrated from Pakistan to India - Siblings: One brother, four sisters (one sister, Bushra Khanum, is a journalist) - Marital Status: Possibly married to Dr. Azim Khan (unconfirmed) - Children: Possibly two (son and daughter, unconfirmed) |
| Early Life Event | - Witnessed Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 at age 12 - Family fled for safety, helped by women in burkhas |
| Education | - Early education in Khurja - B.Sc. from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut - Diploma in Journalism from Aligarh Muslim University - Doctoral studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi (focused on Muslim and Dalit communities) |
| Career Start | - Began in 2000 - Intern at The Pioneer - Trainee sub-editor at The Asian Age - Production executive at Sahara TV |
| Major Career Roles | - Principal correspondent and news anchor at NDTV (2003 onwards) - Worked at Rajya Sabha TV until 2017 - Senior editor at The Wire (2017–present) |
| Notable Work | - Covered 2014 Afghanistan presidential elections (only Indian journalist) - Reported on Kashmir after 2019 changes - Hosts multimedia program at The Wire on social justice and minority issues |
| Awards and Achievements | - Chameli Devi Jain Award (2019) - Red Ink Award - Sahitya Samman Award by Hindi Academy - John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford University (2024) |
| Challenges Faced | - Received death and rape threats online - Targeted in Bulli Bai app incident - Criticized for 2020 Aligarh Muslim University speech on CAA - Accused of bias by some groups |
| Beliefs | - Supports equality and justice - Focuses on issues of Muslims, Dalits, and marginalized communities - Believes in speaking for those who are ignored |
| Social Media Presence | - Active on Twitter and Facebook - Shares news and thoughts, starts discussions |
| Personal Life | - Keeps personal life private - Shared an anniversary picture once, but no confirmed details about family |
| Impact | - Role model for young journalists - Inspires women in journalism - Known for fearless and honest reporting |
| Current Role (as of 2025) | - Senior editor at The Wire - Selected for Stanford University fellowship for 2024 academic year |
Starting Her Career
Arfa began her journalism career in 2000. She was young and eager to learn. She moved to Delhi to follow her dreams. Her first job was at The Pioneer, a newspaper. She worked there as an intern. This means she was learning while working. After that, she joined The Asian Age as a trainee sub-editor. She helped edit news stories. Then, she worked at Sahara TV as a production executive. These jobs gave her experience in different parts of journalism.
In 2003, Arfa got a big opportunity. She joined NDTV, a major news channel in India. She worked as a principal correspondent and news anchor. This means she reported news and also presented it on TV. At the young age of 22, she was already anchoring for a national channel. This was a big achievement. She worked at NDTV for many years. Later, she joined Rajya Sabha TV. She worked there until 2017. After that, she joined The Wire, where she is now a senior editor.
Major Achievements
Arfa is known for her fearless reporting. She covered the 2014 Afghanistan presidential elections. She was the only Indian journalist to do this. This made her famous in the journalism world. Her work focuses on important issues like politics, social justice, and minority rights. She speaks for people who are often ignored, like marginalized communities.
Arfa has won many awards for her work. In 2019, she received the Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Women Mediapersons. She also won the Red Ink Award. The Hindi Academy gave her the Sahitya Samman Award. These awards show that her work is respected. In 2024, Stanford University chose her for the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship. This is a prestigious program. She will spend an academic year at Stanford, learning more about journalism.
Work at The Wire
At The Wire, Arfa leads the multimedia team. She hosts a popular online video program. This program talks about issues faced by people who are not treated fairly in India. Arfa’s reporting often focuses on social justice. In 2019, she was one of the first journalists to visit Kashmir. This was after the Indian government made big changes there. She reported on how people were affected. Her work is known for being honest and detailed.
Arfa is also a TEDx speaker. She shares her life experiences in these talks. One of her talks was about the Batla House encounter. This was a police operation in 2008. Arfa felt judged because of her religion during this time. She was accused of supporting her community instead of being fair. This was a tough time for her. But she kept working hard. She believes it is her duty to tell the stories of people who are not heard.
Personal Life
Arfa is very private about her personal life. Some reports say she is married to Dr. Azim Khan, a professor. Other reports say she is not married. There is also some information that says she has two children, a son and a daughter. But Arfa has not confirmed these details. She likes to keep her family life away from the public. On social media, she once shared a picture celebrating her anniversary. But she does not share much about her husband or children.
Challenges and Controversies
Arfa’s work has not been easy. She has faced many challenges. In 2020, she gave a speech at Aligarh Muslim University. It was about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). A short clip of her speech became viral. Some people criticized her. They said she was not fair in her views. Arfa said the clip was edited to make her look bad. She also faced online abuse. She received death and rape threats on social media. This was very difficult for her. She spoke to the Committee to Protect Journalists about these threats.
Arfa was also a victim of the Bulli Bai app. This app targeted Muslim women in a fake online auction. It was a cruel act. Arfa and other women faced a lot of harassment because of this. Some people call Arfa a “leftist” journalist. They say she criticizes right-wing ideas too much. But Arfa says she speaks for truth and justice. She does not let these challenges stop her.
Her Beliefs and Impact
Arfa is a Muslim and proud of her identity. She often talks about issues faced by Muslims in India. She also supports other communities, like Dalits. Her work shows her belief in equality. She wants everyone to have a fair chance in life. Some people disagree with her views. They call her biased. But many others admire her courage. They say she speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves.
On social media, Arfa is very active. She has many followers on Twitter and Facebook. She shares her thoughts and news stories there. Her posts often start big discussions. Some people support her, while others criticize her. But she continues to share her ideas. She believes in using her voice to make a difference.
A Role Model
Arfa Khanum Sherwani is a role model for many young journalists. Her journey from a small city to a top journalist is inspiring. She faced many challenges but never gave up. Her education and hard work helped her succeed. She shows that anyone can achieve their dreams with effort. Arfa also proves that women can do great things in tough fields like journalism.
Her story teaches us to be brave. It shows the importance of speaking for what is right. Arfa’s work reminds us to listen to people who are ignored. She is not just a journalist. She is a voice for change. Her life shows that one person can make a big impact.
Conclusion
Arfa Khanum Sherwani is a name that stands for courage and truth. Born in a small city, she worked hard to become a top journalist. Her education, from a B.Sc. to a doctorate, helped her understand the world. Her career, from The Pioneer to The Wire, shows her growth. She has won awards and faced challenges, but she never stopped. Arfa’s story is about following dreams and fighting for justice. She inspires many people in India and beyond. Her work will continue to make a difference for years to come.