OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE--Khushwant Singh

Khushwant Singh

We have evolved through the toils of great personalities who in their own inimitable ways have left indelible marks on the life of the organization we are associated with today. Mere mention of these names makes us taller in size and special in importance. Khushwant Singh is one such name.

A doyen of journalism, a celebrated author, an erudite scholar, an able law maker and above all a celebrity who loved to embrace controversies only to emerge victorious almost unfailingly was associated with the English overseas programme of All India Radio around 1951. This was the time when his own life was at a crossroads and he had difficulties in choosing a course that would take him further in in his quest of creativity. He worked in All India Radio in the exalted company of Nirad C. Chaudhari, the rebel Indian who then wrote scripts for theirprogrammes and Ruth PawarJhabalvala, who came sometimes to record radiotalks. In his essay “Scholar Extraordinary: NiradC.Chaudhari”, KhushwantSingh wrote:

At times he lost his patience with me and loudlycalled me a fool. His wife (Niradbabu’s wife) protested that by usingthat kind of language he would lose the few friendshe had. “But he is a fool,” retorted Niradbabu, “if hedoesn’t know these little things, what else can I callhim?”

           

Vasant A. Shahane points out that “whereas Chaudhari looks at the West with admiration, and even adulation, Singh's attitude to the West is neither adulatory nor overly critical. This contrast between Nirad Chaudhari and Khushwant Singh is even more pronounced in respect of their approaches to India. Singh has observed India both as an insider as well as an outsider. He is unsentimentally observant of the West too. He has achieved a delicate balance between his deep involvement with India and his unscrupulous objectivity in assessing her achievement.”

Once, while working in All India Radio in the second year of his association with the English overseas service, Khushwant Singh happened to interview Dr. Luther Evans, the then Director General of UNESCO in Paris. Genius as he was, there was an instant rapport between the two. Soon after, Singh received an offer to take over as the deputy head of The Mass Communication Division of UNESCO in Paris.Khushwant Singh jumped at the offer and resigned from his job in All India Radio. Who could have stopped a man who was cut out for a much bigger role? Although a very small stint with the organization, his association with All India Radio was a jewel in the crown.

It is everybody’s knowledge today that Khushwant Singh is the most well-known author, columnist and journalist of India with an international readership. Some of his widely acclaimed books like, Train to Pakistan, I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale, Delhi, The Company of Women are the ones that would continue to ignite the minds of people all over.

Contributed By: Sh. Brahmanand Chaudhary E-Mail:brahmanandair@gmail.com

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