Jasoosi Dunya

Jasoosi Dunya (Urdu: جاسوسى دنيا) is a popular series of Urdu detective stories created by Ibne-Safi. Its first novel, Dilaer Mujrim (دلير مجرم) was published in March 1952. In the following 27 years, Ibn-e-Safi wrote 127 books in the series with his last Jasoosi Dunya novel, Sehra'ee Deewana (صحرائی دیوانہ) appearing in July 1979, a year before his death.

Overview

The series mainly spotlights Inspector (later an honorary Colonel) Faridi and Sergeant (later honorary Captain) Hameed, although four books in the series were focused purely on the characters of Anwar (a crime reporter and a private detective) and Rasheeda (his aide and love interest), with an intent of having a spin-off series of its own, which did not succeed somehow. The characters, however, occasionally appeared in many future stories as supporting cast.

A model of rectitude and obsessed with his detective-work, Ahmed Kamal Faridi is a no-nonsense aristocrat who loathes crime and is much resolute in expunging the criminals. He sometimes goes beyond normal human limits as Ibn-e-Safi cast him as an extreme masculine model of physical fitness and moral excellence.

Sajid Hammed is Faridi's most favoured and trusted aide. Some integrated story lines define how Faridi found him as a delusional drunkard affected by the brutalities of the World War, rehabilitated him and sheltered him in his own house. The series refers to their brotherly affection and mutual trust at various occasions. Both characters have been designed as two sides of a coin and are inseparable. While Faridi is casted as a graceful, lord-like aristocrat with deep respect for values, Hameed brings a nonchalant, mischievous and lighthearted comic relief.

The series has another regular called Qasim, a close friend of Hameed's, who with his utmost idiot behavior, provides a backdrop to Hameed's comedic actions, while aiding main story plots.

The central idea and theme of Safi's first book was taken from Victor Gunn's novel Ironside's Lone Hand.[1] However, the key characters, Faridi and Hameed, were Ibn-e-Safi's own creation. As mentioned by the author in the preface to one of his books, the plots of Purasrar Ajnabee (پُراسرار اجنبی), Raqqasaa Ka Qat'l (رقاصہ کا قتل), Heeray Ki Kaan (ہیرے کی کان), and Khoonee Patthar (خونی پتھر) were adopted from various English-language novels. The characters of Professor Durrani from Khaufnaak Hangaama (خوفناک ہنگامہ), and the Chimpanzee and the White Queen from Paharon Ki Malikaa (پہاڑوں کی ملکہ) were also borrowed from English literature.[1] The rest of Ibne-Safi's novels are purely his own creations. Jasoosi Dunya used to be published simultaneously from Pakistan and India.

Colonel Faridi

Main article: Ahmad Kamal Faridi

Ahmed Kamal Faridi has aristocratic lineage and is the son of a Nawab (an Indian lord). A man of principles, Faridi believes in a rigorously disciplined life, controlled emotions, and objectivity. His abstinence from inebriation, carnal lusts, and uncontrolled desires illustrates his sound character. The opposite sex leaves a little rather no affect on him; emotionally he appears unmoved. Because of his impassive and subdued emotional nature, Sajid Hameed dubs him as "Father Hardstone". It does not mean that he is dispassionate, deep inside he is of a sensitive nature.

He is a highly educated man. Despite his incredible riches (that include large estate with farms and factories etc.) his obsession towards solving riddles and having a crime-free society makes him work at the investigation bureau as a mere inspector. Due to his remarkable services to the nation, he, nevertheless, is conferred upon the title of Honorary Colonel later in life. He can supersede the highest authorities, due to a blanket presidential authorisation, in matters of national interest. He also leads a secret crime fighting network (called the Black Force), whose existence is referred to as a secret between him and the country's president. The Force has global associates who help the duo on their international assignments.

Like his versatile nature, Faridi has acquired some peculiar hobbies. His interests include reading, and domesticating dogs and snakes. Science, specifically chemistry, appeals him so much that he owns a state-of-the-art laboratory at home. He also knows several local and foreign languages, and is an excellent make-up artist, who has taken this art to the highest levels with his own inventions.

