In my childhood, I have seen almirahs full of Jasoosi Panja and Mahnama, in towns in UP. But by 1990s, the novels were hard to found, except in libraries or personal collections. The novels were published in Urdu and Hindi, and were awaited every month by fans in India and Pakistan. Among them were Inspector Khaan and his assistant Baalay, Madhulkar and Raazi were most popular. Today, it is unimaginable the kind of following Akram Sahab or Ibn-e-Safi, had among masses.Īkram Sahab created many famous characters. In those days, his novels sold like hot cakes. It was in the post-independence era, when detective fiction in the sub-continent reached dizzy heights.Īkram Allahabadi, who was born in Allahabad, and who had later settled in Mumbai, was among the most popular writers of the era.

Many today may not be aware about the magical world of Urdu detective fiction that was created by him. The website has also been put up for the fans of the late author who wrote spy fiction for well over three decades. Today his novels are rare to find but the legend of Akram Allahabadi grows.For years, Akram Allahabadi's detective novels that were once a rage, had become rarer to find.įinally, there is good news, as his family has decided to print his novels once again and bring them in public domain. Inspector Madhulkar and his assistant Raazi, Inspector Sadiq and Jacob etc. He also used some other leading characters i.e. In his detective novels the leading characters were Superintendent Huzoor Ahmed Khan (Khan) and Sergeant Iqbal Ahmed (Balay). He married to a woman who had African ancestry.Īkram Allahabadi was a writer of scores of popular novels in the era of 1950s to late 70s and thereafter.

A prolific writer, his novels were bestsellers. He started writing detective novels with the pen name of Akram Allahabadi in 1953. From Bhopal he later moved to Kanpur.Īfter his graduation, Akram Allahabadi took the journalism and joined an Urdu daily in Allahabad in 1946.Īkram Allahabadi started several daily newspapers and magazines, edited journals and later shifted to Mumbai. He used the pen name of Waqif Allahabdi for writing poetry. His father Syed Shah Mohammad Afzal belonged to a landlord family who passed away when Akram was 12 years.Īkram was more interested in writing poetry than looking after the family business therefore he handed over the land matters to his brother and moved to Bhopal for further studies. Syed Mohammad Akram, was born on 31 March 1923 in Allahabad.

Akram allahabadi novels