Only one writer whom I fail to forget, <br />So controversial, so well-infornmed, <br />So great a talker, <br />Sharing the jokes even in the old age. <br /> <br />In the columns of his, what can he not say about, <br />The prime ministers, presidents, ministers, <br />Icons and scions, <br />Governors and chief ministers? <br /> <br />What can he not say, <br />History, politics, art, culture and tradition, <br />Laguage and literature, <br />Region and religion? <br /> <br />The talks of the whole century, <br />From India to England, <br />He can say about, <br />The poets and their secret affairs? <br /> <br />The varieties of wine, wine-bottles and their labels, <br />Rum, whiskey, vodka, <br />Beer and brandy, <br />Their history too he can elaborate upon <br />With the taste of that tested. <br /> <br />So open to all that he cannot hide anything else <br />Be it private or personal, <br />So full of jokes and caricatures <br />Even in such a grand old age. <br /> <br />A historian of the Punjab and Punjabi history, <br />Of the Sikhs and Sikhism, <br />Of Guru Nanak and Guru Granth Sahib, <br />He can tell even about the folk songs and dances. <br /> <br />A voracious reader and a writer, <br />He can detail upon anything <br />And there is nothing as hidden from, <br />Be it Nehru clan or Gandhi clan. <br /> <br />Whpose affair is with whom, <br />What is in hwhose horoscope, <br />What does astrology say to, <br />What does astronomy, <br />He can even tell that? <br /> <br />A lover of Urdu poetry, shayari and ghazal, <br />He keeps translating Urdu poetry <br />And exploring it, <br />The history and tradition of it? <br /> <br />He can say about the Sindhi language, <br />Indian English and British English, <br />Longer South Indian names, <br />Yoga, herbal medicine and ayurveda. <br /> <br />He can even say about the longer moustache, <br />The bearded men, <br />Yogis and bhogis, <br />Ganja, bhang and country liquor.<br /><br />Bijay Kant Dubey<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/khushwant-singh/
