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.
Great piece Bilal….. Feels like I am back in Lahore enjoying my summer vacation with a new novel every week and the monthly khaas number…If i recall correctly he used to publish 4 mini novels and one Khaas number in a month…… Rest of the reading material looked so dry once you had the Ishtiaq Ahmed number in ure hand…. But I had to read all the taleemo tarbeeats, Phool, Naunehal etc as my parents were always skeptical if I was actually learning anything from Sir Ishtiaq Ahmed other than skipping meals and not paying attention to my surroundings….. :)
And it would be unfair to forget Inspector Kamran Mirza with Aftab, Asif and Frahat and the Shauki borther series…
Altamash I would recommend Khazaney ka Toofan and Vaadi-E-Dehshat
Nostalgic and nostalgic. like other commentators on this post, i also grew up reading Ishtiaq Ahmed. I can also relate to Bilal’s experience that he wrote books faster than we could save money and hence the local book clubs were established. We also had a few in our locality.
Once Ishtiaq Ahmed announced prizes for anyone who owned all his books. By then the book count was around 120 or so. Somebody in our street won that prize and we were so envious of him. this lad protected his collection of 120+ books so much that he didn’t lend it to anyone so we used to call him ‘kanjoos-makhi choos’ (miser).
I stopped reading Ishtiaq Ahmed after he started depicting his villains after a certain minority of Pakistan. I didn’t like bringing one’s religious beliefs into ‘jasoosi’ novels.
Other than that I agree with Ather that his novels are doing a great service to Urdu. I used to finish his books faster than text books :)
This has revived the nostalgic feelings of my childhood and it feels like walking down the memory lane. I grew up reading Ishtiaq Ahmed ‘Novels’ in Karachi. I remember reading two of his books every day during the summer vacations. Boy, those were the times. Ishtiaq Ahmed’s books were the best thrillers that I have come across and were a great read for a growing boy. I distinctly remember that his first book that I read was ‘Rustam Khan’ published by Ferozsons. Eversince, I was totally addicted to Ishtiaq Ahmed. Cannot ever outlive the thrill I got from them , not to mention that they improved my Urdu.
Great article, Dr Zuberi!
and a Great Blog too!
Does anyone know that Ishtiaq Ahmed write thrillers anymore? He should be given some ‘Tamgha’ by the Government. Afterall both him and Ferozesons are doing a Yeomans job in service for Urdu!
I just can’t stopp laughing looking at that pic…. its a classic… do they still do that? I haven’t been to pakistan in few years… didn’t grow up in pakistan and have no clue about Ishtiaq Ahmed, glad to know that someone like him was there….
Ys I remember only two well. I had infact discovered Enid Blyton’s Famous Five first. However, when I discovered Ishtiaq Ahmed, I found them equally intriguing . I remember those 2000-3000 pages think novels. I remember one title “Jazeere ka pahar”. Yes, definitely these books instilled the love of reading in us. I honestly hope my kids can develop the same love of reading. I remember spending whole summer afternooons just immersed in Famous Five and Nancy Drew and Ishtiaq Ahmed novels, never needing or thinking about TV or movies….I am trying my best to get my boys interested in books as opposed to cartoons also..but its pretty tough with the one million cartoon channels available these days..and then game boys and game cubes..and what have you on top of that