Captain Hameed

Main article: Sajid Hameed

If Faridi plays the brains, Hameed plays the heart. Being Faridi's confidante, Captain Sajid Hameed assists his superior in a somewhat funny way that has plenty of human errors. Hameed's military background from the World War II [2] Upon return from the duties, he accidentally meets Faridi and joins hands with him. Having a rebellious nature and much unlike Faridi, Hameed is non-serious, blithesome, jovial, and temperamental, but, on the other hand, his qualities of courage and fearlessness, intelligence and astuteness, at times, surprise Faridi. Due to the romantic bits within him, he loves flirting women, but abstains from sexual or serious relationships.

One of Captain Hameed's unique interests is to train unusual pets like a mouse, a goat (Bughra Khan – بغرا خان), a Myna (مینا ) and others. He is expert at playing musical instruments: violin and mouthorgan. Like his mentor, Faridi, he himself is a master of disguise.

Colossal but brainless Qasim, is Hameed's close friend and together they provide readers with heaps of laughters through genuinely hilarious situations.

Supporting Roles

Various characters repeatedly appear to aid Faridi and/or Hameed on different occasions in Jasoosi Dunya's escapades. They are the friends of Messrs Col. Faridi and Capt. Hameed and not some official adjutants.

Anwar and Rasheeda

Except for the initial four novels the two were never portrayed as pivotal characters; they turned up as unofficial aides of Colonel Faridi in the later books. The readers have a love and hate relationship with the crime reporter Anwar who works for the "Daily Star." He blackmails the evildoers, even become accomplice to a crime, but at the same time, hates the criminals. He has no respect for the society or moral values it stipulates. He thumbs his nose at authority and carries disdainful attitude toward women including his best friend Rasheeda. Due to the unjustly harsh past, the intelligent former lawyer turned into an angry, ruthless, but courageous individual having a rebellious philosophy of life known to him as "Revenge". Revenge, to him, is the driving force behind life, his life. The only authority that gets his esteem is Faridi; and he, on and off, joins hand with the later against the evil.

Being his next-door neighbour, Rasheeda is Anwar's colleague as well as the closest friend. Rasheeda is a fearless young woman who is always ready to fight out the criminals and their mucky activities. Her character is portrayed in a mysterious manner until her real identity is disclosed in Bhayanak Jazeera (بھیانک جزیرہ). She is the crown princess of a secret Island in Pacific Ocean; she was raised outside her state as her life was at risk from opponents. She, however, abdicates the throne in favour of Anwar and returns from her motherland.[3]

Qasim

Without him, the Jasoosi Duniya couldn't be complete. He is Hameed's buddy and is completely under his influence. Together they bring about irresistible laughter.

The only son of an industrialist baron, Qasim is a comical rather hilarious buffoon. He is too simplistic, childish, and spontaneous. His appearance is more like that of a genie, he is not only colossal in size, about seven feet tall and nearly as fat, but he eats like an elephant too. He has a slurred speech, he babbles, and that perhaps due to his suppressed upbringing. Along with Hameed, he invents weird names for ladies. Since he likes healthy women, he calls them full-falooties. Skinny, lightweight, and slim females irritates him much, they, in his opinion, are Yalayilees. The reason for this maybe is found in the fact that Qasim has never been able to develop a sexual relationship with his wife, who belongs to the "Yalayilee" category. He distastefully calls her "Gilahri Begum" (Mrs. Squirrel) because of her petite figure.[4]

Neelam

Neelam is a young fearless, daring and adventurous girl, who is brought up by the gang-leader, after her smuggler-father and mother are murdered. With a strong urge of avenging her parents, she has a relentless desire to do away with the band of gangsters. Both her wishes are accomplished when she extends her help to Faridi and Hameed to wipe out the gang.[5] Faridi adopts the youngster.[6] She usually calls Faridi 'Uncle' and Hameed 'Baba' (father or old man), which profoundly irritates the honorary Captain. After assisting Faridi in a few cases, she is sent abroad for higher studies. Graduating in criminology, she returns in Neelam Ki Waapsi (نیلم کی واپسی).

Inspector Rekha

Young and ambitious officer struggling to achieve excellence in her career, Inspector Rekha Larson appears off and on when Colonel Faridi needs a female assistance.[7] She tries to glue to Faridi but he, being allergic to women, keeps her at a distance. On the other hand, Hameed keeps flirting with Rekha and she keeps managing him away.

Notorious figures

Ibne-Safi's fundamental strength rested with his ability of portraying ingenious and distinctive characters and their development. His forte did promote heroism, and with striking impressiveness; nevertheless, his pen didn't faint there. He continued painting antiheroes and villains in the same vein to compose some unforgettable infamous figures.

Sing Hi

The most incredible creation of an outlaw is of Sing Hi. A Chinese expelled from his country on account of treason and insurgency, is wanted by most of the governments because of his international-wide criminal activities.

Highly unreliable and erratic, Sing is one of those revolting individuals who commit crimes for the sake of entertainment. Though slender appearance with a visibly weak physique, he has remarkable strength like of an animal. Those who know him, remember him as Jonk (leech) for his ability to clench his enemy to suffocation and unconsciousness. A thorough control over his emotions makes him even more dangerous. His incredible cool perhaps helps him to acquire another striking skill, the only of its kind, of dodging bullets fired at him from any reasonable distance. It is rightly called "Sing Art" for indeed it is an artistic skill.

Women are his only weakness and in this respect he does not let religion, caste, creed, nationality, age, and/or appearance hamper him.

He is the only villain to appear in both Jasoosi Dunya and Imran Series. Sing Hi holds a deep respect for both Faridi and Imran as he preferred to trap and use them rather than kill them. Sing, in fact, declared Imran to be his rightful nephew and in reciprocation Imran called him "Uncle Sing"[8] (Urdu: چچا سنگ).

Finch

Like Theresia and Sing Hi, Finch is another amusing and unique character. Thought dwarf at only four feet and half, he possesses many talents. An innocent and simple soul, Finch used to work in a circus. He can extend his height by using bamboos and walk like a normal person. As Dr. Dread's mob kills his adopted orphan girl, Finch turned criminal, creating his own gang to take revenge on Dr. Dread.[9] He follows Dread to Faridi's homeland. While Faridi manages to break Dr. Dread's mob, Finch escapes.[10]

Other Criminals

Jabar is the first major villain who encounters Inspector Faridi. He is of Indo-Germanic background, influenced by Nazi philosophy. He is also a chemist and a good scientist and during one of his experiments his nose evaporates.

Nanota and Reema are agents from Zeroland, known as Second Serpent ( دوسری ناگن) and Third Serpent (تیسری ناگن) respectively and both are deputy to First Serpent, T3B, Theresia. Both been imprisoned by Faridi and Hameed.

Probably an Englishman, Gerald Shastri is another notorious figure with many talents. Apart from being a great scientist, he is expert in Astrology and Hindu Philosophy. He comes to India with plans to rule the world and is doomed by Faridi.

Dr. Salman perhaps is the toughest opponent of Colonel Faridi. He is psychologist by profession and is the head of the most powerful underworld organisation Taaqat (Power), a group that tries to bring revolution in the country.

Qalandar Bayabani is a spy storywriter, who actually is into dirty drug business being the largest drug dealer of the country.

Black Force Organization

Through the special authorisation of the executive of the country, Faridi maintains a secret crime-fighting organisation: Black Force. As being the head, Faridi is usually referred to as Colonel Hardstone by the members of the Force. These agents, recognised by code names such as B-11, B-2 and so on, mostly hide their identity so much so that even Hameed gets irritated by it since, according to him, and rightly so, he is the closest companion of "Father Hardstone". The Black Force, actually, is an international organisation. As to the infrastructure of the organisation, its hierarchy or strength, or how its budget is met, the writer absolutely throws no light on these questions.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Safi, Ibne, Zameen Ke Badal (زمین کے بادل), Asrar Publications, 1958
  2. ↑ Safi, Ibne, Thandi Aag (ٹھنڈی آگ), Asrar Publications, 1957 and Chandni ka Dhua'n (چاندنی کا دھواں), Asrar Publications, 1958.
  3. ↑ Safi, Ibne, Bhayanak Jazeera, Asrar Publication, 1953
  4. ↑ Safi, Ibne, Bur'f Key Bhoot, Asrar Publications, 1954 and Zahreela Aadmi, Asrar Publications, 1963
  5. ↑ Safi, Ibne, Toofaan ka Aghwaa, Asrar Publications, 1957
  6. ↑ Safi, Ibne, Raifal ka Naghma, Asrar Publications, 1957
  7. ↑ Safi, Ibne, Surkh Da'irah, Asrar Publications, 1957. Rekha's first appearance.
  8. ↑ Safi, Ibne, Lashoan Ka Bazaar, Asrar Publications, 1956
  9. ↑ Safi, Ibne, Zehreelay Teer, Asrar Publications, 1957
  10. ↑ Safi, Ibne, Daaktar Dread, Asrar Publications, 1957

External links

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