Singh, wanted to be remembered as someone who made people smile
Photo- PTI
New Delhi: Khushwant Singh, who passed away on Thursday, wanted to be remembered as someone who made people smile and wrote his own epitaph some years ago in which he described himself as one "who spared neither man nor God".
In "Khushwantnama: The Lessons of My Life", released last year, Singh had wrote, "On Independence day, 2012, I turned 98, being aware of my state of health, I know that I will not write another book... The truth is that I want to die. I have lived long enough."
He wrote he had everything in life which he wanted to do.
"I would like to be remembered as someone who made people smile. A few years ago, I wrote my own epitaph: '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 had presented the first copy of "Khushwantnama: The Lessons of My Life" last year to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur, to whom he dedicated the book.
In the book, published by Penguin, Singh, who has over the years enlightened and outraged his readers in equal measure be it with his humour or his sharp insights and observations, reflects on a life lived fully and the lessons it taught him.
The author offered his views on subjects as diverse as old age and the fear of death; on the joy of sex, the pleasures of poetry and the importance of laughter; on how to cope with retirement and live a long, happy and healthy life.
Singh had worked on a classic two-volume history of the Sikhs, a number of translations and non-fiction books on a variety of subjects including nature, current affairs and Urdu poetry.
At 95, Singh had authored the novel "The Sunset Club". His autobiography, "Truth, Love and a Little Malice", was published in 2002.
His short story collection includes 'The Mark of Vishnu and Other Stories', 'A Bride for the Sahib and Other Stories', 'Black Jasmine', 'The Portrait of a Lady' and 'A Love Affair In London'.
Singh was known to have a good equation with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and even supported the Emergency she had clamped between 1975-1977.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the passing away of the author, describing him as "a gifted author, candid commentator and a dear friend" who lived a truly creative life."
As news of his demise spread, tributes poured in from his fans in the social media.
"Oh no Khushwant Singh is no more. He made our lives so much richer by his literary contributions," actor Shah Rukh Khan tweeted.
Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Rajmohan Gandhi remembered Singh as someone with a desire to build other people.
"Apart from being a popular writer and utterly fearless man, what I found unusual in him, very rare in others was his great desire to build other people. He was always praising new authors, giving time to them. He was frank in his verdicts," said Gandhi.
"To think Delhi, the world of literature and newspapers will be without him is a very very hard thought to accept!" Gandhi said.
People from all walks of life took to twitter to offer their condolences.
"The bulb is extinguished ...Goodbye Khushwant Singh," tweeted journalist Ashok Malik.
"So Khushwant singh goes,like we all must. what a life led! a 100 would have been excellent but he gave us 99 & we must be thankful for that," tweeted cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle.
Writer Shobhaa De tweeted, "Khushwant Singh. End of an era. Only KS could say 'There's no condom for a pen. And prove it!"
( Source : PTI )
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