Poet Inayat Ali Khan Tonki passes away

The versatile poet was known for both his naats as well as humorous poetry

KARACHI:

Author of some renowned naats as well as humorous poetry, Professor Inayat Ali Khan Tonki passed away on Sunday in Karachi. He was 85 years old.

Borin in 1935 in the Indian city of Tonk, Professor Inayat migrated to Pakistan with his family in 1948. The family settled in Hyderabad, where the poet received both his primary and secondary education.

In 1962, he secured first position in his Masters programme.

The versatile poet not only wrote for adults, but also penned many a poems for children. He was known for his humorous poetry. His frist name (Inayat) was also his pen name.

Among some of his famous poetry and scholarly collections were: ‘Azrah-e-Inayat’, ‘Inayat’, ‘Inayatain Kia Kia, ‘Nahayat’, ‘Nisab-e-Kitab-e-Urdu and Nisab-e-Kitab-e-Islamiyat.

Condoling the death of the poet, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said, “The death of Professor Inayat Ali Khan is a great loss to literature.” “Having suffered the pain of migration at the time of Pakistan's inception, Professor Inayat made the people of the country laugh,” he added.

The PML-N leader said that by writing children's stories and poems, Professor Inayat played a pivotal role in guiding and training future generations.

“He was very sweet and unique in his satire on social issues,” he said. “He will always live in us through his work.”

Shehbaz prayed for the departed soul and patience for his family members.

Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leader Syed Mustafa Kamal also expressed grief over Professor Inayat's demise.

"His service to literature will never be forgotten and the vaccuum created in the field of literature following his death can never be filled," the PSP leader said.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also expressed grief over Professor Inayat’s demise and said that the late poet would live through is his satirical poetry and would always be remembered for his services in the education sector.

In a condolence message, the CM said that the vacuum created with the death of Prof Inayat would be difficult to fill, however, he had left a beautiful anthology of his satirical poems for readers.