Renowned Indian journalist, author, lawyer, diplomat, and former member of parliament, Khushwant Singh (2 February 1915 – 20 March 2014) was famous for his sense of humour.
His son, journalist and author, Rahul Singh shares some real anecdotes from Khushwant Singh’s life to characterise his sense of humour.
Khushwant Singh was India’s best – known writer and columnist. He was founder -editor of Yojana and editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India, The National Herald and Hindustan Times. He authored classics such as Train to Pakistan, I shall Not Hear the Nightingale and Delhi.
His novel, The Sunset Club, written when he was 95, was published by Penguin Books in 2010. His non- fiction includes the classic two – volume A History of the Sikhs, a number of translations and works on Sikh religion and culture, Delhi, nature, current affairs and Urdu poetry.
His autobiography, Truth,Love and aLittle Malice, was published by Penguin Books in 2002. Khushwant Singh was a member of Parliament from 1980 to 1986. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974 but retuned the decoration in 1984 in protest against the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar by the Indian Army.
In 2007, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
Rahul Singh, Khushwant Singh’s son, has penned, among other books, an engaging biography of his father Khushwant Singh, In The Name of the Father, which was launched by Amitabh Bachchan.
He is an advisor to World Literacy Canada, President of Satyagyan Foundation, India, President of the media awards committee at the Population Institute Washington.
Rahul studied in about 11 schools as his father was posted all over during his years in the foreign service. It was here, at an Elysee in Paris that he picked up his French. He graduated in History from Kings College, Cambridge.
This interview with Rahul Singh was recorded on 1 June, 2019, as a part of Cine Ink’s coverage of the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival at King’s College in London.
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