Identity: Popular novelist, short story writer, and translator
Qaisi Rampuri, also known as Qaisi Ajmeri, was a popular Urdu novelist, short story writer, and translator. He contributed a large number of novels and stories to Urdu fiction in the early and mid-20th century. His real name was Hamiduddin Khalil-uz-Zaman. He was called “Qaisi” because of his ancestral lineage.

He was born on 20 June 1908 in Rampur. He received early education in Persian and Urdu from his grandfather. He memorized the Quran in childhood but could not continue later. In youth he tried business but failed, after which he turned to social work and then employment. He lived in Delhi, then Ajmer, and finally Karachi.

He passed the exams of Adeeb Fazil, Munshi Fazil, and Intermediate. He worked in Railway Audit but continued literary work alongside his job.

He began his literary career with poetry, but gained real recognition through fiction. His first story “Isar-e-Mujassam” was published in 1926 in the magazine Kaif (Ajmer).

His well-known novels include Chauraha, Aakhri Faisla, Dil ki Awaaz, Nikkhat, Dhoop, Saza, Khiyanat, Apahij, Shireen, Phanda, Rizwan, Gharana, and others. His story collection “Kaifistan” is important. He also wrote a play “Samaj ke Sutoon” (1943). He translated works of Thomas Hardy and other Western writers. He authored the book “The Horrific Events of World War II.”

Although he belonged to Rampur, his literary identity was shaped in Ajmer, so he preferred to be called “Ajmeri.” He served literature in Ajmer for about two decades and also published the magazine Kaif.

He married twice. His second marriage was to the daughter of the noted writer Mulla Wahidi.

Death: He passed away on 10 February 1974 in Karachi.