(During my interview with Dr. M.S. Randhawa, he give me a piece of advice to always keep pencil and a notebook in my pocket. Even the religious scriptures emphasized the importance of pen:”The First thing which God created was a pen, and He said to it, ‘Write’. It said, ”what shall I write?” and God said, “Write down the quantity of every separate thing to be created”. And it wrote all that was and all that will be to eternity. How carelessly did I defy the foresaid advice resulting into a huge loss stands narrated in my following article: “The inimitable Dr. Randhawa” published in The Tribune dated 13.12.1992.)
“While I was collecting material for my book “The illustrated History of the Sikhs (1947 – 1978)”, late S. Kirpal Singh, a renowned Sikh artist, advised me to interview Dr. M.S. Randhawa for eliciting his views on the Sikh ethos. The suggestion proved valuable.
I lost no time in telephoning Dr. Randhawa at his farm house in Kharar, about 8 miles from Chandigarh, requesting him or an appointment to which he readily agreed.
As per the appointment, I reached Kharar in Ropar district at about 5 pm. Dr. Randhawa ushered me into his sitting room which was full o books and rate paintings. He introduced me to his wire, Mrs. Iqbal Kaur, his two sons – Surinder Singh and Jatinder Singh – and his German daughter – in – law, Mrs. Doris Schreier Randhawa.
Now, it was time for the interview and I was taken to the well decorated lounge of the house. The moment I posed the first query on the impact partition on the Sikhs the telephone rang. Dr. Randhawa’s daughter – in - law attended to the telephone. She informed us that Dr. Randhawa’s presence was urgently needed at Chandigarh because of some official compulsions. Dr. Randhawa politely excused himself with these words:
“Well, gentleman, I am sorry. I have to leave at once. Anyway, you will talk to my wife who will satisfactorily reply to all your questions.”
Dr. Randhawa took some files and hastily proceeded towards his car parked outside. To our utter amazement, he returned after a few minutes.
We all stood up. Looking towards me he said:
“Despite my busy time schedule, I must give you some advice. Always keep a pencil ad a note – book in your pocket.” Saying this Randhawa Sahib again proceeded towards his car.
Weeks and months glided by and grew into years. Six years after the meeting with Dr. Randhawa, I happened to go to Delhi. After finishing my professional work during the day, I reached the Delhi railway station at night to catch a train for Chandigarh.
“On the platform, I saw a young blonds in Kashmiri dress. I was puzzled as to whether she was from Kashmir or some foreign country. My curiosity got the better of me and I asked: “Madam, what time does the train start for Chandigarh?” In a tantalizing voice and in fluent English, she majestically replied that was the precise question she wanted to ask me. We reached Chandigarh at 5 a.m. the following day. By then, our acquaintance had blossomed into friendship. My friend was an American professor. She promised to invite me to the U.S.A. for lectures on Sikh history and religion and the Indian way of life. All expenses for the journey were to be met by her.
From the Chandigarh railway station, we reached the bus – stop from where my friend was to catch a bus for Kulu – Manali. It was time to depart and she asked me to note down her address. I had neither a pencil nor a note – book with me. She picked upa piece of paper lying on the floor and wrote down her address with her lip – stick. We bade adieu to each other with the solemn promise to write to each other for finalizing plans for my journey abroad.
On reaching home, the first thing I did was to search my pockets for the treasured chit to note down the address in my diary. But to my utter shock, the chit was missing. It was then that Dr. Randhawa’s words echoed in my mind.
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