35

Chapter-2
Khushwant Singh:
The Man and the Writer 36
Chapter-2
Khushwant Singh: The Man and the Writer
I
Khushwant`s biggest attribute is that he speaks what he fees! "e is h#nest
t# the e$tent that he #ffends e%en his friends and i&#ns re%ered b' pe#pe! It
d#es
n#t (atter t# hi( that it )e#pardi*es his &han&es in ife! It is this +uait' that
(ade
,andhi int# a Mahat(a! In Indian iterar' hist#r' Khushwant Singh`s na(e is
b#und t# e%#%e as #ne #f the finest hist#rians and n#%eists- a f#rthright
p#iti&a
&#((entat#r- and an #utstanding #bser%er and s#&ia &riti&! "e is attributed
with
freethinking! Kushwant Singh`s &#(paris#ns #f s#&ia and beha%i#ra
&hara&teristi&s #f Indians and Westerners are the e$a(pes #f his a&id wit! "e
br#ught hist#r' t# #ur d##rsteps! Khushwant Singh is %er' truthfu ab#ut
hi(sef!
Singh sa's:
.M' &#n&ern is n#t with (' #utward appearan&e-
(' untid' turban- unke(pt beard #r (' ga*ed ##k!
/I ha%e been t#d that (' e'es are th#se #f a ustfu
bud(ash0 but what ies behind the ph'si&a the rea
(e &#(p#unded #f &#nfi&ting e(#ti#ns ike #%e
and hate- genera irritabiit' and #&&asi#na
e+uip#ise- angr' denun&iati#n and t#eran&e #f
an#ther1s p#int #f %iew- rigid adheren&e t# sef-
pres&ribed regi(en and a&&#((#dati#n #f #thers1
&#n%enien&e!2
3

Khushwant Singh was b#rn #n 4eb! 2- 3535 at %iage "adai in Khushab
distri&t Sarg#dha- 6un)ab - n#w in 6akistan! Khushwant Singh1s fa(i' &a(e
fr#(
a tin' ha(et &aed "adai that is #&ated ab#ut se%en (ies west #f the ri%er
7heu( and ab#ut f#rt' (ies s#uth #f the Khewra Sat Mine range /n#w in 38
6akistan0! "is parents- 9ad' :ar'a( Kaur and Sir S#bha Singh (igrated t#
;ehi
taking Khshwant Singh1s eder br#ther with the(! The '#ung Khushwant
Singh
was eft behind in "adai in the &are #f his paterna grand(#ther! "adai had
a
pr#f#und infuen&e up#n hi(! It was a s(a %iage with bare' 3<< fa(iies
i%ing there- (#st #f the( Musi(s! The eariest infuen&e #n Khushwant
Singh
was that #f his grand(#ther! "e was e$tre(e' &#se t# her and &#ntinued t#
share
the sa(e r##( with her ti he was nineteen 'ears #d! "e has written a
p#ignant
sh#rt st#r' ab#ut her entited! =The 6#rtrait #f a 9ad'=! She w#ud &#nstant'
be
engaged in re&iting the h#' s&riptures The ,ranth Sahib and Sukh(ani- the
psa(
#f pea&e! This great' infuen&ed Singh and pr#bab' triggered his interest in
reigi#n! This perhaps ed hi( t# ater spe&iai*e in Sikhis(! "e transated the
Sikh (#rning pra'er 7ap)i- &#(p#sed b' ,uru >anak- the f#under #f Sikhis(!
"e
as# wr#te a b##k entited- The Sikhs! "is parents had rented a s(a sha&k
where
his father had taken &#ntra&ts f#r the buiding #f a new &apita #f India- >ew
;ehi! The ife #f a &#ntra&t#r as Singh saw his father ead has been
presented in
(eti&u#us detai in the &hapters ike =The ife #f a &#ntra&t#r2 and =The
?uiders= in his n#%e ;ehi! The dip#(ati& attitude ad#pted b' Sir S#bha
Singh
and b' the #ther Indians in their deaings with the ?ritish #ffi&ers has been
depi&ted b' Khushwant Singh in his se&#nd n#%e! .I Sha >#t "ear the
>ightingae!2

In ;ehi Khushwant Singh attended the M#dern S&h## f#r nine 'ears! It
was a nati#naist s&h##@ eaders ike Mahat(a ,andhi- 7awahara >ehru and
Sar#)ini >aidu were in%ited t# address the students! ?' Singh1s #wn
ad(issi#n
these were the w#rst 'ears #f his ife! This was due t# the fa&t that he was
neither
g##d at studies n#r at ga(es and was &aned +uite #ften! Singh1s s&h## da's
t#u&h
up#n s#(e raw ner%e in his ps'&he! Khushwant Singh passed his
(atri&uati#n in
353<! Thereafter &a(e the (#st &arefree 'ears #f his &#ege ife! "e first
)#ined
St! Stephen1s C#ege in ;ehi whi&h was run b' the Ca(bridge Missi#n and
was
regarded as the best in n#rthern India! A&ade(i&a'- Khushwant Singh fared
as
p##r' as he had in s&h##! ?' this ti(e Sir S#bha Singh had a&+uired a arge
d#ube-st#ried h#use with three a&res #f awn- a fruit and %egetabe garden- a
3B
tennis &#urt- tw# &ars- and h#rdes #f ser%ants! The nu(ber #f fa(i'
(e(bers has
as# in&reased and he n#w had tw# (#re sibings: a br#ther and a sister!
