Surender Mohan Pathak

Surender Mohan Pathak (born 19 February 1940) is an author of Hindi-language crime fiction with nearly 300 novels to his credit. His writing career, along with his full-time job in Indian Telephone Industries, Delhi, began in the early 1960s with his Hindi translations of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels and the works of James Hadley Chase. He also wrote his own James Bond series.

His first short story, 57 saal puraana aadmi (५७ साल पुराना आदमी, The Man 57 from Years Ago), was published in a Hindi magazine Manohar Kahaniyaan (मनोहर कहानीयां) in 1959. His first full-length novel, Purane Gunah Naye Gunahgar (Sunil Series), was published in Neelam Jaasoos (a Hindi crime fiction magazine) in 1963.

His major work began with what is called the "Sunil" series which consists of at least 122 novels. Sunil, a debonair and upright investigative journalist for the fictional daily newspaper Blast, lives in the fictional city of Rajnagar, a metropolitan city located on the coastline. Sunil has a quixotic nature when it comes to damsels in distress, which happens only too often. He is a man in his 30s, who is willing to go any lengths in pursuit of justice, mostly with help of his best friend Ramakant Malhotra, a dipsomaniac and owner of a club called Youth Club. His attempts to protect the innocent often result in Sunil ending up on the wrong side of the law, bringing him face to face with Inspector Prabhudayal, the exceptionally strict and incorruptible officer in charge of the homicide division of the Rajnagar Police.

The "philosopher" detective Sudhir Kumar Kohli is the protagonist of Pathak's Sudhir Series, all narrated in the first person. Sudhir is the diametric opposite of Sunil, proudly proclaiming himself dilli ka khaas kism ka haraami who frequently enlists the help of Inspector Devender Kumar Yadav, who can easily be persuaded to do something dishonest. A recent novel of this (in)famous series has been translated by Giriraj Sharan (uncredited) and published by Diamond Books under the title The Last Goal.

However the best-known series of novels of Pathak is Vimal (विमल), a.k.a. Sardar Surender Singh Sohal (सरदार सुरेन्द्र सिंह सोहल), a.k.a. another dozen names he uses to camouflage his identity in the Mumbai underworld. Vimal is a Robinhood like character, who is constantly on the run from the law due to circumstances out of his control. He has taken up arms against gangsters like Rajbahadur Bakhia and, after killing him, his next avatar Iqbal Singh and then Vyaas Shankar Gajre. The Sardar has associates like Tukaram and his henchmen, like Wagle and Irfan, etc. Vimal is not a private detective or police inspector but a criminal wanted in seven states.

In addition, Pathak has also authored several novels not belonging to any specific series, which are labelled as 'thriller' novels irrespective of their storyline. Many collections of joke books compiled by Pathak have also been published. Several authors have been known to plagiarise or "borrow" heavily from his works.

