Author, editor, indomitable 'King Leer' Khushwant Singh passes away at 99

New Delhi: Khushwant Singh, one of India's best known writers who won fame for a searing book on partition of the subcontinent as well as his once-daring descriptions of sex, died Thursday aged 99.

Singh died at his Delhi residence, his son Rahul Singh said.

"He was having some breathing problems. He hadn't been too unwell in his last few days and had only stopped writing recently. He was still reading newspapers and books... was mentally alert, and led a full life," Rahul said.

The country's most prolific author, nicknamed King Leer for his legendary roving eye, was a household name who wrote more than 100 books and countless newspaper columns, including one called "With Malice Towards One And All".

In an interview with AFP in 2005, Singh described his passion for writing as "compulsive." "I don't know what to do with myself if I don't write, I have lost the art of relaxation," he said.

Singh, a Sikh born on February 2, 1915 in what is now Pakistan, occupied India's literary centre-stage for half a century with his novels -- some in his early decades scandalised India with their sexually explicit scenes.

He is best remembered for his historical novel "Train to Pakistan", which recounts the tragedy and bloodshed of the partition of the subcontinent in 1947 into India and Pakistan.

Singh, who penned his books and columns on yellow legal pads, became a writer relatively late.

As a journalist he had edited the now defunct Illustrated Weekly of India (1979-1980) and later the Hindustan Times (1980-83). His weekly column 'With Malice Towards One and All' was very popular and was syndicated in many dailies. He was also founder-editor of Yojana magazine (1951-1953).

Singh, an outstanding novelist and a forthright political commentator, was nominated to Rajya Sabha by the government under late Indira Gandhi. He was a Member of Parliament from 1980 to 1986.

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974 but returned the decoration in 1984 in protest against the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar by the Army. In 2007, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in India.

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.

Singh, famous for his insouciance, had penned his epitaph before his death. "Here lies one who spared neither man nor God/Waste not your tears on him, he was a sod/Writing nasty things he regarded as great fun/Thank the Lord he is dead, this son of a gun."

Singh will be cremated in Delhi later Thursday. He is survived by his son, daughter and a niece.