Ibn-e-Insha
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. 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]
Ibn-e-Insha ابنِ اِنشا  | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sher Muhammad Khan 15 June 1927 Phillaur, Punjab, British India  | 
| Died | 11 January 1978 (aged 50) London, England  | 
| Pen name | Insha | 
| Occupation | Urdu poet, humorist, Travelogue writer and newspaper columnist | 
| Nationality | Pakistani | 
| Genre | Ghazal | 
| Notable awards | Pride of Performance Award in 1978 by the President of Pakistan | 
| Children | Roomi Insha (died 16 October 2017) | 
Biography
    
Insha was born in Phillaur tehsil of Jalandhar District, Punjab, India.[1][3] His father hailed from Rajasthan.[6] 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] His son, Roomi Insha was a Pakistani director until his death on 16 October 2017.[7][8]
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)[9]
 - 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 Kitaab (1971) اردو کی آخری کتاب [3][10]
 - 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
    
- Ibn-e-Insha was awarded the Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1978.[11]
 
See also
    
    
References
    
 - Profile of Ibn-e-Insha on allpoetry.com website Retrieved 14 June 2019
 - "Ibn-e-Insha: nagri nagri phira musafir". Pakistaniat.com website. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
 - "Ibn-e-Insha remembered on 38th death anniversary". Dunya TV Network News. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
 - "On Ibn-e-Insha and Nazarul Islam's death anniversaries". Pakistan Today (newspaper). 13 January 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
 - Biography of Ibn-e-Insha on poemhunter.com website Retrieved 14 June 2019
 - Fatima, Sana (12 January 2016). "'Ibn-e-Insha was my hero'". The Nation (Pakistan) newspaper. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
 - "Nation will always remember great sacrifices of martyrs: Chief Minster". Daily Times (newspaper). 18 October 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
 - "Son of Ibne Insha passes away, reason of death revealed – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
 - Ibne Insha – the wanderer of Chand Nagar The Express Tribune (newspaper), Published 10 January 2016, Retrieved 14 June 2019
 - Ibn-e-Insha article on Academy of the Punjab in North America (APNA) website Retrieved 14 June 2019
 - Pride of Performance Award info for Ibn-e-Insha on YouTube Retrieved 14 June 2019
 
External links
    
- Ibn-e-Insha at IMDb
 - http://www.studybee.net/ibn-e-insha-poetry/ Poetry of Ibn-e-Insha