Ibn-e-Insha

Pakistani poet, travelogue writer and columnist (1927–1978) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sher Muhammad Khan (Urdu: شیر مُحمّد خان), (Punjabi, شیر محمد خان), better known by his pen name Ibn-e-Insha, (Urdu: اِبنِ اِنشا), (Punjabi, ابن انشا) (15 June 1927 11 January 1978)[1][2][3] was a Pakistani Urdu poet, humorist, travelogue writer and newspaper columnist.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Ibn-e-Insha ابنِ اِنشا
BornSher Muhammad Khan
(1927-06-15)15 June 1927
Phillaur, Punjab, British India
Died11 January 1978(1978-01-11) (aged 50)
London, England
Pen nameInsha
OccupationUrdu poet, humorist, Travelogue writer and newspaper columnist
NationalityPakistani
GenreGhazal
Notable awardsPride of Performance Award in 1978 by the President of Pakistan
ChildrenRoomi Insha (died 16 October 2017) & Saadi Insha
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Along with his poetry, he was regarded as one of the best humorists of Urdu.[1][3] His poetry has a distinctive diction laced with language reminiscent of Amir Khusro in its use of words and construction that is usually heard in the more earthy dialects of the Hindi-Urdu complex of languages, and his forms and poetic style has influenced generations of young poets.[2][4][5]

Biography

Insha was born in Phillaur tehsil of Jalandhar District, Punjab, British India.[1][3][6] His father hailed from Rajasthan.[7] In 1946, he received his B.A. degree from Punjab University and subsequently, his M.A. from University of Karachi in 1953.[1][3] He was associated with various governmental services including Radio Pakistan, the Ministry of Culture and the National Book Centre of Pakistan.[2][3] He also served the UN for some time[2] and this enabled him to visit many places, all of which served to inspire the travelogues he would then pen.[1][3] His journeys took him to Japan, Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, France, UK and the United States.[2][3] His teachers included Habibullah Ghazenfar Amrohvi, Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Khan and Dr. Abdul Qayyum. In the late 1940s, in his youth, Ibn-e-Insha had also lived along with the renowned film poet Sahir Ludhianvi in Lahore for a short period. He was also active in the Progressive Writers Movement.[8][4]

Death and legacy

Ibn-e-Insha spent the remainder of his life in Karachi[4] before he died of Hodgkin's Lymphoma on 11 January 1978, while he was in London. He was buried in Karachi, Pakistan.[3][6][4] His son, Roomi Insha was a Pakistani filmmaker, who died on 16 October 2017.[6][9][1]

Literary career

Insha is considered to be one of the best poets and writers of his generation.[3][4] His most famous ghazal Insha Ji Utthoo Ab Kooch Karo (Rise oh Insha Ji, and let us set off ) is an influential classic ghazal.[4][5] Ibn-e-Insha had written several travelogues, showcasing his sense of humor[3][4] and his work has been appreciated by both Urdu writers and critics.[3][4] He also translated a collection of Chinese poems into Urdu in 1960.[3][5]

Bibliography

Poetry

  • Chand Nagar چاند نگر[3]
  • Is Basti Key Ik Koochey Mainاِس بستی کے اِک کوچے میں[3]
  • Dil-e-Wehshi دلِ وحشی[3]
  • Billo Ka Basta بِلو کا بستہ (Rhymes for Children)
  • Qissa Aik Kunvaaray ka (A translation of a lengthy humorous poem by a German poet Wilhelm Bosch)

Travelogue

  • Awara Gard Ki Diary آوارہ گرد کی ڈائری
  • Dunya Gol Hey دنیا گول ہے[3]
  • Ibn Battuta Kay Taqub mein' (1974)[10]
  • Chaltay Ho To Cheen Ko Chaliye چلتے ھو تو چِین کو چلیے[3]
  • Nagri Nagri Phira Musafar نگری نگری پِھرا مسافر[3]

Humor

  • Urdu Ki Aakhri Kitab (1971) اردو کی آخری کتاب [3][8]
  • Khat Insha Jee Kay خط انشّا جی کے Collection of letters [3]
  • Khumar e Gandum خمارِگندم
  • Aap se kya Parda آپ سے کیا پردہ (published in June 2004)
  • Batain Insha ji ki (published in June 2005)
  • Dakhl Dar Ma'qulaat (published in June 2019)

Translations

  • Seher Honay Tak (translation of Cherkhov work)
  • Karnamay Nawab Tees Maar Khan Kay (translation of German Short stories), published in June 1971
  • Lakhon Ka Shaher (translation of some short stories of O. Henry)
  • Andha Kunvaan (translation of some short stories of Edgar Allan Poe)

Awards and recognition

See also

References

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