On 20 January 1949, he was arrested at Bhiwandi, for organising a (then banned) Progressive Urdu writers' conference, despite warnings from Morarji Desai, the Chief Minister of Bombay State; three months later, he was rearrested.
Between 1948 and 1978 he published eight poetry collections, which include, Nai Duniya Ko Salaam (Salute to the New World), (1948), Khoon Ki Lakeer, Amn Ka Sitara, Asia Jaag Utha (Asia Awakes) (1951), Patthar Ki Deewar (Stone Wall) (1953), Ek Khwab Aur (One More Dream), Pairahan-i-Sharar (The Robe of Sparks) (1965) and Lahu Pukarta Hai (The Blood Calls) (1965).
Atal Bihari Vajpayee made history when he presented Sarhad, as a national gift, to the then prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, during the historic Lahore Summit, 20–21 February 1999.
[citation needed] He also wrote two plays for the Indian People's Theatre Association, produced a documentary film Kabir, Iqbal and Freedom and two television serials: the runaway success, the 18-part Kahkashan, based on the lives and works of six Urdu poets of the 20th century he had known personally viz.
Firaq Gorakhpuri, Josh Malihabadi, Majaz, Hasrat Mohani, Makhdoom Mohiuddin and Jigar Moradabadi; and Mehfil-e-yaaran in which he interviewed people from different walks of life.
To mark his first death anniversary, the book Ali Sardar Jafri: The Youthful Boatman of Joy, edited by Squadron Leader Anil Sehgal, a close associate, was published in 2001.
[6] Ai watan khake watan woh bhi tujhe de denge Bach raha hai jo lahoo abke fasaddat ke baad O my country, my beloved land we shall be most willing to sacrifice Whatever blood is left in us after the bloodbath of riots Ghareeb Sita ke ghar pe kab tak rahegi Ravan ki hukmrani Draupadi ka libas uske badan se kab tak chhina karega Shakuntala kab tak andhi taqdeer ke bhanwar mein phansi rahegi Yeh Lakhnau ki shiguftagi maqbaron mein kab tak dabi rahegi How long will Ravan rule over the home of poor Sita How long will Draupadi be deprived of her garment How long will Shakuntala be enmeshed in the abyss of fate How long will the freshness of Lucknow remain buried under the imposing tombs?