MY TIMES MY TALES

Whatever else life may be, it certainly is not a smooth sail for a common man; nay, not even for those who we think are uncommon and special. We have our highs and lows, and, as we move ahead, crossing one milestone after another, we come across on way pleasant and   unpleasant situations and events that leave a lasting impact on our minds. These write ups are the result of an effort prompted by my desire to peep into the vicissitudes  of   life and capriciousness  of human nature through the incidents and episodes  that I have  witnessed  and encountered  in course of my journey  from Bareilly, a  small town in U.P. to the bustling  metropolis of Delhi .

Born in a large family, it has been my privilege to watch different shades of personalities, each leaving behind stories which were simply exhilarating and inspiring. Joining of government job as member of Indian Information Service, and two stints as lawyer, brought me in contact with people of varied characters.  Some of them left an indelible mark on my mind and became a source of my learning and strong desire to share the treasure with others. And that was reason enough for me to take to writing.

It is difficult to place these narratives in any specific literary category.  Some of them can be read as stories, some others as essays and write ups, and a few can be seen as mix of both. These are not, in any case, restricted by any conventional boundaries of Literature. I wanted to share with the readers my take on life as it came to me, as I lived and saw it. It is an effort made in the spirit of what Anatoale France said: “It is better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot.”

I always wanted to write but could never bring myself to believe that I could really write anything worth publishing. It was only after I retired from the government service that the bug started biting me. This collection of my writings    reflects my experiences in varied areas of personal and public life. If it is received by readers in the spirit in which it has been written I will see it as a fulfillment of my life’s desire.