Ismat Chughtai was born in Badaun in 1915 in a large family of six brothers and four sisters. Her elder brother, Mirza Azim Beg Chughtai, a novelist, became her mentor and encouraged her to become a writer.  Because she wrote openly about female sexuality, she got into legal trouble with the publication of her s short story Lihaaf, which featured a begum having a lesbian relationship with her maid. She was charged with promoting obscenity, and the case went up to Lahore High Court before she was acquitted. Ismat spent a better part of her working life in the film industry. She published eight novels, including one based on the life of actor and director Guru Dutt. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the late 1980s, and she died in 1991. At her wish, she was cremated and not buried Your feedback is most welcome. [email protected]