![\"\"](\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Humra-Quraishi-loneliness.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Even if a minister of Loneliness gets installed in the country, will she\/he be able to reach out to the lonely Indians? After all, don\u2019t we have ministers for the\u00a0 welfare of the minorities etc. But see the dismal conditions prevailing!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Strange scenario unfolding. With the corona scare and the political pollution unmoving, there\u2019s little enthusiasm to look forward to the upcoming season of Bahaar or Spring, with Valentine\u2019s Day splashed in its midst. Nah, it seems to be heralding little excitement. The saturation point reached, with the viruses of all hues holding sway, washing away even the faint traces of longing.<\/p>\n Not to overlook the communal virus consuming us, our emotions, our sensitives, our\u00a0 very\u00a0 being.\u00a0 Polarization on the housing front affects other fronts, including the love front! Tell me,\u00a0 how can Hindu-Muslim love affairs take off, when there\u2019s little interaction, when Muslims can’t get homes on rent in Hindu dominated areas and housing complexes, when Hindutva goons hang outside colleges and universities, keeping a watch!<\/p>\n One news report after another of sabotaged love affairs, between Hindus and Muslims. Now, of course, the so called \u2018Love Jihad\u2019 laws, are terrorizing couples. The State flaunted divisive-cum- destructive strategy along the \u2018Love Jihad\u2019 strain, seems to be the last nail in the coffin of our collective togetherness.<\/p>\n One of the biggest offshoots of this changed scenario is loneliness. One has to\u00a0think a\u00a0 hundred times before making friends. Close or the not-so. Spontaneity hit. Worries compound, as scares of all hues and forms gather around, gaining\u00a0 momentum. And in the midst of it nobody even talks of loneliness!<\/p>\n Japan had appointed a Minister of Loneliness. As earlier news reports stated, this minister\u2019s focus would be to combat loneliness leading to rising suicides. And if I\u2019m not mistaken almost four years back, in 2018, UK had also appointed a Minister of Loneliness to try reach out to all those battling loneliness.\u00a0 Don\u2019t know whether any lessening of the lonely, but it sure does indicate that loneliness is one of those urgent concerns of the governments of the day.<\/p>\n Yes, though there\u2019s denying that loneliness could be as lethal as cancer or corona but, here, in our country we don\u2019t want to talk about any of the emotional realities. All seems to be going all okay! Its only when the situation crosses the bearable boundaries then cries for help can be heard. Who is there to hear those cries! No one! For till date nobody gives a damn to loneliness!<\/p>\n If even a minister of Loneliness gets installed in the country, do you think he will reach out to the lonely Indian! After all, don\u2019t we have ministers for women and children, and also for the supposed welfare of the minorities and also for the several other disadvantaged groups and communities, and yes also for the farmers, industrial workers and mazdoors, and above all, for the collective health of\u00a0 all!\u00a0 But see the dismal conditions prevailing all around!<\/p>\n The dark reality is this: lonely Indians die unsung and prematurely even in those joint family setups,\u00a0 yet\u00a0 we aren\u2019t\u00a0 supposed to\u00a0 talk of\u00a0 any\u00a0 of these\u00a0 dark\u00a0 realities hitting us , day after day.<\/p>\n I can only read aloud this verse from the rebel poet of the Awadhi belt, Israr-ul-Haq Majaz. He died young and that too decades back, but not before writing verse after verse, romantic as well as revolutionary, on the situation around.