Khushwant Singh and his eder br#ther were gi%en (#t#r&'&es and this was
a
(a)#r fa&t#r that ed hi( t# ha%e a g##d ti(e in &#ege! There were #n' fi%e
b#'s in St! Stephen1s with (#t#r&'&es@ a Sikhs! The pr#sperit' #f his father
and
#f the #ther &#ntra&t#rs and the resutant &#nse+uen&es up#n their &hidren
has
been presented in ;ehi! Khushwant Singh1s tw# 'ears at &#ege were n#t
#utstanding in an' (anner- and were spent (#re in pa'ing (edi#&re h#&ke'
and
tennis than in stud'ing! Singh was pr#bab' instigated t#wards his iterar'
aspirati#ns during this ti(e! "e attended the ?ibe &asses reguar' whi&h
th#ugh
#pti#na- interested Singh i((ense'! This is be&ause he began t# #%e the
anguage #f the Cd and the >ew Testa(ent! "is fa%#urite reading was the
Cd
Testa(ent- n#t f#r the tea&hings but f#r the =s#n#r#us anguage!=
The ,#%ern(ent C#ege was kn#wn f#r its e$&een&e in sp#rts! The
Indian C'(pi& h#&ke' tea( awa's had f#ur #r fi%e pa'ers fr#( the &#ege!
Khushwant Singh1s pr#$i(it' with h#&ke' and #ther sp#rts in St! Stephen1s
and in
,#%ern(ent C#ege ed hi( t# ater write the sh#rt st#r'- =Man "#w the
,#%ern(ent #f India Dun E=! This st#r' f#&uses up#n a %#e'ba (at&h!
There
were se%era iterar' infuen&es #n Singh as we! 9ike Ah(ed Shah ?ukhari-
a
(e(ber #f the staff- wh# was #ne #f the best after dinner speakers in Fngish
that
Singh- has heard ti date@ and he was as# a writer #f e$tre(e' witt' Grdu
pr#se!
There were as# a &#upe #f Grdu writers - Tahseer and I(tia* Ai Ta)! The'
transated the Fngish &assi&s- 4igar# and Shakespeare1s Midsu((er
>ight1s
;rea( int# Grdu! There was 4ai* Ah(ed 4ai* wh#se p#e(s were wide'
pubished and high' a&&ai(ed b' the &riti&s! "e was ater t# be&#(e the
bright
and rising star #f Grdu p#etr'! Cther &#nte(p#raries at &#ege wh# (ade a
na(e
f#r the(se%es ater were: a&t#rs ?ara) Sahani and ;e% Anand! A&tress
Ka(ini
Kausha /then kn#wn as G(a Kash'ap0- and dire&t#rs Chetan Anand and ?! D!
Ch#pra! In this wa'- &#ege was a ri&h- %aried and &reati%e e$perien&e f#r
Khushwant Singh! "e ater wr#te an essa'! =Chetan Anand= in his b##k
entited-
W#(en and Men in M' ife! 35
Khushwant Singh had itte h#pe #f entering either C$f#rd #r Ca(bridge
as he passed his ?a&he#r #f Arts e$a(inati#n in the third di%isi#n! Cf a the
9#nd#n &#eges where he &#ud be ad(itted- Singh &h#se King1s C#ege #n'
be&ause #f its rega na(e! This indi&ates that the desire t# be different fr#(
the
(asses was e(bedded in Khushwant Singh1s sub&#ns&i#us! 9ater it ed hi(
t#
(ake a distin&t na(e f#r hi(sef in the iterar' w#rd! "e panned t# +uaif'
f#r
the ?ar! A&&#rding' he set #ff f#r Fngand in 353H! "is first sea %#'age was
ab#ard the Itaian ship- &#nte D#ss#! The a(bien&e that he e$perien&ed has
pr#bab' been re&reated ater as a ba&kdr#p t# his st#r'- =Maiden :#'age #f
the
7a "india=! In Fngand- Khushwant Singh fe in #%e with the &#untr' and the
pe#pe! Ath#ugh pre#&&upied with girs (#st #f the ti(e- he did (anage t#
pass
in his first 'ear tests! ;uring his su((er %a&ati#ns in India- Singh bragged a
great
dea ab#ut his e$p#its with Fngish girs! This perhaps was his first atte(pt at
&reating fi&ti#n! The fas&inati#n #f Indians f#r western w#(en f#und
e$pressi#n
ater- in %ari#us st#ries ike: Mr!Singh and the C##ur ?ar=- The Sardar)i and
the
Staret=- =Maiden :#'age #f the 7a "india= and =The ,reat ;ifferen&e=! ?a&k
in
Fngand- Singh (#%ed int# the &#untr'! "e t##k a r##( with a retired
pr#fess#r-
4!S! Mar%in- wh# had written se%era b##ks! This ass#&iati#n pr#bab'
attra&ted
hi( t#wards the iterar' w#rd! "is keen #%e f#r nature t## was kinded
during
this ti(e! "is reguar waks in the w##ds with the pr#fuse' f#wering a*aeas
and
res#unding with the int#$i&ating (e#d' #f bird s#ng &ast a spe #%er hi(!
