Ibn-e-Insha

Ibn-e-Insha (Punjabi, Urdu: ابن انشا‎) born Sher Muhammad Khan (Punjabi, Urdu: شیر محمد خان‎) on 15 June 1927, died on 11 January 1978,^[1][2][3] was a Pakistani Urdu poet, humorist, travelogue writer and newspaper columnist. 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 is an influence on generations of young poets.^[2][4][5]

Biography

Insha was born in Phillaur tehsil of Jalandhar District, Punjab, India.^[1][3] His father hailed from Rajasthan. 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] Some of the places he visited include 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 years, Ibn-e-Insha had also lived together with the renowned film poet Sahir Ludhianvi in Lahore for a short period. He was also active in the Progressive Writers Movement.^[4] 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 later buried in Karachi, Pakistan.^[3][4]

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]crazy guy^[3]

Bibliography

Poetry

• Inshaji uttho ab kooch karo, sung by Ustad Amanat Ali Khan^[6]
• Kal Chaudavi ki raat thi, shab bhar raha charcha tera, sung by Jagjit Singh^[7]
• Is Basti Key Ik Koochey Main^[3]
• Chand Nagar^[3]
• Dil-e-Wehshi^[3]
• Billo Ka Basta (Rhymes for Children)

Travelogue

• Awara Gard Ki Diary
• Dunya Gol Hey^[3]
• Ibn Battuta Kay Taqub mien
• Chaltay Ho To Cheen Ko Chaliye^[3]
• Nagri Nagri Phira Musafar^[3]

Humor

• Aap se kya Parda
• Khumar e Gandum
• Urdu Ki Aakhri Kitaab (1971)^[3][8]
• Khat Insha Jee KayCollection of letters^[3]

Awards and recognition

• Ibn-e-Insha was awarded the Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1978.^[9]

See also

• List of Pakistani poets
• List of Urdu language poets
• List of Pakistani writers
• List of Urdu language writers

References

External links

• Ibn-e-Insha at the Internet Movie Database, Retrieved 21 June 2016
• http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/show/128982-Ibne-Insha-Aik-Ladka Aik Ladka English Translation By Qazi Muhammad Ahkam, Retrieved 22 June 2016
• http://www.studybee.net/ibn-e-insha-poetry/ Poetry of Ibn-e-Insha, Retrieved 22 June 2016
• http://tribune.com.pk/story/1025160/is-basti-ke-ik-koochay-mein-ibne-insha-the-wanderer-of-chand-nagar/, Ibn-e Insha article on The Express Tribune newspaper, Published 10 Jan 2016, Retrieved 22 June 2016