About Me

I am a Pashtun-Canadian woman who is very passionate about international development and humanitarian issues around the world. I consider myself an artist of sorts, and I am a mommy, writer/blogger, artist, academic, and a little bit of everything else. I actively blog for the Express Tribune Blogs and Safe World for Women. I’ve also contributed a couple articles to the Huffington Post, and hope to contribute more in the near future.

I am also a member of the Pashtun Organization for Women (POW) — a non-profit organization dedicated to helping and empowering Pashtun women, living in Afghanistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Our aim is to build schools, create micro-credit programs, development programs, and liaise with various humanitarian organizations like the United Nations, for example, to help aid in the social and economic development of Afghan/Pashtun women.

I have dedicated my life to research, academia, and philanthropy as this is something that I’ve always wanted to do: Teach (Professorship), research, and work for my people (Pashtuns). I want to shed light on the issues they are currently facing, and perhaps even come up with sound, logical solutions to some of the problems.

I’d like to leave my readers with one of my most favourite quotes:

“If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a family (nation).” – Ghanian Proverb

53 responses to “About Me”

      • i read your post about love crimes in kabul.m totly disagree to u.i know we all do sex by hidding.but we cant say that the islamic rules are bad or unhumanity.same cases were also reported in the holy prophet time.they were punished in the same way.if it is a cruelity then why holy prophet allow that tell me sesapzai????????
        Broadmind dose,t mean we tried to change the islamic rules,yes we everyone do sex male or female but we should toba,we shouldn,t say that pre martial sex is our right.sespazai if u teach the people that afghani doing wrong,u comited a sin.m sure

      • Wrora, thank you for your comment. I have moved this comment to the actual post on “Love Crimes in Kabul — A Review,” so I’ll reply to your comment there. 🙂

  3. I read your recent article “True democracy or pseudo democracy?” I agree that democracies around the world have failed to live up to their promise to empower common citizens. Are you aware of the National Initiative for Democracy proposal? Check out http://ni4d.us

    • Hi Joshua,

      Thank you for your comment and for your link. I’ll be sure to check it out. 🙂

  4. Dear Sesapzai… even though i would prefer calling you by your given name as thats more appropriate :)…. Rahim khan publicised your work so much that it at last compelled me to reach this page and read a bit ! not much till now ! but i have added it to my favourites and intend reading it frequently… Being a Pukhtoon i will also try to add some colour to your blog and share whatever little comes to my mind..i might not be that eloquent and master at write ups but would surely love to see your interest of the betterment of Pukhtoons come true Inshallah….till then good going and keep up the great effort … Da Allah Pa Aman

    • Pa khair Muhammad wror jaana!

      Aww, Sesapzai would do just fine! And thank you SO much for finally visiting my blog. I’d love to engage in intellectual dialogue, especially with fellow Pakhtuns, so you’re more than welcome to comment on any post you wish, but of course at your own discretion, as some of my writings are quite controversial! 😉 But then, what would life be like if there were no controversies in it? Boring, I’d say! 🙂 Anyway, thank you for all your well wishes, they are much appreciated! The betterment of Pakhtuns is not just my dream, but every single Pakhtun’s; some just don’t know it yet. Ka sanga? 😉 Khushaala ow baryaali wossa, wrora! Korr de waddan! 🙂

    • Thanks for dropping by! I hope you will enjoy your stay here. I try to write on as many interesting or thought-provoking topics as I can. 🙂

    • Dear madam; my research is in progress on the topic ”Causes and effect of rural urban migration in peshawar” i need recent literature on migration. if u help me i well be very thankful.

      • Dear Mr. Ur-Rehman,

        Thank you so much for your comment and for your humble request to aid you with your research. I actually wrote a paper on rural-urban migration not too long ago, and to start, here is an excerpt that I shared on my blog a while back that you can refer to for the time being: https://sesapzai.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/literature-review-the-impacts-of-rural-urban-migration-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa/. Also, if you want, I can also send you a list of the bibliography that I used to write this academic paper. I wish you all the best in your research and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need more help. You are more than welcome to subscribe to my blog so that you can be notified of any future posts on the topic, as I do intend to build up on this later on. 🙂

    • Aww, thank you Nithya! You’re so sweet! I sell my art too, if you’re interested in buying ‘any. 😉 The money will all be going towards a foundation I co-founded to help orphaned children; it’s called Heela Foundation. Take care and thanks for stopping by! 🙂

    • Thank you so much, Usman! I really appreciate your comment; you are so kind. May you always stay healthy and happy! 🙂

  8. just subscribed to your blog…..thanx to facebook
    Its really nice to have a Pashtoon intellectual sister on web…Great work…. Keep it up
    its late night will definitely read your blogs and will comment… 🙂

  9. Just subscribed to your blog…..thanx to facebook
    Its really nice to have a Pashtoon intellectual sister on web…Great work…. Keep it up
    will definitely read your blogs…

    • Dear Tahir wror jaana!

