Today is the 27th death anniversary of Urdu fiction
writer Ibne Safi, whose novels still constitute a bedtime treat for
thousands of people. Yet none of the city's literary circles have
thought it fit to organise a programme to commemorate the writer who
brought us the well-loved Jasoosi Duniya and the Imran Series, and wrote
hundreds of mystery novels.
Despite the criticism levelled at him – that he wrote
in bulk and targeted the mass market – he is certainly amongst the more
remarkable and most popular writers of Urdu language fiction.
Safi was just 26 years old when, in 1954, newspaper
headlines announced that "Ibne Safi leads a new cult" while reporting on
the Golden Jubilee Number of the monthly Jasoosi Duniya, which featured
sketches of the stock characters and sold in unprecedented numbers.
Launched in Allahabad, India in 1952, the monthly
turned Safi into a household name and his novels are credited with
having hooked a large section of the subcontinent' s population to
detective and crime fiction. It was not unusual for Safi's books to be
sold at black market prices in Pakistan and India, where they were
originally published.
Nearly three decades after his death, his cult
following remains largely intact and many literary critics recognise his
services to Urdu language and literature. As one critic said, "he is the
saviour of the Urdu language, a masterful storyteller who never
compromised on his principles." Even Agatha Christie is reputed to have
said, "I don't know Urdu but have some knowledge of detective novels of
the subcontinent. There is only one original writer – Ibne Safi."
Born in the Nara village of Allahabad, UP in India,
Safi – whose given name was Asrar Ahmad – received a BA degree from Agra
University. He started writing in the 1940s while working as a secondary
school teacher and continuing his studies part-time.
Safi created the Imran Series in 1952 when he
migrated to Karachi, where he lived until pancreatic cancer caused his
death in 1980 on July 26, on his 52nd birthday.
His main works are the 124-book Jasoosi Duniya and
the 120-book Imran Series, with a small cannon of satirical works and
poetry written under the nom de plume of Asrar Narvi. His writings are
characterized by a blend of adventure, suspense, romance and comedy,
even philosophy, such as the following line from Edlawa: "Life is only
action and reaction. The rationalisations are added later."
