Over dinner sometime last week, conversation turned to an apparent lack of reading culture in Pakistan. Participants questioned if anybody went to the bookstores any more, and why Urdu bazaars in large cities remained largely deserted until the school seasons came (though I was told Lahore now has some nice book stores). All the talk about developing reading habits in children reminded me of one of my favorite authors from childhood: Ishtiaq Ahmed.
Before there were J.R.R.Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Hardy Boys or even Archies Comics in my life, there was Ishtiaq Ahmed: a brilliant mastermind who authored hundreds, if not thousands, of suspense thriller novels in Urdu for kids during the 1970s, 80’s and into the 1990s. (I am told the actual number is closer to 400).
It is hard not to say that I grew up wanting to be like Mahmood, Farooque aur Farzana, the three main characters in his most famous series: Inspector Jamshed. Many of us will remember owning crates full of Ishtiaq Ahmed books – kids in my mohalla even organized a book club where we loaned our Ishtiaq Ahmed books to each other for 25 paisas per novel.
Ishtiaq Ahmed was one hell of a prolific writer. His books were published at a rate faster than I could save money from my lunch allowance to buy them (hence the need for the Mohalla library!). My mamoon swore by Ibn-e-Safi’s Imran series, but Ishtiaq Ahmed was the one who got me hooked onto reading. I remember reading his Khaas (special) novels with more than 2000-3000 pages until late into the night. He was among the most effective and successful Jasoosi novelists in Pakistan.
Even though his detective teams also included Inspector Kamran and the Shoki brothers, it was the Inspector Jamshed team (and the series built around their escapades to protect world peace) that captured the imagination of several generations in Pakistan. The series featured a detective, inspector Jamshed, who solved crimes with the help of his three children, Mehmood, Farooq & Farzana. Inspector Jameshed hated evil and in his crime-fighting he had not only his children to help, but also a retired army officer, Khan Rehman, and Professor Daod.
If I remember correctly, Mehmood was always the smart one, the trio’s leader with brilliant ideas, Farooque was the street smart, witty one, and Farzana always knew when danger was lurking around the corner. And the evil? Jaral, who appeared in several novels, was the number one enemy. Inspector Jamshed’s enemies were not just after money or power – they were morally corrupt and somehow always had some external forces helping them in their evil plans. It has been said that Ishtiaq Ahmed was not very subtle in disguising his resentment towards states or actors that he deemed anti-Islamic.
Ishtiaq Ahmed created characters that were larger than life – but they were inspirational for young men and women of that age and time. Inspector Jamshed, Mehmood, Farooq and Fazana were heroes, who were smart, witty, brave, and fought for the righteousness. Ishtiaq Ahmed wrote beautifully in a language that many now do not study for its poetry or prose. His contribution to Urdu literature, unfortunately, has not been acclaimed in a deserving manner, but his fans remember him well.
Statements like “Inspector Jamshed kee Uqaabee nigahon ney mauqay kee nazakat ko bhaanp liyaa” are a distant memory, but still a charming one. Maybe my kids will also dig through my stash of Ishtiaq Ahmed novels like I went through my mother collection of Pakeeza digests. They will find lots of incredible stories. And they will learn why I love the Urdu language.
For the uninitiated and the fans, a website advertises that you can buy his novel there. Alternatively, contact Feroze Sons in Lahore.
Dr. Bilal Zuberi is Vice President of Product Development at GEO2 Technologies in Boston (MA), USA. See more at Bilal’s blog: BZNotes.
exactly my child hood i started of as a tarzan fan then would do anything to read umru ayyar,anyone remeber aanglu baanglu lol that was fun ,then came ishtiaq ahmed days ,then imran series of mazhar kaleem,then naseem hijazi ,did u guyz gorget tariq ismaeel sagar recently im enjoing umera ahmeds novels ,anyone wishing to chat about those days add me on yor messanger, usman2076@hotmail.com
Ishtiaq Ahmad’ novels are not available nowadays but he has been a genius fiction novel writer. I used to read his novels in my school and college days and he has got an ability (God gifted) to totally grasp both the flow of story and reader’s brain. He is a true Pakistani legend.
I wish him every succes in his life.
There is a famous “she`ar” with a slight change in it :) “dil dhondta hay phir wohi bachpan kay raat din” though I was not searching my childhood days on the net, but as I came across this article, reading every line I found myself uncovering layers of my childhood. Memories that long been buried under so called adult intellect. As being a 11 or 12 years old poor kid of 80s, the only entertainment I had was reading those 50 paisa worth thin stories ( may be some of you remember them as well ) , sold everywhere that time. Gradually as I developed some taste and obviously saving 70 paisas daily by saving my “Jaib Kharach” and walking 3 km skipping buss for journey back from school, I was able to rent books like
“Naunihal, Dastan e Ameer Hamza, Tilsim e Hoshruba, Inspector Janshed series, and other novels for children by feroz sons”. Those long summer days, bunch of “bair ( small round red ones) and Falsay (Thanday methay falsay)” and those books, It was more than wonderful. I was so addict to those fantasies that I almost lost my social life and became a shy and reserved person. My glasses are also a virtue of those golden days. But believe me the gains were remarkable and matchless. It helped me improve my urdu “Insha perdazi” or comprehension. Gave me sight beyond sight (imagination) and power to express, myself. Now when I am doing a job in media I use my language skills and imagination as tools.
I strongly urge all pakistanis living in or out of their home land to let their children have the experience of reading urdu magazines of these times (Naunihal is there I know). So please act now, it might be a strong effort of saving your children and your culture. Thank you Dr. Bilal and all who shared their childhood memories.
One’s first step in wisdom is to kuesteon everything – and one’s last is to come to terms with everything.
This article remined me my glorious days of childhood while I was daying to get Ishtiaq Ahmed’s books. He was one of the successfull writer in Pakistan. I still remember Those 2000 Pages book SUNHERI CHATAN, i completed that book at the age of 14 I believe in 3 days, it was toooo interesting.
I like Inspector Jamshed’s Series most then Kamran and Shoki Series, those are also good. One thing about Ishtiaq Ahmed is he write in the first page like:
1- Is this the time for prayer
2-do you have to do some thing urgent
and some more
and at the end he always critised Qadiayani and I know about true Islam from his that last page.
Anyway if no one haven’t read it yet please read any of those books and ENJOY