Series works

Sunil Series S. No. Name of The Novel Estimated year of publication 1) Purane Gunaah Naye Gunahgar Oct 1963 2) Samudra Me Khoon (Dharti Ka Swarg) May 1964 3) Hotel Me Khoon Nov 1965 4) Badsurat Chehre Dec 1965 5) Blackmailer Ki Hatya (Ek Teer Do Shikar) Feb 1966 6) Hong Kong Mein Hungama(Desh Drohi) Mar 1966 7) Murti Ki Chori Mar 1966 8) Shaitaan Ki Maut (Benakab Chehra) May 1966 9) Reporter ki hatya Jun 1966 10) Aastin ke saanp Aug 1966 11) Hatyare (Rahashya Ke Dhaage) Sep 1966 12) Red circle society Nov 1966 13) Ye aadmi khatarnaak hai (Khatarnaak Apradhi, Karl Plumer Ki Vaapsi)Jan 1967 14) Khatarnaak black mailerJuly 1967 15) Hong Kong ke lootereSept 1967 16) Hatya ki raatNov 1967 17) Bandar ki karamaatDec 1967 18) Kaala motiJan 1968 19) Double roleFeb 1968 20) Safal ApradhiMarch 1968 21) Jhoothi AuratMay 1968 22) Murda Jee UthaJuly 1968 23) Shahi MehmaanAug 1968 24) Flat me LaashNov 1977 25) Farrar ApradhiApr 1969 26) Operation Double AgentJuly 1969 27) Darpok ApradhiSept 1969 28) Landan Me HungamaOct 1969 29) Dohri ChaalNov 1969 30) Vikshipt HatyaraJan 1970 31) Yorop Me hungamaJan 1970 32) Vinash ke BadalFeb 1970 33) Operation PikingMay 1970 34) Barud aur ChingariJun 1970 35) Khooni NecklesAug 1970 36) Pakistan Ki Hashina(Operation Pakistan)Sept 1970 37) Operation General KNov 1970 38) Akhiri ShikarMarch 1971 39) Call Girl ki HatyaJuly 1971 40) Khoon hi KhoonSept 1971 41) Aman ke DushmanDec 1971 42) HijackJan 1972 43) Doosri HatyaApr 1972 44) Ek Khoon AurJuly 1972 45) Bashra Me HungamaJan 1973 46) AccidentApr 1973 47) Sinha Murder CaseMay 1973 48) Neeli TasveerenJuly 1973 49) Operation DhakaAug 1973 50) BlackmailOct 1973 51) Khiladi Ki HatyaNov 1973 52) Rahashya Ka AndheraDec 1974 53) Maut Ki ChhayaFeb 1975 54) Triple CrossApr 1975 55) Double MissionJuly 1975 56) Spy ChakraSept 1975 57) Single ShotDec 1975 58) Chor SipahiNov 1975 59) Operation SingaporeMarch 1976 60) Kaali HaveliMay 1976 61) Pisach Ka PratishodhJuly 1976 62) Khoon Ka KhelNov 1976 63) Naya Din Nayi LaashFeb 1977 64) Shooting ScriptMay 1977 65) Tashveer ki ShahadatMay 1977 66) Sex scandalSept 1977 67) Jaan Ka KhataraDec 1977 68) Laash Ka KatlMarch 1978 69) Double MurderApr 1978 70) Jasoosh ki HatyaJun 1978 71) Star Night ClubJul 1978 72) Garm LaashNov 1978 73) Band DarwajaJan 1979 74) Andhere Ki CheekhMarch 1979 75) Maut Ki AahatMarch 1979 76) Meena Murder CaseJuly 1979 77) Anokhi ChaalSept 1979 78) Nau July Ki RaatJan 1980 79) Khaali KartooshFeb 1980 80) Office Me LaashMay 1980 81) Vish KanyaSep 1980 82) Park me LaashJan1981 83) Jhoothi GavahiMarch 1981 84) Blow UpApr 1981 85) Top SecretMay 1982 86) Sangeen JurmApr 1982 87) JadugarniApr 1983 88) Khoon se ranga ChakuMay 1983 89) Andheri raatJuly 1983 90) Main Begunaah HunNov 1984 91) Nakaali VarishJan 1985 92) Peela GulaabSep 1985 93) Taza KhabarFeb 1986 94) Kaala KaarnamaMarch 1987 95) Laash GayabOct 1987 96) Front PageDec 1988 97) Diwali ki raatMay 1989 98) Kanoon ka challengeAug 1990 99) Prime suspectMarch 1991 100) Goli aur JaharNov 1993 101) Papi ParivarAug 1994 102) Stop pressApr 1995/99 103) Jheri Hatya KaandOct 1995 104) Ahirwal caseSept 1997 105) Kamara No.303May 1998 106) Gunah ki JanjeerNov 1998 107) Ghar Ka BhediJan 1999 108) Black ListJune 2000 109) DhamkiApr 2001 110) JhansaMay 2002 111) NishaniSept 2003 112) Scandal PointOct 2004 113) Finger PrintNov 2004 114) BhakshakOct 2006 115) Poore chand ki raatJan 2007 116) BichauliaDec 2007 117) JaalOct 2008 118) NakaabAug 2009 119) DhabbaJune 2010 120) Double GameAug 2012 121) Singla Murder CaseApr 2014 122) Conman 25 June 2018

