Ibn-e-Safi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).


Asrar Ahmad

Pseudonym: Ibn-e-Safi, Tughral Furghan, Asrar Narvi
Born: 26 July 1928
Nara, district of Allahabad, U.P. (now Uttar Pradesh), India
Died: 26 July 1980
Karachi, Pakistan
Occupation: Novelist
Writing period: 1940 to 1980
Genres: Mystery, Crime, Spy, Adventure
Influenced: Mazhar Kaleem
Website: New Ibn-e-Safi Website

Ibn-e-Safi (also spelled as Ibne Safi) (Urdu: ابنِ صفی) was the pen name of Asrar Ahmad (Urdu: اسرار احمد), a best-selling and prolific fiction writer, novelist and poet of Urdu. The word Ibn-e-Safi is a Persian expression which literally means Son of Safi, where the word Safi means chaste or righteous. He wrote from the 1940s in India, and later Pakistan after the partition of British India in 1947.


His main works were the 124-book series Jasoosi Dunya (The Spy World) and the 120-book Imran Series, with a small canon of satirical works and poetry. His novels were characterized by a blend of mystery, adventure, suspense, violence, romance and comedy, achieving massive popularity across a broad readership in South Asia.


"I don't know Urdu but have knowledge of detective novels of the Subcontinent. There is only one original writer - Ibn-e-Safi." - Agatha Christie


Contents

[edit] Biography

Ibn-e-Safi was born in district of Allahabad, India, and received a Bachelor of Arts from Agra University. Ibne Safi (1928-1980) is the pen name of Asrar Ahmad, the best-selling and most popular author of mystery and detective novels in the history of the Indian Subcontinent’s Urdu literature. His initial works date back to the early 1940s, when he wrote from India.


After the partition in 1947, he migrated to Pakistan, and penned his later novels there. So strong was Ibne Safi’s impact on the Subcontinent’s literary scene that his novels were translated into several regional languages. It was not unusual for Safi's books to be sold at black market prices in Pakistan and India, where they were originally published every month. His early works in the 1940s included short stories, humor and satire. Ibne Safi’s early works in the 1940s included short stories, humour, satire, and poetry. He began writing novels in the early 1950s. His main works included two major series. “Jasoosi Duniya” (The Spy World), which consisted of 125 books, was based on the legendary characters of Colonel Ahmad Kamal Faridi and Captain Sajid Hameed. The “Imran Series”, comprised of 120 books with another legendary character Imran, was equally adored by the common man on the street and his more literary prototype.


Ibne Safi’s novels – characterized by a blend of adventure, suspense, violence, romance and comedy – achieved massive popularity by a broad readership. 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 independence and post-independence period, he migrated to Karachi, Pakistan in August 1952. Between 1960 - 1963 he suffered an episode of schizophrenia, but recovered, and returned with a best-selling Imran Series novel, Dairrh Matwaalay (One and a half amused). In the 1970s, he informally advised the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan on methods of detection. He died of pancreatic cancer on July 26, 1980 in Karachi, which was coincidently his 52nd birthday.


Initially, Ibne Safi started writing detective stories as a challenge. At the time, the only mystery and detective stories available in Urdu or Hindi came from direct translations of western novels and magazines. Unfortunately through these translations, sexually explicit and provocative material also found its way into Urdu. As a result, it became a popular belief that mystery or crime stories in Urdu could not be successful without the element of sex in them. Asrar Ahmed dared to dissent. In his mind, a few crucial elements were required to capture the readers’ attention: the plot’s soundness and the writer’s grip over it, the narrative style, and the use of illustrative language. Thus, to prove his point, Asrar ventured into the world of mysteries. The settings in Ibne Safi's novels are such that the reader is never told the national origin of the heroes. Since Jasoosi Duniya was created before the Partition of the Subcontinent, the names of the characters and their locales suggest that the novel takes place in India. The advent of Imran Series came post-Partition, and the reader is set up to assume that the narrative is situated in Pakistan. Besides their native countries, the main characters of both Jasoosi Duniya and Imran Series have had adventures around the world – Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Pacific Islands, Zanzibar, South Africa, the United States of America, and various other places. Considering that Ibne Safi never left the Indian Subcontinent, the detailed descriptions he provides of the diverse localities are surprisingly accurate.


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 discotheques, bars, night clubs, and hotels named after venues found in Ibne Safi's novels. Some places worth mentioning are: Dilkusha, Fizaro, Niagara, Tip Top, High Circle, etc.


