Moga, Punjab
She grew up in a small town in Northern India, born into a joint family as the youngest daughter — five years younger than her kind, loving, full-of-life sister Simran, and seven years younger than her genius brother Harman. Young Arsh watched families grow apart and kept her eyes open the whole time.
As far back as anyone remembers, Arsh has always been a rebel. Questioning authority, going against the rules, never scared of the powerful. Her father Sukhwinder Singh Azad — a journalist among other things — gave her the first glimpse of joy in writing. A seed was planted.
Her bibi — grandmother — Ranjeet Kaur watered that seed with incredible stories. A story every night under the stars became her core memory.
The West
Hollywood, the American dream, the west screamed freedom at her. So what did she do? She rebelled after high school and her parents took loans to send her to Canada — Saskatchewan, where her brother had been for a year.
She studied business administration at the University of Regina. The city was nothing like the movies. Nowhere close to New York. But it was far from family — so it was enough. She worked at Burger King, learned the ways of immigrants living in the west, and got her PR.
Then the Gods of Synchronicity brought her to Edmonton. She started learning Psychology and Creative Writing at the University of Alberta. In 2021, the seed of writing started to sprout.
The Books
In Edmonton, she found freedom in anonymity. No one knew her and she thought she could be anyone. This city is where she found friends who became family. She also met the love of her life — Anshuman Gill, now her husband.
Arsh wrote You're on Your Own between 2021–2023 to deal with repressed emotions resurfacing. She self-published it, because why not?
In 2025, to face her fears, she wrote two poetry books. Rooh Da Cheta / Soul's Remembrance — an intimate conversation with the divine — was published by Khalis House in February 2026. The Summer I Found My Wings, a bilingual journey in Punjabi and English, is releasing soon.
She is also writing a novel: The Illusion of Desire — a classic journey to the west, set in New York City.
Philosophy of Life
Ik Onkar · Hukam · Sarbat da Bhala
Recognition
Artist of the Month
ICAI — October 2025
Recognized for her contribution to literary arts and her authentic voice in contemporary poetry.
Read the feature →