Dead at 99 … and we'll all miss him
Khushwant Singh
I was visiting my friend Tarun Tejpal in Delhi and one night I was invited with him to Khushwant's house for dinner at 9:00pm by his son. I said I wanted to meet Khushwant Ji. The son said I should come at 8:30 and meet him as he goes to his room at 9:00pm.
Meeting Khushwant Ji was a pleasure. He was eating his daal and chatted away with me about Pakistan for which he had a great love. At 9pm he started to reach his room and I saw that the door had a large kalmah around the sides. I asked him why that was and he said "Hindu bohat ghabraatay haéñ daykh kar …"
His books on every subject, serious, laughable, biographical, and his novels, have always fascinated me … but his Train to Pakistan was totally remarkable.
RIP, Khushwant Ji
posted by Zakintosh at 3/20/2014 02:45:00 PM
4 Comments:
Yes, he was a great man of substance. In 2004, when I translated some of his writings into Urdu and sent him the book through Yousuf bhai of Mr. Books Islamabad, Khushwant was so pleased that he wrote me a letter of appreciation. It was a post card: virtually the last ever post card that I received in my life. Post cards are now such a rare commodity in Pakistani society..... I doubt if the Pakistan Post even print them now!
Khushwant was Pakistan's friend - not a 'nadaan dost' - which we have in abundance! Rest in peace, Sardar Khushwant Singh ji.......
20 March, 2014 15:19
Those words, that wit, that sense of humour! What a personality, they don't make 'em like that anymore. RIP, sir.
20 March, 2014 15:22
His death is a great loss for us. He saw and wrote about a whole era with such wit, humor and insight. There is no replacement.
You are very lucky to have met him Zack sahab.
26 March, 2014 00:53
What a miracle writer he was. I've liked each and every book but have often picked up and then put down " train to pakistan".
07 May, 2020 00:16
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