AATA HAI YAAD MUJHKO GUZRA HUA ZAMANA, is a book which I can classify as neither a memoir nor a biography

Review by : Amen.Syed Inam ur Rahman

Though written in English, it is heavily laced with choice poetry couplets in Urdu with well explained English translations. It goes a long way in once again proving that love for Urdu cuts accross caste,  creed. region and even occupational barriers to make one avail of it's beauty and splendour. A Maharashtrian Brahmin by ancestral origin, born to Punjabi speaking parents in Kaharagpur,  Joshi sab studied Urdu in school at his birth place and at college in Calcutta, West Bengal.

 This fact provides ample proof that even in times after the turbulent years of the partition of the country, love for Urdu could be so compelling for a lover of the language. Not just Urdu, he studied Persian also.Despite his apparent mastery over the language and love for poetry, he doesn't burden the reader with any poetry of his own except for a slight modification of a couplet by Kunwar Mohender Singh Bedi "Saher". This modification however, gives an insight into the clean and puritanical life he has been  living. Without being a show off, he unwittingly gives further proof of his uprightness by mentioning his cousin, a mere police Inspector; " he is financially much better off than I am. He has cast away the family mantle of honesty and integrity". Joshi Sab retired as Addl. D G P,  state of Punjab.
His honesty in confessing his slihght abuse of power in Chapter 25 titled :  "A Confession", can  easily be over looked as a mere  lapse.

From his family's side, he dwells a bit longer on a fascinating character Atar Singh who rose to the rank of Subedar Major in the British Indian Army and saw action on the Italian front in W W 1. An absolutely no nonsense man, the Subedar appears as an endearing person even though he finds and guns down three robbers who dared to steal from his house - a Chinese Safe in which he kept belongings of people who pawned them to him. 
Joshi Saab seems to be subconsciously in agreement with his mother's presumption that he is the reincarnation of the "Subedar".

The author, quiet interestingly sprinkles his narrative with tit bits about a large number of people from a cross section of the society.  Police officers, colleagues, teachers from school / college, trainers in the army to poets and singers. All of it, he does with palpable affection, respect where required, and a touch of humour to go with the occasion.
His recall of the allotment of an office room to him by his SP is humorously indicative of both - a commitment to carry out duty no matter what the odds and how poor the facilities at work place. For him, the  ASP, to use as his office, a small toilet shared by two D S Ps was refurbished by the mere removal of a commode, provision of a table with two chairs and giving the walls a  white wash !

 Ghalib, Iqbal, Firaaq and a host of other poets have been brought under discussion or interestingly  quoted. But quotes from poetry of Pandith Labhu Ram Josh Malsiyani does prove that not for nothing, another great,  the haughty, Shabbir Hasan Khan, Josh Maleehabadi, in order to avoid confusion between the two "Joshs ",suggested calling the former Qibla - an honorofic reserved for learned, pious and esteemed muslims. It also means the direction in which Muslims bow their head for prayers.

His glowing tributes to former senior officers, acknowledged celebraties in their own life time, Julio Rebiero and KPS Gill definitely seem to be coming from the heart of a nationalist who himself believes in leaving no stone unturned when hunting down the enemy. 

With near reverence, he mentions his Urdu teachers Kedar Nath Kedar and Akhter Hasan Akhter. I found the  former's verse of a higher standard.

 
Missing out on personally meeting him shall remain my eternal (I pray not) regret. But I won't  miss out on writing upon him. It is a compulsion for reasons more than one. Apart from the value system and  his passion  for Urdu that I share with him, I also share my zodiac sign and wedding  aniversary with Joshi Sab.May he live a long, healthy  and as usual fruit bearing life.

Review by : Amen.Syed Inam ur Rahman

 Ghayur. Hyderabad.

T S . India.

Mobile: 9391000765.

Title of Book: AATA HAI YAAD MUJHKO GUZRA HUA ZAMANA.

Publishers: Centre for Development Policy and Practice - Hyderabad. Telangana.

India

Year of Publication: 2021.No of pages: 223.Price:  Rs. 500/=