      Aww, thank you so much for subscribing! I really, really appreciate your kind words and readership! I’d love to read your thoughts on some of the topics I’ve written. I’m sure you’ll have something very valuable to contribute! Looking forward to some great intellectual dialogue with you, ka khairey! Khushaal wossey! 🙂

  10. Dear SesapZai:
    I have used some part of ur paper “The impact of rural urban migration in kPK” in my introduction. but i need bibliography of ( khan 2005, shinwari 2010, and hassan and raza 2009). If u feed me i will be very thankfull………(Hameesha khushala osay…….ameen.)

    • Pa khair Mujeeb wrora!

      It’s such an honour that you quoted me in your paper, and yes, you are more than welcome to use those sources.

      Here are the full references for those three authors:
      – Khan, A. (2005). “Urban Centers as a Catalyst for Socio-Economic and Regional Development in TWC’s: A Case Study of Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan.” Department of Economics, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, NWFP, Pakistan.

      – Shinwari, N.A. (2010). “Understanding FATA: Attitudes Towards Governance, Religion & Society in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas,” Volume IV, Community Appraisal & Motivation Programme (CAMP).

      – Hasan, A. and Raza, M. (2009). “Migration and small towns in Pakistan.” International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). Working Paper Series on Rural-Urban Interactions and Livelihood Strategies, Working Paper 15.

      I suggest you get access to those papers and read them as they will help you. By the way, what are you working on, if you don’t mind my asking. Is this for a research paper/essay/thesis? I got a 96% on this paper, so I’m more than happy to help you proofread it and such. Good luck! 🙂

      • deera deera manana SeasapZai:
        at that time my synopsis is in progress and it will be completed in jun.after that i will start my thesis.

      • Dear Mujeeb!
        I am living at Pak Afghan border in Mohmand tribal area. Pirzawone ao neke heeli, I developed real interest in your research and correspondence with madam sesapzai. I can provide u with the study of NA Shinwari if u wished.

  12. so nice view .i realy like your post about ghazala,realy i was shocked even cried to hear this.but what can we do.may Allah rest her soul in peace of heaven amin.again thanks for a remarable post

  13. der kha………..its really cool…and we all need to create awareness in pushtoon..not only in women,but aslo in men,so tht we know our identity and know that everyone is using us for the sack of there own profit…………

    • Thank you for your comment, Rahamzeb! I agree with you that we do indeed need to create as much awareness as we possibly can among Pashtuns. And ESPECIALLY among men! Gosh, it’s SO refreshing hearing this from a man himself! May you always be happy, wrora! Please leave comments on my other posts on this blog. Would love to read them! Korr de waddan. 🙂

  15. sitting idle in a foreign country, influenced by the western society and not bothering to do anything positive, and trying to overturn the great pushtoon society. i would say, you are not serving the pushtoons, rather you are defaming and destroying the whole fabrics of the society. leave this sort of futile advocacy and do something positive for pushtoons, who are being crushed under the boots and foreign aggressors. just an advice.

  16. I recently came across your blog through Twitter and found myself reading through most of tour entries! Love your style of writing and the topics you choose!
    Just had a quick question; what did you do your undergrad in?

  19. Great website you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any forums that
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    Keep up the good work! You know, lots of people are searching around for this information, you could help them greatly.

  24. I am greatly benefitted from the teachings of J.K. Just reading will not do a thing. I have developed a very simple, child like method which I have no doubt will transform the whole of humanity in case each person apply it himself. I very much guarantee 100%. But it requires day to day substantial hard work. It will take reasonably significant time. Any taker?

  25. I like your web site i did not read your web i just visit it ….i proud that a
    Pashtun women is doing Phd ….Great …Keep it up.

  26. I drop a comment when I like a article on a site or if I
    have something to valuable to contribute to the conversation.

    It’s a result of the sincerness displayed in the post I browsed. And on this article About SesapZai | SesapZai – Artist. Academic. Philanthropist.. I was actually moved enough to drop a commenta response 😛 I do have a couple of questions for you if it’s okay.

    Is it only me or do some of these comments appear as if they are written by
    brain dead individuals? 😛 And, if you are writing at additional online sites,
    I’d like to keep up with you. Would you make a list every one of all your communal sites like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?