<\/p>\n Holding out to this day is his this verse titled Awara:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Night has fallen in the city, and I, unhappy and defeated<\/p>\n Roam, a vagabond on dazzling, awake streets<\/p>\n It is not my neighbourhood, how long can I loiter thus?<\/p>\n Anguished heart, desperate heart, what should I do…<\/p>\n To stop and rest on the way is not my habit<\/p>\n To admit defeat and return is not my nature<\/p>\n But to find a companion, alas, is not my fate.<\/p>\n Pandit Birju Maharaj leaves back a definite void<\/strong><\/p>\n Last fortnight as soon as the news of the\u00a0 passing away of\u00a0 Pandit Birju\u00a0 Maharaj\u00a0 reached me,\u00a0 I was\u00a0 transported to the 90s, towards the\u00a0 Shahjahan \u2013 Pandara\u00a0 Road\u00a0 locality of\u00a0 New Delhi . For that\u2019s where Pandit Birju\u00a0 Maharaj\u00a0 resided with his entire family. And not too far from his home, was the apartment where I resided. Our homes were along the adjoining lanes and very often I used to see his children and students walking around in the area. It seemed a fairly large household, along the traditional strain.<\/p>\n I\u00a0 was then covering\u00a0 the cultural scene of this capital city and had seen him perform and also had those brief interactions with him. And on the occasions, I could get to talk to him what held sway was his very personality. To be nearer precision, the manner in which he spoke. It was pure bliss to hear him narrate situations and happenings in that relaxed Awadhi style. There was no rush of words, no usage of the rough slangs. He spoke out spontaneously and effortlessly, in that Dastangoi style. In fact, the expressions on his face and eyes added to that flow \u2026At times one wished the conversation, rather his words would go on.<\/p>\n And whilst on stage, his dance held the audience captive. Those unforgettable expressions, those movements, that connect, his immense love and passion for Kathak was all too writ large. It all came naturally to him. He was born to be the maharaja of Kathak. And would always remain so!<\/p>\n Khushwant spoke fearlessly, wrote\u00a0 along the\u00a0same strain<\/strong><\/p>\n Sardar Khushwant Singh would have turned 107 year on 2 February 2002<\/p>\n Born\u00a0 in the\u00a0 Undivided Punjab, in\u00a0 village\u00a0 Hadali,\u00a0 in 1915,\u00a0 Khushwant\u00a0 Singh\u00a0 celebrated\u00a0 two\u00a0 birthdays\u00a0 –\u00a0 2\u00a0 February and 15\u00a0 August.<\/p>\n Sardar\u00a0 Khushwant\u00a0 Singh\u00a0 lived life at\u00a0 his\u00a0 own terms. He spoke fearlessly. He wrote\u00a0 \u00a0 along the\u00a0\u00a0same strain. No contradictions. Just\u00a0 no\u00a0 hypocrisy ,\u00a0 no frills\u00a0 and\u00a0 none\u00a0 of the\u00a0 modern\u00a0 day\u00a0 complications. He\u00a0 hadn\u2019t\u00a0 got\u00a0 himself\u00a0 a\u00a0 computer and nor a secretary and\u00a0 definitely\u00a0 not a\u00a0 mobile. “Mere\u00a0 bas\u00a0 ka\u00a0 naheen\u00a0 \u00a0hai\u00a0 yeh\u00a0 sab \u2026I\u00a0 am happy\u00a0writing\u00a0on a\u00a0 note\u00a0 pad. ” And\u00a0 he’d\u00a0 moaned when one\u00a0of\u00a0 his friends\u00a0had\u00a0 got\u00a0 him a \u00a0mobile. Rejecting\u00a0 all\u00a0 modern\u00a0 day\u00a0 gadgets,\u00a0 keeping\u00a0 to\u00a0 the\u00a0 very\u00a0 basics.<\/p>\n What would you say to a man who wrote for hours every single day!\u00a0 There were never\u00a0 \u00a0sermons. Only\u00a0subtle relays:\u00a0No\u00a0wasting of\u00a0 time in gossip or\u00a0 in those\u00a0 useless wanderings. No\u00a0facades, no\u00a0communal tilts, no lies and\u00a0no deceit.<\/p>\n He was a great man, a great friend.