By: Zaman Noor
In a world increasingly dominated by fleeting digital content, instant messages and videos that disappear after twenty-four hours or so, there exists something timeless and powerful that many have wrongly declared obsolete, Some people look at it and see an old-fashioned medium that belongs to their grandparents’ generation. But to me, ink on paper, columns in newspapers and magazines? That is still super strong. It can change things, help us understand each other and move forward.
I am a columnist and I am happy about it. It’s not about being better than anyone else. I have seen how much you can change from writing, picking the right words and painting pictures of what is going on, but with words instead of paint. I usually face a question from younger generation around me, What do you do? When i tell them what I do, some are impressed, some are curious. Younger folks sometimes look confused, like I am saying I make scrolls for a living. But I know why it matters.
Writing’s kind of magical. Painters use colors that hit you right away. Musicians make sounds that touch your heart before you even think. But writing? You gotta be involved. You have to think, imagine and really consider what is being said. As a columnist, every word I use matters. It makes you see things, feel things and plants ideas in your head.
When I write a column, I am not just throwing out facts or opinions. I am drawing a picture of how we live, what people do, rooting for our nation. My pen is my brush, and the blank page is what I am working on. It’s not just something you look at. My writing gets you to talk, to think, to wonder, to agree or disagree and to pay attention to the world.
Recently, I had an usual meet with a friend a well political bigwig, this time he approached me with what he described as an great opportunity. Though we had always an ideological difference, he was my friend and seemed genuinely to care about my future. We would meet over a cup of coffee occasionally, despite his good wealth and power, our conversations were invariably warm. He would greet me saying, Jai Hind sahab, and I would reply, Jai Hind. He usually used to discuss about my articles, praising what he termed my selfless patriotism and love for the nation. Some times, he would tease me, by saying, You are creating gems and getting pennies. I had always smile and correct him, Not even pennies, I am creating gems for free.
I and my high command have been watching your write-ups, he said. We are impressed. You write well and people listen. Come join us and we will set you up better than you are now.
He leaned in, like he was sharing some secret. What is writing about peace, nation, patriotism and all that doing for you, really? It’s nice, sure, but where does it get you? You could be making money, You should write to get paid in a better way, to take care of your family. Write for us and you will see, We can change things. He said with a broken confidence we are also in mainstream politics and good nationalists as you are, we are also working for peace in country, then what you think is diffrent between us?
He was offering good money, valuable connections, a secure future, with an attractive package of many things beyond my ideas if I just wrote what they wanted.
I looked at him, this guy who used to be my friend and I knew what I had to say. It was not about being stubborn, but about what I believe in. I appreciate your concern for me, I said, But I will never sell my writing. I write for peace and for my country. That is not up for grabs, not for any amount of cash.
I write for peace and the nation. I build bridges, not walls. I help people get along, not fight. I write for what’s true and for my country, not for any group or person. That is what I do, and no deal can change that.
That was it. We were still polite, but that was it. We were not as close after that, which made me sad, but I have never regretted what I said. My writing is not for sale. It’s for the truth, for the people who read my words and for working toward peace and a better country. Some things you just can’t buy, like a columnist’s honesty.
What is cool about ink on paper is it sticks around. Online, stuff gets deleted or lost in the crowd. But a printed column? You can save it, read it later, pass it around. I have met people who still have things I wrote years ago. They are old and worn, but they kept them. That means I have to be careful with what I say, get my facts right, and be real. I can’t just toss out words and move on. What I write stays, and that makes me better.
When I say I draw society with my pen, I mean it. I try to show what’s happening, look at it closely and help people see it too. Sometimes it’s about politics, trying to explain how things work in a way everyone can get and care about. Other times it’s about culture, how we live, what’s important to us and how things change or stay the same.
I write about small moments that show bigger things. Something you hear on the bus that shows how well people get along. Something local that shows how united we are. A personal story that everyone can relate to. That’s how I paint my picture, trying to make it real and important.
A columnist is not there to tell you what to think, even if some people get it wrong. I am there to make you think. I give you different views, ask questions, challenge what you believe and share what I have learned. I connect the dots, look deeper than the surface and talk about what is important for our country’s future. I draw a picture of the world as I see it, hoping you will see something new.
Being a columnist is not a cakewalk. You have to keep at it. It’s not just about having opinions, everyone does. It’s not just about writing well, lots of people can do that. It’s about doing both all the time, in a way that keeps people reading.
I have to read a lot, not just about what I usually write about, but about everything. Every talk I have, every place I go, everything I do could be a column. I am always watching, wondering, and thinking about how to write about it. It’s more than a job, it’s how I live.
Then there is always a strict deadline. Novelists can take years on a book and poets wait for inspiration. Columnists have to be on time, no matter what. My column has to be ready by a certain day, even if I am not feeling well or if something unusual happened. That pressure makes me work hard and respect what I do.
Each column goes through lots of changes. I write, rewrite, cut, add and fix things up. I check my facts like crazy because one mistake can ruin everything else. I read it out loud to catch anything weird. I think about how people might take my words. It’s tiring, but it makes my writing good.
One of the best things about being a columnist is getting to connect with people. When you write for people regularly, you get to know them. They know how you think, what you believe and how you see things. They might not always agree, but they trust you to be honest.
I get letters and emails from readers and they remind me why I do this. Someone might say I helped them get a political issue. Someone else might say I gave them hope. A parent might read my column at dinner to get their kids talking about our country. A student might say one of my columns inspired them to become a journalist.
These are not just online connections. They are real relationships, built by me showing up every week and sharing my thoughts. In a world where people feel far apart, columnists can help build bridges and start conversations. That is super important.
Some readers have disagreed with me hard, which is fine. Some of the best talks I have had have been with people who see things differently. If my column makes someone think hard enough to argue back, then I have done my job.
People ask if I worry about newspapers dying and if columns will still matter. I always say the same thing: good writing will always matter. It’s not just about being printed on paper. My real is in doing it well.
What makes ink on paper great is that when someone reads a column, they are choosing to think about something seriously. They’re not just scrolling through with cat videos and ads. They’re sitting down, maybe with coffee, and giving you their time. That is a big deal, and I never forget it.
Columnists don’t draw society with crazy headlines. We do it by watching, thinking, and explaining things clearly. We take the time to get what’s complex and make it easy to understand without being too simple. We remember the whole story when everyone else is just looking at the headline. We ask the important questions about our nation when everyone else wants easy answers.
When I say I am a happy columnist, I mean I am living the dream that stretches back centuries. I am walking the path paved by great people in history, those who used their pens to write the truth and promote peace. Every time I write a column, I want to add to those important conversations.
I am happy because what I do is a big deal. In times of fake news and shallow thinking, columnists who do their research, think hard, and write clearly are super valuable. We are not influencers chasing likes. We’re not trying to trick the algorithms. We are writers, thinkers and watchers trying to make sense of the world and share that with others.
We are not for sale. Our honesty can’t be bought with money, power, or favors. When we write for peace and the nation, it’s a promise to our readers that our writing is made of truth, not of financial or political intentions.
My pen is my tool and words are how I do it, but my goal is to help people see themselves and the world better. That is huge and very important.
I am a columnist and I am happy. Don’t underestimate ink on paper, because it can inform, persuade, comfort, challenge and change. My pen draws society and I hope to make it a little bit better, clearer and more thoughtful. That is what I am here to do and I would not trade it for anything.
ZAMAN NOOR
Writer is an Independent Public Opinion Analyst, Research Columnist and Peace Activist.
can be reached at noor.penning@gmail.com
