Ibn-e-Safi (26 July 1928 – 26 July 1980) (also spelled as Ibne Safi) ( ur, ) was the pen name of Asrar Ahmad ( ur, ), a
fiction
Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying individuals, events, or places that are imaginary, or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent with history, fact, or plausibility. In a tradi ...
writer, novelist and poet of
Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' Persian expression which literally means ''Son of Safi'', where the word Safi means ''chaste'' or ''righteous''. He first wrote from the
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...
of the 1940s, and later Pakistan after the
independence
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the stat ...
of British India in 1947.
His main works were the 125-book series ''
Jasoosi Dunya
Jasoosi Dunya (Urdu: جاسوسى دنيا) is a popular series of Urdu detective stories created by Ibne-Safi. Its first novel, ''Dilaer Mujrim'' (دلير مجرم) was published in March 1952. In the following 27 years, Ibn-e-Safi wrote 127 bo ...
'' (''The Spy World'') and the 120-book ''
Imran Series
The ''Imran'' Series (Urdu عمران سیریز) is an Urdu spy novel series created by Pakistani writer Ibn-e-Safi. Ali Imran is the pivotal character, a comical secret agent who controls the Secret Service as X-2 but appears to work as a ...
'', with a small canon of satirical works and poetry. His novels were characterised by a blend of mystery,
adventure
An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme ...
, suspense, violence,
romance
Romance (from Vulgar Latin , "in the Roman language", i.e., "Latin") may refer to:
Common meanings
* Romance (love), emotional attraction towards another person and the courtship behaviors undertaken to express the feelings
* Romance languages, ...
and comedy, achieving massive popularity across a broad readership in South Asia.
Biography
Early life and education
Asrar Ahmad was born on 26 July 1928 in the town 'Nara' of district
Allahabad
Allahabad (), officially known as Prayagraj, also known as Ilahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.The other five cities were: Agra, Kanpur (Cawnpore), Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi (Benares). It is the administra ...
, India. His father's name was Safiullah and mother's name was Naziran Bibi.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Agra University
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, formerly Agra University, is an Autonomous University located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. The university is named after Bhimrao Ambedkar, Indian scholar, social reformer, and the architect of the Indian Cons ...
. In 1948, he started his first job at 'Nikhat Publications' as an editor in the poetry department. His initial works date back to the early 1940s, when he wrote from
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...
. He also studied at
Allahabad University
, mottoeng = "As Many Branches So Many Trees"
, established =
, type = Public
, chancellor = Ashish Chauhan
, vice_chancellor = Sangita Srivastava
, head_label ...
where he was class fellow of Professor
Mohammad Uzair
Mohammad Uzair (also written as Muhammad Uzair) (Urdu: محمد عذیر), was a Pakistani economist, senior bureaucrat, and professor emeritus. He has held various public offices, and have contributed tremendously in the economic progression of ...
and one year senior to
Mustafa Zaidi
Mustafa Zaidi (born Syed Mustafa Hasnain Zaidi; 10 October 1930 – 2 October 1970) was a Pakistani Urdu poet and a civil servant.
Early life
In 1954, he passed the competitive examination and was sent to England for training before being g ...
br> After the
independence
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the stat ...
of India and Pakistan in 1947, he began writing novels in the early 1950s while working as a secondary school teacher and continuing part-time studies. After completing the latter, having attracted official attention as being subversive in the Indian independence movement, independence and post-independence period, he migrated to
Karachi
Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former c ...
,
Sindh
Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...
, Pakistan in August 1952. He started his own company by the name 'Asrar Publications'.
Later life
He married Umme Salma Khatoon in 1953. In the period from 1960 to 1963, he suffered an episode of severe depression and spent some time in the psychiatry ward of a hospital, but recovered, and returned with a best-selling ''Imran Series'' novel, ''Dairrh Matwaalay'' (''One and a half amused'') which was launched in India by to-be Prime Minister
Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri (; 2 October 1904 – 11 January 1966) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the 2nd Prime Minister of India from 1964 to 1966 and 6th Home Minister of India from 1961 to 1963. He promoted the White Re ...
. In fact, he wrote 36 novels of 'Jasoosi Duniya' and 79 novels of 'Imran Series' after his recovery from depression. In the 1970s, he informally advised the
Inter-Services Intelligence
The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI; ur, , bayn khadamatiy mukhabarati) is the premier intelligence agency of Pakistan. It is responsible for gathering, processing, and analyzing any information from around the world that is deemed relevant ...
of Pakistan on methods of detection.
Death
Ibne Safi died on 26 July 1980 of
pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer arises when cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a mass. These cancerous cells have the ability to invade other parts of the body. A number of types of pancr ...
at age 52. He was buried in Paposhnagar graveyard in
Karachi
Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former c ...
.
