Ibn-e-Safi, also spelt Ibne Safi, was the pen name of Asrar Ahmad (, 26 July 1928 – 26 July 1980), a

Pakistani Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...

fiction writer, novelist, and poet who wrote in

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

. The name Ibn-e-Safi is a Persian expression meaning “Son of Safi,” with ''Safi'' translating to “chaste” or “righteous.” He began his literary career in British India during the 1940s and continued writing in Pakistan after the country's independence in 1947. His main works were the 124-book series '' Jasoosi Dunya'' (''The Spy World'') and the 121-book '' Imran Series'', with a small canon of satirical works and poetry. His novels were characterised by a blend of mystery,

adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

, suspense, violence, romance and comedy, achieving massive popularity across a broad readership in South Asia.

Biography

Early life and education

Asrar Ahmad was born on 26 July 1928 in the town 'Nara' of district

Allahabad Prayagraj (, ; ISO 15919, ISO: ), formerly and colloquially known as Allahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.The other five cities were: Agra, Kanpur, Kanpur (Cawnpore), Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi, Varanasi (Benar ...

, India. His father's name was Safiullah and mother's name was Naziran Bibi. His ancestors were

Hindus Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

of the Kayashta community, specialised in the fields of education and administration, who converted to Islam many generations ago. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Agra University. In 1948, he started his first job at 'Nikhat Publications' as an editor in the poetry department. His initial works date back to the early 1940s, when he wrote from

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

. He also studied at the

University of Allahabad The University of Allahabad is a Central university (India), Central University located in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. It was established on 23 September 1887 by an act of Parliament and is recognised as an Institute of National Importance (INI). ...

where he was class fellow of Professor Mohammad Uzair and one year senior to Mustafa Zaidibr>
After the Partition of India, independence of India and Pakistan in 1947, he began writing novels in the early 1950s while working as a secondary school teacher and continuing part-time studies. After completing the latter, having attracted official attention as being subversive in the

independence Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of ...

and post-independence period, he migrated to

Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...

Sindh Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...

, Pakistan in August 1952. He started his own company by the name 'Asrar Publications'.

Later life

He married Umme Salma Khatoon in 1953. In the period from 1960 to 1963, he suffered an episode of severe depression and spent some time in the psychiatry ward of a hospital, but recovered, and returned with a best-selling ''Imran Series'' novel, ''Dairrh Matwaalay'' (''One and a half amused'') which was published in India by the to-be -Prime Minister

Lal Bahadur Shastri Lal Bahadur Shastri (; born Lal Bahadur Srivastava; 2 October 190411 January 1966) was an Indian politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India from 1964 to 1966. He previously served as Minister ...

. In fact, he wrote 36 novels of 'Jasoosi Duniya' and 79 novels of 'Imran Series' after his recovery from depression. In the 1970s, he informally advised the

Inter-Services Intelligence The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is the premier Pakistani Intelligence community, intelligence agency of Pakistan. It is responsible for gathering, processing, and analyzing any information from around the world that is deemed relevant t ...

of Pakistan on methods of detection.

Death

Ibne Safi died on 26 July 1980 of

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of ...

at age 52. He was buried in Paposhnagar graveyard in

Literary career

Early attempts

Ibn-e-Safi started writing poetry in his childhood and soon earned critical acclaim in whole South-Asian community. After completing his Bachelor of Arts, he started writing short stories, humour and satire under various names such as "Siniki (Cynic) Soldier" and "Tughral Farghan." In the ''Nakhat'' magazines, he published several satirical articles which commented on various topics ranging from politics to literature to journalism. His early works in the 1940s included short stories, humour and satire.

''Jasoosi Dunya'' and ''Imran Series''

According to one of his autobiographical essays, someone at a literary meeting claimed that Urdu literature had little scope beyond sexual themes. To challenge this notion, Ibn-e-Safi began writing several detective stories in January 1952. These were published in the monthly digest, ''Nikhat'', under the series name Jasoosi Dunya. In 1953, Ibn-e-Safi, along with his mother and sister, moved to Karachi, Pakistan, joining his father who had migrated there earlier in 1947. In 1955, Ibn-e-Safi started Imran Series, which gained as much fame and success as Jasoosi Dunya. Ibne Safi's novels – characterised by a blend of adventure, suspense, violence, romance, and comedy – achieved massive popularity by a broad readership. On many occasions, Ibne Safi crafted imaginative settings for his stories. The mesmerizing tapestry of his writing brings these fantastical realms to life in the minds of his readers. Devoted fans have become connoisseurs of the people and cultures inhabiting realms such as Shakraal, Karaghaal, Maqlaaq, Zeroland, and many other creative domains. Across cities in India and Pakistan, discothèques, bars, nightclubs, and hotels have been named after iconic venues from his novels, including Dilkusha, Figaro, Niagara, Tip Top, and High Circle.