[edit] Works

Ibne Safi’s prose work can be classified into two categories

  • Mystery novels
  • Short stories and articles of humor and mockery


Ibn-e-Safi started writing poetry in his childhood and soon earned critial acclaim. After completing his Bachelor of Arts, he began writing satirical essays with the pen name of Tughral Farghan in the monthly Nikhat. Some of his short stories were published under the pen name of Asrar Narvi.


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. In the preface of Jasoosi Dunya's platinum jubilee number (Zameen Kay Baadal - Clouds of Earth), he mentioned those novels of Jasoosi Dunya whose main plot were taken from Western literature and which included Daler Mujrim (The Fearless Criminal), Pur-asraar Ajnabi (The Mysterious Stranger), Raqqasah ka Qatl (Murder of the Dancer), Heeray ki Kaan (The Diamond Mine) and Khooni Pathar (The Bloody Stone). Furthermore, he also mentioned some characters, which were borrowed from English fiction, such as Khaufnak Hangamah’s (The Terrifying Chaos) Professor Durrani and Paharron ki Malikah’s (The Queen of Mountains) White Queen and Gorilla. He claimed that other than those novels and characters, his stories were his own creation, and even the mentioned novels had borrowed only ideas and were not translations.


In 1956, Ibn-e-Safi started Imran Series, which gained as much fame and success as Jasoosi Dunya. In the aforementioned essay, he claimed that all characters and stories of Imran Series were original and unborrowed.


Ibne Safi initially started writing short stories, humor and satire under various names such as “Sanki 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. He used the double-edged sword of his beautiful language to cut through the ailing body of pre-partition India’s slave society.


Besides humor and satire he also wrote some short adventures, namely Baldraan Ki Malika, Ab Tak Thee Kahaan?, Shimal Ka Fitna, Gultarang, and Moaziz Khopri. In these adventures, Ibne Safi takes the reader to various fictitious lands similar to the ones created by Rider Haggard.


In 1959, Ibne Safi started writing Aadmi Ki Jarain, a book based on human psychology. However, it remained incomplete due to his illness. LIST OF HIS WORK: prince Chillee Prince Chillee


  • Aadmi ki jaRain (Urdu: The Roots of The Man)- Incomplete
  • baldaraan kee malikaa (Urdu: The Queen of Baldaraan)
  • Ab tuk thee kaHaaN (Urdu: Where Had You Been?)
  • DiplomaeT murGH (Urdu: The Diplomate Rooster)
  • saaRhay paaNCh bajay (Urdu: Half Past Five)
  • tuzke do-piazi (Urdu: The autobiography of Do-Piaza) - Incomplete
  • shimal ka fitna (Urdu: The Trouble From North)
  • matA-e Qalb-O-Nazar - Collection of Poetry (to be published)


[edit] Quotes from Ibn-e-Safi's books

In Urdu script: آدمی سنجیدہ ہو کر کیا کرے جب کہ وہ جانتا ہے کہ ایک دن اسے اپنی سنجیدگی سمیت دفن ہوجانا پڑے گا۔
Translation: Why should man ever become serious when he knows full well that one day he will be buried along with his seriousness? (Black Picture)

In Urdu script: صرف عمل اور ردعمل کا نام زندگی ہے. منطقی جواز تو بعد میں تلاش کیا جاتا ہے۔
Translation: Life is only action and reaction. The rationalizations are added later. (AdLava)

In Urdu script: حماقت پر افسوس کرنا سب سے بڑی حماقت ہے۔
Translation: Regretting stupidity is the biggest stupidity of them all.


[edit] Dhamaka - A film by Ibn-e-Safi

Dhamaka was the only movie written by Ibne Safi. The film was produced by Muhammad Hussain Talpur (aka Maulana Hippie), based on the Imran Series novel Baibaakon Ki Talaash (Urdu: The Search of Straightforwards). Actor Javaid Sheikh (then Javaid Iqbal) was introduced for the first time as Zafarul Mulk, the main character. Maulana Hippie the film producer played Jameson and actress Shabnam 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 Rahman played the role of a Villain for the first time. Actress Saishta Qaiser appeared as a guest artist in the choreography sequence during the famous song by Habib Wali Mohammad, Rah-e-talab maen kaun kisee ka (Urdu: In the path of demands, no one recognizes anyone), based on Ibne Safi's ghazal which was picturised on actor Rahman. The movie was released in December, 1974.