Literary career
Early attempts
Ibn-e-Safi started writing poetry in his childhood and soon earned critical acclaim in whole South-Asian community. After completing his Bachelor of Arts, he started writing short stories, humour and satire under various names such as "Siniki (Cynic) Soldier" and "Tughral Farghan." In the ''Nakhat'' magazines, he published several satirical articles which commented on various topics ranging from politics to literature to journalism. His early works in the 1940s included short stories, humour and satire.
''Jasoosi Dunya'' and ''Imran Series''
According to one of his autobiographical essays, someone in a literary meeting claimed that Urdu literature had little scope for anything but sexual themes. To challenge this notion, Ibn-e-Safi began writing detective stories in January 1952 in the monthly ''Nikhat'', naming the series
Jasoosi Dunya
Jasoosi Dunya (Urdu: جاسوسى دنيا) is a popular series of Urdu detective stories created by Ibne-Safi. Its first novel, ''Dilaer Mujrim'' (دلير مجرم) was published in March 1952. In the following 27 years, Ibn-e-Safi wrote 127 bo ...
. In 1953, Ibn-e-Safi, along with his mother and sister, moved to Karachi, Pakistan to join his father who had migrated there earlier in 1947.
In 1955, Ibn-e-Safi started the
Imran Series
The ''Imran'' Series (Urdu عمران سیریز) is an Urdu spy novel series created by Pakistani writer Ibn-e-Safi. Ali Imran is the pivotal character, a comical secret agent who controls the Secret Service as X-2 but appears to work as a ...
, which gained as much fame and success as Jasoosi Dunya. Ibne Safi's novels – characterized by a blend of adventure, suspense, violence, romance, and comedy – achieved massive popularity by a broad readership.
Many a time, Ibne Safi created fictitious settings for his stories. The magical web of his writing is so captivating that these fantasy lands have become real in the minds of readers. Avid fans of the author are experts on the people and cultures of Shakraal, Karaghaal, Maqlaaq, Zeroland, and many other imaginary domains. In cities around India and Pakistan, one can find discothèques, bars, nightclubs, and hotels named after venues found in Ibne Safi's novels. Some places worth mentioning are Dilkusha, Figaro, Niagara, Tip Top, High Circle.
Other works
Besides humor and satire, he also wrote some short adventures, namely ''Baldraan Ki Malika'' (The Queen of Baldraan), ''Ab Tak Thee Kahaan?'' (Where had you been?), ''Shumal Ka Fitna'' (The Trouble from North), ''Gultarang'', and ''Moaziz Khopri''. In these adventures, Ibne Safi takes the reader to various fictitious, exotic lands of his own imagination.
In 1959, Ibne Safi started writing ''Aadmi Ki Jarain'', a book based on human psychology. However, it remained incomplete due to his illness.
Dhamaka – A film by Ibn-e-Safi
Ibne Safi wrote the story and screenplay for a film 'Dhamaka' based on his novel 'Bebakon ki talash'. The film did not get the publicity and fame which it deserved and remains mostly forgotten.
"Dhamaka" was produced by Muhammad Hussain Talpur, based on the Imran Series novel ''Baibaakon Ki Talaash'' (
Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' Javed Sheikh
Jawed Sheikh (also spelled Javaid and Javed; born 8 October 1954) is a Pakistani actor, film director and producer who works in Lollywood and Bollywood. He is best known for working in the Hindi films '' Om Shanti Om'', '' My Name Is Anthony ...
(then known as Javaid Iqbal) was introduced as Zafarul Mulk, the lead role in the film. Muhammad Hussain Talpur (film producer) played the role of Jameson and actress
Shabnam
Jharna Basak (born 17 August 1946), known by her stage name Shabnam, is a Bangladeshi–Pakistani stage and film actress. Actor Waheed Murad introduced her to the Pakistani film industry by offering her a lead role in his film ''Samundar'' in ...
played the role of Sabiha. Imran and X-2's team was not shown in the movie. The voice of X-2 was recorded by Ibne Safi himself. Actor Rehman played the role of a villain for the first time. The film featured a rendition of a ghazal by the singer
Habib Wali Mohammed
Habib Wali Mohammad
( ur, ), (16 January 1921 – 3 September 2014) was a Pakistani ghazal and film playback singer.
Early life
Habib Wali Mohammad was born on January 16, 1921 at Rangoon to a conservative Memon family, which later moved ...
, "Rah-e-talab mein kaun kisi ka", which was written by Ibn-e-Safi. The movie was released on 13 December 1974.
Reception
Influence
The
Bollywood
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" ...
screenwriter and lyricist
Javed Akhtar
Javed Akhtar (born 17 January 1945) is an Indian poet, lyricist, screenwriter and political activist. Known for his work in Hindi cinema, he has won five National Film Awards, and received the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2 ...
was greatly inspired by Ibn-e-Safi's Urdu novels, which he grew up reading as a child. Akhtar was particularly influenced by the ''
Jasoosi Dunya
Jasoosi Dunya (Urdu: جاسوسى دنيا) is a popular series of Urdu detective stories created by Ibne-Safi. Its first novel, ''Dilaer Mujrim'' (دلير مجرم) was published in March 1952. In the following 27 years, Ibn-e-Safi wrote 127 bo ...
