The writer is Dawn’s correspondent in Delhi.
SOMETHING in I.A. Rehman — Rehman Sahib to his followers — reminded me of the old-school communists who shunned the know-it-all airs and spoke simply and lucidly on complex issues of history or science or politics without intimidating the listener. I would meet him often in Delhi either on Syeda Saiyedain’s manicured lawns or at a packed lecture overflowing with fans or an occasional music concert where he would dissolve himself into a different world.
One day he was in a hurry to catch the plane to Lahore but still found the time to run through Khan Market’s stores for gifts for his grandchildren. In a shawl store, I introduced him to Priyanka Gandhi who was buying a sweater for her maid. In that half-minute exchange, she said she was aware of his work for human rights and was proud to meet him. Rehman Sahib wasted no time to remind her to do more to save India’s democracy from militarism and poverty. That was years ago.