[edit] His personal life

Ibne Safi was born on July 26, 1928, in the village of Nara in Allahabad District, U.P., India. His parents, Safiullah and Nuzaira Bibi, named him Asrar Ahmed at birth. It was much later that he came to be known as Ibne Safi.


Ibne Safi’s forefathers came from the village of Nara. Originally they were Hindus of Kaistth clan. Several generations back, their clan leader Raja Vasheshar Dayal Singh had embraced Islam and came to be known as Baba Abdun Nabi. His tomb still exists in what are now the ruins of the village Nara. His Father name was Safiullah and his mother name was Nuzaira Bibi.


Ibne Safi’s parents both came from a family of landlords and learned men. His grandfather, Maulvi Abdul Fattah, was a schoolteacher in Ujjain, India before the partition of the Indian Subcontinent.


Ibne Safi’s father, Safiullah Saheb, initially moved from Nara to Allahabad; and then to what is now Pakistan. He used to work for “Syed A.M. Wazir Ali and Company,” a famous vending company contracting for the British Indian Army. During his service, he was stationed at places like Dehradun, Devlaali, Darjeeling, Quetta, etc. Ibne Safi’s mother, Nuzaira Bibi, was a pious lady from a family of learned men. Her maternal relatives were known as “hakeemon ka khaandaan” (family of wise men). Her grand uncles included Hakim Ehsan Ali and Hakim Rehman Ali, both authors of books on traditional medicine. Tibb-e-Rehmaani and Tibb-e-Ehsaani – both written in Persian – were used on the curriculum of many traditional medical schools. Nuzaira Bibi was very watchful of her son Asrar, ensuring that he always had good company and good opportunities for education.


Ibne Safi had several siblings, including his brother Isar Ahmed and sister Ghufairah Khatoon, who died young. He only had one surviving sister Azra Rehana (Balaghat Khatoon), who was married to Lateef Ahmed Siddiqi and died 1n 2005.


Ibne Safi obtained his primary schooling in the village school at Nara. When he was only eight years old, he got an opportunity to read first volume of Talism-e-Hoshruba. Although he could not understand the language entirely, the story made a great impact on his creative mind. He then read all seven volumes several times.

Ibne Safi started writing at a young age. When he was in seventh grade, his first story appeared in the weekly Shahid, which was edited by Aadil Rasheed. Ibne Safi also started writing poetry in eighth grade. He was so impressed by the famous poet Jigar Murad Aabadi that his earlier poetry was on “khumriat” (poetry about the use and affects of alcohol).


Ibne Safi acquired his secondary school education in Allahabad, as his family had moved from Nara by this time. He completed Matriculation from D.A.V. School in Allahabad, India. For a short period during Matriculation, he got involved with baby communists and started writing poetry against social evils. Soon, however, he moved away from this group and its ideologies. During the independence movement and afterwards, he was also branded a progressive for his ideas, and warrants were issued in India for his arrest.


“Excluding Firaq’s Rubayyat and your poem, all the rest seemed to be merely echoes of poetry.” In 1947, Ibne Safi enrolled in Allahabad University, where Dr. Syed Ejaz Hussain’s lectures further contributed to his literary and mental growth. However, this period was very short because independence riots had started and one incident had also occurred on university premises. Due to the critical nature of an already tense situation, he was asked to stay home.


Ibne Safi formed many close friendships during this period. After moving from Nara, his family had taken residence in Hasan Manzil, Allahabad, quarter numbers 15 and 16. It was there that Ibne Safi met two brothers Abbas Hussaini and Jamal Rizvi (Shakeel Jamali) and their cousins Sarwar Jahaan (later known as Sarwar Hussain Abidi, an artist in Pakistan,) and Mujavir Hussain Rizvi (Ibne Saeed).

Ibne Safi’s other friends from this period include, Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza, Ishtiaq Haider, Yousuf Naqvi, Hameed Qaiser, Qamar Jalsai, Nazish Partab Garhi and Tegh Allahabadi (famous poet Mustafa Zaidi).


In 1948, Abbas Hussaini founded Nakhat Publications. Ibne Saeed was the Editor of the prose section, and Ibne Safi became Editor of poetry. At this time, Ibne Safi started experimenting with different literary genres on a regular basis, including short stories, humor, and satire. He used pseudonyms such as Sanki Soldier and Tughral Farghan. His first story for The Nakhat was Farar (The Escape), which was published in June 1948. Ibne Safi, however, was not satisfied with his work. The eight-year-old who had swallowed Talism-e-Hoshruba was persuading him to create something entirely different, especially in prose. Ibne Safi would soon follow the urgings of his inner child and be taken to Rider Haggard’s fictitious land of She, becoming even more frustrated.


