He took advantage of his foreign postings and assignments to travel to many countries in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, whenever time permitted, to view or study oriental texts and manuscripts lodged in their archives, libraries and museums.

In 1965, after retiring from Government service, he joined India's National Academy of Letters, the Sahitya Akademi in New Delhi, where he was in charge of its Urdu section and also edited the complete works of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

[6] In January 1967, he launched his own quarterly literary review Tahreer and as its editor he was actively associated with Ilmi Majlis in Delhi, a body of young Urdu research scholars and writers.

He edited and annotated Ghalib's major works in Urdu and Persian: “Sabd-e-Chin”, “Diwan-e-Ghalib”, “Gul-e-Raana” and “Khutoot-e-Ghalib”.

This book prompted Kausar Chandpuri (1904–1990),[8] the Urdu novelist, short-story writer and critic, to write "Jahan-e-Ghalib" presenting the dark side of Ghalib.

"Zikr-e-Ghalib", the book with which Malik Ram established his reputation and fame as an authority on Ghalib, long before the poet became a household name, ran into five editions in his lifetime.

Malik Ram's "Mirza Ghalib" in English was first published in 1968 by the National Book Trust, India and has been re-issued regularly.

Parekh wrote: Recording the lives of those known as 'talamiza' (disciples or students) of a great poet was not something new to Urdu, but the meticulous and painstaking research that Malik Ram had carried out for writing the lives of Ghalib's students was remarkable and was, till then, unheard of in Urdu and made him instantaneously recognised as an expert on Ghalib.

In 1965, having retired from government service, Malik Ram took up permanent residence in New Delhi and joined the Sahitya Akademi where, in three years, he edited the collected works of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad comprising his letters, speeches and literary works as well as his translation of the Quran into Urdu in four volumes.

[16] In January 1967, Malik Ram founded the quarterly Urdu literary review "Tahreer" of which he was the editor until it ceased publication in 1978.

These obituaries were eventually expanded and included in his monumental four-volume "Tazkirah-e-Muasireen" covering the lives of 219 Urdu poets and writers who died between 1967 and 1976.

After twelve years in which 46 issues were published, Malik Ram decided to fold the journal for health reasons.

These were published in his "Tahreer" series of comprehensive critical literary appraisals and, for the first time, incorporated the original research material on the subjects gathered by his "Ilmi Majlis" associates[1][10][19] viz.

1970: Jigar Barelvi – Shakhsiyat aur Fann (1890–1976) *co-editor: Saifi Premi 1973: Josh Malsiyani – Shakhsiyyat aur Fann (1884–1976) 1974: Syed Masud Hasan Rizvi 'Adib' – Zat o Sifat (1893–1975) 1974: Rasheed Ahmad Siddiqi – Kardar, Afkar, Guftar (1894–1977 ) 1974: L. Ahmad Akbarabadi ( 1885–1980) 1977: Zia Fatehabadi – Shakhs aur Shair (1913–1986) In his award-winning memoir Woh Surten Ilahi (Images of Legends), published in 1974, Malik Ram salutes some of the 'legends' he had associated with on his literary journey viz.

Saail Dehlvi (1864-1945);[20] Nawab Sadar Yar Jung Habibur Rahman Khan Sherwani (1867-1950) of Bhikampur and Datawali (Aligarh) State; Sulaiman Nadvi; Brij Mohan Dattatreya Kaifi; Yagana Changezi; Jigar Moradabadi; Niaz Fatehpuri; and Maulana Ghulam Rasool Mehr.

Details of these felicitation volumes and Malik Ram's other works, including his "Tahreer" and "Ilmi Majlis" biographical editions, with dates of publication, are listed on the Open Library website.

Between 1952 and 1955, he wrote a series of six detailed articles in Urdu on Hammurabi, his laws, Babylonian civilisation, traditions, customs and language.

"Aurat aur Islami Taleem", an in-depth study of the status and rights of a woman in Islam – as daughter, wife, mother, divorcée, widow and heir – was first published as a book in Urdu in 1951 in Lucknow.

In Alexandria, Egypt, where he spent fifteen years between 1939 and 1955, he was an active member of the Managing Committee of the YMCA which, under John P. Kirmiz,[24] its director, played a prominent role in the literary life of the city, particularly during the Second World War.

Malik Ram delivered a series of lectures on 'A woman's place in Islam' at 'Religious Affairs' seminars organised by the Alexandria YMCA.

[30] The Academy was founded in 1969 by Hakim Abdul Hameed,[31] the founder of Jamia Hamdard, and Malik Ram played a significant role in its affairs, formally or behind the scenes, from its inauguration until he died.

[33] Mukhtaruddin Ahmad 'Arzoo' (1924–2010)[34] wrote a detailed article on Malik Ram in the 1955 "Shakhsiyat Number" of "Nuqoosh", Lahore.

With a quest imbued with passion, scholarship marked by clarity and research covering biographical, historical and literary subjects, he has unearthed many a hidden gem of Urdu language and literature.

His wide and varied range manifests a mind which revels in search, constantly seeking knowledge...Someone described criticism as an adventure of a soul among the masterpieces.

The three books were published to commemorate Malik Ram's 65th birthday, in appreciation of his erudition, scholastic versatility and manifold contributions to Urdu, Islamic and Oriental literature, and were presented to him by V.V.

Malik Ram, Qazi Abdul Wadood (1896–1984)[34] and Imtiyaz Ali Khan 'Arshi' (1904–81)[34] were the three leading Urdu research scholars for over five decades during the 20th century.

Gujral Committee Report on the status and promotion of Urdu, which was presented to both Houses of the Indian Parliament on 21 February 1979 stated:[40] "Urdu Historical Background – Progressive Writing" (2.81) The great trio, Qazi Abdul Wadood, Malik Ram and Imtiyaz Ali 'Arshi', will be known not only for their research on Ghalib but also for giving our research a new depth and modern methodology.

The "Malik Ram Number" as the Qaumi Zaban edition was called, and the Aaj Kal special issue also carried different versions of an article by Em Habib Khan (1931–1998),[41] one of the very few people from the literary world, who had access to Malik Ram in the intensive care unit of the hospital in New Delhi where he died.

In this work, Jain recalls and examines Malik Ram's lifetime research on Ghalib and reflects on his literary legacy.

In 1997, Shamim Jahan published a collection of his letters, which also depict his literary style, in a volume entitled Khutut-i-Malik Ram.