The thought bulb will glow in others

Namita Gokhale shares how Khushwant Singh inspired young writers with his fearless approach and undaunting spirit

What a man, what a life. This perhaps is the precise and appropriate way to describe one of the most popular prose writers of India, Khushwant Singh, who passed away at 99. A century may seem like a great achievement but what is remarkable is that Singh remained young in mind and spirit until the very end.

The memories that I have of him are of an intensely kind and learned man, who would often be spotted feeding stray cats and kittens in his neighbourhood. He was extremely simple and frugal. Though he was born to privilege and plenty, he was never extravagant. He believed in simplicity. For all his reported idiosyncrasies, he was easily approachable to young writers and fans from every reach of life. I remember how his drawing room was an intimate salon where writers would meet and have lengthy conversations on every subject under the sun. There was a real literary and intellectual community that he nurtured from his hospitable Sujan Singh Park flat. There is a forbidding sign outside that reads, ‘Do not ring the doorbell unless you are expected.’ One got into trouble if one arrived even slightly late. He respected punctuality and there was a moment where guests were heaved out, for his extremely disciplined habits were always to be respected.

He encouraged young writers. He was the first one to read my debut novel Paro. He guided me on how to find an agent and a publisher, he wrote a long piece about it and helped make the book visible. Singh was famous as a ‘ladies man’ and I think he truly did like and respect women. He was a real gentleman behind the slightly dissolute persona he worked so hard to cultivate.

His direct and irreverent style of writing demolished the barriers between him and his millions of doting readers. He never bothered to be politically correct. He was essentially iconoclastic and continued to be so until the end.  His “malice” was both endearing and addictive. He was at many levels a much misunderstood person, except to his legions of devoted friends. He had spanned the arc of being a barrister, a diplomat, an editor, writer, poet, reviewer and parliamentarian. He was logical, rational and consistently fought superstition and countered prejudice. And he never spared himself from his relentless, ironic scrutiny.

Singh did some path-breaking work during his tenure with The Illustrated Weekly of India. Personally, I think his series on Indian communities established The Weekly. He worked with a great team and always was an inspiration to be with. His books on Sikhism are credible, learned and profound. He was a philosophical and even spiritual man,  only those who knew him personally would know that. He had a deep and experiential understanding of Sikh religion and that is evident from his writings. He would appear to be an agnostic and yet his heart was full of reverence for the mysteries of life.

When I met him last, he could not hear properly but his mind was as sharp as ever. Khushwant Singh never retired. He was full of life and was always busy. Three years ago he had decided to stop writing. But, a few weeks later, he started writing his columns again. Today, after visiting his flat in the evening, crowded as it was with books and friends and memories, I salute a man who stood for an era, and for the timeless human spirit.

(As told to Divya Kaushik)