In 1953, Ibne Safi married Umme Salma Khatoon. In 1968, Ibne Safi’s father, Safiullah Saheb, retired from his job and died the same year. In January 1977 Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi started publishing Ibne Safi Magazine which was later renamed to Nae Ufaq. Another magazine Naya Rukh was started after the death of Ibne Safi. Both magazines carried a novel of Jasoosi Duniya and Imran Series each, respectively. These magazines are still in publication today; however, Ibne Safi’s novels are not included anymore. Ibne Safi’s mother Nuzaira Bibi died in the summer of 1979. Ibne Safi’s pain on her sad demise took the shape of heartfelt poem MaaN (Mother).


In September 1979, Ibne Safi suffered from abdominal pains. By December of that year, it was confirmed these were a result of cancer at the head of pancreas. He was attended by the family physicians, Dr. Saeed Akhtar Zaidi and Dr. Qamaruddin Siddiqui. General Physician Dr. Rab and Cancer Specialist Dr. Syed Hasan Manzoor Zaidi also provided care and treatment in his last days.


Though his health deteriorated seriously and rapidly between December 1979 and July 1980, Ibne Safi did not quit writing. On Saturday July 26, 1980 (Ramadhan 12, 1400 AH), at around Faj'r time, Ibne Safi died (Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ilaihe Raje’oon). His incomplete Imran Series novel Aakhri Aadmi was by his bedside.


Ibne Safi left behind four sons and three daughters:

  • Son, Dr. Isar Ahmed Safi - Doctor of Medicine an Ophthalmologist who died on 3rd July 2005 after suffering from a high grade fever.
  • Son, Abrar Ahmad Safi - Mechanical Engineer with a marine engineering background. Lives in USA.
  • Son, Dr. Ahmad Safi - Mechanical Engineer holding a PhD. Lives in Karachi, Pakistan.
  • Son, Iftikhar Ahmed Safi - Electrical Engineer. Lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • Daughter, Nuzhat Afroz
  • Daughter, Sarwat Asrar
  • Daughter, Mohsina Safi


[edit] Poetry

(Note: Most of the English translations of Urdu poetry and titles are literal and do not capture the true essesne of the language. Some meaning is defintely lost in translation.)

Ibn-e-Safi was also a poet. He used to write poems under the pen name of “Asrar Narvi”. He wrote in various genres of Urdu Poetry, such as Hamd, Naat, Manqabat, Marsia, Ghazal, and Nazm. His collection of poetry, Mata-e Qalb-o-Nazar (Urdu: The Assest of Heart & Sight), remains unpublished.

Following is the list of his Ghazals:

  • Daulat-e-Gham (Urdu: The wealth of sorrow)
  • Zahan se Dil ka Bar Utra Hai (Urdu: Heaviness of the heart is unloaded by the mind)
  • Chhalakti aayay (Urdu: [The liquor] shows up overflowing)
  • Kuch to ta-alluq ... (Urdu: Some affiliation ...)
  • Aaj ki raat (Urdu: Tonight)
  • Baday ghazab ka ... (Urdu: Of much might ...)
  • Yun hi wabastagi (Urdu: Casual connection)
  • Lab-o-rukhsar-o-jabeen (Urdu: Lips and Cheeks and forehead)
  • Rah-e-talab mein kaun kisi ka (Urdu: In the path of demands, no one recognizes anyone)
  • Kuch bhi to apne paas nahin ... (Urdu: Do not have anything ...)
  • Aay nigaraan-e-khoobroo (Urdu: O gorgeous sculptures)
  • Kabhi sawab ki hain ... (Urdu: Sometimes, of virtuousness ...)
  • Kabhi qatil ... (Urdu: Sometimes killer ...)
  • Qafas ki daastaan hai ... (Urdu: It is the tale of imprisonment ...)


Following is the list of his Ghazals:

  • Maan (Urdu: Mother)
  • Shakist-e-talism (Urdu: Defeat of the magic)
  • Talism-e-hosh-ruba (Urdu: The breath-taking magic)
  • Tanhayee (Urdu: Solitude)
  • Bansuri ki awaaz (Urdu: The sound of flute)


[edit] See Also

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../i/b/n/Ibn-e-Safi_5c80.html"
In other languages