I have authored several books in my life but writing this slim volume has given me a peculiar satisfaction. It is like defraying a debt.
Giani Gurmukh Singh 'Musafir' had implicit faith in my literary judgement. Everytime he wrote a book, he would like me to see the manuscript and write a few words by way of introduction. I would, as far as possible, do so gladly. More, because I have a fear lurking in my mind that Gianiji's image as a politician was too prevailing to allow his readers to give due importance to his creative writing. And this would be unfair.
A few months before the end came, Gianiji finalised a collection of his unpublished short stories and another one of poems and left the manuscript with me. We could see the short stories collection, Urwar Par through the press but he did not wait for the publication of his book of poems entitled Door Nede. It was brought out posthumously in early 1983.
Every time he went abroad with delegations or other-wise, he would like me to translate some of his writings into English, so that he could publish or broadcast them in the countries that he visited. Leading as he did a crowded life, most of it has been misplaced and remains untraced.
Apart from the biographical monograph, the short stories and some of the poems included in this volume have been rendered into English specifically for the purpose. While making the selection from his works, I have tried to pick up only those writings that are essentially autobiographical, whether written in the first person sin-gular or not. These should throw ample light on what sort of a man Giani Gurmukh 'Musafir' was. To my mind the selections constitute an essential complement to his biography.
I have basked in the warmth of Giani Gurmukh Singh 'Musafir's' friendship all these years since we came to know each other in the early forties. I have now enjoyed writing this slim volume. Giani Gurmukh Singh 'Musafir' was a manysplendoured personality. He eminently deserves a more researched and a more extensive biography. I had been coaxing Gianiji for many years to write his autobiography. He did make a start and wrote a few chapters covering his early years but, deeply involved in political activity as he was, the work remained unfinished.
After I did this assignment, I have been writing about Gianiji occasionally; a piece written in connection with his centenary celebrations is provided as Appendix.
I take this opportunity to thank Smt. Joginder Sant, Gianiji's daughter and the late Sardar Mubarak Singh, secretary, Giani Gurmukh Singh 'Musafir' Memorial Trust for lending for publication in this volume a number of Gianiji's photographs. My thanks are also due to my friend, Shri P.R. Kaikini for his going through the manuscript before its submission to the publisher.
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