humour, satire, and poetry. He
began writing novels in the early 1950s. His main works included two major
series. “Jasoosi Duniya” (The World of Espionage), 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.
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 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.
