Sex, Scotch & Scholarship

by Khushwant Singh

IN THIS ANTHOLOGY, WHICH COMPRISES SOME OF KHUSHWANT SINGH`S BEST WRITING, YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO SOME TALK OF SEX, A LITTLE OF SCOTCH AND MUCH SCHOLARSHIP. THE COLLECTION ATTEMPTS TO MIRROR THE AUTHOR`S CONCERNS AND PASSIONS-HIS LOVE OF NATURE, HIS ANGUISH OVER THE SITUATION IN PUNJAB, HIS INTEREST IN RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD AND HIS SCHOLARLY RESEARCH ON THE ONE INTO WHICH HE WAS BORN, SIKHISM. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS BOOK, HOWEVER, IS THE EXPANSIVE, AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL OPENING PIECE WRITTEN IN KHUSHWANT`S CHARACTERISTICALLY CANDID STYLE AND PERHAPS THE MOST COMPLETE SELF-PORTRAIT HE HAS YET PAINTED. खुशवंत सिंग म्हणजे एक बहुरंगी आणि बहुढंगी असे व्यक्तिमत्त्व, साहित्य, इतिहास, संस्कृती, तत्त्वज्ञान आणि विविध विषयांवरील स्तंभलेखन यामुळे ते भारतात व परदेशातही वाचकप्रिय लेखक आहेत.'सेक्स, स्कॉच अँड स्कॉलरशिप' या त्यांच्या निवडक लेखसंग्रहात काही सेक्स, थोडी स्कॉच आणि बरंच काही स्कॉलरशिप, अशा विषयांवरील लेख आहेत. त्यांचे निसर्गप्रेम, पंजाब प्रश्नाबाबतची आस्था, जगातील सर्व धर्मांचा अभ्यास आणि त्याचबरोबर स्वत च्या शीख धर्माचे संशोधन, या विषयांवरील अभ्यासपूर्ण आणि उत्कट विवेचन ही या संग्रहाची वैशिष्ट्ये आहेत. खुशवंत सिंग यांचे खास खुसखुशीत आणि परखड शैलीत केलेले स्वत चे सविस्तर असे लिखाण हे या पुस्तकाचे आणखी एक वैशिष्ट्य आहे. किंबहुना खुशवंत सिंग यांनी लिहिलेल्या व्यक्तिचित्रांपैकी हे परिपूर्ण असे व्यक्तिचित्र आहे. खुशवंत सिंग यांच्या 'सेक्स, स्कॉच अँड स्कॉलरशिप' या पुस्तकातील एकूण लेखनाचा केंद्रबिंदू हा 'माणूस' आहे, म्हणून हे लेख वाचताना प्रत्येकजण नकळत अंतर्मुख होतो.

Genres: Nonfiction, India

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

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

[Mohit · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are three things that can be said about Khushwant Singh.
1. He is the one with intelligence and acumen.
2. He has his way with the words.
3. His books are always below average because he does not respect the art as he is extremely casual.

And that’s how I end up summarising all of his books in the end.

End of Review.

P.S. - This book, in parts, towards the end, is a good informal lesson in history of faiths.

[Gourang Ambulkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of writings and musings of Khushwant Singh.

[Nirmal Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is compilation of short stories and life events of Khushwant Singh, some are very interesting and some of them bit dull. Please don't go on the title its not only sex that Mr. K is talking about but the how it's interpreted in Indian way of life. Books starts with Mr. K's history and he is tries his best to remove allegations like womanizer or drunked from him and further it touches the life events and learning of his life. Later in the end some good historical references from gurbani gives the final ending to this book.

[Avijeet Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a great Fan of Mr Khushwant Singh!

My first book of his was "Train to Pakistan" which was a prescribed book in my graduate studies....

Later in life I read this Book!!

A thoroughly enjoyable book!!