<\/p>\n Even\u00a0 at the\u00a0cost\u00a0\u00a0of\u00a0 sounding\u00a0\u00a0cliched,\u00a0he\u00a0 was\u00a0 ‘doston ka\u00a0 dost’.\u00a0 Anything\u00a0for\u00a0 a\u00a0friend! Yes,\u00a0 he could\u00a0 \u00a0do\u00a0 anything\u00a0 \u2026Till\u00a0 about the\u00a0 \u00a0time\u00a0 his\u00a0close friend\u00a0 Prem\u00a0\u00a0Kirpal\u00a0died,\u00a0 Khushwant\u00a0 \u00a0did\u00a0 make\u00a0 it a point to\u00a0 visit\u00a0 \u00a0him almost\u00a0 every\u00a0 week. Often , I’d accompanied him, and though Prem\u00a0 Kirpal\u00a0 was\u00a0 stone\u00a0 deaf but\u00a0 would\u00a0 receive us with a\u00a0 \u00a0smile and\u00a0 much\u00a0 hospitality followed. And when\u00a0Khushwant\u00a0 would\u00a0 announce that was time to\u00a0go,\u00a0 Kirpal\u00a0looked sullen. This when Khushwant\u00a0 has\u00a0 written some\u00a0rather\u00a0 provocative\u00a0passages on Kirpal’s\u00a0chronic bachelor-hood. But, then, there was\u00a0\u00a0that\u00a0 rapport\u00a0between the\u00a0 two.<\/p>\n There\u00a0 could\u00a0 \u00a0be\u00a0 many whom\u00a0 Khushwant\u00a0 had\u00a0 helped\u00a0 out, though\u00a0 \u00a0he had\u00a0 never ever\u00a0 dwelt\u00a0 on those\u00a0 details\u2026 several\u00a0 years\u00a0 \u00a0back, theatre\u00a0 personality Balwant\u00a0 Gargi was undergoing severe financial crisis and\u00a0 only\u00a0 one\u00a0 particular\u00a0person in this\u00a0 \u00a0capital\u00a0 city helped\u00a0 him\u00a0out, “Sardar Khushwant\u00a0\u00a0sahib\u00a0 \u00a0had\u00a0 helped, paid\u00a0 my electricity bills\u2026he\u00a0 did\u00a0 so without\u00a0 letting\u00a0sardani or\u00a0any other person\u00a0 \u00a0know \u2026did so very quietly, sardarni\u00a0did\u00a0 not\u00a0 get\u00a0 to\u00a0 know.”<\/p>\n I’m\u00a0 \u00a0certain that\u00a0 \u00a0patients\u00a0 lying\u00a0 \u00a0in\u00a0 the\u00a0 confines\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Guru\u00a0 Teg\u00a0 Bahadur\u00a0 \u00a0hospital\u00a0 in New Delhi\u00a0 wouldn’t have an\u00a0 inkling\u00a0 of Khushwant’s\u00a0 role\u00a0 in the\u00a0 building\u00a0 \u00a0of a\u00a0modern\u00a0 and\u00a0well equipped\u00a0 dharamshala\u00a0 for the caregivers accompanying these\u00a0 patients from far\u00a0 flung\u00a0 sectors. This dharamshala is a Sir Sobha Singh project that came through because of\u00a0 Khushwant’s persistence and initiative. He seemed\u00a0determined that this\u00a0 building\u00a0 come\u00a0 up\u00a0 as\u00a0 part\u00a0 of the\u00a0 \u00a0hospital\u00a0 bandobast\u00a0\u00a0for\u00a0 the hapless\u00a0 \u00a0patients,\u00a0 in\u00a0 tune\u00a0 with\u00a0 \u00a0the\u00a0 Sikh\u00a0 philosophy that\u00a0 one\u00a0 tenth\u00a0 of\u00a0 the earnings\u00a0 \u00a0should go\u00a0 to the \u00a0disadvantaged. A\u00a0 philosophy\u00a0 followed\u00a0 by\u00a0 his\u00a0 parents,” my\u00a0 father\u00a0 \u00a0always\u00a0 \u00a0gave one\u00a0 tenth of his\u00a0 earnings\u00a0 to charity, now this trust\u00a0 in his\u00a0 name \u2026 whenever\u00a0 my\u00a0 father\u00a0 visited\u00a0 AIIMS\u00a0 he\u2019d commented\u00a0 there\u00a0 was\u00a0 no\u00a0 place\u00a0 for\u00a0 care givers\u00a0to\u00a0\u00a0stay, particularly as\u00a0 many\u00a0may\u00a0 have\u00a0 travelled\u00a0with their\u00a0 patients. He couldn’t\u00a0 build\u00a0 one\u00a0 in\u00a0 his\u00a0 lifetime. So it was\u00a0 left for the\u00a0 family and to\u00a0 the\u00a0 Sir Sobha\u00a0Singh\u00a0Trust to\u00a0 build this\u00a0 one.”<\/p>\n All the\u00a0 years\u00a0 in\u00a0 my\u00a0 constant\u00a0 interactions\u00a0 with\u00a0 \u00a0him\u00a0 I\u00a0 hadn\u2019t\u00a0 ever\u00a0 heard\u00a0 him\u00a0 raising\u00a0 his\u00a0 voice. On\u00a0 \u00a0several\u00a0 occasions\u00a0 I\u2019d\u00a0\u00a0seen\u00a0young\u00a0enthusiastic writers\u00a0barging\u00a0 in\u00a0 unannounced and he\u00a0 looking\u00a0 totally\u00a0taken\u00a0aback ,\u00a0 saying that\u00a0 he doesn’t\u00a0 meet\u00a0without a\u00a0 prior\u00a0 appointment. The intruders \u00a0still about lingering\u00a0 on. With\u00a0that\u00a0 he looking\u00a0upset but\u00a0 somewhat\u00a0\u00a0relenting,\u00a0 “Okay sit,\u00a0 okay\u00a0 have a drink.