Sunday, November 18, 2001		VIP Toon Tales

Ali Sardar Jafri

ONE of the best known Urdu poets, Padmashri and Jnanpith Award-winner the late Ali Sardar Jafri was perhaps the most unassuming persons who would devote more time to the exploitation of his own talents than mingling with people. He was found on the occasion sitting alone in the dining hall of the India International centre, Delhi. He was having his lunch and happened to be sitting on the next table. I had my sketch book in hand and I soon got into ‘action’. His sketch, was ready but I was hesitant to go to him as he was engrossed in some deep thought. My friend, sitting by my side, advised me to wait till he finished his lunch so that he may be in a relaxed mood to respond to his sketch.

I took his advice and went to him with the sketch. He was grim but at the same time showed interest in looking at it for some time and signed even it both in Urdu and English.