In the same book, his wife Saira Bano writing in the Foreword reveals his great love for reading and how their house is adorned with countless bookshelves containing books on a variety of subjects: ‘Few among his countless followers know that Dilip sahab has always been a voracious reader. Whether it is novels, plays or biographies, his love of classical literature has been foremost. The classics of Urdu, Persian and English literature adorn the bookshelves of our home. When he’s done with the library bookshelves, we have to be ready to offer him a pick of the thousands of books tucked away carefully in our huge store rooms.’
Among the modern poets, Dilip sahab was known to recite, and occasionally hum the poetry of Faiz Ahmad Faiz. Among the older poets, Gulzar sahab reveals his penchant for reciting Nazeer Akbarabadi which Dilip sahab seemed to have read extensively and could quote from memory.
A story narration session with Dilip sahab was a joy for a literary-minded…