\u201d\u00a0 Yes , he could\u00a0 look\u00a0 \u00a0upset\u00a0 or\u00a0 irritated, but , then, nothing\u00a0 beyond. Even\u00a0if\u00a0 \u00a0guests\u00a0\u00a0lingered\u00a0on ,\u00a0that\u00a0 is beyond\u00a0 8\u00a0 pm , he\u00a0\u00a0 comes\u00a0up\u00a0 with\u00a0 rather\u00a0 gentle\u00a0\u00a0reminders\u00a0 , “bhai\u00a0 \u00a0\u2026aab\u00a0 \u00a0tum\u00a0 jao.\u201d \u00a0There was\u00a0 that\u00a0 look\u00a0 of impatience in\u00a0\u00a0his eyes but, then,\u00a0 \u00a0he was\u00a0 \u00a0not\u00a0 the\u00a0 one\u00a0 \u00a0who could\u00a0 ever\u00a0 get\u00a0rude.<\/p>\n Call\u00a0 it\u00a0 \u00a0strange\u00a0 or\u00a0 \u00a0call\u00a0 it\u00a0 by any\u00a0 other\u00a0 term\u00a0 but\u00a0 all those\u00a0 years I\u2019d\u00a0 seen\u00a0 him sitting\u00a0 \u00a0on the\u00a0 same\u00a0 chair\u00a0 and\u00a0 amidst\u00a0 the\u00a0 same\u00a0 settings. In\u00a0 fact, years\u00a0 \u00a0back\u00a0 when\u00a0 his\u00a0 spouse\u00a0 Kaval was\u00a0 \u00a0battling\u00a0 with\u00a0 \u00a0Alzheimer’s\u00a0 disorder, he’d be\u00a0 sitting\u00a0 \u00a0on\u00a0 the\u00a0 \u00a0sofa\u00a0 \u00a0chair\u00a0 \u00a0placed\u00a0 \u00a0across\u00a0 \u00a0to where\u00a0 she’d sat.\u00a0 His\u00a0 eyes\u00a0 moving\u00a0 from\u00a0 the\u00a0 \u00a0notepad\u00a0 he’d\u00a0 be writing\u00a0 \u00a0 on, towards\u00a0 her. Had\u00a0 been seeing\u00a0him\u00a0in that\u00a0 \u00a0role,\u00a0mind you,\u00a0 not\u00a0 just\u00a0 one\u00a0 evening , but for\u00a0 \u00a0months\u00a0 at a\u00a0 stretch.\u00a0 During\u00a0 \u00a0that\u00a0 \u00a0phase\u00a0 \u00a0I\u00a0 used to\u00a0 \u00a0visit\u00a0 him\u00a0 \u00a0almost\u00a0 every day, as the\u00a0 two\u00a0 of\u00a0 \u00a0us would walk\u00a0 towards the\u00a0 Lodi\u00a0 Gardens.\u00a0 Once\u00a0 there,\u00a0\u00a0he’d\u00a0 \u00a0walk for\u00a0 a\u00a0 while ,\u00a0 before\u00a0 \u00a0being\u00a0 \u00a0surrounded\u00a0 by many\u00a0 of\u00a0 his admirers. In\u00a0 fact, once\u00a0 we’d\u00a0 reach\u00a0 the\u00a0 side\u00a0 gates to this\u00a0 garden, we’d\u00a0 part\u00a0 ways\u00a0 –\u00a0 in the\u00a0 sense\u00a0 I\u00a0 would\u00a0 take\u00a0 \u00a0the\u00a0 \u00a0full\u00a0 round, and\u00a0 he ‘d\u00a0 \u00a0walk along\u00a0 the stretch\u00a0 facing\u00a0 the \u00a0‘gumbad ‘ situated\u00a0 in the\u00a0 very\u00a0 heart\u00a0 of these gardens. The\u00a0 meeting\u00a0point, to\u00a0 walk\u00a0 back , was\u00a0 those\u00a0 steps\u00a0leading to the \u00a0‘gumbad’ .\u00a0 Invariably,\u00a0I\u00a0found\u00a0 \u00a0him sitting\u00a0\u00a0on the steps\u00a0 leading\u00a0 \u00a0to\u00a0 \u00a0the\u00a0 \u00a0‘gumbad’ with\u00a0 \u00a0at least\u00a0 a\u00a0 \u00a0dozen\u00a0 fellow\u00a0 \u00a0walkers\u00a0 also\u00a0 sitting\u00a0 \u00a0on those\u00a0 steps.\u00a0 Chatting\u00a0 with him, asking\u00a0 \u00a0him for\u00a0 \u00a0his\u00a0 comments\u00a0 and\u00a0 views\u00a0 about\u00a0 the\u00a0 \u00a0various\u00a0 \u00a0political\u00a0 \u00a0aspects\u00a0 \u00a0and current happenings And along with them\u00a0 there’s\u00a0 to\u00a0 be\u00a0 a channa seller who’d\u00a0 always\u00a0come along to wish\u00a0 him. Not that\u00a0 \u00a0Khushwant\u00a0 bought\u00a0 any\u00a0 \u00a0of\u00a0 his wares\u00a0 but\u00a0 did\u00a0 make\u00a0 it a \u00a0point \u00a0to\u00a0exchange\u00a0 a\u00a0 sentence\u00a0 or\u00a0 two, followed \u00a0by\u00a0 polite friendly\u00a0 nods.<\/p>\n “Don’t you\u00a0 \u00a0get\u00a0 \u00a0irritated\u00a0 with all these\u00a0 people\u00a0 \u00a0coming up\u00a0 to you ,\u00a0 not\u00a0 leaving\u00a0 you even\u00a0 whilst\u00a0 you\u00a0 ‘re walking\u00a0 ?” I\u00a0 couldn’t\u00a0 help asking\u00a0 him and\u00a0 he’d\u00a0 \u00a0smile,\u00a0 \u00a0implying\u00a0 its\u00a0 all\u00a0 okay , part\u00a0 of\u00a0 everyday\u00a0 life\u00a0 \u2026No, not\u00a0 once\u00a0 I\u00a0 ‘d spotted\u00a0 \u00a0rudeness\u00a0 or\u00a0 \u00a0arrogance\u00a0 \u00a0in\u00a0 his\u00a0 attitude.<\/p>\n And\u00a0 \u00a0if\u00a0 one were to ask\u00a0 him what\u00a0 he\u2019d\u00a0 \u00a0utterly disliked, he\u2019d\u00a0 said,<\/p>\n “Can’t\u00a0 stand\u00a0 \u00a0arrogance, can’t\u00a0 \u00a0stand\u00a0 rudeness\u00a0 \u00a0and\u00a0 those\u00a0who\u00a0 are\u00a0 \u00a0fake\u00a0 \u00a0\u2026in\u00a0 seconds\u00a0 I can\u00a0 see through\u00a0 those\u00a0flatterers.”<\/p>\n Then why\u00a0 \u00a0so\u00a0 many have\u00a0 been\u00a0 \u00a0taking\u00a0 advantage\u00a0 of\u00a0 him? So many\u00a0 trying\u00a0 to\u00a0 \u00a0get close to\u00a0 him, by\u00a0 faking\u00a0 and\u00a0 \u00a0super-faking. He\u00a0 \u00a0did\u00a0 \u00a0realize\u00a0 \u00a0people\u00a0 taking\u00a0 advantage\u00a0 of\u00a0 him\u00a0 but\u00a0 \u00a0came in\u00a0 way\u00a0 his\u00a0 inability to\u00a0 say\u00a0 no. He\u00a0 \u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0 say\u00a0 \u00a0no.\u00a0 And\u00a0 in one of\u00a0 those\u00a0 introspective\u00a0 moods,\u00a0 he\u00a0 would\u00a0offload details\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0\u00a0who’s\u00a0 who, who’d\u00a0 \u00a0not\u00a0 just wasted\u00a0 his\u00a0 \u00a0time\u00a0 but\u00a0 had\u00a0 \u00a0even\u00a0 taken\u00a0 him\u00a0 to court. Looking\u00a0 upset,\u00a0 he\u00a0 \u00a0recounted\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0the\u00a0 many\u00a0 \u00a0times\u00a0 he\u00a0 \u00a0has\u00a0 been\u00a0 let down\u00a0 \u00a0by close\u00a0 \u00a0friends\u00a0,\u00a0 yet\u00a0 \u00a0not\u00a0 one\u00a0 of those\u00a0 \u00a0to\u00a0 have\u00a0 \u00a0thought\u00a0 of\u00a0 \u00a0revenge\u00a0 or\u00a0 \u00a0avenging. “No, that’s not in\u00a0 me\u2026I\u00a0 immediately\u00a0 withdraw and that’s\u00a0 about it. ”<\/p>\n His emotional connect with his roots<\/strong><\/p>\n Not\u00a0 really\u00a0 bothered\u00a0 what\u00a0 others\u00a0 comment; some\u00a0 even calling\u00a0 him\u00a0 “Pakistani\u00a0 rundee\u00a0 ki\u00a0 aulad “, he\u00a0 \u00a0 kept\u00a0 his\u00a0 \u00a0home\u00a0 open to\u00a0 \u00a0anyone landing\u00a0 \u00a0from\u00a0 \u00a0the\u00a0 place\u00a0 of\u00a0 his\u00a0 roots, Pakistan . There\u00a0 was\u00a0 \u00a0that\u00a0 \u00a0smile\u00a0 \u00a0ever\u00a0 \u00a0widening\u00a0 \u00a0on\u00a0 his\u00a0 \u00a0face when\u00a0 he\u00a0 spoke\u00a0 with\u00a0 Pakistanis\u00a0 landing\u00a0 at\u00a0 his\u00a0 \u00a0doorstep.\u00a0 In\u00a0 fact, tradition\u00a0 has\u00a0 been\u00a0 that\u00a0 High Commissioners\u00a0 \u00a0of\u00a0 Pakistan coming\u00a0 on\u00a0 a\u00a0 posting\u00a0 to India\u00a0 \u00a0would\u00a0call\u00a0\u00a0on him within the\u00a0 first\u00a0 few\u00a0 days\u00a0 of\u00a0 their\u00a0 reaching New Delhi.\u00a0 Many of the\u00a0 \u00a0ordinary travellers\u00a0 \u00a0from\u00a0 the\u00a0 \u00a0neighboring\u00a0 \u00a0country\u00a0 \u00a0making\u00a0 it\u00a0 a\u00a0 point to\u00a0 \u00a0meet\u00a0 \u00a0him. And\u00a0 he’d\u00a0 \u00a0be there\u00a0 asking\u00a0 \u00a0details\u00a0 \u00a0of\u00a0 his\u00a0 \u00a0ancestral\u00a0 village in Pakistan,\u00a0 along\u00a0 with\u00a0 several\u00a0 of the\u00a0 \u00a0basic\u00a0 queries.Yes , with\u00a0 them he’d\u00a0 break\u00a0 into\u00a0 Punjabi, with\u00a0 ample English and\u00a0 Hindustani words\u00a0 \u00a0thrown\u00a0 in for our\u00a0 sake , the\u00a0\u00a0non- Punjabis\u00a0 sitting\u00a0 around, trying\u00a0 to\u00a0 grasp each word.<\/p>\n In\u00a0 fact, \u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0 in\u00a0 his\u00a0 home I ‘d\u00a0 first\u00a0 met\u00a0Minoo\u00a0Bhandara\u00a0\u00a0– Bapsi\u00a0 Sidhwa’s\u00a0 \u00a0brother , owner\u00a0 of\u00a0 \u00a0Murree\u00a0 Breweries\u00a0 and also\u00a0 \u00a0a\u00a0 former\u00a0 member\u00a0 \u00a0of\u00a0 Pakistan’s National\u00a0 Assembly\u2026Minoo\u00a0 \u00a0had\u00a0 travelled to\u00a0 \u00a0his\u00a0 village\u00a0Hadali (in\u00a0 Pakistan ‘s Sargodha\u00a0 district )\u00a0 and\u00a0 \u00a0clicked\u00a0 pictures \u2026 there were\u00a0 \u00a0tears\u00a0 in\u00a0 Khushwant’s\u00a0 \u00a0eyes\u00a0 \u00a0when\u00a0 he’d\u00a0 asked\u00a0 Minoo who was\u00a0 living\u00a0 in\u00a0 his\u00a0 ancestral\u00a0 \u00a0home\u00a0 and\u00a0 \u00a0more along\u00a0the\u00a0 strain. And for\u00a0 what\u00a0 seemed\u00a0 minutes he’d\u00a0 kept\u00a0 looking at\u00a0 his\u00a0 \u00a0home,\u00a0 in\u00a0 those\u00a0 photographs. Saying ,\u00a0 ” Last\u00a0\u00a0I\u00a0 had\u00a0 visited\u00a0 my\u00a0 village\u00a0 was several\u00a0 years\u00a0 back, when\u00a0 I\u00a0 was\u00a0 in\u00a0 Pakistan. It was a\u00a0 very\u00a0 emotional experience with a\u00a0 \u00a0reception\u00a0 \u00a0held\u00a0 for\u00a0 me\u00a0 and\u00a0 people coming to\u00a0 meet\u00a0 me \u2026ours\u00a0 was a\u00a0 huge haveli\u00a0 and today\u00a0 it\u00a0 \u00a0lies\u00a0 occupied\u00a0 \u00a0by three\u00a0 refugee\u00a0 families\u00a0 who\u00a0 had\u00a0 gone from\u00a0 Rohtak\u00a0 \u2026it\u00a0 was\u00a0 touching to\u00a0 see the\u00a0 gurdwara\u00a0 \u00a0in the\u00a0 village\u00a0 still\u00a0 intact. Even during\u00a0 the\u00a0 Partition\u00a0 chaos, nobody\u00a0 touched\u00a0 the\u00a0 gurdwara\u00a0 \u00a0though the\u00a0 \u00a0village\u00a0 \u00a0 population was\u00a090\u00a0 per cent\u00a0 Muslims and\u00a0 there only few\u00a0 Sikh and\u00a0 Hindu\u00a0 \u00a0families. Then this\u00a0 village\u00a0 \u00a0has the\u00a0 distinction\u00a0 of\u00a0 sending\u00a0 \u00a0the\u00a0 largest\u00a0 number\u00a0 of\u00a0 men for\u00a0 World\u00a0 War\u00a0 1\u00a0 \u2026 have\u00a0 several\u00a0 memories\u00a0 of\u00a0 my\u00a0 village\u00a0 – how\u00a0 my\u00a0 grandmother\u00a0 would\u00a0 \u00a0 take\u00a0 me along\u00a0 to the\u00a0different families\u00a0 she’d\u00a0 visited\u00a0 in the\u00a0 village, and\u00a0 how she’d\u00a0 tell\u00a0 the\u00a0 time\u00a0 of the\u00a0\u00a0day ; there was\u00a0 no\u00a0 clock or\u00a0 watch , during\u00a0 the day\u00a0 my\u00a0 grandmother\u00a0would\u00a0 tell the time by the shadow of the\u00a0 sun\u00a0 on the wall and\u00a0 at\u00a0 night\u00a0 by the\u00a0 stars.”<\/p>\n A Loyal Friend<\/strong><\/p>\n There were\u00a0 who\u2019s who\u00a0 of this\u00a0 \u00a0city\u00a0 \u00a0 who\u2019d\u00a0 come to\u00a0 his\u00a0 home\u00a0 \u00a0 for advice\u00a0 No, not\u00a0 at the\u00a0 usual\u00a0 slot\u00a0 –\u00a0 7\u00a0 \u00a0to\u00a0 8\u00a0 pm , but\u00a0 either\u00a0 \u00a0an\u00a0 hour\u00a0 \u00a0before\u00a0 that , or\u00a0 \u00a0even earlier\u00a0during the\u00a0 day,\u00a0 towards\u00a0 noon . Many confided\u00a0 \u00a0in\u00a0 \u00a0him\u00a0 and\u00a0 many\u00a0 more\u00a0 asked\u00a0 for advice. And,\u00a0\u00a0 mind you,\u00a0 his\u00a0 \u00a0advice was\u00a0 \u00a0invariably along the\u00a0 \u00a0conservative strain. Not\u00a0 just\u00a0 conservative\u00a0 but\u00a0 very\u00a0conservative,\u00a0 if\u00a0 I\u00a0 may so \u00a0say. It might\u00a0 come as some\u00a0 sort of surprise to\u00a0 hear this, but this\u00a0 is so .<\/p>\n Then why\u00a0 that\u00a0 \u00a0image\u00a0 of\u00a0 him, sitting\u00a0 with\u00a0 women amidst\u00a0\u00a0those\u00a0 hackneyed frills\u00a0 around?