What do you think?
Rate this book
Khushwant Singh:The Legend Lives On...
Here was a man. Prolific writer Acerbic critic Editor nonpareil Trenchant humourist Connoisseur of single malt Lover of life, words, women, and all things beautiful ‘You know that I am 99 years old.’ I ‘May my years be added to yours.’ He looked up at me with the softest expression, and ‘No, but may you live as long as I have.’ I held his hand, the hand that had spent a lifetime writing books and inimitable articles, and kissed it. He brushed his cheek with mine. Both of us knew that it was a farewell. I left and stood on the gravel outside … – Fakir Syed Aijazuddin, Features Writer, Dawn … the Patiala Peg of publishing is no more! But we will continue to raise our glasses and thank him for liberating us from our idiotic, hypocritical, fake, humourless lives … for making us laugh at ourselves … for ridding us of quaint sexual hang-ups … for chucking old rules into the waste basket … for caring a damn! Jeena isi ka naam hai! – Shobhaa Dé, Bestselling Author
219 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2014
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 21, 2023
Khushwant Singh - The legend lives on
Rating 3.25/5
I completed the book in two days to be precise, but I did not have sufficient steam to write a review for many days, owing to the nature of the book. I have to admit, I did feel the book to be a little bland for my liking. I was having goood chunk of enthusiasm till about 100 pages, but later, felt much of the stuffs repetitive.
The book comprises of obituaries written for Khushwant Singh, which have been printed in the newspaper, or which have made their way into online media.
I have read sufficient Khushwant Singh material that, I shamelessly can proclaim that, I am aware of many a Khushwant trivia. So did find nothing new amidst the obituaries. And thats one of the reason, I found it to be repetitive and bland, not much to my liking.
Most of the obituaries emphasised few common things, which I am listing them down. Hope you too may be familiar with these already!
1. Train to Pakistan/Mano Majra.
2. History of Sikhs,
3. Job as a lawyer in Lahore and later diplomat.
4. Illustrated weekly of India.
5. Hindustan Times
6. Support for emergency.
7. Support for INC/ Sanjay/Indira Gandhi.
8. Voice against Operation Bluestar.
9. Return of Padma Vibhushan.
10. As a Rajya Sabha MP.
11. Out of favor with Maneka Gandhi.
12. Delay of his autobiography due to court case.
13. Criticism of right wing units and political parties.
14. Supporting peace talks with our (West) neighbors
15. 1992 Demolition and Rath Yatra.
16. Grooming or influencing new and contemporary authors.
There were couple of things which I expected which nobody wrote. But then, I expect too much, as always.
1. His relation with his brothers.
2. His equation with his son-in-law.
3. The deleted chapter from his autobiography about his wife.
Never mind,
Cheers,
Rating 3.25/5
I completed the book in two days to be precise, but I did not have sufficient steam to write a review for many days, owing to the nature of the book. I have to admit, I did feel the book to be a little bland for my liking. I was having goood chunk of enthusiasm till about 100 pages, but later, felt much of the stuffs repetitive.
The book comprises of obituaries written for Khushwant Singh, which have been printed in the newspaper, or which have made their way into online media.
I have read sufficient Khushwant Singh material that, I shamelessly can proclaim that, I am aware of many a Khushwant trivia. So did find nothing new amidst the obituaries. And thats one of the reason, I found it to be repetitive and bland, not much to my liking.
Most of the obituaries emphasised few common things, which I am listing them down. Hope you too may be familiar with these already!
1. Train to Pakistan/Mano Majra.
2. History of Sikhs,
3. Job as a lawyer in Lahore and later diplomat.
4. Illustrated weekly of India.
5. Hindustan Times
6. Support for emergency.
7. Support for INC/ Sanjay/Indira Gandhi.
8. Voice against Operation Bluestar.
9. Return of Padma Vibhushan.
10. As a Rajya Sabha MP.
11. Out of favor with Maneka Gandhi.
12. Delay of his autobiography due to court case.
13. Criticism of right wing units and political parties.
14. Supporting peace talks with our (West) neighbors
15. 1992 Demolition and Rath Yatra.
16. Grooming or influencing new and contemporary authors.
There were couple of things which I expected which nobody wrote. But then, I expect too much, as always.
1. His relation with his brothers.
2. His equation with his son-in-law.
3. The deleted chapter from his autobiography about his wife.
Never mind,
Cheers,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2014
A very important book if you are a Khushwant Singh fan and unaware of his personal life. For people already familiar with his life, don't expect a lot of new trivia as chances are that you'd be already aware of it. For people who hate him, just read it and try to understand what a great man he was.
The best part of this book is that you realize how many lives Khushwant Singh has touched in his 99 years long innings. Not that you already didn't know this but to hear it from their own pen is something which will touch you personally as most of what is written will resonate with your own feelings. Only regret I have is that my tribute to him is not a part of this book. One day, some day hopefully.
Not exactly related to the book but I have started to hate 2014. Off the top of my head, Khushwant Singh, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Pran and now Robin Williams. It seems heaven was in a dire need for some wisdom.
The best part of this book is that you realize how many lives Khushwant Singh has touched in his 99 years long innings. Not that you already didn't know this but to hear it from their own pen is something which will touch you personally as most of what is written will resonate with your own feelings. Only regret I have is that my tribute to him is not a part of this book. One day, some day hopefully.
Not exactly related to the book but I have started to hate 2014. Off the top of my head, Khushwant Singh, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Pran and now Robin Williams. It seems heaven was in a dire need for some wisdom.
September 24, 2014
Khushwant Singh must be turning in his grave. He wouldn't approve of such stuff......repetitive, boring and pedestrian. The compilation of eulogies through obituaries does not do justice to the inimitable sardar. Except the unconventional articulation by Shobha De and Bishan Singh Bedi, so reminiscent of Khushwant Singh, there is nothing riveting about the narrations.
September 2, 2015
It makes me sad that my favourite author is no more. I don't think there is another around who can be so blatantly candid about people as Khushwant Singh. He had made gossip a fine art, which I loved about him. This book is a collection of obituaries written by prominent people after his demise.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews