Ibn-e-Safi

Ibn-e-Safi was the pen name of Asrar Ahmad, an influential Pakistani novelist, poet, and fiction writer who wrote in Urdu. His literary output includes the massive 124-book Jasoosi Dunya series and the 121-book Imran Series. He achieved widespread popularity across South Asia through works that blended mystery, romance, and comedy.

Early life and education

Asrar Ahmad was born on 26 July 1928 in the town of Nara within the Allahabad district of India. His father was named Safiullah while his mother was Naziran Bibi. He belonged to the Kayashta community, a group of Hindu ancestors who specialized in administration and education before converting to Islam many generations ago. Ahmad attended the University of Allahabad where he studied alongside Professor Mohammad Uzair. He was also one year senior to Mustafa Zaidi during his time at the university.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Agra University. In 1948, he secured his first professional role as an editor in the poetry department at Nikhat Publications. During the early 1940s, he began writing his initial works while living in British India. Following the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947, he worked as a secondary school teacher and pursued part-time studies. After attracting official attention for subversive activities during this period, he migrated to Karachi, Sindh, in August 1952.

Career

Ahmad began his literary journey by writing poetry as a child. He later transitioned to short stories, humor, and satire using various pseudonyms such as Tughral Farghan or Siniki Soldier. His early satirical articles appeared in Nikhat magazines to comment on journalism, literature, and politics. He drew creative inspiration from Hollywood films and the works of Alfred Hitchcock. Among authors, he admired Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle.

In January 1952, he started writing detective stories to challenge the notion that Urdu literature lacked scope beyond sexual themes. These stories were published in the monthly digest Nikhat under the title Jasoosi Dunya. He launched the Imran Series in 1955, which became as successful as his previous detective work. His novels often featured fantastical settings and secondary world fiction. Many locations from his books have even inspired the names of actual venues in Pakistan and India.

Between 1960 and 1963, he experienced a period of severe schizophrenia and depression. During this time, he published 4 novels every month—a prolific pace that some suggest contributed to his illness. He eventually recovered and returned to writing with the best-selling novel Dairrh Matwaalay. This specific book was published in India by Lal Bahadur Shastri, who later became Prime Minister. After his recovery, he completed 36 novels for Jasoosi Duniya and 79 novels for the Imran Series.

His creative reach extended to cinema through the film Dhamaka, which was released on 13 December 1974. He wrote the screenplay and the story for this production, which was adapted from his novel Bebakon ki Talash. While the movie did not receive significant acclaim, it featured a rendition of his ghazal "Rah-e-talab mein kaun kisi ka." In the 1970s, he also provided informal advice to the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan regarding detection methods.

Personal life

In 1953, Ahmad married Umme Salma Khatoon. He moved to Karachi with his mother and sister to join his father, who had previously migrated there in 1947. He eventually established his own company called Asrar Publications. He passed away on 26 July 1980 at the age of 52 due to pancreatic cancer. His final resting place is the Paposhnagar graveyard in Karachi.