Ibn-e-Insha

Sher Muhammad Khan, known by his pen name Ibn-e-Insha, is a celebrated Pakistani Urdu poet, humorist, travelogue writer and newspaper columnist. He remains highly regarded for his distinctive diction that draws inspiration from the language of Amir Khusro.

Early life and education

Ibn-e-Insha was born on 15 June 1927 in Phillaur, which is a tehsil in the Jalandhar District of Punjab, British India. His father originated from Rajasthan. He pursued higher education during his youth and earned a B.A. degree from Punjab University in 1946. Following this achievement, he obtained his M.A. from the University of Karachi in 1953.

His academic development was shaped by teachers such as Ghulam Mustafa Khan and Habibullah Ghazenfar Amrohvi. During the late 1940s, he lived in Lahore for a short period alongside the film poet Sahir Ludhianvi.

Career

The writer held positions within various governmental services, including the Ministry of Culture, Radio Pakistan and the National Book Centre of Pakistan. He also worked for the UN for a period of time. This international service allowed him to visit many countries—including Japan, China, France and the United States—which inspired his travelogues.

His literary output includes several notable works. In 1960, he published the travelogue Chaltay Ho To Cheen Ko Chaliye and translated a collection of Chinese poems into Urdu. His poetry collections feature titles such as Chand Nagar, Dil-e-Wehshi and the children's rhymes Billo Ka Basta. He also produced the humorous work Urdu Ki Aakhri Kitab in 1971.

His ghazals achieved massive popularity through musical renditions. The classic "Insha Ji Uttho Ab Kooch Karo" was popularized by Amanat Ali Khan in 1974. Other famous poems include "Kal Chaudhwin Ki Raat Thi," which became popular in the 1980s, and "Sab Maya Hai," performed by Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi in September 2017.

As a translator, he worked on diverse texts. He translated works by Chekhov, O. Henry and Edgar Allan Poe. His translation of German short stories, titled Karnamay Nawab Tees Maar Khan Kay, was published in June 1971.

Personal life

Ibn-e-Insha lived in Karachi for the final years of his life. He died of Hodgkin's Lymphoma on 11 January 1978, while he was in London. He is buried in Karachi, Pakistan.

His son, Roomi Insha, was a Pakistani filmmaker who passed away on 16 October 2017. Playwright Bano Qudsia noted that his unique writing style left a gaping hole in the literary world.

Awards and recognition

The President of Pakistan awarded him the Pride of Performance Award in 1978. Writer Anwar Maqsood described him as a hero whose humorous aesthetics were possessed by no one else.