Author, journalist and commentator Khushwant Singh, known for his witty, fearless and acerbic writings, died at the age of 99 in New Delhi on Thursday afternoon.
The author died quietly at home at his leafy Sujan Singh Park apartment, a landmark for old-timers of the capital, in whose construction his grandfather, Sir Sujan Singh, had a big hand.
Khushwant Singh was pre-deceased by his wife Kawal and is survived by son Rahul and daughter Mala.
Singh was cremated at Lodhi crematorium on Thursday.
His son Rahul Singh, a journalist and writer, said the author had stopped writing a few weeks back, but he was reading papers every morning.
“He was alert mentally till the very end,” Rahul said.
“He passed away very peacefully, led a very full life,” he added, reported IANS.
Khushwant shrugged off intellectual trappings and promoted jokes in a way that no other writer had ever done before him, or since. He ruled the literary pages with his satirical take on contemporary issues but attracted controversy over what his critics called his obsession with writing on sex.
Khushwant Singh’s father, Sir Sobha Singh, was a civil contractor and a prominent builder of Lutyens’ Delhi. The internationally acclaimed author was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the government under late Indira Gandhi. He was a Member of Parliament from 1980 to 1986.
He began his dealings with media as information officer of the government of India in Toronto and Canada and was Press attache and public officer for the high commission in the United Kingdom and the embassy in Ireland in 1948-50. Khushwant Singh started his writing career with Yojana, the planning commission’s journal which he founded and edited.
A recipient of Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honour, Khushwant Singh authored some internationally renowned books like Train to Pakistan, I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale, A History of the Sikhs, The Company of Women and Delhi, and has written over 30 novels, many short stories, essays and countless commentaries.
He was close to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi but then fell out with her over her imposition of press censorship during her emergency rule 1975-77. The relationship further soured after he became close to estranged daughter-in-law Maneka Gandhi, whom he mentored for some time.
In 2002, the author candidly wrote about his life, family history and his relationship with politicians in the autobiography “Truth, Love and a Little Malice”.
In 1974, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, but he returned the award in 1984 in protest against the army siege of the Golden Temple of the Sikhs in Amritsar.
Born in Hadali, now in Pakistan, he had, among others, served as the editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India, where his column, “With malice towards one and all”, flagged with the bulb symbol with his caricature inside, made him an iconic figure. He was also editor of The Hindustan Times and National Herald.
The country’s most prolific author, nicknamed King Leer for his legendary roving eye, was a household name.
Known for his colourful writings, sharp sense of humour and love for the good life, his writings weren’t just limited to novels and short stories, Khushwant Singh oeuvre ranged from political commentary to contemporary satire.
“He was a gentle person and a great admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. He believed in good thought and good deed. He hated hypocrisy and fundamentalism,” Rahul said.
He was also a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1980 to 1986.
Known for his humour, Singh took lots of digs at his community. His works ranged from political commentary and contemporary satire to outstanding translations of Sikh religious texts, Urdu poetry and a number of novels.
Born into a well-off family, he initially practised law in Lahore. But partition was the trigger for him to change professions.
“I loathed the law. I thought I can’t waste my entire life living off other people’s quarrels,” he said.
After coming to New Delhi, where his father became a prosperous property developer, he entered the diplomatic service in 1947 but soon tired of this and became a journalist and writer.
His philandering fame was mainly self-cultivated and he looked after his wife devotedly until she died of Alzheimer’s disease in her mid-80s.
But a rakish reputation could still get him into trouble even late in life.
In 2001 he triggered diplomatic uproar when he pecked the Pakistani High Commissioner’s (ambassador’s) teenage daughter on the cheek at a New Delhi party when tensions between India and Pakistan were high.
The high commissioner was recalled to Islamabad to explain what was seen in some Pakistani circles as a lapse in propriety.
President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led the nation in paying tributes to author and journalist.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Khushwant Singh a “gifted author, candid commentator and a dear friend who lived a truly creative life.”
BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi also offered his condolences saying, “My condolences on the passing away of noted author & journalist Khushwant Singh. May his soul rest in peace.”
Congress president Sonia Gandhi went to Khushwant Singh’s residence to pay her tributes.
Calling him a remarkable man and a great writer, veteran journalist Mark Tully said Kushwant Singh had a great sense of humour.
“He never minced his words and was a courageous person. I remember once having dinner with him when he showed up his tremendous knowledge about Urdu poetry. What a lovable man he was!” said Tully.
President M Hamid Ansari, in a tribute, said: “Khushwant Singh had a long, prolific and illustrious literary career spanning several decades during which he wrote on subjects varying from politics to poetry to issues of social concern.
“He was particularly admired for being fearless in expressing his views in his writing and speech.”
–India Today
