‘You encouraged me and I worked to fulfill your dreams’
Dev Sarup Mathur
The most striking asset, I remember of my father Krishan Sarup Mathur was his lucid English and mellifluous Urdu hand writing.
He had a very neat and clean hand, each of the letters was formed to perfection whilst lyrical streak ran through his writing whether it be prose or poetry.
Accolades rained on him from friends, colleagues and superiors for his flawlessly chaste hand writing and diction.
Indeed it was a calligraphist’s delight.
His first love was a parker gold nib fountain pen which received as a marriage gift in 1945.
Emotionally attached, he preserved it passionately till his death in 1983.
Highly literate, my father was honours in English and Persian languages from Punjab University, Lahore.
He started his career as an English teacher in a reputed Ambala school 1941 and was known in literary circles for his Urdu poetry.
His pen name was ‘Asseer’ (caged).
His prized possession was a letter of appreciation he had received from Iranian Embassy in 1953 conveying the appreciations from His Royal Highness, the Prince Abdul Reza Pahlavi ( later became Shah of Iran ) for his verses in Persian language.
In the early forties of last century, he had a brief stint as an editor of weekly Urdu journal.
He had a photographic memory and remembered most of ‘Diwane-Galib’ couplets by heart.
It was a highlight of his life when in 1965, his Urdu poem ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan ‘was read at Jullundhar radio station.
Totally teetotaller, my father had joined Defence Accounts Department at Dehradun in 1942 and had retired from a Navrattan Company ‘Rural Electrification Corporation’ in 1979.
In addition to his literary acumen, he was a very good football and hockey player who had played for reputed club ‘ Ambala Heroes’ during his youth, not only this he was always a winner in departmental championships in indoor games of carom and chess .
I too learnt both the indoor games from my parents who used to play them regularly.
My mother too was unbeatable in chess.
He was the youngest amongst eight siblings (five brothers and three sisters) and was fondly addressed as ‘Naneyh’.
His zest for life was effervescent even if it meant having to bring up a family of with 6 children (a son and five daughters) within his limited means.
He always ensured abundance of love, affection, and culture and encouraged us to acquire high educational excellence to be independent and become meaningful citizens of society.
Incidentally, he was born in the month of August in 1921 and had passed away also in August 1983 at an early age of 62 years after successfully discharging all his responsibilities.
He has made profound influence on my life.
‘Woh Urdu ka mussafir tha Jhidhar se be guzra, salika chode gaya’ (he was a traveller of Urdu and had left smoothness wherever he treaded).
Wonderfully written. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Rajneesh
Such a beautifully written article about Nanhe Nanaji
I remember mummy telling us about her great chachas.You have revived the memories
Thank you so much Rekha Dayal
Dear sir
Your post, like always, has triggered my emotions. Though your personal reminiscences, your write-ups have the ability to reach out to one’s heart and feed the emotional quotient. A real tribute to such an intellectual and all-round personality!
Thanks Pratima for encouraging words.
Dear Sir,
Each and every word of this article can help the reader imagine what a literary scholar your father must have been. His intellect and sensitivity has passed on to you as well, Sir and that is the reason you could gather and string the pearls of his memories so articulately.
Thanks Tarunjeet Kaur. I Appreciate your review.