9ater
Khushwant Singh i(bued his fi&ti#n with a weath #f detai when des&ribing
f#ra-
fauna- the seas#ns and %ari#us natura phen#(ena! This is seen in his
des&ripti#n
#f the (#ns##ns in his first n#%e- Train t# 6akistan! "is e(path' f#r ani(as
is
e%ident in the sh#rt st#r'- =The 4awn= and as# in the first &hapter #f his
se&#nd
n#%e- I sha >#t "ear the >ightingae! Singh has as# written a b##k
entited-
>ature Wat&h! ;uring this ti(e he &a(e a&r#ss Ka%a Maik wh# had been his
)uni#r in M#dern S&h##! She had gr#wn int# a %eritabe beaut' and was
&#urted
b' se%era high' eigibe '#ung (en! Khushwant Singh fe desperate' in
#%e
with her! "is &han&es #f (arr'ing her were si( be&ause he did n#t be#ng t#
the
&#%eted Indian Ci%i Ser%i&e and was stud'ing t# be&#(e a (ere aw'er! As#-
his
father was a buider and had t# take &#ntra&ts fr#( the 6ubi& W#rks
;epart(ent H<
where Ka%a1s father was a seni#r engineer! In spite #f a su&h #bsta&es
Singh
(anaged t# w## Ka%a and as# persuaded her parents t# agree t# the
(at&h! The
engage(ent #&&urred s##n after! Khushwant Singh be&a(e a ?arrister-a-
9aw #f
the Inner Te(pe! "e as# appeared f#r the Indian Ci%i Ser%i&e e$a(! T# his
surprise he f#und that he had been the #n' &andidate /Fngish #r Indian0 t#
s&#re
fu (arks in the %i%a %#&e! "#we%er- he )ust (issed getting thr#ugh due t#
insuffi&ient (arks in the #%era resut!
Khushwant Singh returned h#(e in 3535 with the si(utane#us #utbreak
#f the Se&#nd W#rd War! "is (arriage in C&t#ber 3535 was &eebrated #n a
a%ish s&ae! That was due t# the fa&t that his father was the biggest #wner #f
rea
estate in ;ehi- and his father-in-aw had be&#(e the Chief Fngineer #f 6W;
/the
first Indian t# be&#(e #ne0! After a brief h#ne'(##n t# M#unt Abu in
Da)asthan-
the new' weds shifted t# 9ah#re! Sir S#bha Singh had pr#%ided the &#upe
with a
new 4#rd and rented an apart(ent and #ffi&e near the 9ah#re "igh C#urt! "is
#%e-ife and (arriage find a(#st n# parae in his fi&ti#n! This is pr#bab'
be&ause whie being aut#bi#graphi&a t# a great e$tent in his w#rks- Singh
drew a
&ear' dis&ernibe ine as far as his inti(ate pers#na ife is &#n&erned! In
9ah#re-
Khushwant Singh was a&&epted e%er'where due t# his we-t#-d# status and
fa(i' &#nne&ti#ns! "e )#ined the tw# e$&usi%e &ubs #f 9ah#re in&uding the
,'(khana that rare' ad(itted Indians! The #ng h#urs spent in the &ubs
f#und
e$pressi#n in his fi&ti#n! "e has gr#unded #ne #f his st#ries entited- =India is
a
Strange C#untr'= in the ,'(khana &ub! S#&ia' he was as# in%ited t# the
h#(es #f )udges- (inisters and e(inent aw'ers! ?ut a this did n#t bring
hi( an'
&ients! "e (ade %irtua' n# pr#gress as a aw'er! In spite #f h#bn#bbing
with the
?ritish- Khushwant Singh re(ained true t# his Indian r##ts and was
&#nte(ptu#us
#f the w#gs- an abusi%e ter( f#r Asians- #r the westerni*ed #rienta
gente(en!
This is e$pressed in his %ari#us st#ries ike the (e(#rabe- =Kar(a=- and the
p#ignant- =A ?ride f#r the Sahib=! As :asant A! Shahane right' p#ints #ut:
=Khushwant Singh1s art and (ind are per(eated b'
a genuine 6un)abi &#ns&i#usness! "is art is deep' H3
r##ted in the s#i deri%ing %itait' fr#( the %ig#r#us
energ' that &hara&teri*es a 6un)abi! Gnike the w#rk
#f s#(e #ther Ind#-Angian writers- his writing has
gr#wn #ut #f the grass r##ts #f the s#&ia (iieu! "is
Man# Ma)ra is a n#%e &entering #n a 6un)ab %iage
and his rea e$perien&es pr#%ide hi( with the
ne&essar' setting and understanding #f (en and
situati#ns in rura India =!
