Khushwant translation of Sir Iqbal's work.

In 1975 when Khushwant Singh had been the editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India and was posted at Bombay. HH Priya Nath had read several of Sir Iqbal’s Urdu verses which were translated by Khushwant Singh, amongst which was:

“Kabhi ai Haqueeqate Muntazar

Nazar aa libaase majaaz men,

Ke hazaaron sajde tarrap rahe hain

Meri jabeene niyaaz men.”

“O Thou much awaited Reality

Appear before me in human form,

For thousands of prostrations await their

fulfilment, Upon my forehead.”

R.R.  Khanna was also very fond of this verse of Sir Iqbal, which was written by him in his book “Shikwa aur Jawab-i-shikwa”

HH Priya Nath had at that time, written to Khushwant Singh that the ‘Haqueeqate Muntazar’ was very much on the planet earth in the form of Shri Nathji.  Many years ago in early 1930’s, R.R.  Khanna had also written the same thing to Sir Iqbal. Though Sir Iqbal couldn't meet Shri Nathji, Khushwant Singh did) Khushwant Singh, who received thousands of letters from his readers – had been good enough to reply to HH Priya Nath and to write: “I shall be very happy to meet Shri Bhola Nathji whenever he comes to Bombay.” Shri Nathji never went to Bombay, but Khushwant Singh, who had forgotten all about him by then, was destined to meet Shri Nathji at his home on the 7th of June, 1988, at Delhi, and to be instantly converted.

The verses of Sir Iqbal that HH Priya Nathji had read in Illustrated Weekly were from the book of Sir Iqbal which was translated into English by Khushwant Singh. Its name was: “Shikwa and Jawab-i-shikwa, Complaints and Answers. Iqbals Dialogue with Allah. “ This translation work by Khushwant Singh got hugely popular. It is still regarded as the best translation of Sir Iqbal’s works.