<\/p>\n \u201cAll that\u00a0 is\u00a0 because\u00a0 I\u00a0 \u00a0speak\u00a0 out, talk\u00a0 openly, write\u00a0 \u00a0…if\u00a0 I\u00a0 like a woman’s\u00a0 looks\u00a0 I\u00a0 say\u00a0 so\u00a0 but say so\u00a0 right\u00a0 in front\u00a0 of\u00a0 her\u00a0 husband .” The basic\u00a0 reality\u00a0 is, as\u00a0 he\u00a0 himself proclaims \u00a0rather\u00a0 loud and\u00a0 clear that\u00a0 no\u00a0 woman,\u00a0 however\u00a0 \u00a0beautiful, can\u00a0sit\u00a0 more\u00a0 than\u00a0 fifteen\u00a0 minutes , for by\u00a0 then\u00a0 she ‘d\u00a0 had\u00a0 \u00a0read the\u00a0 impatience\u00a0 in his\u00a0 eyes.<\/p>\n Though\u00a0 not\u00a0 a\u00a0 loner\u00a0 in\u00a0 \u00a0the\u00a0 \u00a0actual\u00a0 sense\u00a0 of the term\u00a0 but, then , he\u00a0 seems\u00a0to\u00a0 be\u00a0 at\u00a0 ease\u00a0 in\u00a0 solitude.\u00a0 On\u00a0 that\u00a0 one\u00a0\u00a0week end\u00a0 I ‘d\u00a0 visited\u00a0 \u00a0him, whilst\u00a0 he\u00a0 was\u00a0 in\u00a0 Kasauli , he\u00a0 \u00a0looked\u00a0 \u00a0so\u00a0 relaxed\u00a0 being\u00a0by\u00a0 himself, that\u00a0 \u00a0I\u00a0 felt some\u00a0 sort\u00a0 \u00a0of an\u00a0 intruder. For\u00a0 most\u00a0 part of the day,\u00a0 he ‘d\u00a0 kept\u00a0 \u00a0 sitting on\u00a0 the\u00a0 front stretch, reading\u00a0 or writing. Keeping\u00a0 himself\u00a0 \u00a0away from the\u00a0 \u00a0lone\u00a0 landline\u00a0 \u00a0and there\u00a0 seemed\u00a0 \u00a0no trace\u00a0 of\u00a0 a television set . Its\u00a0 only\u00a0 in the\u00a0 evenings\u00a0 that\u00a0 visitors had\u00a0 dropped\u00a0 in. There’s\u00a0\u00a0was something\u00a0 \u00a0along the old\u00a0 world\u00a0 charm, as his\u00a0 neighbours and\u00a0 friends\u00a0 \u00a0got\u00a0 \u00a0together, discussing and chatting over\u00a0 dinner. Some\u00a0 of these included\u00a0Churamanis, Prashers\u00a0 (if\u00a0 I am\u00a0 not\u00a0 mistaken\u00a0 Mrs\u00a0 Prasher\u00a0 \u00a0has\u00a0 been\u00a0 \u00a0India’s\u00a0 number\u00a0 one badminton player ), Baljeet\u00a0Virk , Anil & Sharda\u00a0 \u00a0Kaushik\u00a0\u00a0 and the\u00a0 then\u00a0\u00a0Scottish\u00a0\u00a0principal\u00a0of the\u00a0 Lawrence\u00a0Sanawar\u00a0 School –\u00a0 Andrew\u00a0 \u00a0Gray.<\/p>\n And the\u00a0 \u00a0next\u00a0 afternoon, as\u00a0 \u00a0Khushwant\u00a0 and\u00a0 I\u00a0 had\u00a0 \u00a0walked\u00a0 \u00a0to\u00a0 the\u00a0\u00a0Kasauli\u00a0\u00a0market,\u00a0 he\u00a0 knew\u00a0 \u00a0several\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 shopkeepers. No , not\u00a0 mere\u00a0 formality\u00a0 ridden sessions,\u00a0 but\u00a0 \u00a0as though\u00a0 he’d cared , asking\u00a0 them about their\u00a0 children and work. Bringing to\u00a0 the\u00a0 fore,\u00a0 his ability\u00a0 \u00a0to\u00a0 be at ease\u00a0 with\u00a0 a\u00a0cross\u00a0 \u00a0section. And\u00a0 that perhaps comes through\u00a0\u00a0because\u00a0 there’s\u00a0 nothing\u00a0 \u00a0contrived\u00a0 \u00a0or\u00a0 \u00a0nothing that he\u00a0 wishes to\u00a0 \u00a0extract. At the\u00a0 end\u00a0 of\u00a0 \u00a0the day,\u00a0 he looks\u00a0 \u00a0content\u00a0 \u00a0sitting\u00a0 with a\u00a0 \u00a0book\u00a0 clutched\u00a0 \u00a0in\u00a0 his\u00a0 hands\u00a0 \u00a0or with\u00a0 a\u00a0 pen\u00a0 in that\u00a0 condom less\u00a0state scribbling\u00a0 away\u00a0 \u2026<\/p>\n His views on Death<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0 not\u00a0 scared\u00a0 of\u00a0 \u00a0death, there\u00a0 are\u00a0 no\u00a0 \u00a0fears.\u00a0 Death\u00a0 is\u00a0 inevitable, no\u00a0 brooding\u00a0 about\u00a0 it, be\u00a0 prepared for\u00a0 it,\u00a0 as Asadullah\u00a0 Khan\u00a0 Ghalib has\u00a0 too aptly put\u00a0 across – \u2018rau\u00a0 mein hai\u00a0 raksh -e -umar kahaan deykheeye thammey \/nai\u00a0 haath\u00a0 baag\u00a0 par hai nah pa\u00a0 hai\u00a0 rakaab\u00a0 mein\u00a0 (age\u00a0 travels\u00a0 at a\u00a0 galloping\u00a0 pace \/who\u00a0 knows\u00a0 where will\u00a0 it stop\u00a0 \/we do\u00a0 not\u00a0 have the\u00a0 reins\u00a0 in\u00a0 our\u00a0 hands\u00a0 \/we do\u00a0 not\u00a0 have\u00a0 our feet in the\u00a0 stirrups.)