2

Khushwant Singh spent s#(e #f his ti(e in his #ffi&e and s#(e in the
hearings #f #ther seni#r aw'ers1 &ases! "e e%en w#rked as a )uni#r t# the
then t#p
&ri(ina aw'er! 4ina' he began taking undefended (urder &ases f#r a
pittan&e!
"e as# be&a(e a part-ti(e e&turer at the aw &#ege! S##n aw &eased t#
interest
hi(! It is e%ident that the a%ersi#n asted a #ng ti(e be&ause Singh has n#t
based
a singe st#r' #r n#%e that is ass#&iated with #r deas with the ega
pr#fessi#n!
Instead he t##k t# reading Fngish &assi&s and p#etr' whi&h he had b'passed
during his &#ege da's! Thus sub&#ns&i#us' he was a'ing the f#undati#n f#r
his
iterar' &areer! Khushwant Singh depended up#n his father t# (aintain
hi(sef in
the st'e he was a&&ust#(ed t# be&ause th#ugh his pra&ti&e had in&reased
s#(ewhat- his earnings were n#t (u&h! Sir S#bha Singh being a gener#us
(an
and perhaps being #%er' f#nd #f his s#n b#ught hi( a sprawing bunga#w
and
twi&e repa&ed his 4#rd &ar with new #nes ea&h ti(e! A thr#ugh the war
Singh
sta'ed in 9ah#re! ;uring this ti(e he de%e#ped a deep and abiding
friendship
with Mansur Iadir! Mansur was rising rapid' in the ega pr#fessi#n and ater
went #n t# be&#(e the f#reign (inister and the &hief )usti&e #f 6akistan!
Khushwant Singh has written an e$tre(e' t#u&hing essa'- =Mansur Iadir=!
=We w#ud #ften ask #urse%es: Wi Mansur
appr#%e #f thisJ Su&h &#(binati#n #f abiit'-
integrit'- &#nsiderati#n and kindness- I ha%e ne%er
f#und in an' #ther hu(an being=!
3H2
Khushwant Singh had n# intenti#n #f be&#(ing a writer- and he did n#t ha%e
an'
iusi#n ab#ut his &apa&it' t# hande w#rds! "e had a&tua' trained t# be a
aw'er!
"#we%er- sin&e n#t (an' &ases &a(e his wa'- he had pent' #f ti(e t# read
and
induge in g#ssip! The first few &ases that &a(e his wa' as &#unse app#inted
b'
the &#urt were t# defend th#se pe#pe #n tria f#r (urder wh# &#ud n#t
aff#rd
aw'ers! "e re&ei%ed Ds!36K- per da' t# d# s#! Singh (ade it a p#int t# %isit
sites
where the (urder had taken pa&e- inter%iewed the pers#n arrested and
taked t#
his friends and reati%es! A this ga%e hi( an insight int# the i%es #f the
6un)ab
peasantr' and e$p#sure t# the &#untr'side! This was a fair' new e$perien&e
f#r
hi( as we as f#r his friends! S# he w#ud reate his e$perien&es t# his
drinking
&#(pani#ns and be&a(e s#(ething #f a ra&#nteur! It &a(e as a peasant
surprise
t# hi( t# #bser%e that he was abe t# h#d the attenti#n #f his isteners! S#(e
ti(es #ne #f his friends w#ud (ake the suggesti#n that he sh#ud write
ab#ut
the(! "#we%er- Khushwant Singh1s p##r a&ade(i& re&#rd deterred hi( fr#(
taking up the pen! Writing was f#r th#se wh# had a briiant a&ade(i& re&#rd-
and
n#t f#r s#(e#ne ike hi( wh# had bare' s&raped thr#ugh his e$a(s! It t##k
hi(
se%era 'ears t# #%er&#(e this feeing #f inferi#rit'! "e was abe t# d# s# #n'
after he heard st#ries read #ut b' (en with great a&ade(i& distin&ti#n- and
read
Indian n#%eists wh# had be&#(e su&&essfu- ike: Muk Da) Anand- Da)a Da#-
and D! K! >ara'an! This ed hi( t# &#n&ude that #ne d#es n#t ha%e t# be a
g##d
student t# be a g##d st#r'teer! And fina' he gained &#nfiden&e t# %enture
int#
the fied #f writing! The #pp#rtunit' &a(e t# hi( after the independen&e #f
India
and the 6artiti#n! Khushwant Singh1s dis&#%er' #f his #wn taent sh#ud ser%e
as
an inspirati#n t# a budding writers wh# ha%e d#ubts ab#ut their #wn
abiities!
The ?ritish had de&ided t# pu #ut- but after the di%isi#n #f India! 9ah#re was
t#
be&#(e a part #f 6akistan! :i#en&e had br#ken #ut in 35H6! "indus and
Sikhs
were being (assa&red bruta' in n#rthwestern 6un)ab- 9ah#re and A(ritsar!