'' and ''Imran'' series of detective novels, such as '' The House of Fear'' (1955). He was influenced by the fast action, tight plots and economies of expression in the ''Jasoosi Dunya'' detective thrillers. He also remembered Ibn-e-Safi's novels for their fascinating characters with catchy memorable names, which left a lasting impression on Akhtar, whose Bollywood scripts later employed some of Ibn-e-Safi's narrative techniques, such as giving catchy names to the characters, his sense of plot, and speaking styles. Akhtar said that Ibn-e-Safi's novels taught him the importance of larger-than-life characters, inspiring famous Bollywood characters such as Gabbar Singh in film ''
Sholay
''Sholay'' (, ) is a 1975 Indian Hindi-language action-adventure film directed by Ramesh Sippy, produced by his father G. P. Sippy, and written by Salim–Javed. The film is about two criminals, Veeru (Dharmendra) and Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) ...
The first English translations of Ibne Safi's mystery novels began appearing in 2010, with '' The House of Fear'' from the Imraan Series, translated by
Bilal Tanweer
Bilal Tanweer is a Pakistani people, Pakistani writer and translator from Lahore, Pakistan. His novel ''The Scatter Here Is Too Great'' was awarded the Shakti Bhatt Prize, Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize in 2014, and was shortlisted for the DSC Pri ...
and published by Random House India. In 2011, Blaft Publications in association with Tranquebar released four more novels, this time from the ''Jasoosi Duniya'' series, translated by the highly acclaimed Urdu critic
Shamsur Rahman Faruqi
Shamsur Rahman Faruqi (30 September 1935 – 25 December 2020) was an Indian Urdu language poet, author, critic and theorist. He is known for ushering modernism to Urdu literature. He formulated fresh models of literary appreciation that combi ...
.
Bibliography
List of his non-series work
* ''Aadmi ki Jarain'' (
Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' Khaufnak Imarat'' (The House Of Fear) (1955)
* Purasrar Cheekhein (1955)Ibn-e-Safi books on goodreads.com website Retrieved 26 November 2020
* Larkiyon Ka Jazirah
* Neelay Parindey
* Batil Qiyamat
* Jaron Ki Talash
* Chatanon Mein Fire (Shootout At The Rocks) (1955)
Poetry
''(Note: Most of the English translations of
Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' Hamd
Hamd ( ar, حمد, ḥamd, praise) is a word that exclusively praises God - whether written or spoken.
Thus, The word "Hamd" is always followed by the name of God (Allah) - a phrase known as the Tahmid - "al-ḥamdu li-llāh" (Arabic: ) (English ...
Marsia
A marsiya ( fa, مرثیه) is an elegiac poem written to commemorate the martyrdom and valour of Hussain ibn Ali and his comrades of the Karbala. Marsiyas are essentially religious.
Background
The word ''Marsiya'' is derived from the Arabic word ...
,
Ghazal
The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...
, and
Nazm
''Nazm'' () is a major part of Urdu and Sindhi poetry that is normally written in rhymed verse and also in modern prose-style poems. is a significant genre of Urdu and Sindhi poetry; the other one is known as ''ghazal'' ().
is significantly ...
. His collection of poetry, ''Mata-e Qalb-o-Nazar'' (
Urdu
Urdu (;"Urdu" '' Ghazal
The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...
Sitara-i-Imtiaz
The Sitara-e-Imtiaz () also spelled as Sitara-i-Imtiaz, is the third-highest (in the order of "Imtiaz") honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes individuals who have made an "especially meritorious contribution to the ...
(Star of Excellence) Award by the
President of Pakistan
The president of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=s̤adr-i Pākiṣṭān), officially the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is the ceremonial head of state of Pakistan and the commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces.Ibne Safi, Fehmida Riaz among 116 recipients of civil awards Dawn (newspaper), Published 14 August 2019, Retrieved 24 November 2020
See also
*
List of Pakistani writers
This is a List of Pakistani writers, writers of fiction and nonfiction who are native to, or born in Pakistan, writing in any language.
__NOTOC__
A
B
* Badam Natawan
*Bano Qudsia
* Bapsi Sidhwa
*Begum Akhtar Riazuddin
*Bina Shah
*Bushra Rah ...
*
Jasoosi Dunya
Jasoosi Dunya (Urdu: جاسوسى دنيا) is a popular series of Urdu detective stories created by Ibne-Safi. Its first novel, ''Dilaer Mujrim'' (دلير مجرم) was published in March 1952. In the following 27 years, Ibn-e-Safi wrote 127 bo ...
*
Imran Series
The ''Imran'' Series (Urdu عمران سیریز) is an Urdu spy novel series created by Pakistani writer Ibn-e-Safi. Ali Imran is the pivotal character, a comical secret agent who controls the Secret Service as X-2 but appears to work as a ...