One-on-one with Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain

I was given the chance to write about an exchange of letters between Chaudhry Shujaat and Amitabh. I was thrilled!

The phone rings...

Me: “Hello?”

Person 1: “Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain aap sey baat karain ge.”

(Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would like to speak with you.)

Me: “Okay.”

Maintains a calm tone while jumping around

Phone on-hold, music plays...

Person 2: “Baat kijiye Chaudhry sahab se.”

(Talk to Mr Chaudhry please)

Me: “Okay.”

Still jumping...

Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain (Sen CSH): “Assalamu Alaikum, kaisi hain aap?”

(May peace be upon you, how are you?)

Me: “Walaikum Assalam. Main bilkul theek hoon. Aap kaise hain?”

(I’m perfectly fine, how are you?)

Sen CSH: “Theek. Bohat hee acha article likha hai aapne.”

(I’m fine. The article you wrote was very good.)

Me: “Thank you so much for your appreciation.”

Sen CSH: “Jo hum apne initiative ke through message dena chah rahe thay, aapne bilkul sahi tarha woh logon tak pohancha diya hai.”

(The message we were trying to convey to people, through our initiative, was disseminated perfectly by you.)

 Me: “Thank you. Aapka Indian artists ko Pakistan invite karne ka initiative commendable hai. Mujhe khushi hui usske bare main likh kar.”

(Thank you. Your initiative to invite Indian artists to Pakistan is truly commendable. I was happy to write the piece.)

Sen CSH: “Shukriya. Okay jee, Allah Hafiz.”

(Thank you. Okay then, goodbye!)

Me: “Khuda Hafiz.”

Lets out a piercing scream

This conversation took place after I wrote an article on actor Amitabh Bachchan’s response to being invited by Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to Pakistan. Senator Shujaat seems to be at the receiving end of gratitude these days; first, from Amitabh Bachchan and now, from me.

Working for the Life and Style desk, I try to find ways of keeping my passion for political affairs alive. I often try to incorporate political or as they say, ‘serious’ issues into the ‘light’ life and style pieces. Of course, I fail miserably.

But then, I was given the chance to write about an exchange of letters between a political figure and a mega star. I was thrilled! I also utilised this opportunity to write about the importance of cultural diplomacy amid rising concerns that Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Narendra Modi portends trouble for Pakistan.

Being merely seven months old as a journalist, I feel privileged that the former prime minister of Pakistan took time out to personally appreciate our work for a newspaper, of which I have a deep sense of ownership.

The Senator’s phone call disproves the generalisation that all politicians are devoid of courtesy. I never thought I’d say the words “Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain made my day”, but well, he did.