THE MAN:
Ibne Safi (1928-1980) is a well known Pakistani writer of mystery and detective novels. He wrote more than two hundred fifty novels. His two popular series of books were Imran Series and Jasoosi Duniya. His works were translated from Urdu into most of the Indian languages. The list of his heroes include the famous names such as: Colonel Ahmad Kamal Faridi, Captain Sajid Hameed, Ali Imran (chief of Secret Service as X2,) Crime Reporters Anwar and Rasheeda, Qasim, Safdar, Juliana Fitzwater, Joseph Magonda, Sulaiman, Roashee etc. His villains include: Sing Hee, Thresea Bumble Bee of Bohemia, Nanota, Finch, Dr. Dread, Tisdle, Humbug the Great, Bogha (Bora), McLawrence and many others.

THE CHALLENGE:
Ibne Safi started writing detective stories as a challenge. It was late 40's in India before independence. A few young men got together and decided to publish a literary magazine from Allahabad. Among these were Asrar Ahmed, Jamal Rizvi, Abbas Hussaini and Mujavir Hussain Rizvi.

At that time all the mystery and detective stories in Urdu and Hindi were coming directly through translations of western novels and magazines. Unfortunately third rate, sexually explicit and provocative material also found its way into Urdu through these translations. A popular belief was that mystery or crime stories could not be successful in Urdu without the element of sex in them. Asrar Ahmed differed in opinion. To him the soundness of plot and the grip of the writer over it, the style of narration and the use of language were all that was required to capture readers' attention. To prove his point he took up writing mysteries.

THE PUBLICATIONS:
These friends later came up with the first issue of a magazine called NAKHAT, the first edition of which was sold out within one day. Asrar Ahmed took the pen name of Ibne Safi, as he wanted to make the creator of my stories a mystery too.

In that group of friends Jamal Rizvi later became famous as Shakeel Jamali and Mujavir Rizvi turned Ibne Saeed. Both were prolific writers of popular romantic stories. They were later joined by famous names such as Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza, Ilyas Ishqui, and Mustafa Zaidi (then known as Taigh Allahabadi.) Abbas Hussaini took up the rate of financier and publisher.

Nakhat magazine later branched out into three series: Tilismi Duniya (realm of sorcery,) Jasoosi Duniya (realm of detection) and Roomani Duniya (realm of romance.)

THE TRANSFORMATION:
In the beginning Asrar Ahmed wrote poetry and satire under the pen names of Asrar Narvi, Sanki Soldier and Tughral Farghan etc. But as the time passed the pseudonym Ibne Safi took over all the other pen names and Ibne Safi spent most of his time writing detective stories.

Jasoosi Duniya and later after independence, Imran Series were the major series he published regularly. A feat that ended only with his death in 1980. His novels are still in print and available.

THE SETTING:
The setting in Ibne Safi's novels is such that he never tells his readers the name of the country his heroes are from. Since Jasoosi Duniya came into being before the independence of Subcontinent, the names of the persons and places suggest it to be set up in India. Imran Series is a later advent and characters and places seem to be setup in Pakistan.

Besides their native countries, the main characters of both Jasoosi Duniya and Imran Series have had adventures around the world in Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Pacific Islands, Zanzibar, South Africa, the United States of America and many such places. The detailed descriptions of these places are surprisingly accurate considering Ibne Safi never left Pakistan after migrating from India after independence.

The fictitious lands in his stories have become real in the minds of his fans and everyone seem to be an expert on the people and cultures of Shakraal, Karaghaal, Maqlaaq, Zero Land and many such places.

In cities around India and Pakistan one can find discotiques, bars, night clubs and hotels etc., named after such venues found in Ibne Safi's novels. Some of the places worth mentioning are: Dilkusha, Fizaro, Niagara, Tip Top, High Circle, etc.

Following is a brief account of Ibne Safi's life listing salient events only

• Born on July 26, 1928 to Safiullah and Nuzaira Bibi he was named Asrar Ahmed, later to be known as Ibne Safi.

• Place of Birth: Village of "Nara" in Disitrict Allahabad, U.P., India

• Primary Schooling in the village school and secondary in Allahabad.

• When in seventh grade his first story appeared in the monthly "Shahid" (editor: Adil Rasheed.)

• Matriculation from D.A.V. School, Allahabad, India.

• Intermediate (High School Certificate) from Eving Christian College Allahbad, India.

• Bachelor of Arts from Agra University, Agra, India.
• After moving from Nara, his family took residence in Hasan Manzil, Allahabad, quarter numbers 15 and 16. It was there where he met two brothers Abbas Hussaini and Jamal Rizvi and their cousins Sarwar Jahaan (later known as Sarwar Hussain Abidi, an artist in Pakistan,) and Mujavir Hussain Rizvi

• In the late 1940's founded Nakhat Publications with Abbas Hussaini and Shakeel Jamali and contributed poetry, humor and satires on a regular basis.
• By profession, at that time, he was a secondary school teacher at Islamia School Allahabad and later at Yaadgaar-e Hussaini School.

