What more could I say? This brings to an era that was marked by distinguished, honest, passionate and digified Hindi literature. Tamas, for example, jolts you up so much relives the tragic post-partition era.
May his soul rest in peace. And may the present crop of writers take a cue from him on generating original literature.
Bhisham Sahni was not just a great literary figure but a fine and sensitive human being. I had the fortune of interacting with him for more than three years in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
On one Independence Day (the year was in 1989), I went to call on him. He asked me whether I went to the Red Fort to hear the Prime Minister's address. I replied in the negative. Then, he told me that I should do it at least in the next year, which, of course, I did. Also, he recalled me how Nehru, despite in broken Hindi and at times, grammatically wrong, used to deliver addresses, which were full of life.
He used to say frequently that a writer should not talk too much, particularly about one's own work. A writer should stop with writing.
Bhisham was a rare human being. Even when he himself had witnessed several tragic moments, he did not like to discuss them elaborately even with people very close to him.
It is with sadness taht I read the news of Bhishmasani's death. I read his book Tamas, while I was living in Shimla in 1980s. Almost a decade after that I had the privilege to come to know him personally, during mid nineties, when he spent a few months in Shimla for his writing work.
I remember discussing with him various issues related to his Tamas and his experience. Since he had experienced tamas of partition days, his books remains lively both as historical and literary piece. As expected of great people, he was humble and open for discussions. What a loss for theliterary world! Satyavani
