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Gods and Godmen of India
In this vibrant volume, Khushwant, in his inimitable style, tackles all issues related to religion, faith, blind faith, new cults, and new movements in other words, he charges like a raging bull to attack the epidemic of gods and godmen that has swept the nation in recent years. Khushwant Singh quotes liberally and with perfect ease from the Adi Granth, Adi Shankaracharya, Upanishads, Koran and other holy books to buttress his arguments. In this vibrant volume, Khushwant, in his inimitable style, tackles all issues related to religion, faith, blind faith, new cults, and new movements in other words, he charges like a raging bull to attack the epidemic of gods and godmen that has swept the nation in recent years. Khushwant Singh quotes liberally and with perfect ease from the Adi Granth, Adi Shankaracharya, Upanishads, Koran and other holy books to buttress his arguments.
- GenresNonfiction
243 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2004
23 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Khushwant Singh
298 books1,429 followersKhushwant 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 24, 2015
Khushwant Singh calls himself as agnostic and the book title reads Gods and Godmen of India, so you can assume where and about what the writings shall point to!
I really liked this book, it appears to be a collection of passages written by Khushwant Singh over the years. I I had some difficulty navigating through the first part about God, but the second and third part about prayer and Godmen was just a breeze. I never knew there were so many Godmen in India!
This book contains some of the encounters of Khushwant Singh with these Godmen, put in a way, aiming to be an eye opener to people. It contains ridicule, and does provide comic relief in few places too!
All in all a good read, I personally feel Khushwant Singh to be a maverick, his writing makes loads of appeal to me!
Cheers,
I really liked this book, it appears to be a collection of passages written by Khushwant Singh over the years. I I had some difficulty navigating through the first part about God, but the second and third part about prayer and Godmen was just a breeze. I never knew there were so many Godmen in India!
This book contains some of the encounters of Khushwant Singh with these Godmen, put in a way, aiming to be an eye opener to people. It contains ridicule, and does provide comic relief in few places too!
All in all a good read, I personally feel Khushwant Singh to be a maverick, his writing makes loads of appeal to me!
Cheers,
February 12, 2013
Talaash-e-haq mein dunya ko na chor aye zaahid,
kahin ka na rahega agar khuda na mila.
kahin ka na rahega agar khuda na mila.
June 5, 2019
Title: Godmen and Godwomen of India.
Author: Khushwant Singh
Publisher: Harper Collins India
Cover Design: 3/5
Cover: Paperback
Rating: 4/5
So, this book revolves around Khushwant Singh and his meeting with different Godmen and Godwomen around the world. It is a collection of spiritual questions divided in three categories: God, Prayer and Godmen and a list of stories and encounters with godmen and spiritual leaders.
Khushwant Singh being a antagonist, asked the questions fearlessly and the doubts generated on the lectures delivered and sermons given to thousands of people. One of the person being persistent "What is death and how can one not fear death ?". There were many answers to this question, some were humourous some made me think about the human life.
About the author, the anecdotes presented by the author for the false godmen and godwomen were hilarious. He tried to make people understand why not to follow anyone blindly and provided logical proof that any literate man can't deny. Also, the anecdotes end in a witty one liner that upturns the whole story.
The reason me not giving this complete 5 stars is that some godmen he tried to say as the perfect idol, but they are now in jail for some unthinkable crime. Also, the answers were never satisfying enough and created confusion in the last.
Comparing to the today's world, Khushwant Singh can be considered as Kunal Kamra and his questions from The National Democratic Alliance.
Favourite Quote:
Seriousness is illness, Spirituality is laughter, is joy, is fun.
Author: Khushwant Singh
Publisher: Harper Collins India
Cover Design: 3/5
Cover: Paperback
Rating: 4/5
So, this book revolves around Khushwant Singh and his meeting with different Godmen and Godwomen around the world. It is a collection of spiritual questions divided in three categories: God, Prayer and Godmen and a list of stories and encounters with godmen and spiritual leaders.
Khushwant Singh being a antagonist, asked the questions fearlessly and the doubts generated on the lectures delivered and sermons given to thousands of people. One of the person being persistent "What is death and how can one not fear death ?". There were many answers to this question, some were humourous some made me think about the human life.
About the author, the anecdotes presented by the author for the false godmen and godwomen were hilarious. He tried to make people understand why not to follow anyone blindly and provided logical proof that any literate man can't deny. Also, the anecdotes end in a witty one liner that upturns the whole story.
The reason me not giving this complete 5 stars is that some godmen he tried to say as the perfect idol, but they are now in jail for some unthinkable crime. Also, the answers were never satisfying enough and created confusion in the last.
Comparing to the today's world, Khushwant Singh can be considered as Kunal Kamra and his questions from The National Democratic Alliance.
Favourite Quote:
Seriousness is illness, Spirituality is laughter, is joy, is fun.
