A chance which will Never Be Now ........

I heard about Habib Tanvir ji when I got associated with Ekjute. People in Ekjute will talk about him, his work often and that made me curious, I wanted to meet him, listen to him ,talk with him.
I did see him at Prithvi theatre once , he had come for the festival. He was in the Cafe, talking with people, when I got to know about his identity. I still remember his face vividly... lined with the evidence of a hard life lived on his own terms.... a face which had a calm kindness, lit with a light coming from within, frail but still strength of his convictions, his being reflecting through........
An Awe Inspiring Presence.
Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to listen to him or talk with him even for a minute.......
Listening to his beautiful daughter Nageen singing in a soul touching voice , on Prithvi platform the same evening ,was an experience and somehow also gave me a glimpse into Habib ji’s world. (I was so looking forward to attend her sessions in May second week at NCPA but she had to fly back because Habib ji had to be hospitalized suddenly)
While writing a note on Comrade Sajjad Zaheer about a year back for the Journal “Kutubnama”, Habib ji’s name came up again, for his close association with Progressive Writers' Association (PWA ) and Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and Sajjad Zaheer ji, and it renewed my desire to meet him. I hoped that I will be able to meet him in Mumbai soon somehow by God’s Grace ( & this time I will go and meet him ), or will visit his native place, soak in the atmosphere of his work and working.

A Chance till yesterday I thought I will get one day soon..... A chance which will Never Be Now ........

- Written on Jun 8, 2009 11:27 PM