The Vintage Sardar

by Khushwant Singh

This new collection brings together Khushwant Singh's essays and articles on themes as varied as God, the afterlife, the banning of books, caste, prostitution, crank calls and pets. His skills as a raconteur and journalist are used to brilliant effect in his sketches of Gandhi, Raj Kapoor, Vajpayee, Phoolan Devi, Zia-ul-Haq and the Dalai Lama, as also in his travel pieces on Nagaland and France, among other places. It ends with a frank and introspective autobiographical piece. Khushwant Singh's distinctive candour, wit and insight make this an engaging and sparkling collection.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Khushwant Singh, (Punjabi: ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ, Hindi: खुशवंत सिंह) born on 2 February 1915 in Hadali, Undivided India, (now a part of Pakistan), was a prominent Indian novelist and journalist. Singh's weekly column, "With Malice towards One and All", carried by several Indian newspapers, was among the most widely-read columns in the country.

An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.

Reviews

[Sulagna Pattanaik · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is based on various subjects ranging from famous personalities, English, poets and Authors, Temples and Shrines, life-death-spirituality etc. Some topics can be boring to a few, and interesting to the others. But, the wit, rawness, honesty and unapologetic manner of Khushwant Singh's writing is what will keep you hooked.

[Baljeet Panaich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Nice. It is a collection of writings by the one of the greatest of our time. Every time I read one of his articles, I get overawed by the wit and candour and insight he can add to his lines. His way of writing has a distinct flavor of a super intelligent and sharp indian mind. I love it.

[Mathew Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of Khushwant Singh's articles illustrates his penchant for political satire and ridicule for cultural conservatism. However, certain articles seem to have a lopsided opinion without the broader picture in mind.

[Sasha Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting and incredibly well-written little vignettes on all things. helpful to be reading while here in india but would recommend for anyone. also provides quite an extensive and eclectic reading list for this part of the world.

[Pooja Trivedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love reading Khushwant Singh's Book and never got dissapointed by any. his book is very entertaining and very straight forward.

[Neeta Sirvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just loved this book by Khushwant Singh ❤️

[Aarushi Basu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Idyllic, hilarious and refreshingly unfiltered, this book had me both in awe of and slightly unnerved(/let's just say, if I met him we'd be friends) by Khushwant Singh.

[Arun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting reading, Collection of Articles and editorial. Touches periods, personalities, places, worship, culture and politics

[Neha Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of interesting essays and articles.. in typical khushwant style but not his best.. could have more power and wit but they sound generic

[Ankita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book ‘The Vintage Sardar’, published by Penguin Books is a compilation of his articles, especially those from his coloumn ‘With Malice Towards One And All’ in Hindustan Times newspaper in late 80s and early 90s. The range of topics is wider in this book and various new categories have been included as well, like nature, sex, death and faith.

He talks about shrewd Pakistani General Zia Ul Haq and his deceptively innocent looks, Nehru’s affair with Lady Edwina Mountbatten and how paparazzi sneaked inside their hotel at midnight, the infamously nymphomaniac life of painter Amrita Shergill, who was also his neighbor in Lahore and her catfight with Singh’s wife. He also takes us back to Mughal era and tells us what Babar told Humayun about India in his famous letter, and much more, from the secretive functioning of the gay community of Mumbai to Singh’s tactful dealing with a verbally abusive caller.

I loved it!

[Vik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very interesting

[Md · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for his guts.

[Khayam Arif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very intelligent and beautiful writing. Just read the first page and couldn't get rid of it until I have read the whole book.

[Rohan Uddin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, witty and intelligent in its scope. Khushwant Singh is a great columnist.