?'
the (idde #f 35H8 it was e%ident that "indus and Sikhs w#ud ha%e t# ea%e
6akistan! Singh was reu&tant t# #%e@ but the (utua hatred between the tw#
&#((unities had es&aated t# a great e$tent! Khushwant Singh de&ided t#
ea%e
9ah#re te(p#rari' /entrusting his h#(e t# Mansur0 unti the %i#en&e
subsided! H3
"e was unabe t# return and &a(e ba&k after a &#upe #f 'ears as a guest #f
Mansur Iadir!
A this &aused &#nsiderabe anguish t# Singh wh# went #n t# write the
deep' (#%ing- and award winning n#%e- Train t# 6akistan based #n the
e%ents
)ust pri#r t# the 6artiti#n! Cn the e%e #f the 5<
th
'ear #f IndiaLs Independen&e- a
&#((er&ia fi( was (ade #n the sa(e n#%e! It has been dire&ted b'
6a(ea
D##ks and stars the award winning a&t#r- >ir(a 6ande'! This fi( gi%es the
p#stindependen&e generati#n a fee #f the heart-rending e%ents that
pre&eded the
6artiti#n! F%en th#ugh Singh #st his h#(e and i%eih##d- he was se&ret'
reie%ed be&ause he had the perfe&t e$&use t# gi%e up aw whi&h he had
begun t#
hate! "e appied f#r a )#b in the Ministr' #f F$terna Affairs! Khushwant Singh
was app#inted as an inf#r(ati#n #ffi&er in the "igh C#((issi#n in 9#nd#n!
Thus
he was ba&k in 9#nd#n where he happened t# and in the (idde #f a tri&k'
situati#n! At that ti(e the high &#((issi#ner was Krishna Men#n wh# had
been
hand-pi&ked f#r the )#b b' Indian1s 6ri(e Minister 7awahar 9a >ehru! Singh1s
b#ss was Sudhir ,h#sh wh# &#nsidered hi(sef t# be superi#r t# Men#n! As a
resut the' &ashed fre+uent'! The "#(e Minister Sardar 6ate was as# in
&harge
#f f#reign pubi&it' and supp#rted ,h#sh! Gti(ate' (atters rea&hed a
&i(a$
and Men#n had sent ,h#sh ba&k t# India- (aking Khushwant Singh the
s&apeg#at! 6ate a%enged this b' transferring Singh t# Cttawa! "#we%er- this
pr#%ed t# be a bessing in disguise f#r Singh! 9ater he wr#te an arti&e- =M'
;a's
with Krishna Men#n= in&uded in his b##k- >#t a >i&e Man t# kn#w! In Cttawa
Khushwant Singh1s b#ss happened t# be his wife1s Gn&e- "!W! Maik wh#
spent
(#st #f his ti(e at the g#f &#urse and at dip#(ati& re&epti#ns! In an' &ase
there
was n#t (u&h w#rk t# be d#ne and Singh began- writing sh#rt st#ries- and
&uti%ated as a writer- p#et and edit#r #f iterar' )#urnas! It was here that his
w#rks began t# first appear in print- in pubi&ati#n ike "arper1s MThe
Canadian
4#ru( and Saturda' >ightL! "e de%e#ped a &#se and #ng asting friendship
with
se%era Canadians! "e tra%eed a #%er the &#untr'- went skiing- t##k #ng
waks
in the beautifu Mape f#rests- hiked in the (a)esti& D#&k' (#untains and
re%eed
in the g#r' #f nature! This &#se &#((uni#n with nature ga%e hi( a keen
e'e f#r HH
detai when des&ribing the natura surr#undings in his st#ries and n#%es!
This
ga%e a reaisti& and earth' fa%#ur t# his fi&ti#n! Whether it is the pi&tures+ue
depi&ti#n #f the 6un)ab &#untr'side in =A 6un)ab 6ast#ra= #r the ('sti+ue #f
the
w##ded his in =The Me(sahib #f Manda=! Khushwant Singh1s p#wer #f
#bser%ati#n is &ear' e%ident! Mu&h ater he as# (ade a high' rated
tee%isi#n
seria- The W#rd #f >ature f#r ;##rdarshan! Si(utane#us' he began t#
ha%e
differen&es with the high &#((issi#ner! 7ust bef#re (atters &a(e t# a head
he
re&ei%ed his transfer #rders ba&k t# Fngand! 7awahar 9a >ehru had taken
&harge
#f e$terna pubi&it' and #n Men#n1s insisten&e@ Khushwant Sing was t# be
app#inted as the pubi& reati#ns #ffi&er! "e ater wr#te a st#r' based #n a
supp#sed' fi&titi#us in&ident that #&&urred with the pubi& reati#ns #ffi&er #f
the
Indian "igh C#((issi#n entited- =The Inter%iew=! "is se&#nd p#sting in
Fngand ed Khushwant Singh t# take a &#n&rete de&isi#n regarding his future
&areer! "e s##n grew b#red with the endess s#&iai*ing that &#nsisted #f
nu(er#us un&hes- &#&ktais and re&epti#ns!