• In the early 1950's started writing Jasoosi Duniya with his original charachters Inspector Faridi and Sgt. Hameed. He kept the school jobs and studied part time to finish his education.

• During the independence movement and afterwards he was branded a progresive and warrants were issued in India for his arrest.

• After finishing education he migrated to Pakistan with his mother and sister to join his father who had migrated in 1947 and was in Karachi.

• First residence was in a locality called C-1 area, Lalukhet (now known as Liaquatabad.)

• Founded Asrar Publications and started publishing Jasoosi Duniya from home.

• Married to Salma Khatoon in 1953.

• Experimented with the Jasoosi Duniya Magazine Edition which did not quite click and was later cancelled.

• Started publishing Imran Series.

• In 1958 Moved to the newly constructed house in Nazimabad No.2, which still remains the family house for the Safis.

• Moved offices to the new location in Firdous Colony, Karachi.

• Publishing raised to a record three to four novels a month.

• Exessive writing and thinking took a toll on his health and he suffered from Schizophrenia from 1960--63 and did not write a word for three years.

• Recovered from the illness in 1963 under the treatment of Hakim Iqbal Hussain of Karachi.

• A great come-back with a bestseller Jasoosi Duniya novel "DaiRh Matwaalay" which was inaugrated in India by the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

• During mid-seventies Inter Services Intelligence of Pakistan informally utilized his services for lecturing new recruits on methods of detection.

• In 1975, a film producer, Muhammad Hussain Talpur (aka Maulana Hippie,) experimented with a film "Dhamaka" based on the Imran Series Novel "baibaakoN kee talaasH." Actor Javaid Sheikh (then Javaid Iqbal) was introduced for the first time as Zafarul Mulk, the main character. Maulana Hippie played Jameson. Imran and X-2's team was not shown in the movie.

• During the elections 1977, PTV produced a serial "Dr. Duago" based on the same novel of Imran Series. Actor Muhammad Qavi Khan played Imran but the play was never aired because of some political contents.

• During late seventies Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi started pulishing "Ibne Safi" Magazine and "Naya Rukh". Ibne Safi Magazine was later changed to "Nae Ufaq." Both magazines carried a novel of Jasoosi Duniya and Imran Series each respectively.

• In September 1979, Ibne Safi suffered from abdominal pains which by December were confirmed to have been caused by cancer at the head of pancreas.

• He was attended by the family physicians Dr. Saeed Akhtar Zaidi and Dr. Qamaruddin Siddiqi. General Physician Dr. Rab and Cancer Specialist Dr. Syed Hasan Manzoor Zaidi provided the care in his last days.

• Between December 1979 and July 1980 his health deteriorated seriously but he did not quit writing.

• On Saturday July 26, 1980 (Ramadhan 12, 1400 AH) at around Faj'r time Ibne Safi passed away (Inna Lillah-e Wa Inna Ilaih-e Raje'oon.) His incomplete Imran Series novel "Aakhri Aadmi" was by his bedside.

oh ho pata nahi tha main kabhi is zindagi main Ibn-e-Safi ke doosre diwane se milonga.

He was a poet too Asrar Narwi lekin unki Imran Series aur characters like Ali Imran, Colonel Fridi, Sang Hi, Thresia, etc became so famous that his poetry was never appreciated as it shld have been. anyways, I read most of his novels, brilliant mind he had!!! buht zabardast aadmi tha. tamam kahanyoon mein unka aam zindagi ke swaalaat ka jwaab dene ka indaaz hi nirala hai. He is Doyle of East.

Indeed ! ^

btw my fav, as of others was Imran till recently,

but i hv started liking faridi now a days

btw currently i am reading tht SAATWAN JAZEERAH !
hv u read it ?
Hameed is at his best in it ;)

Satwaan Jazeerah hmmmmm......

nahi bhai nahi padhi mai ne ........

Hameed bhi Imran ki tarah hi hai lekin thuda bewaqoof bada mazedaar hai lekin.

:brother:

dear friend i am also a fan of ibn safi .And my fav is faridi and hameed

cool !

but Imran ROCKS ;)

Imran -

but bro faridi is the best. have you read zameen ke badel? faridi

LOL yea i know he is the best ! the complete man !

but Imran is a bit tooooo interesting ;) u may agree.

didnt u see how was Imran in tht Zameen ke Baadal ?
frustrated Hameed to the fullest n handled Qasim at its best

kiya tum nae bagum x2 padhi.

yeaaaa

tht was wonderful

I have read imran series a year before but thats was written by mohazar kaleem M.A

I didn't know this character (ali imran) is created by Ibne Safi.

well I like this characher too.I called him charb zaban

has anyone read devta or moot ke sodagar?

yes sis i have read. have you read "thanda suraj" (thrasiya seriese)

^ yeaaaaa i read it !

its in 7 parts !

thts the besssssst !
Imran ROCKS !

bro zak pls just tell me the name of second part of "larazti lakirain"
have you read?