Dr. A. B. Ashraf: Researcher, Critic, and Creative Writer

Abstract

This study examines Ibrahim Jalees’s travel writing from historical, literary, and critical perspectives. Ibrahim Jalees was a prominent journalist, humorist, and travel writer who visited East Bengal, America, and China during his journalistic career. His travel experiences are reflected in his travelogues Nai Deewar-e-China, Jadunagri America, and Bengal Mein Ajnabi. The study explores the distinctive features of his travel writing, including observation, humour, satire, social criticism, and realistic description. Jalees not only describes geographical and cultural environments but also highlights social, political, and economic conditions. His travelogues reveal his keen awareness of human relationships, cultural differences, and contemporary social realities. The study further analyzes his narrative style, language, characterization, and use of humour and satire. It concludes that Jalees transformed his travel experiences into meaningful literary expression by combining journalistic observation with artistic presentation. His travel writing therefore occupies an important position in the development of Urdu travel literature.