Other works

In addition to his humorous and satirical works, Ibne-e-Safi penned several short adventure stories, including Baldraan Ki Malika (The Queen of Baldraan), Ab Tak Thee Kahaan? (Where Had You Been?), Shumal Ka Fitna (Trouble from the North), Gultarang, and Moaziz Khopri. These adventures transport readers to a series of exotic, imaginary worlds born from his own creative vision. In 1959, Ibne-e-Safi embarked on writing Aadmi Ki Jarain, a book exploring human psychology. Unfortunately, his illness forced him to leave the work incomplete.

Dhamaka – A film by Ibn-e-Safi

Ibne Safi wrote both the story and screenplay for the film Dhamaka, adapted from his novel Bebakon ki Talash. Despite its merits, the film did not receive the publicity and acclaim it deserved, and it remains largely forgotten. Produced by Muhammad Hussain Talpur, Dhamaka is based on the Imran Series novel Baibaakon Ki Talaash (

for "In Search of the Outrageous"). The film introduced Pakistani actor

Javed Sheikh Jawed Sheikh (also spelled Javaid and Javed; born 8 October 1954) is a Pakistani actor, film director and producer who works in Lollywood and Bollywood. He is best known for working in the Hindi films ''Om Shanti Om'', '' My Name Is Anthony G ...

(then known as Javaid Iqbal) in the lead role of Zafarul Mulk. Producer Muhammad Hussain Talpur also appeared in the film as Jameson, while actress Shabnam portrayed Sabiha. Notably, the characters Imran and the X-2 team were not featured in the movie, although Ibne Safi himself recorded the voice of X-2. Additionally, actor Rehman made his debut as a villain. The film includes a rendition of the ghazal "Rah-e-talab mein kaun kisi ka," sung by Habib Wali Mohammed and written by Ibne Safi. Dhamaka was released on 13 December 1974.

Reception

Influence

Renowned

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...

screenwriter and lyricist

Javed Akhtar Javed Akhtar (born 1945) is an Indian screenwriter, lyricist and poet. Known for his work in Hindi cinema, he has won five National Film Awards, and received the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007, two of India's highest civili ...

was deeply inspired by Ibne-e-Safi’s Urdu novels, which he avidly read during his childhood. He was particularly drawn to the '' Jasoosi Dunya'' and Imran Series detective novels. The fast-paced action, tightly woven plots, and vibrant use of language in these thrillers left a strong impression on him. Akhtar fondly recalled Ibne-e-Safi’s unforgettable characters with their distinctive, often whimsical names—an element that significantly influenced his own writing. Many of his Bollywood scripts reflect Ibne-e-Safi’s narrative style, including the use of vivid character names, sharp dialogue, and larger-than-life personalities. Akhtar credited Ibne-e-Safi with teaching him the power of memorable characters, a lesson that helped inspire iconic Bollywood villains like Gabbar Singh in ''

Sholay ''Sholay'' (, ) is a 1975 Indian epic action-adventure film directed by Ramesh Sippy, produced by his father G. P. Sippy, and written by Salim–Javed. The film is about two criminals, Veeru (Dharmendra) and Jai (Amitabh Bachchan), hired ...

'' (1975) and Mogambo in Mr. India ( 1987 film).

Translations

The first English translations of Ibne Safi's mystery novels began appearing in 2010, with '' The House of Fear'' from the Imraan Series, translated by

Bilal Tanweer Bilal Tanweer (Urdu, Punjabi: ; born 1983) is a Pakistani writer and translator from Lahore. His novel '' The Scatter Here Is Too Great'' was awarded the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize in 2014, and was shortlisted for the DSC Prize for South A ...

and published by Random House India. In 2011, Blaft Publications in association with Tranquebar released four more novels, this time from the ''Jasoosi Duniya'' series, translated by the highly acclaimed Urdu critic Shamsur Rahman Faruqi.