Keeping in tune with his iterar' aspirati#ns Singh (ade his h#(e a %irtua
(eeting pa&e #f )#urnaists! "e had br#ught se%era &ases #f pre(iu( s&#t&h
with
hi( fr#( Canada! S&#t&h had be&#(e s&ar&e in p#st-war Fngand! As a
resut- his
parties were i((ense' p#puar! F(inent )#urnaists ike: Kingse' Martin-
"ar#d F%ans- Wiia( Carke- ;a%id Ast#r@ writers ike: C!6! Sn#w- 6r#f! C!F!M!
7#ad@ and p#ets: Auden- 9#uis Ma&>ei&e- ;'an Th#(as@ a fre+uented his
pa&e!
"e was ater t# write an essa' entited- =Gngente int# the ,##d >ight: ;'an
Th#(as=! This was a part #f his b##k- >eed f#r a >ew Deigi#n in India and
Cther
Fssa's! At this ti(e his first &#e&ti#n #f sh#rt st#ries- The Mark #f :ishnu
based
(#st' #n his e$perien&es in 9ah#re and Cttawa was pubished b' the Saturn
6ress! It re&ei%ed g##d re%iews e%er'where! At this p#int Khushwant Singh
began
seri#us' t#'ing with the idea #f taking up writing as a fu-ti(e &areer! "e
was
as# be&#(ing disen&hanted with the "igh C#((issi#ner- Krishna Men#n!
Men#n1s dis&#urte#us beha%i#ur and atte(pts t# hu(iiate hi( be&a(e
unbearabe- Singh de&ided t# +uit instead #f asking f#r a transfer! "e was fast
appr#a&hing f#rt' and he had t# de&ide s##n ab#ut the rest #f his ife!
Khushwant H5
Singh t##k a hard de&isi#n and resigned in 3553! "e ga%e up the pri%ieges #f
dip#(ati& ife- in%itati#ns t# the ?u&kingha( 6aa&e- e(bass' re&epti#ns-
uni(ited supp' #f dut'-free i+u#r- and the ike@ in fa%#ur #f an un&ertain
future!
"e did n#t &#nsut an' #ne- n#t e%en his wife be&ause at that p#int #f ti(e
the
&#((uni&ati#n &hannes between the tw# had a(#st br#ken d#wn!
Khushwant
Singh sent his wife- tw# &hidren and ser%ants t# India!
This s&enari# pr#%ed usefu t# pr#%ide the ba&kgr#und t# the st#r'- =The
Sardar)i and the Staret=! This st#r' is based #n a true in&ident that in%#%ed
his
&ass(ate #f a ,#%ern(ent C#ege! Khushwant Singh has as# written an
essa'
#n hi( entited =>! I+ba Singh= in his b##k- W#(en and Men in M' 9ife! "e
s##n
reai*ed that he w#ud ha%e t# spe&iai*e in s#(e sub)e&t in #rder t# (ake a
distin&t na(e f#r hi(sef in the iterar' w#rd! "e de&ided t# take up the
stud' #f
the Sikhs! "e as# wr#te The Sikhs- a b##k ab#ut the hist#r' #f his pe#pe! In
this
b##k- Khushwant Singh (ade the &#ntr#%ersia predi&ti#n that b' the ne$t
&entur'
the Sikhs w#ud (erge ba&k int# the "indu &#((unit'! ?' n#w- Singh had
run
thr#ugh his sa%ings and sin&e n#ne #f his three b##ks had earned hi( (u&h-
he
de&ided t# return h#(e! In the su((er #f 3553- Khushwant Singh was ba&k
t#
s+uare #ne- in ;ehi- i%ing in his father1s h#use and dependent up#n his
gener#sit'! This was a diffi&ut peri#d in his ife! "e had t# suffer the &austi&
&#((ents and sar&asti& re(arks #f his friends and reati%es! F%er'b#d'
beie%ed
that he had (ade a (ess #f his ife! T# es&ape fr#( this depressing
at(#sphere-
Singh de&ided t# shift t# ?h#pa ! Sir S#bha Singh #wned an i&e &rea(
fa&t#r'- an
#r&hard and a h#use ad)a&ent t# the ake! Khushwant Singh has gi%en a
des&ripti#n
#f his train )#urne' fr#( ;ehi t# ?h#pa in his essa'- =Se$ in Indian 9ife=! This
is
#ne #f the essa's in his b##k- We Indians! "e began i%ing a a#ne in the
h#use
and w#rked e%er' (#rning #n his first n#%e based up#n the 6artiti#n #f India!
"e
spent the rest #f his ti(e bird wat&hing- waking thr#ugh the w##ds and
drinking
hi(sef t# seep! "e &#(peted the r#ugh draft #f Man# Ma)ra /Train t#
6akistan0
in three (#nths and returned ba&k t# ;ehi! H6
Singh1s strugge was n#t #%er 'et! "e was sti dependent up#n his father!
