By Ratna Manucha
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under Heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die. – Ecclesiastes 3:1/2
On 29 October, family and friends of the late Jaskiran Chopra gathered under one roof to celebrate her birthday with ‘Riwayat’, an evening of poetry in Urdu and Hindi. Poetry was very close to Jaskiran’s heart and she herself was a poetess par excellence who enjoyed and participated in these ‘baithaks’ wholeheartedly.
It was with this in mind that her husband, Ashutosh Saklani, arranged this get together in her memory.
The programme was hosted by Aashish Joshi, author of Raghunayaka – Ranrangdhir. Eminent Urdu and Hindi poets such as Dr Indu Kumar Pandey, Ajay Jugran, Shadab Shams, Aashish Joshi recited verses in memory of Jaskiran, apart from some of their own poetry. Navneet Gairola and Narender Singh recited some verses from Jaskiran’s books.
This was followed by soulful ghazals sung by Himanshu Darmora. He was accompanied on the tabla by Anup Sailani and Sarthak Bohra on the guitar. Apart from the many ghazals that he sang, one by Mehdi Hasan was Jaskiran’s absolute favourite, ‘Rafta rafta woh meri hasti ka saaman ho gaye…’
He ended by singing one of Jaskiran’s soul stirring compositions, ‘Aaye tum toh badal gaya mausam/
Tumse milne ko machal gaya mausam/
Guzre hain kaise yeh saal tumhare bin/
Tammana ka kayi baar guzar gaya mausam.’
Ashutosh Saklani ended the programme by reciting a few lines, lamenting to God about her untimely passing. There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience when he went on to give a few do’s and don’ts to God about how to treat Jaskiran.
‘She sleeps like an angel, Almighty. Please ensure that she sleeps well…’
Totally poignant and gut wrenching.
The programme was attended by Jaskiran’s son, Karan, daughter-in-law, Rose, and grandson, Zain. Among the others who were present were her classmates from CJM, Sadhna Malhotra, Ratna Manucha and Jyoti Bajwa. Satish Sharma, Upendra Arora, Sandeep Dutt, Anjali Nauriyal, Suryakant Dhasmana, Vikram Chopra and Col Manucha were also present among many other people whose lives had been touched by Jaskiran.
Memories were exchanged, and amidst some tears and a little laughter, Jaskiran’s birthday was celebrated here on Earth while she looked down and smiled from her place among the angels.
“May tender memories soften your grief
May fond recollection bring you relief
And may you find comfort and peace in the thought
Of the joy that knowing your loved one brought.
For time and space can never divide
Or keep your loved one from your side.
When memory paints in colours true
The happy hours that belonged to you.”
(Ratna Manucha is an author and an educationaist)