Bibliography

List of his non-series work * ''Aadmi ki Jarain'' (

for The Roots of The Man) – Incomplete * ''Baldaraan ki Malikaa'' (

for The Queen of Baldaraan) * ''Ab Tak Thee Kahaan'' (

for Where Had You Been?) * ''Diplomat Murgh'' (

for The Diplomat Rooster) * ''Saarhe Paanch Baje'' (

for Half Past Five) * ''Tuzk-e-Do-Piazi'' (

for The autobiography of Do-Piaza) – Incomplete * ''Shumaal ka Fitna'' (

for The Trouble From North) * ''Mata-e Qalb-O-Nazar'' – Collection of Poetry (to be published) Novels * ''Allama Dehshatnak'' * Alphonse * Khatarnak Lashein (The Dangerous Corpse) * Saanpon Ke Shikari * '' Khaufnak Imarat'' (The House of Fear) (1955) * Purasrar Cheekhein (1955)Ibn-e-Safi books on goodreads.com website
Retrieved 26 November 2020 * Larkiyon Ka Jazirah (The Island of Maidens) * Raat Ka Shehzada (The Nocturnal Prince) * Dhuain ki Tehreer (Scribblings in Smoke) * Pathar Ka Khoon (Blood in Stones) * Neelay Parindey (The Birds in Blue) * Jaron Ki Talash (The Search for the Roots) * Chattanon Mein Fire (Shootout at the Rocks) (1955)

Poetry

''(Note: Most of the English translations of

poetry and titles are literal and do not capture the true essence of the language. Some meaning is definitely lost in translation.)'' Ibn-e-Safi was also a poet. He used to write poems under the pen name of "Asrar Narvi". He wrote in various genres of Urdu poetry, such as

Hamd Hamd () is a word that exclusively praises God - whether written or spoken. Thus, The word "Hamd" is always followed by the name of God (Allah) - a phrase known as the Tahmid - "al-ḥamdu li-llāh" (Arabic: ) (English: "praise be to God"). The ...

, Na`at, Manqabat, Marsia,

Ghazal ''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...

, and Nazm. His collection of poetry, ''Mata-e Qalb-o-Nazar'' (

or in English (The Assets of Heart & Sight), remains unpublished. Following is the list of his

s: * ''Daulat-e-Gham'' (

(The wealth of sorrow) * ''Zahan se Dil ka Bar Utra Hai'' (

(Heaviness of the heart is unloaded by the mind) * ''Chhalakti aayay'' (

(The liquor shows up overflowing) * ''Kuch to ta-alluq ...'' (

(Some affiliation ...) * ''Aaj ki raat'' (

(Tonight) * ''Baday ghazab ka ...'' (

(Of Much Might ...) * ''Yun hi wabastagi'' (

(Casual connection) * ''Lab-o-rukhsar-o-jabeen'' (

(Lips and Cheeks and forehead) * ''Rah-e-talab mein kaun kisi ka'' (

(In the path of demands, no one recognises anyone) * ''Kuch bhi to apne paas nahin ...'' (

(Do not have anything ...) * ''Aay nigaraan-e-khoobroo'' (

(Gorgeous Sculptures) * ''Kabhi sawab ki hain ...'' (

(Sometimes, of virtuousness ...) * ''Kabhi qatil ...'' (

for Sometimes killer ...) * ''Qafas ki daastaan hai ...'' (

(It is the tale of imprisonment ...) * ''Maan'' (

(Mother) * ''Shakist-e-talism'' (

(Defeat of the Magic) * ''Talism-e-hosh-ruba'' (

(The Breath-taking Magic) * ''Tanhayee'' (

(Solitude) * ''Bansuri Ki Aawaz'' (

(The Sound of Flute)Ibne Safi, unlikely combination of poet and pulp fiction writer, would have been 90 this year
Scroll.in website, Published 26 July 2018, Retrieved 26 November 2020

Awards and recognition

* Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award by the

President of Pakistan The president of Pakistan () is the head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The president is the nominal head of the executive and the supreme commander of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

in 2020Ibne Safi, Fehmida Riaz among 116 recipients of civil awards
Dawn (newspaper), Published 14 August 2019, Retrieved 24 November 2020

References

External links

Ibn e Safi The Master Craftman

Ibne Safi's literary place and status
BBC Urdu Service, 23 July 2011
Aik Hero
Ajmad Islam Amjad's Column on Ibne Safi's 32nd death anniversary at Daily Express (newspaper) in Urdu language
Ibne Safi
Ibne Safi's Official Website {{DEFAULTSORT:Ibn-E-Safi 1928 births 1980 deaths Pakistani spy fiction writers Muhajir people Pakistani novelists Pakistani Muslims Jasoosi Dunya Imran Series Writers from Karachi Writers from Prayagraj 20th-century Pakistani novelists 20th-century Urdu-language writers Urdu-language writers from British India Urdu-language novelists 20th-century Pakistani poets Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz Detective fiction writers Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University alumni University of Allahabad alumni