January 24, 2015
Its a collection of articles written by Khushwant singh. He is one of the finest writers India has ever produced. Being an agnostic, he goes on to pen down his experiences with Indian godmen in a very sarcastic way. I liked the way he puts up his childlike questions to those Godmen and to which no one could give a more convincing answer. India has produced more godmen than any other country in the world yet India is still struggling to get into the top in terms of development. K.S has never asked anyone not to believe in God or Godmen but has left for the readers to think in a wise way and tackle the issue. This is a very engrossing book which can keeps you hooked up untill you are done with it.
October 5, 2017
Kushwant Singh at his irreverent best. The book as the name indicates is about his denunciation of Gods and specifically the numerous godmen in India. He spares none.
In the first section he ridicules the practices like Vaastu and how religion has become a business for many.
The second section is his take on prayers of all types which he believes are humbug.
He reserves most of his words for the last section on godmen. From Dalai Lama to Satya Sai Baba to Chandraswami, he has spared none. He mocks, pokes fun at, ridicules one and all. He has maintained a good relationship with some of them and he is all praise for the discourse of Osho, Rajneesh.
A good read for the agnostics of this world.
In the first section he ridicules the practices like Vaastu and how religion has become a business for many.
The second section is his take on prayers of all types which he believes are humbug.
He reserves most of his words for the last section on godmen. From Dalai Lama to Satya Sai Baba to Chandraswami, he has spared none. He mocks, pokes fun at, ridicules one and all. He has maintained a good relationship with some of them and he is all praise for the discourse of Osho, Rajneesh.
A good read for the agnostics of this world.
January 22, 2020
Singh at his usual flow.
Just amazing to even think that a person can come in contact with so many godmen/ women of india.
Appreciate & respect his knowledge of all the scriptures & the best of all religions.
though I disagree with some points but mostly I enjoyed the book from start to end.
A very easy read.
Highly recommended for anybody who is looking for a quick casual read.
Good served as a very good travel companion.
(noticed that this is a collection of different articles/ notes that he had taken/ written after his meetings with various godmen, sometimes the content may be repeated)
Just amazing to even think that a person can come in contact with so many godmen/ women of india.
Appreciate & respect his knowledge of all the scriptures & the best of all religions.
though I disagree with some points but mostly I enjoyed the book from start to end.
A very easy read.
Highly recommended for anybody who is looking for a quick casual read.
Good served as a very good travel companion.
(noticed that this is a collection of different articles/ notes that he had taken/ written after his meetings with various godmen, sometimes the content may be repeated)
February 9, 2018
Most interesting recounts of his meetings with many Godmen and women. I wish he had dwelt upon each episode some more and not ended it so abruptly. Leaves an empty and unsatiated feeling in the tummy
Need to read more that's written as authentically on our Babas and Fakirs. God Bless them. Tempted to meet an odd one myself
Need to read more that's written as authentically on our Babas and Fakirs. God Bless them. Tempted to meet an odd one myself
September 17, 2018
His writing are always entertaining and truthful. Good read for the weekend.....
Shughal hai Kya,
Bas Raam naam japna, paraya maal apna.
What is your pastime,
Take the name of God and wealth of my disciples.
Shughal hai Kya,
Bas Raam naam japna, paraya maal apna.
What is your pastime,
Take the name of God and wealth of my disciples.
October 4, 2017
"God is unknown and unknowable. Any attempt to describe God is a distortion of truth".
This book is an amazing read.
This book is an amazing read.
April 12, 2020
Enjoyable read. Not much to gain from it except for his ascetic views.
June 4, 2021
Nice compilation of Singh's various essays on the subject. Obnoxious new atheist types would be well served to read and see how one can be a non-believer yet be kind & empathetic.
January 24, 2024
Couldn't stop thinking about Sadhguru and Bageshwar while reading this
June 9, 2020
One of the best parts of Khushwant Singh’s books is the hard-hitting truth in it. Just like his other books, in this book, Khushwant Singh takes on the highly infamous Godmen and God women of our society.
The author describes all his experiences of meeting and spending time with many Godmen and God women all over the country. Being an unbiased personality, he could see both the pros and cons of this system and did write beautifully about it.
This book is a reflection on our society. Time for a reality check. Don't miss out on reading this book.
The author describes all his experiences of meeting and spending time with many Godmen and God women all over the country. Being an unbiased personality, he could see both the pros and cons of this system and did write beautifully about it.
This book is a reflection on our society. Time for a reality check. Don't miss out on reading this book.
September 15, 2016
Khushwant Singh is one of the best authors I have read. With his humor that surfaces providing instant delight. Started the reading spree with him, lets see where this takes me. My next book is " There is no GOD " by the same author
October 21, 2016
Interesting perspective of an agnostic person having interacted with so many godmen and having asked them a specific set of questions. Only KS could have provided such an experience ... enjoyed reading it...
March 13, 2013
You know what Khushwant Singh is famous for... rarely can you find a competitor to his charm & satiric expertise...
October 6, 2012
Well written
June 3, 2016
Not bad, a bit too expensive though
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews