ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>R&#256JINDER SI&#7748GH (1932-1995)</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="RJINDER,SIDGH,Person,Person"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279R&#256JINDER SI&#7748GH (1932-1995), or <i>Qaum&#299 Ekt&#257</i> (both had become synonymous), was born on 9 October 1932 at Ma&#7751&#7693&#299 Bah&#257udd&#299n. <i>Qaum&#299 Ekt&#257</i> and its editor Sard&#257r R&#257jinder Si&#7749gh were two reflections of one single reality. One could not be dissected from the other. Nor was it possible to analyse or evaluate them separately. Both had become part of one indivisible reality. If one was mentioned in a particular context the other name got repeated inevitably in the next. At a very young age R&#257jinder Si&#7749gh had made his name widely known. In Punjabi letters and journalism, none dared interrupt him in his march forward. Nor did he own to any difficulty or obstacle.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The niche R&#257jinder Si&#7749gh had carved out for himself in Punjabi journalism at an unbelievably young age was indeed unprecedented. Gurba<u>kh</u>sh Si&#7749gh of the <i>Preet La&#7771&#299</i> had imparted to Punjabi writing a fresh flavour. He was the originator of a new style. With him were born many a new construction and idiom. Likewise, R&#257jinder Si&#7749gh was the monarch of many styles. Whatever came to his pen he recorded fearlessly and unhesitatingly. There was much newness and originality in it. On Punjabi he bestowed a completely new style of political writing. He bottled into it the bitterness of <i>neem</i> leaves; also, the sweetness of elixir. This unexpected mixture of moods conferred upon Punjabi writing a new power and energy. Cheek by jowl with his soft words lay his sword-cuts. The many splendoured strokes which came to Punjabi via R&#257jinder Si&#7749gh&#8217s pen had a feather-like quality mixed with his lethal thrusts. The language received from no other writer this manner of variety. He made the maximum use of his literary powers and drew the last ounce of energy from these. He did not have the slightest difficulty in switching over from one mood to the other. This elasticity and freshness of colour were R&#257jinder Si&#7749gh's permanent assets.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; R&#257jinder Si&#7749gh had been an avid reader of newspapers from the very outset. He was still a school-going youth when he diligently went through all the Punjabi and Urdu newspapers that came to his small town of Ma&#7751&#7693&#299 Bah&#257udd&#299n. Then came partition of the country. R&#257jinder Si&#7749gh developed an entirely new interest. That was in meeting and befriending important personalities of the day. He was soon able to make friends with India's prime-minister, Jaw&#257harl&#257l Nehr&#363. He was a pastmaster in cultivating men in high places. He was very knowledgeable about local politics and he was a fetching conversationalist. He never went to meet anyone without rehearsing his words. He never failed to win the trust of others. Jaw&#257harl&#257l Nehr&#363 became especially enamoured of him. Like him he was able to win the implicit trust of Part&#257p Si&#7749gh Kairo&#7749, Gi&#257n&#299 Gurmukh Si&#7749gh Mus&#257fir and Gi&#257n&#299 Kart&#257r Si&#7749gh. All of them admired his sharpness of mind and gave him their fullest confidence. With some of them he talked almost on equal terms. He could cut jokes with them. He felt inferior talking to no one. His confidence in himself was amazing. In the company of Jaw&#257harl&#257l Nehr&#363 he felt on very easy terms and this relationship continued through at least three generations. After Jaw&#257harl&#257l Nehr&#363 it was his daughter, Indira G&#257ndh&#299, and then his grandson, R&#257j&#299v. Once he was coming to Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 but was summoned by R&#257j&#299v before he reached Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257. In his characteristically informal manner he said to R&#257j&#299v that he was looking so handsome that day that had he been a girl he would have abducted her to a place beyond the reach of everyone. He was very fearless and outspoken. Fear he did not know.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He could be on similarly familiar terms with his other friends. Among them could be counted Harinder Si&#7749gh of R&#257j&#257 S&#257&#7749s&#299, Harcharan Si&#7749gh Ajn&#257l&#257, Narai&#7751 Si&#7749gh Sh&#257hb&#257zpur&#299, Mub&#257rak Si&#7749gh and Iqb&#257l Si&#7749gh Sandh&#257&#7749v&#257l&#299&#257. Their endless barrage of witticisms was always a source of great elight for the listeners. But never was a single harsh or uncivil word uttered by anyone.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; R&#257jinder Si&#7749gh broke into journalism when he was a mere boy in his teens. He had no literary experience. Nor any familiarity with the technique. Yet, he launched forth undaunted. He had one or two issues of the paper written by proxy. But he was not happy with what he saw. Then he went ahead on his own. The results were dramatic. The first issue that came out proved a tremendous hit. The layout and presentation were most attractive. The writing was punchy. The editor and the paper became famous overnight. The weekly became the talk of the town. There was but one question, one and only one question on the lips of the readers. "Have you seen the <i>Qaum&#299 Ekt&#257</i> of this week?" "Did you read this week's <i>Qaum&#299 Ekt&#257</i>?" This was the query on all lips.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In those days the paper was a weekly publication. Turning the weekly paper into a monthly was a major decision for the editor to make. He discussed the question with several of his friends. He took his friends to the choicest hotels. He was a very good host and loved to entertain friends. As a monthly paper the <i>Qaum&#299 Ekt&#257</i>, established its credentials still more firmly. Its special numbers were got up with taste. They won wide renown. Several of the well-known writers had made a custom of keeping them on their files. Numbers such as those on Sikh Mah&#257r&#257j&#257s and Sikh Music were expertly made up. They will count as most significant contributions to Punjabi letters. Likewise; R&#257jinder Si&#7749gh's special number brought out in memory of Sard&#257r Part&#257p Si&#7749gh K&#257iro&#7749 was a historic issue. Whatever R&#257jinder Si&#7749gh touched with his pen, turned into gold. He gave it a new form and new look. He established the tone of Punjabi idiom and imparted to it a new form and polish.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; R&#257j&#299nder Si&#7749gh died in Delhi on 1 September1995.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Mubarak Si&#7749gh, <i>Kairon</i>. Ludhiana, 1963<BR> <li class="C1"> S&#257bar, Tej&#257 Si&#7749gh, <i>Punjabi Patvante</i>. Delhi, n.d.<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Sard&#257r Si&#7749gh Bh&#257&#7789&#299&#257<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>