Thanks to the generosity of the Nekbakht Foundation, two books are planned for publication in early 2027, with a major launch at the Urs Festival in 2027. Together, they form a complementary portrait of Hazrat Inayat Khan.

The first is a lavish, full-colour illustrated biography; Hazrat Inayat Khan in his own words and images. The second is a narrative biography written for a broad readership and published simultaneously in print and as an ebook, making it accessible to audiences worldwide.

It has been decades since a biography of this scope has been attempted. These books offer the first contemporary account written expressly for new readers, drawing on archival materials, rare photographs, and the scholarly guidance of Hazrat Inayat Khan’s grandson, Pir Zia Inayat Khan, marking a significant moment in the preservation and celebration of a remarkable life.

Both books will be published by Roli Books, whose catalogue of illustrated biographies, including works on Gandhi and the Dalai Lama, has established them as India’s foremost publisher of visual and biographical non-fiction. The project is commissioned by the Nekbakht Foundation, custodians of Hazrat Inayat Khan’s archive, with editorial collaboration from Pir Zia Inayat Khan.

Publication events are planned across the world, with the launch at the Urs Festival in Baroda, New Delhi and the Jaipur Literature Festival.

The project is written by award-winning author Shrabani Basu, in collaboration with Roli Books.