He began writing in 1960. Initially he worked for the Indian postal service (1960-1968), and then as a chief postmaster-general and member of the Postal Services Board, New Delhi until 1994. He was also editor of his literary magazine Shabkhoon and part-time professor at the South Asia Regional Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania. He was awarded the Saraswati Samman, a prestigious literary award in India in 1996