Famous Urdu poet, humorist, travelogue writer and columnist Ibn-e-Insha was remembered on his 85th birth anniversary on Friday.
Ibn-e-Insha was born on June 15, 1927 as Sher Muhammad Khan in Phillaur tehsil of Jalandhar district in India. He did his BA from Punjab University in 1946 and MA from University of Karachi in 1953. Insha was associated with various governmental services, including Radio Pakistan, Ministry of Culture and National Book Centre of Pakistan. He also served the UN for some time and this enabled him to visit a lot of places and was the reason of his subsequent travelogues. Some of the places that he visited include Japan, Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, France, UK and United States. Ibn-e-Insha is considered as one of the most versatile poets and writers of his generation. His major work include Is Basti Key Ik Koochey Main , Chand Nagar, Dil-e-Wehshi, Dunya Gol Hey, Chaltay Ho To Cheen Ko Chaliye, Nagri Nagri Phira Musafar, Urdu Ki Aakhri Kitaab and Khat Insha Jee Kay.
Insha also translated a collection of Chinese poems in Urdu in 1960. Insha spent much of his time in Karachi. He died of Hodgkin s Lymphoma on January 11, 1978 in London and was buried in Karachi. His most famous ghazal Insha Ji Uttho is considered to be a modern day classic. Along with his poetry, he was regarded one of the best humorists of Urdu. 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. Ibn-e-Insh was an eminent Pakistani Leftist Urdu poet, humorist, travelogue writer and columnist. Along with his poetry, he was regarded one of the best humorists of Urdu.