\u201d<\/p>\n “I see\u00a0 death\u00a0 as\u00a0 nothing to\u00a0 \u00a0be\u00a0 \u00a0worried\u00a0 or scared about. I\u00a0 believe\u00a0 in the\u00a0 Jain\u00a0 philosophy\u00a0 that death\u00a0 ought\u00a0 to be celebrated. Earlier whenever\u00a0 I ‘d feel\u00a0 upset\u00a0 or\u00a0 low\u00a0 I\u00a0 used to\u00a0 \u00a0go to the\u00a0 cremation grounds. It\u00a0 has\u00a0 a\u00a0 cleansing effect, worked\u00a0 as a\u00a0 \u00a0therapy\u00a0 for me.<\/p>\n In\u00a0 fact,\u00a0 I\u00a0 had\u00a0 written\u00a0 my\u00a0 own\u00a0 epitaph\u00a0 years\u00a0 back . –\u00a0 \u2018Here\u00a0 lies\u00a0 one\u00a0 who spared neither\u00a0 \u00a0man\u00a0 or\u00a0 God\u00a0 \/Waste\u00a0 \u00a0not\u00a0 \u00a0your\u00a0 tears\u00a0 \u00a0on\u00a0 him, he\u00a0 was\u00a0 a\u00a0 sod\u00a0 \/Writing\u00a0 nasty\u00a0 \u00a0things he\u00a0 regarded\u00a0 as\u00a0 great\u00a0 fun \/Thank\u00a0 the\u00a0 Lord\u00a0 he\u00a0 is dead, this\u00a0 son\u00a0 of a\u00a0 gun .\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAbove all , when the time\u00a0 comes to go, go like a\u00a0 man without any\u00a0 regret\u00a0 any\u00a0 regret\u00a0 or\u00a0 grievance\u00a0against anyone. Allama Iqbal\u00a0 expressed\u00a0 it\u00a0 beautifully\u00a0 in a couplet in Persian\u00a0 –\u00a0 ‘You ask\u00a0 me\u00a0 about\u00a0 the signs\u00a0 of a\u00a0 \u00a0man\u00a0 of\u00a0 faith \/ when\u00a0 death\u00a0 comes\u00a0 to\u00a0 him, he\u00a0 has a\u00a0 smile\u00a0on\u00a0 his\u00a0 lips. ‘ ”<\/p>\n Why\u00a0 I was\u00a0 keen for\u00a0 \u00a0burial,\u00a0because\u00a0 with that\u00a0 you\u00a0 give\u00a0 \u00a0back to the\u00a0 earth\u00a0 what\u00a0 you have\u00a0 taken\u00a0 \u2026now\u00a0 it will be\u00a0 the\u00a0 electric\u00a0 crematorium.”<\/p>\n I am\u00a0 \u00a0preparing\u00a0 \u00a0myself. I\u00a0 only\u00a0 hope\u00a0 it\u00a0 isn’t very painful. And since I\u00a0 have\u00a0 no faith\u00a0 in God , nor\u00a0 in the\u00a0 day\u00a0 of\u00a0\u00a0Judgement, and\u00a0 nor\u00a0\u00a0in the theory\u00a0 of\u00a0 \u00a0Reincarnation, so\u00a0 I\u00a0 have to\u00a0 make\u00a0 terms with a\u00a0 complete\u00a0 full\u00a0 stop.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n .<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n .<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Even if a minister of Loneliness gets installed in the country, will she\/he be able to reach out to the lonely Indians? After all, don\u2019t we have ministers for the\u00a0 welfare of the minorities etc. But see the dismal conditions prevailing! Strange scenario unfolding. With the corona scare and the political pollution unmoving, there\u2019s little […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":335515,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23,14770,2205],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/335512"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=335512"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/335512\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":335517,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/335512\/revisions\/335517"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/335515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=335512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=335512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=335512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Humra-Quraishi-love-jihad.jpg\")
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