Yes, hurray for happiness, because I have given up the idea of ever becoming a columnist. It had been my desire that when I grow up I would become a columnist. At the age of 78 I thought it is time now to do something about my dream. I didn't realise that by nature man is impatient. Haste and hurry are his short cuts for what he intends to do.
The first topic that came to my mind was the problem of Kashmir. It is a perennial topic for columnists as something which is beyond solution. Before beginning to write about Kashmir issue I considered it as my duty to meet someone who is older than me and more experienced and more knowledgeable.
And I met my man. He is more than 90. He retired as a librarian 30 years ago and cannot count the number of books he has read.
The first question he asked me was what do I know about Kashmir. I told him, Sir, Kashmir problem is as old as the age of Pakistan. He said "my dear young man, I did not ask you about Kashmir problem. I asked you about Kashmir."
My initial reaction was of happiness because he had called me a young man. It is natural that a man of 95 will call a man of 78 young.
He explained to me that before writing on any subject you must read a lot. Writing about Kashmir you must read at least 10 good books about its history, geography, about its people and their customs, religion and culture. Come to me when you have thoroughly read at least 10 books on Kashmir. And I gave up the idea of writing a column on Kashmir.
The next topic which came to my mind was the current judiciary crisis.
This time also I went to a 96-year-old man who was a leading lawyer in his time.
He asked me "tell me what is law? I replied. Sir, it is the written and unwritten code of conduct of a society, government and state"
H said this one sentence will not make a column. If you want to write about judiciary you will have to read at least ten good books on law and how the judicial systems work in different countries. Come to me when you have thoroughly read these ten books.
Frustration again. Again this advice of reading ten books for one column. So no column on judiciary. Yes, electricity is also one of the major problems in our country. This time I went to another very old man who had retired as chief engineer in an electrical company.
Again the same questions and the same advice to read at least ten books on the various aspects of electricity. When it was invented. Who invented it and when our own electricity corporation was established and complete research about the record of KESC from the beginning until today. I went to a park, looked around. I was alone, so I laughed like a mad man and was happy to give up the idea of becoming a columnist. A moral lesson: To read ten books to write one column is not a good bargain.