Inayatullah (1920 - 1999) was a Pakistani novelist, story writer, and the founding editor of monthly Hikayat Digest.

Early life

''Inayatullah'' was born in a

Rajput Rājpūt (, from Sanskrit ''rājaputra'' meaning "son of a king"), also called Thākur (), is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating fro ...

family on November 1, 1920, in

Gujar Khan Gujar Khan ( ; ) is a city in Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is also the headquarters of Gujar Khan Tehsil, the largest tehsil of Punjab by land area. Gujar Khan is located approximately southeast of Islamabad, the capital of Pak ...

, Punjab,

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

. In 1936, he passed his matriculation examination and joined British army as a clerk. He was in an infantry unit of the British army and fought at

Burma Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...

front against Japan. In 1944, Inayatullah was taken prisoner by the government of

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

, but he managed to flee from the prison. Then he again joined the British army and was sent by the authorities to

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

to counter the rebellions. After the partition of India, Inayatullah joined the

Pakistan Air Force The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) (; ) is the aerial warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces, tasked primarily with the aerial defence of Pakistan, with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy when re ...

as a corporal. In 1965, when the war started between Pakistan and India, he became a war correspondent.

Writing career

''Inayatullah'' started his career as an editor of the monthly ''Sayyara'' digest. He later founded his own publishing house, ''Maktabae Daastan''. In 1970, Inayatullah began publishing a monthly magazine called Hikayat Digest from

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

. Inayatullah was drawn to writing historical books during the time. He also wrote historical novels, hunting stories, and detective fiction in addition to his editorial job. He also wrote about general psychology, biography, politics, and social evils in his essays. He published over a hundred works under the pen names ''Meem Alf'', ''Iltumsh'', ''Ahmad Yar Khan'', ''Sabir Hussain Rajput'', ''Waqas'', ''Mehdi Khan'', and ''Gumnaam Khatoon'', along with his original name ''Inayatullah''.

Books

Historical novels

* Andalus Ki Naagin * Aur Neel Behta Raha - 2 volumes * Firdaus-e-Iblees - 2 volumes * Dastaan Eemaan Faroshon Ki - 5 volumes * Damishq Ke Qaid Khanay Main * Doob Doob Kar Ubhri Nao * Hijaaz ki Aandhi * Aur Aik Boot Shikan Paida Huwa - 4 volumes * Shamsheer-e-Bay Niyaam - 2 volumes * Sitaara Jo Toot Gaya * Ameer Taimoor * Azaadi ya Jung k Hero

Other novels

* 2 Pullon Ki Kahani * 4 Dewari Ke Dareechon Say * Aik Kahaani * Main Gunahgar To Nahin * Khaki Wardi Lal Lahoo * BRB Behti Rahay Gi * Akhiyan Meet Ke Sapna Takya * Fateh Garh Se Farar * Badar Say Batapur Tak * 4 Deewari Ki Dunya * Choti Behan Ka Pagla Bhai * Hamari Shikast Ki Kahani * Hamzad ka Ishq * Parcham Urhta Raha * Jurm Jang Or Jazbaat * Heeray Ka jigger * Kala Burqa Jal RahaTha * Lahore Ki Dehleez Per * Main Buzdil Tha Aur Wo Mar Gaya hay Tum Zinda Raho * Main Kisi Ki Beti Nahi * Manzil Aur Musafir * Pakistan Aik Payaz Aur Do Rotian * Panchveen Larki * Raat ka Rahi * Patan Patan Kay Paapi * Payasi Roohen * Piyasay * Tahira * Uljhay Rastay * Ustani Aur Taxi Driver * Wajida Veena Aur Watan

Death

Inayatullah died on November 16, 1999, in

at the age of 79.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Inayatullah 1920 births 1999 deaths Pakistani male journalists Pakistani writers Pakistani editors Pakistani prisoners and detainees