How to keep busy with no voice or little voice? This was my new problem. I continued to maintain my interaction with the travel industry even without a vibrant voice. I could answer the phone in my new voice and the person on the other end often heard me clearly. I attended conferences and reported on them for newspapers and magazines. If I had to interview a V.I.P., I took my wife along. In case of some of words were not clear, my wife would clarify them for me. Socially, I continued receiving invitations for Press Conferences, luncheons and dinner. But now, I attended only the most important. I started to feel more relaxed and not so concerned about being less in demand. After the removal of my voice box, it was the turn of my knees. My knees gave way and following the example of our Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I got my one knee operated in 2000. The other knee gave me trouble and I got it replaced a year later. Now, I walk without pain. I am mentioning these troubles as no man is exempt from pain. Life has its ups and downs and I had my share too. The voice handicap, taught me how to listen to others carefully and speak only when necessary. Patience and attentive listening became my new habit. I have enjoyed it too. At this time, the Government in its wisdom included Tourism as a subject for their 11th and 12th year classes in High School. The Government asked me to sit on a Committee to draft the syllabus. I attended two meetings and gave them a draft curriculum as I perceived it. I stopped attending the meetings thereafter. However, I decided to write an elementary book for the High School students in a simple and understandable English. It was first published in 1993 and has gone into its four editions. It is titled, “An Introduction to Travel and Tourism.” This book is co-authored by my daughter, Sushma Bhat who teaches in New Zealand. This book kept me quietly occupied for two years researching and writing. As I submitted the manuscript, Sterling Publishers of Delhi asked me to write a comprehensive Travel Guide book on India. The brief was that its should be comparable to the best published abroad. This was a colossal job. I had always wanted to do something like this but had never before had the kind of time needed to do it. This opportunity came my way at just the right time. I would be able to develop a guide book based on my experiences and interaction with prospective visitors to India from so many parts of the world. The result 'India – A Traveller's Companion' was first published in 1995. It now has gone into five editions. My popular book on Successful Tourism Management, first published in 1978, was revised from time to time. I now decided to update it to the level of a Master's Programme. During my 'silent' days, I worked hard on it including considerable time spent in the libraries of Auckland. Since the book was now over 800 pages, the publisher suggested it be printed in two volumes. It is now available in two volumes. The first volume deals with Tourism Principles and the second focuses on Tourism Practices. My journey of life has to end. I am in my early eighties and it was high time to share my life with the present generation especially the travails of partition and independence which our generation suffered before it is too late - the eye witnesses who watched it will be no more. The partition did not shatter the spirit of the Punjabi refugees - they rose from the ashes and one of them is now the Prime minister of India. Another one preceded him. My autobiography titled LAHORE TO DELHI – published by a Bangalore based publisher in 2009 is now widely appreciated. |