Humra Quraishi takes a poignant look at the challenges facing today's youth, and the enduring impact of Khushwant Singh, Gulzar, and Vyjayanthimala Bali.

Amidst all the disasters occurring, with hundreds dying in stampedes, horrific road accidents, floods, and the collapse of buildings, bridges, and roads, the most concerning aspect is the fate of those lives. The situation is worrying, particularly concerning joblessness and unemployment. There are also mounting concerns in the educational sphere. What happens to our young, to the upcoming generation? The immediate focus should be on them. Every effort by parents, immediate family, counsellors, and support groups must be made to keep the young strong, no matter how bleak the future seems. Hope must stand out.

But let me take you to memories that give hope that we are a powerful society of exemplary people from our past who continue to guide us. Come August, which is still a couple of weeks to arrive, we celebrate the birthdays of three extraordinary individuals: writer Khushwant Singh, poet Gulzar, and veteran actress Vyjayanthimala Bali.

KHUSHWANT SINGH

Khushwant Singh celebrated two birthdays—February 2 and August 15. His father believed he was born at the start of Spring, while his grandmother was sure he was born in the midst of monsoon. Born in 1915 in Hadali, Undivided Punjab, Khushwant lived life on his own terms, speaking and writing fearlessly. He shunned modern-day complications and gadgets, preferring to write on a notepad.

During my interactions with him, several offbeat aspects stood out. There were no sermons, only subtle relays—no wasting time on gossip or useless wanderings, no facades, no communal biases, no lies, and no deceit. Khushwant detested the communal lot and worried about the rise of right-wing fascist forces in the country. He believed the present generation should be aware of the dangers of communal politics.

In an interview after his book "The End of India" was published in 2003, he said, “If we love our country, we have to save it from communal forces. I hope the present generation rejects communal and fascist policies.”

Khushwant's views on death were stark. He was not scared of death, seeing it as inevitable and nothing to brood about. He often found solace in cremation grounds, which had a cleansing effect on him. He didn't believe in rebirth theories and feared the incapacities of old age more than death itself. He preferred burial to give back to the earth and hoped to go without any regret or grievance against anyone.

GULZAR SAAB

Gulzar Saab, a poet with a personality, celebrates his birthday on August 18. Born in 1934, his eyes relay poetry and his very presence impacts deeply. His verse, marked by expanse and sensitivity, carries a stark simplicity that connects instantly with readers.

In a conversation, Gulzar Saab revealed his emotional connection to the Kashmir Valley. He and his wife, Raakhee, spent their honeymoon there and often reminisced about it. Kashmir holds a special place in his heart, and he had even planned a film based on Krishna Chander’s short story collection, “Kitaab Ka Kafan,” but it couldn't be made due to the Kargil War.

When Gulzar’s story collection, "Half a Rupee Stories," was released, I couldn't attend its launch due to a family emergency. It was touching to see that Gulzar dedicated one of his short stories to me, with the accompanying line, “We shared a lot of Kashmir though neither of us is from there.”

VYJAYANTHIMALA BALI

Vyjayanthimala Bali celebrates her birthday on August 13. Born in 1936, she left a lasting impact on the film industry with over 54 films before she chose marriage over her career, quipping that she didn’t retire but relinquished films.

Later, she entered politics and represented the South Madras constituency as a Member of Parliament. In an interview, she revealed that her husband saw potential in her as a politician, which led them to tour Tamil Nadu and witness the ground realities. People were disillusioned but loved Indira Gandhi. Encouraged by Indira Gandhi, Vyjayanthimala joined politics to make a difference.