8/16/2014

Khushwant Singh, Indian Writer

Khushw ant Singh, Indian Writer - Inform ative & researched article on Khushw ant Singh, Indian Writer

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Khushwant Singh, Indian Writer

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Khushwant Singh, a post colonial novelist and journalist of India was best known for his biting secularism, sharp wits
and abiding love for poetry. The demise of this gem on 20th March 2014 caused a great loss to the world of literature.

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More on Khushwant Singh, Indian Writer (5 Articles)

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Khushwant
Singh was an
illustrious
storywriter,
historian, political
writer, essayist
biographer,
translator
novelist and
journalist. Since
independence he
has been the
country`s most
well- known English writer. In Indian literary history Khushwant
Singh`s name is bound to evolve as one of the finest historians and
novelists, a forthright political commentator, and an outstanding observer and social critic. He is attributed with freethinking. Kushwant
Singh`s comparisons of social and behavioural characteristics of Indians and Westerners are the examples of his acid wit. He
brought history to our doorsteps and quite ideally therefore India describes him as "The Capital`s best known living monument". Apart
from his literary works, his roles as a lawyer, diplomat, critic, journalist, novelist, humorist, naturalist and politician made Khushwant
Singh a man larger than life.

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Early Life of Khushwant Singh

Khushwant Singh was born on 2nd February, 1915 at Haldi in Punjab. This place is presently in Pakistan. His father, Sir Sobha Singh

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was a prominent builder in Lutyens` Delhi. He took his early education from The Modern High School and St. Stephen`s College, New
Delhi. He passed his graduation from Government College, Lahore and

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then became barrister from King`s College, London. While he was

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practising in the Lahore High Court in 1947 he had to come to his

family`s summer cottage at Kasauli in the foothills of the Himalayas
following the partition of India and Pakistan.
Career of Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh was practicing law in the High Court in Lahore before
the partition of India and Pakistan. He joined the Indian Ministry of
External Affairs in 1947. After that he began a distinguished career as
journalist with All India Radio in 1951. Since then he had been foundereditor of Yojana from 1951 to 1953, editor of the Illustrated weekly of India
from 1979 to 1980, chief editor of New Delhi from 1979 to 1980 and
editor of the Hindustan Times from 1980 to1983. He had written for all
most all the major national and international newspapers in India as well
as abroad. His Saturday column "With Malice towards One and All" in the
Hindustan Times has been one of the most popular columns. He also
served UNESCO in Paris. From 1980 to 1986, he was a member of
Rajya Sabha. Although it covers a very small period of time yet it reflects his courageous spirit.
Literary Works of Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh`s literary works strongly reflected contemporary satire and political commentary. Many of them are also the
translations of Urdu poetry and Sikh religious texts. The experience of his journey to his family`s summer cottage at Kasauli in the
foothills of the Himalayas later reflected into his write ups. He had narrated his arrival at Kausali in a jeep of armed Sikhs who were
talking in a self-admiring way about the massacred of a Muslim village by them. His experience also resulted in the novel "Train to
Pakistan" in 1956. He distilled his experience in the novel powerfully. This book won him the international fame and the Grove Press
Award in 1954. His work "Maharaja Ranjit Singh" reflects the secularist view of his. His comments on Bhagwat Gita also revealed his

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Khushwant Singh, Indian Writer

Award in 1954. His work "Maharaja Ranjit Singh" reflects the secularist view of his. His comments on Bhagwat Gita also revealed his
secularist view. Other best-known novels of Singh are "Delhi" and "The Company of Women". He was also amongst the last
remaining writers who personally knew the stalwarts of Urdu and Punjabi literature.
Personal Life of Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh was married to Kawal Malik and the couple was blessed with
a son, Rahul Singh, and a daughter Mala. He dwelled in Sujan Singh Park in
Delhi, which is credited as the first apartment complex and was constructed in
1945 by his father. It was named after his grandfather.
Death of Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh breathed his last on 20th March 2014, at the age of 99, at his
Delhi residence. He was suffering from breathing trouble.
Awards and Honours of Khushwant Singh
Awards and Honours

Year

Rockfeller Grant,

1966

Padma Bhushan, Government of India (He returned the

decoration in 1984 in protest against the Union government`s

1974

siege of the Golden Temple, Amritsar)

Honest Man of the Year, Sulabh International

2000

Punjab Rattan Award, The Government of Punjab

2006

Padma Vibhushan, Government of India

2007

Sahitya academy fellowship award by Sahitya academy of India

2010

All-India Minorities Forum Annual Fellowship Award by Uttar

Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav

2012

Books Written by Khushwant Singh

Books

Year

Ghadar 1915: India`s first armed revolution

1966

A History of the Sikhs, (2nd edition)

1966

A Bride for the Sahib and Other Stories

1967

Black Jasmine,

1971

Tragedy of Punjab

1984

Delhi: A Novel

1990

Sex, Scotch and Scholarship: Selected Writings,

1992

Not a Nice Man to Know: The Best of Khushwant Singh

1993

We Indians

1993

Women and Men in My Life

1995

Uncertain Liaisons; Sex, Strife and Togetherness in Urban India

1995

Declaring Love in Four Languages, by Khushwant Singh and

Sharda Kaushik

1997

The Company of Women

1999

Truth, Love and a Little Malice (an autobiography)

2002

With Malice towards One and All (Weekly Column)

The End of India

2003

Burial at the Sea

2004

Paradise and Other Stories

2004

A History of the Sikhs: 1469-1838

2004

Death at My Doorstep

2005

A History of the Sikhs: 1839-2004

2005

The Illustrated History of the Sikhs

2006

Why I Supported the Emergency: Essays and Profiles

2009

The Sunset Club

2010

Agnostic Khushwant Singh, There is no GOD

2012

The Good, the Bad and the Ridiculous, (Co-authored with Humra
Qureshi)

2013

Short Stories by Khushwant Singh

Short Stories
The Mark of Vishnu and Other Stories
The Voice of God and Other Stories
A Bride for the Sahib and Other Stories
Black Jasmine
The Collected Stories
The Portrait of a Lady
The Strain
Success Mantra
A Love Affair In London

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(Last Updated on : 21/03/2014)

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