[Rohit Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in the days when my Mom was the boss of the house Khushwant Singh’s books were forbidden from our collection because of obvious reasons. Now that I am the boss :) I dared pick it up and after much loving it going to send it my Mom’s way too. (If you are reading this Mom, trust me this one is really good, sending it to you, read it and then let's talk). Whatever I have read of him and from him earliest that I remember, he is straightforward and may sound rude to a few (a lot) but this guy had a sense of humour for sure. He is one of those few Authors who can make you laugh out loud just like PG Wodehouse and has no qualms about making you laugh at himself too. He will crack the craziest Sardarji jokes at the parties that he threw for his friends but won’t take crap from anyone. This book is a collection of his experiences in life from Parliament to Indian Politics to an Indian travelling to foreign lands on official and personal trips. A hilarious and almost true to the core account of Mr Singh in one of the craziest ways. I loved it for its blatant humour which he throws on his reader's faces and even questions them on a lot of myths too that we follow. Also, this was an eye-opener for me (and very impressive) to read how knowledgeable he was of various religions, not only Sikhism which I assumed anyways. His knowledge of the Quran, Bible, Vedas & even Ramayan etc was tremendous. His opinion on Fairer sex and even sex as an act are well known and he leaves no stone unturned in this one too. Shockingly he isn’t afraid of calling out real names in his anecdotes from his past and present, that is too brave of him.

One of the most loved episodes of this short book (hardly 250 pages) was his visit to his motherland Pakistan and especially the way he gets treated there. Also his love-hate relationship with Mrs Indira Gandhi and to top it all his opinion on the Khalistan episode from India’s not-so-long-ago history.

He has written more than 80 books and I guess I have read maybe half a dozen while in school/college (Sorry Mom). Do let me know if you have a favourite from him, I would love to read it before laying my hands on a few on my own too. If you haven’t read this one, I suggest you get it ASAP and take it with a pinch of salt to enjoy.

[Mihir Rajamane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly eclectic collection of his work. I haven’t read much else of his work to place it in the context of his bibliography, but by itself, it reeks of the complacence of the old guard. It has a fairly superficial glance at many issues- gender disparity, religion, poverty, humour and popular discourse, etc are often easily painted as individual failures without a questioning of why individuals may fail, or why society lets individuals may fail, collectively.
What can be appreciated is the sheer irreverence of his humour and his willingness to be frank, although his frankness does seem hard to believe at certain points as he glosses over interactions with little to explain the many personalities, beyond cheeky descriptions, or the nature of his relations with them.
The prose and the fiction are definitely practiced, proficient and easy to read.

[Vipul Musani · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is good to read but gets very boring and the writer wants to amend what he has previously told about himself and wants they we consider it as fiction but I have read his book and I am sure these are his personal experience

[Nethra Ram · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've realized that I love the political pieces of Singh more than his other pieces. I found the travelogues especially boring but my word, what a wonderful writer!

[Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This humorous author is great for those who want to understand India. This book reunites small novels on several subjects, very interesting and pleasant reading.

[Harman Jandalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good books

[Ashish Ranjan]

Exceptional story telling, with wit & sarcasm.

[Namrota Baruwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it wasn't as much of a page turner as you would expect from Khuswant Singh. A few chapters were mind boggling and brought tears or laughter to your face.

[Tejas Modhvadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title is irrelevant.
Writer just keeps writing everyday incidences .

[Kanak Singh]

Flippant and cavalier, as always. Pleasure to read this collection of low key (and some serious) writings by the legend

[Tushar Aggarwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

People have not rated this book among the very best of Khushwant Singh but I find this book to be quite an interesting one to read.
It has some very good short essays and stories and real life political incidents and being a political guy I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Some of the essays were a bit boring specially where he starts to dwell on God too much, understandable of him being an agnostic.

It is more of 3.5/5 from my side.

[Shantanu Prakash · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Khushwant Singh book, loved it! Recommended!
I found the political memoirs a bit extended, probably because political stuff generally puts me to sleep. His recollections about the khalistan movement was informative to me, hadn't read about it much. Good story teller btw, Looking forward to read some more of his!

[Bonkersforbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

provocative title- content of the book not reflective of this. short stories -biographical . the usual KS sharp wit and keen perception of people, places and things. not his best book but I had fun reading it.

[Ashok.chava · Rating 3 out of 5]

loud and bold......readable. travel logs are bit boaring

[Safi]

fine

[Gaurav Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book filled with the experiences of sir khushwant including journey, short and spicy events of his or general life.

[Sea Urchin · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed parts of it where he talks about his life.. but he lost me at travel parts and a bit at the end. still worth a read though.