Down the memory lane. Those were
the days when hindi films were regulary lived on big screen of Tasveer Mahal Cinema Hall (Aligarh).
the days when hindi films were regulary lived on big screen of Tasveer Mahal Cinema Hall (Aligarh).
There was a small
book stall by the side of boundary wall of tasveer Mahal.That small book stall
was the first to make me crazy for urdu literature, but a special liking of
Jsoosi Dunya written by Ibne Safi.
book stall by the side of boundary wall of tasveer Mahal.That small book stall
was the first to make me crazy for urdu literature, but a special liking of
Jsoosi Dunya written by Ibne Safi.
Monthly magazines- “Bisvin
Sadi”,” Shama”,” Bano”, kid’s magazine “Khilauna”,” Ruby” and some popular
hindi magzins were also there.
Sadi”,” Shama”,” Bano”, kid’s magazine “Khilauna”,” Ruby” and some popular
hindi magzins were also there.
Inspite of these
litrary magzines, I was much allured to “Jasoosi Dunya”. The first Urdu authors
that I began reading was Ibn-i-Safi writer of Jasoosi dunya. The generation of those
still feels very nostalgic about Ibne Safi’s works.
First of all, the reading habits are declining all
over the world in general. We are not seeing A-class writers as we used to in
the past.
The fantastical world
that Ibne Safi had created, full of colourful, flamboyant and wise-cracking
spies, beautiful women, strange-sounding villains, exotic places and odd
gadgets.
that Ibne Safi had created, full of colourful, flamboyant and wise-cracking
spies, beautiful women, strange-sounding villains, exotic places and odd
gadgets.
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.
characterized by a blend of mystery, adventure, suspense, violence, romance and
comedy, achieving massive popularity across a broad readership in South Asia.
According to one of
his autobiographical essays, someone in a literary meeting claimed that Urdu
literature had little scope for anything but sexual themes.
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.
notion, Ibn-e-Safi began writing detective stories in January 1952 in the
monthly Nikhat, naming the series Jasoosi Dunya.
Biography of Ibn e Safi
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 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. The
story made a great impact on his creative mind. He then read all seven volumes
several times.
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. The
story made a great impact on his creative mind. He then read all seven volumes
several times.
Ibne Safi completed
Intermediate (High School Certificate) from Eving Christian College Allahabad.
This was a co-education college.
Intermediate (High School Certificate) from Eving Christian College Allahabad.
This was a co-education college.
In 1947,
Ibne Safi enrolled in Allahabad University. 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 enrolled in Allahabad University. 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.
After partition, when
situation normalized in 1948, he did not re-enroll at Allahabad University.Allahabad
University did not have any room for private students.So he moved AMU.Aligarh.
situation normalized in 1948, he did not re-enroll at Allahabad University.Allahabad
University did not have any room for private students.So he moved AMU.Aligarh.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Aligarh
Muslim University.
Muslim University.
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.
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 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).
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).
Nakhat
Publications Allahabad
Publications Allahabad
In 1948, Abbas
Hussaini founded Nakhat Publications. Ibne Saeed was the Editor of the prose
section, and Ibne Safi became Editor of poetry.
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.
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.
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.
With the advice of
Ibne Safi, Abbas Hussaini made arrangements for publishing monthly detective
novels. The name of the series was Jasoosi Duniya (The World of Espionage), and
it was the first time Ibne Safi started writing with the infamous pen name of
Ibne Safi.
Ibne Safi, Abbas Hussaini made arrangements for publishing monthly detective
novels. The name of the series was Jasoosi Duniya (The World of Espionage), and
it was the first time Ibne Safi started writing with the infamous pen name of
Ibne Safi.
Containing his
original characters, Inspector Faridi and Sergeant Hameed, the first novel
Dilaer Mujrim (The Brave Criminal) was published in March 1952. The plot of the
novel was adopted by Victor Gunn’s novel Ironsides’ Lone Hand.
original characters, Inspector Faridi and Sergeant Hameed, the first novel
Dilaer Mujrim (The Brave Criminal) was published in March 1952. The plot of the
novel was adopted by Victor Gunn’s novel Ironsides’ Lone Hand.
At this time (1949-1952), Ibne Safi was by profession a secondary school
teacher at Islamia School Allahabad, and later at Yaadgaar-e-Hussaini School.
He maintained the school jobs, and studied part time to finish his education.
teacher at Islamia School Allahabad, and later at Yaadgaar-e-Hussaini School.
He maintained the school jobs, and studied part time to finish his education.
Ibne Safi migrated to Pakistan
with his mother and sister in August 1952.
with his mother and sister in August 1952.
Ibne Safi migrated to
Pakistan with his mother and sister in August 1952. They joined his father in
Karachi, who had emigrated there in 1947. Ibne Safi’s first residence was in a
locality called C-1 area, Lalukhet (now known as Liaqatabad).
Pakistan with his mother and sister in August 1952. They joined his father in
Karachi, who had emigrated there in 1947. Ibne Safi’s first residence was in a
locality called C-1 area, Lalukhet (now known as Liaqatabad).
Ibne Safi then founded Asrar Publications and started
publishing Jasoosi Duniya simultaneously from Pakistan and India. The political
border between the two countries did not divide the relationship he had formed with
his readers
publishing Jasoosi Duniya simultaneously from Pakistan and India. The political
border between the two countries did not divide the relationship he had formed with
his readers
The Allahabad connection never broke. He moved to Pakistan but the books
kept being published simultaneously from Karachi and Allahabad till the end.
kept being published simultaneously from Karachi and Allahabad till the end.
Even when the mail could not be transacted between the two countries the
manuscript from Pakistan used to get to Allahabad via England and other
countries and the books appeared on shelves on both sides of the border about
the same time. The connection still exists.
manuscript from Pakistan used to get to Allahabad via England and other
countries and the books appeared on shelves on both sides of the border about
the same time. The connection still exists.
Nakhat
Publications was closed down after the demise of Abbas Husainy and Shakeel
Jamali as the offsprings took to other professions.
Publications was closed down after the demise of Abbas Husainy and Shakeel
Jamali as the offsprings took to other professions.
In Pakistan, Asrar Publications
continued publishing the novels.
continued publishing the novels.
In 1953, Ibne Safi married Umme Salma Khatoon. She was
born on April 12, 1938 to Muhammad Amin Ahsan and Riaz Fatima Begum. Her father
was Deputy Superintendent of Police in Sultanpur, India. Salma had a family
background of literary and religious personalities.
born on April 12, 1938 to Muhammad Amin Ahsan and Riaz Fatima Begum. Her father
was Deputy Superintendent of Police in Sultanpur, India. Salma had a family
background of literary and religious personalities.
Her grandfather, the poet Muhammad Ahsan Vehshi, was a
disciple of Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki. Salma’s uncle, Maulana Najm Ahsan,
was a vicegrant (Khalifa) of Hakimul Ummat Maulana Ashraf Al Thanvi.
disciple of Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki. Salma’s uncle, Maulana Najm Ahsan,
was a vicegrant (Khalifa) of Hakimul Ummat Maulana Ashraf Al Thanvi.
By June 1960, Ibne
Safi had written the eighty-eighth novel of Jasoosi Duniya (Prince Vehshee) and
the forty-first novel of Imran Series (Bay-Awaaz Sayyarah). However, only four
issues were ever published. The excessive thinking and writing eventually took
a toll on his health, and the magazine edition was discontinued.
Safi had written the eighty-eighth novel of Jasoosi Duniya (Prince Vehshee) and
the forty-first novel of Imran Series (Bay-Awaaz Sayyarah). However, only four
issues were ever published. The excessive thinking and writing eventually took
a toll on his health, and the magazine edition was discontinued.
Ibne
Safi suffered from schizophrenia during 1960 and 1963, not writing a single
word in those three years. With the prayers of his family, friends, and fans,
Ibne Safi finally recovered from the illness in 1963 under the treatment of
Hakim Iqbal Hussain of Karachi.
Safi suffered from schizophrenia during 1960 and 1963, not writing a single
word in those three years. With the prayers of his family, friends, and fans,
Ibne Safi finally recovered from the illness in 1963 under the treatment of
Hakim Iqbal Hussain of Karachi.
The
author made a great comeback on November 25, 1963 with the bestseller Imran
Series novel Dairh Matwaalay, which inaugurated in India by the Ex Interior
Minister (later Prime Minister of India) Lal Bahadur Shastri.
author made a great comeback on November 25, 1963 with the bestseller Imran
Series novel Dairh Matwaalay, which inaugurated in India by the Ex Interior
Minister (later Prime Minister of India) Lal Bahadur Shastri.
The
demand for this novel was so high that within a week a second edition was
published in India. This edition was inaugurated by the then Provincial Law
Minister Ali Zaheer.
demand for this novel was so high that within a week a second edition was
published in India. This edition was inaugurated by the then Provincial Law
Minister Ali Zaheer.
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.
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.
Though his health
deteriorated seriously and rapidly between December 1979 and July 1980, Ibne
Safi did not quit writing.
deteriorated seriously and rapidly between December 1979 and July 1980, Ibne
Safi did not quit writing.
On Saturday July 26,
1980, Ibne Safi passed away (Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ilaihe Raje’oon).
1980, Ibne Safi passed away (Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ilaihe Raje’oon).
This write up on Ibn-e-Safi
has been prepared and posted with the help of different materials and book
covers available on net ,with thanks.
has been prepared and posted with the help of different materials and book
covers available on net ,with thanks.
