For Author Khushwant Singh

Just like the mariner of Coleridge’s The Rime of The Ancient Mariner, Holding the hand of the wedding guest, The writer kept telling the tales of life, Art and philosophy And the listener Like the silent listeners Of Walter de la Mare Hearing, Saying it not. Just like the Martha of Walter de la Mare, The protagonist kept saying the stories And the children hearing In the hazel glen, Such the spell and incantation Of his write-ups and columns, Even the presidents and prime ministers Could not turn over His good words Regaling and recreating, Making a self-criticism of. His laughing stock was unfathomable, His ready wit and humour, Hearty laughs and lively jokes, Funny ideas and remarks Even used to entertain The man under criticism And the taker, Always making a self-criticism of his To understand himself best. Satiric, ironic, humorous, witty and sarcastic, Trendy, controversial, epigrammatic and ironical, He used to caricature and joke with, Used to take, I mean drink, Not cold drinks, But something hot-hot To warm up And used to write too To regale and entertain it all. An epitome of eat, drink and be merry, Deriving from Charvak, Take the loan, but take clarified butter, He used to hold a healthy view for a healthy living, One from Lahore, he came to India, Read in Delhi and London, Practiced as a lawyer in Lahore, Settled permanently in Delhi, Worked in All India Radio, Edited the Illustrated Weekly of India And the Yojana And worked a s a journalist, Had been a Rajya Sabha member And a recipient of awards from the Govt. of India. During the Operation Blue Star, he showed his Undaunted courage to speak, To turn down the offers of coveted prizes And in the aftermath of Indira’s assassination, He resisted and protested against The atrocities on the Sikhs, The ire vented out foolishly, Fought a case with Menaka As for his book, A writer so controversial and daring, Representing the Punjab and its robust culture, Hale and hearty viewpoint and outlook, Upholding that in its true spirit.