The &hidren1s edu&ati#n was being paid f#r b' his wife! And t# t#p it- his
(arriage had a(#st rea&hed breaking p#int- with his wife1s &#se ass#&iati#n
with
his #d friend F!>! Mangat Dai! In desperati#n he t##k a )#b with A India
Dadi#!
"e was in &harge #f the Fngish #%erseas pr#gra((es! This ga%e hi( a
&han&e t#
(ake friends with >irad C! Chaudhari wh# then wr#te s&ripts f#r their
pr#gra((es and Duth 6awar 7haba%aa- wh# &a(e s#(eti(es t# re&#rd
radi#
taks! In his essa' .S&h#ar F$tra#rdinar': >irad C!Chaudhari2- Khushwant
Singh wr#te:
At ti(es he #st his patien&e with (e and #ud'
&aed (e a f##! "is wife pr#tested that b' using
that kind #f anguage he w#ud #se the few friends
he had! .?ut he is a f##-2 ret#rted >irad- .if he
d#esnLt kn#w these itte things- what ese &an I &a
hi(J
H
:asant A! Shahane has p#inted #ut that whereas Chaudhari ##ks at the West
with
ad(irati#n- and e%en aduati#n- Singh1s attitude t# the West is neither
aduat#r'
n#r #%er' &riti&a! This &#ntrast between >irad Chaudhari and Khushwant
Singh
is e%en (#re pr#n#un&ed in respe&t #f their appr#a&hes t# India! Singh has
#bser%ed India b#th as an insider as we as an #utsider! "e is
unsenti(enta'
#bser%ant #f the West t##! "e had a&hie%ed a dei&ate baan&e between his
deep
in%#%e(ent with India and his uns&rupu#us #b)e&ti%it' in assessing her
a&hie%e(ent! Meanwhie- Singh g#t his n#%e t'ped b' Tatt'- the A(eri&an
wife
#f the Fngish dip#(at Water ?e! Tatt' ?e beie%ed that the n#%e was
w#rthess! ;espite this disparaging assess(ent Khushwant Singh sent the
(anus&ript t# the ,r#%e 6ress #f >ew N#rk! The' had )ust ann#un&ed a
th#usandd#ar award f#r the best w#rk #f fi&ti#n fr#( India! ?' this ti(e he
was in his
se&#nd 'ear with the MA India Dadi#L! Cn&e he happened t# inter%iew ;r!
9uther
F%ans- the ;ire&t#r ,enera #f G>FSCC in 6aris! There was an instant rapp#rt
between the tw#! S##n after Singh re&ei%ed an #ffer t# take #%er as the
deput' H8
head #f The Mass C#((uni&ati#n ;i%isi#n #f G>FSCC in 6aris! A th#r#ugh'
reie%ed Khushwant Singh )u(ped at the #ffer and resigned fr#( his )#b! "e
set
#ff f#r 6aris b' Ship! "is nu(er#us sea %#'ages ha%e f#und a pa&e in se%era
#f
his st#ries ike- =M' Cwn M' >ati%e 9and=! In 6aris t## there was n#t (u&h
w#rk
t# be d#ne! Khushwant Singh spent (#st #f his ti(e in writing etters and in
attending %ari#us &#nferen&es and re&epti#ns in different parts #f the w#rd
ike
Madrid- ,ene%a and 9#nd#n! It was during his sta' in 6aris that the ,r#%e
6ress
Award was ann#un&ed f#r his n#%e! This was the best news that Singh had
had in
a #ng ti(e! "is n#%e had been a&&epted b' a nu(ber #f Fur#pean
pubishers
in&uding Chatt# and Windus /9#nd#n0 and ,ai(ard /4ran&e0! The b##k was
pubished under tw# tites: Man# Ma)ra and Train t# 6akistan! In ,er(an it
was
entited ;ia ?ru&ke a( Satedsh! The n#%e re&ei%ed ra%e re%iews
e%er'where! ?'
n#w Singh had g#t tried #f the pett' #ffi&e p#iti&s that pre%aied in his
#rgani*ati#n! "e s##n resigned and sent his fa(i' ba&k t# India! Khushwant
Singh (#%ed int# a &#ttage near "#undan and began w#rk #n his se&#nd fu
ength n#%e! "e had the r#ugh draft #f the n#%e- I Sha n#t "ear the
>ightingae- and read in three (#nths! >issi( F*ekie in his re%iew #f this
n#%e
wr#te:
=Whate%er ese (a' be said ab#ut Khushwant
Singh1s se&#nd n#%e- it (ust be said that the
&hara&ters in it are interesting' #di#us11!