Vimal Series

Sudheer Series

S. No. Name of The Novel Estimated year of publicationTranslation1)Aakhiri KoshishMarch 19802)Malika Ka TaazJun 19803)Goli Ki AawajNov 19804)NymphomaniacMarch 19825)Safed KhoonMarch 19856)Late NewsJan 19877)Khooni ghatanaMarch 19888)Akhiri MaksadDec 1990The Last Goal(2011)9)Katl ka suraagDec 199310)Panchva nishaanMarch 199411)Ghatak GoliMarch 199712)Gade MurdeDec 199713)One way StreetSept 199814)Khatare ki ghantiMarch 200015)Golden girlNov 200216)BaziMarch 200317)OverdoseJune 200518)GhaatSept 200519)PyadaJun 200920)Choron ki baaratFeb 201221)BahurupiyaSept 201322)Insaaf DoMar 201723)Paanch DinMay 2023

Thrillers

Jeet Singh Series S. No. Name of The Novel Estimated year of publication1)10 LakhApr 19962)30 lakhJune 19983)50 lakhSept 20004)Khota sikkaFeb 20045)JurratMay 20046)Midnight ClubAug 20087)Colaba ConspiracyFeb 20148)Goa GalataFeb 20159)Mujhse Bura KaunApr 201610)Mujhse Bura Koi NahinMay 201611) Heera Pheri 29 June 201712)Dubai GangFeb 2024

Mukesh Mathur Series S. No. Name of The Novel Estimated year of publication1)Saat Saal BaadDec 19942)VarisAug 20023)VahashiFeb 20074)Crystal LodgeAug 2015

Vivek Agashe Series S. No. Name of The Novel Estimated year of publication1)Crime ClubJan 19912)Koi Gavah nahiMarch 19993)Ganda khoonNov 20034)DhokhaJan 20095)Teesra VaarDec 2009

Vikas Gupta Series S. No. Name of The Novel Estimated year of publication1)DhokadhadiNov 19812)Barah savalDec 19893)Aath dinApr 2008

Pramod Series S. No. Name of The Novel Estimated year of publication1)Maut ka safar.Oct 19662)Aadhi Raat Ke baadAug 19673)Jaan Ki BaajiOct 19704)Ek Raat Ek LaashJuly 1976

Socials S. No. Name of The Novel Estimated year of publication1)AashaOct 19682)Ek Mamuli LadkiMar 1974

Children Books S. No. Name of The Novel Estimated year of publication1)Kubadi Budhiya Ki HaveliJuly 19712)Betaal Aur ShahjadiJun 1972

Short stories

Joke Book

Influence

The Tandoor scandal in Delhi, in which a man had tried to dispose of the corpse of his victim in a furnace, was an idea taken from Pathak's non-serial novel titled Mawali (मवाली).

In 2006 robbery at UTI Bank, Vikaspuri, a man called Sandeep Bhatnagar looted four million Indian rupees by pretending to be a human bomb. Investigators learned after arresting the culprit that the idea was copied from Zameer ka Qaidi (ज़मीर का क़ैदी), one of the latest Vimal-series novels.

Translations Two books from Pathak's popular Vimal series — 65 Lakh ki Dakaiti and Din Dahade Dakaiti — were translated into English under the titles The 65 Lakh Heist and Daylight Robbery by Sudarshan Purohit, a Bangalore-based software engineer. The 65 Lakh Heist was published in March 2009 and Daylight Robbery in January 2010, both by Blaft, a Chennai-based publisher.