Saadat Hasan Manto was a prolific Indo-Pakistani writer, playwright, and essayist, considered one of the greatest masters of the Urdu short story (Afsana). Born in 1912, he worked extensively in Bombay’s film industry before migrating to Lahore after the 1947 Partition. His work is characterized by its stark realism, examining the socio-political trauma of Partition, sex workers, and societal hypocrisy. Manto faced multiple obscenity trials for his controversial narratives, and despite dying young at 42 due to alcoholism, his legacy endures as a powerful voice against moral rigidity.