https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

A Walk Down the Memory Lane with Urdu Poetry

Indian Masterminds Stories

When bureaucrats retire, they almost always follow their hobbies or passions now that they get ample time to devote to them. Similarly, retired Indian Police Service officer, Mr. Rampal Joshi, followed his passion for writing and came up with his autobiography, which he recently launched in an august gathering in Hyderabad. Indian Masterminds presents a few inside glimpses of the book, titled, Aata hai yaad mujhko guzra hua zamana.

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY

The former DGP of Punjab Police, who’s been in the service for 30 long years, penned down his journey and myriad experiences in an autobiography, titled, Aata hai yaad mujhko guzra hua zamana, which, roughly translated, means, ‘Remembering the days gone by’. The book is replete with Urdu verses, highlighting the author’s love for the language. 

“This walk down the memory lane is an ode to Urdu poetry as it is to a life well lived,” the retired officer said at the book launch.

LOVE FOR URDU POETRY

The book deals with his experiences meshed with the love for Urdu poetry. The title of the book itself is taken from Allama Iqbal’s poem Parinde ki faryaad (A bird’s plea).

Written in a lucid as well as a beautifully aesthetic style, Mr. Joshi combines the simplicity of English prose with the complexity of Urdu poetry. It is common knowledge that Urdu poetry on its own is rather difficult and takes years of study to properly grasp the meaning and significance of the poet and his writing.

However, Mr. Joshi does this wonderfully well by first narrating an interesting anecdote from his life and then presenting an Urdu couplet that manages to capture the narrative’s sentiment perfectly.

ENCOUNTER WITH REAL LIFE HERO

In the book, he describes various events of his life from the police service days. He starts off by describing his encounter with Sikh politician Jiwan Singh Umranangal, who he considers to be a perfect human being.

Mr. Joshi first got in touch with Umranangal over a phone call while posted in Amritsar as Additional Superintendent of Police. Umranangal had called Joshi to discuss some police matters. Mr. Joshi was, however, struck by the simplicity and straightforwardness of the caller.

Over the years, he got to know Umranangal well, and was remarkably impressed by his sublimity, simplicity, clean lifestyle, liberal heart, amazing capacity for hard work, and finally, his sympathy and perception in identifying the problems faced by urban and rustic workers. These workers could not speak for themselves, and Umranangal was their voice.

FINE BLENDING OF PROSE AND POETRY

The book has many examples of Urdu poetry manifesting itself in the officer’s personal anecdotes. The blending of prose and poetry produces a beautiful harmony, in which prose is beautified by poetry, and poetry is simplified by prose.

However, the book is not all sombre. Some of his anecdotes are exceptionally funny, as well. For instance, Mr. Joshi relates a story he heard from his professor when he was still an undergraduate student of Persian. A student had asked his professor, “How does one understand Persian poetry?” The professor half-jokingly remarked that since most of Persian poetry is about love, in order to understand, one must fall in love. The student left, and sometime later, came to give the professor an invitation card to his wedding! 

The book not only offer glimpses of the author’s personal and professional lives, but also takes its reader into the lyrical world of Urdu verses. A must-read for lovers of Urdu poetry. It was launched by Professor Syed Ainul Hasan, Vice Chancellor of MANUU, Professor Ashraf Rafi, Retd Head of Department of Urdu at Osmania University, Humera Ahmed, Co-Founder of Lamkaan, and Prof Majid Bedaar, an illustrious academician. 


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT