Dr. Shaista Yusuf is a highly respected figure in contemporary Indian literature and social work. Born in Mumbai in 1952 and now based in Bengaluru, she is a prominent Urdu poet, prose writer, and advocate for women’s empowerment. Her career spans multiple decades, marked by significant contributions to both literary and social spheres.
Dr. Yusuf’s literary works include both poetry and prose, demonstrating her versatility as a writer. Her acclaimed poetry collections, Gule Khudro and Sooni Parchayiyan, blend traditional Urdu poetic forms with modern themes. The 2010 Karnataka Urdu Academy Award for Gule Khudro underscored her significant impact on Urdu literature, especially in South India. Her most recent publication, Aab-e-aayina, released in 2022, further solidifies her position as an active and influential voice.
In prose, Dr. Yusuf is known for her biography, Yaad-e-Raftagan – Mehmood Ayaz, which documents the life of the notable Urdu poet and journalist Mahmood Ayaz. This work highlights her commitment to preserving the legacies of important literary figures. Beyond her own works, she is also a skilled translator, bringing articles and poems from other languages into Urdu. Her poetry has been included in school textbooks and is accessible on online platforms, reaching a broad audience.
Beyond her literary achievements, Dr. Shaista Yusuf has made a profound impact as a social worker and women’s rights advocate. As the Founder and President of Mehfil-e-Nisa, a Bengaluru-based NGO, she tirelessly works to empower women and address social issues within the Muslim community. Her leadership extends to several other key roles, including Managing Trustee of the United Council for Education and Culture (UCEC) and Vice President for the Women Wing of Anjuman-e-Islam Tarraqi-e-hind Karnataka.
She is also an active member of the Karnataka Urdu Academy, where she promotes Urdu education and culture. Her involvement with organisations and educational institutions reflects a deep concern for the preservation and promotion of the Urdu language. For example, she presided over a 2014 seminar on Urdu medium education, drawing attention to the challenges faced by government Urdu schools. She was also instrumental in organising the Jashn-e-Yaum-e-Urdu celebration in 2025, which brought together various groups working for the promotion of the language.