Khumar e Gandum / خمار گندم

by Ibn e Insha

ابن انشاء کے طنزیہ و مزاحیہ مضامین و خاکے جو ان کے وفات کے بعد شائع ہوئے۔ آدم جی ادبی انعام یافتہ۔

Genres: Humor

225 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1980

About the author

Ibn e Insha (Urdu: ابن انشاء‎) born in British India as Sher Muhammad Khan (Urdu: شیر محمد خان‎) is a renowned Pakistani Urdu poet, humorist, travelogue writer and columnist. Along with his poetry, he is regarded one of the best humorists of Urdu literature. His poetry has a distinctive diction laced with language reminiscent of Amir Khusro in its use of words and construction.
He migrated to Pakistan after partition and served at various government institutions including Radio Pakistan, the Ministry of Culture and the National Book Centre of Pakistan. He also served at UN for some time. This enabled him to visit many places, all of which inspired the travelogues he would then pen.
He died of Hodgkin's Lymphoma on January 11, 1978 in London and was buried in Karachi.
Bibliography

Poetry:
Kal Chaudavin ki raat thi, Shab bhar raha charcha tera
Is Basti Key Ik Koochey Main
Chand Nagar
Dil e Wehshi
Billo Ka Basta (Rhymes for Children)

Travelogue:
Awara Gard Ki Diary
Dunya Gol Hai
Ibn Battuta Kay Taqub main
Chaltay Ho To Cheen Ko Chaliye
Nagri Nagri Phira Musafir

Humor:
Aap se kya Parda
Khumar e Gandum
Urdu Ki Aakhri Kitaab
Khatt Insha Jee Kay (Collection of letters)

Reviews

[Adnan Arshad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Khumar-E-Gandam is compilation of 63 articles/essays by author published in different jounals/magazine at different periods, book was published in 1980 after death of Ibn-E-Insha and its forward was written by Ashfaq Ahmed.
Khumar means intoxication, Khumar-E-Gandam means when man is healthy and prosperous he engages in useless fights. Publisher writes that this name was given by author himself, but does not explains when and how as this book was published after author’s death.
Although all the essays are written in a very good language and selection of words is matchless, but I will describe summary of some which I found very interesting.
“Faiz Aur Mein” this article is basically about people who happen to be near some great people like Iqbal & Faiz but they said nothing about their relationship with these personalities but made bizarre claims after their death.
“Jantri Naye Saal Ki” before advent of mobile phone and internet gantries were great source of miscellaneous information for common folklore that even Britannica was nothing in front of them, but author has questioned the authenticity of information contained in these gantries.
“Novel Manufacturing Company” with advent of new composing and publishing techniques and increase in literacy ratio, particularly development of class which could read and write Urdu easily novel/story writing business was flourished but its quality was questionable. Now a days it can compared to new drama serials being produced and aired on T.V channels in which there is little creativity regarding plot and acting they are just being produced on commercial scale to keep the factory/channel running.

[Syed Muhammad Hamza · Rating 5 out of 5]

ابن انشا اردو مزاح کے لیے ایک روح کی حیثیت رکھتے ہیں ، ان کا انداز بیان اور طنز کے میٹھے میٹھے جملے ہمارے دلوں کو موہ لیتے ہیں اور ہماری طبیعت کو فرحت و تازگی بخشتے ہیں۔
خمار گندم ابن انشا کی سب تصانیف میں سے بہترین ہے اور اس میں ویسے تو سارے مضامین ہی زبردست ہیں لیکن جو مجھے زیادہ پسند ہیں وہ " استاد مرحوم" اور " فیض اور میں " وغیرہ ہیں۔
مجموعی طور پر یہ کتاب طنز و مزاح کا ایک بیش قیمت خزانہ ہے لیکن آج کے دور میں جب ہر طرف جدید ٹیکنالوجی کا دور ہے تو جدیدیت کا زور ہے اور تقریباً 95 فی صد لوگ کتاب بینی سے دور ہیں ، 5 فی صد میں سے جو صاحب نظر قاری ہیں ان کو یہ کتاب میں تجویز کروں گا

[Muhammad Ahmed Siddiqui · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read better from Insha tbh.

[Ramsha Malik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to the rest of the works by Ibn e Insha, it falls behind. Still, an amusing read.