Last Saturday, I had the privilege of attending one of the gems in the exquisitely simple and beautiful garland that was placed around Bhisham Sahni, writer, playwright and actor, on his birth anniversary at Delhi's IHC.

One of the most gifted writers of his time, a man whose humanity ran like a deep river through his life and work, a man who lived with quiet dignity and gentle kindness, Bhisham Sahni wrote some of the finest books of his time, books imbued with humanity, compassion, gentle humour and delicate nuances.