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    • Interesting you would blatantly ask me that, while I made no such mention in my “About Me” section. Pray, do tell, what makes you ask me such a question? 🙂

      • How am i supposed to answer your question if you block my IP address?immature tactics smh.

        I assume you’re atheist cause you tweeted some atheist stuff critical of Islam.

  29. lol your reaction to my question has been so funny, first you try blocking my IP address(a useless move in this day and age) and then you try protecting tweets, but funnily enough i can still see your tweets cause i already follow you, only way you can stop that is if you block me, which isn’t possible cause finding my account would be like finding a needle in a haystack .

    Because of your babyish reaction i take it as an affirmation that you are indeed an ex-Muslim(nothing wrong in that), you know you’re a wellknown blogger so you can’t hide on the internet, sooner or later people will found out about you being atheist or agnostic, it’s bound to happen.

    • Blocking your ip address? Why on earth would I do that? I don’t even know you! As for protecting my tweets, it has nothing to do with you (or any one else for that matter); I decided to take a break from social media to focus on my PhD studies for a bit. It’s the end of the semester and crunch time, so I can’t afford to waste time on meaningless shit.

      As for my faith, I don’t understand why you are so interested in that. I like to criticize and look at things from a critical point of view. And, yes, I RT and share anything that logically means sense to me. It doesn’t necessarily mean that I am an “atheist” or an “Ex-Muslim.”

      I don’t know about being a “well-known blogger,” but those who follow and read my writings/blogs know that I like to discuss and talk about each and every topic, without trying to be biased or one-sided.

      Anyway, I have tons of reading to do and content to write for the chapters of my dissertation, so rather than coming on my blog and wondering whether I am an “atheist” or not, let’s have a meaningful, intelligent discussion on important issues instead. Live and let live. Peace!

  30. your articel on walwar is good…. such kind of practice is comman in chitral as well, that before marriage the groom has to pay…..
    bt as the part of that culture(chitrali culture) it does’t seems bad to me coz that does’t show that we are selling our daughters… That amount is a kind of gift for the bride and by that amount a bride will buy her weding dress, jewellries etc… that money is not really used by other family members…. so it is really important to study every practice of a culture in its own context…

  31. Hey Salamz, I hope you are doing well. I am Saara from KPK Pakistan and I came across your blog while searching some material on Bacha Khan. I would be honest, I have only been through the titles but I am impressed with your work. I am a poet and writer myself but more of a fiction writer. Currently, I have been writing and researching for a novel I am working on which is about Pakhtun’s freedom struggle in/before and during 1947, which is why, ofcourse, I was researching on Bacha Khan. I would love if you could point in some right directions and suggest some historic material as there is none/ little of it in books.
    I am a great fan of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement which in fact is the main theme of the story, and it is heart breaking to see how only Indian or other foreigners have written an account of it.
    I would love to hear from you and keep up the good work.

  32. Asalaam Alikum Sesapzay Sahib, I really enjoyed what you have written and tackled about the general thoughts of Pashtoon Nation and many more Articles about Democracy were extremely exciting to me and got benefited too much. therefore, I would always appreciate you for being hardworking and enthusiastic about your gold thoughts….thnx millions and billions

  33. reaply to @Khwaja(earlier comment), you little lowlife, piece of sh*t, dogs like you shouldn’t be allowed on the internet. I bet you are some lowlife non-pukhtoon, descending from punjab, no wonder you hid behind a fake account, come to a pukhtoon blog, and threaten a woman? How man are you, do you even have balls to use your real account. You worthless sh*t, trust me, as long as you have pukhtoon sharing this country with you, dogs like you will be chased and put in a gutter. How dare a piece of sh*t like you come threaten our woman, if only i had you infront of me, if only…..

    Sorry to sesapzai, for taking the space on your front page for this nonsense, but i couldnt help noticing that idiot, with a threat. Stay safe, and remember, we are all with you supporting your every single article.
    Khushala use 🙂

  34. reply to @Khwaja,……… No man accuses another man of being a sinner, or of being a kafir, but it reflects back on him if the other is not as he called him.” (Bukhari, Book of Ethics; Book 78, ch. 44)
    ………………we now clearly know who the sinner is Khwaja, but if only you cared about religion, which you people dont.
    i know how much punjabis use Islam for the benefits of punjabis 🙂 Please, dont try to teach us anything regarding Islam, go home, sit with your father if you know who he is, and learn some basic manners before coming to a blog.

    I apologize again to the author, but somethings need to be taken care of in time to avoid any confusion in the future. Pukhtoon/Baloch Zindabad!

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