5
Subse+uent' Singh saied ba&k t# ;ehi! Cn&e again Khushwant Singh
had t# endure the barbed shaft #f e%er'#ne! This was be&ause writing was
regarded as an a(using h#bb' and n#t a seri#us pr#fessi#n! And- e%en n#w
his
wife was pa'ing f#r the &hidren1s edu&ati#n and he hi(sef depended up#n
his
father1s hep! In #rder t# pr#%e his w#rth- Singh t##k up a )#b as the &hief
edit#r #f
N#)ana! This was a week' pubi&ati#n /in b#th "indi and Fngish0 br#ught #ut
b'
the 6anning C#((issi#n Khushwant Singh w#rked e$tre(e' hard t# (ake
the
pubi&ati#n a su&&ess! "e tra%eed the ength and breadth #f the &#untr' with
his
ph#t#grapher T!S!>ataran)an! Singh earnt a great dea ab#ut the rea India
and HB
wr#te ab#ut e%er'thing he saw! ?ut it was a in %ain! The &ir&uati#n #f
N#)ana
refused t# pi&k up! The reading pubi& dis(issed it as g#%ern(ent
pr#paganda!
The distributi#n #f the )#urna was as# p##r! Khushwant Singh was unabe t#
dea
with the (utua ri%ar' between seni#r #ffi&ias and g#%ern(ent (inisters
and
#ften f#und hi(sef &aught in between! This ti(e t##- fate &a(e t# Singh1s
res&ue
and he happened t# (eet the taent s&#ut #f the D#&kefeer 4#undati#n! The
s&#ut
had read The Sikhs and #ffered hi( the &han&e t# d# a (#re &#(prehensi%e
w#rk
#n the sa(e sub)e&t! Singh readi' t##k it up be&ause this w#ud gi%e hi( the
#pp#rtunit' t# (ake up f#r the sh#dd' w#rk he had d#ne #n his #wn
&#((unit'
in The Sikhs! "e prepared the pr#)e&t rep#rt and g#t the Aigarh Musi(
Gni%ersit' t# sp#ns#r his appi&ati#n! "e deiberate' &h#se a Musi(
Gni%ersit'
in #rder t# pr#%e that the (utua antag#nis( between the Sikhs and Musi(s
was
a ('th! As s##n as his appi&ati#n was a&&epted- Singh resigned fr#( his )#b
at
N#)ana! Ath#ugh the D#&kefeer dea was n#t %er' u&rati%e- it did pr#%e
benefi&ia t#wards furthering Khushwant Singh1s &areer! At that ti(e his s#n
was
stud'ing in King1s C#ege- Ca(bridge@ the e$penses f#r whi&h were d#ne b'
his
wife! "e eft his daughter in a s&h## in Muss##rie and eft f#r 9#nd#n with his
wife! Khushwant Singh was abe t# a&&#(pish a great dea in 9#nd#n! "e
a&&u(uated a #t #f (ateria #n the Sikhs at the India Cffi&e 9ibrar'! "e
wr#te a
bi#graph' #f Mahara)ah Dan)it Singh- as we as a b##k #n the ten 'ears #f
tur(#i
that f##wed his death! This was d#ne in three (#nths ti(e after whi&h his
wife
returned t# India- and Singh eft f#r A(eri&a and Canada! "e intended t#
gather
inf#r(ati#n ab#ut the Sikh &#((unit' that had setted there! "ere
Khushwant
Singh was abe t# gather &#nsiderabe (ateria- whi&h had unti then
re(ained
untapped! 4ina' after he was &ear in his (ind ab#ut h#w he w#ud shape
his
b##k! Khushwant Singh began writing with the hep #f N%#nne 9e D#ugete!
This
Fngish w#(an had been his se&retar' at G>FSCC!
After se%era (#nths #f hard w#rk the b##k began t# take shape! "is
fe#wship s##n ended and he was n#t granted an e$tensi#n! ?ut with d#gged
deter(inati#n Singh persisted regardess! At #ng ast the tw# %#u(es were
read' H5
after f#ur 'ears! This w#rk ga%e hi( a sense #f satisfa&ti#n as he had ne%er
fet
bef#re! "e beie%ed that at ast he had )ustified his e$isten&e!
A "ist#r' #f the Sikhs- :#! 3 and :#! 2 were pubished b' b#th- the
6rin&et#n and the C$f#rd Gni%ersit' 6ress! ?' n#w Khushwant Singh began t#
be
regarded as an auth#rit' #n the Sikhs! "e was asked b' the Fn&'&#paedia
?ritanni&a t# write their ite(s #n Sikhs and Sikh "ist#r'! C%ernight he was in
de(and e%er'where! The Spading Trust #f C$f#rd in%ited hi( t# dei%er a
series
#f e&tures #n Sikhis(! 6rin&et#n Gni%ersit' in%ited hi( t# tea&h C#(parati%e
Deigi#n Si(utane#us' se%era #f his sh#rt st#ries and arti&es appeared in
A(eri&an- ?ritish- and Indian )#urnas! "e was &#((issi#ned b' the >ew N#rk
Ti(es and the Cbser%er /9#nd#n0 t# write f#r the(! Thus- Khushwant Singh
entered the w#rd #f seri#us )#urnais(!
After a sh#rt peri#d at 6rin&et#n and "awaii- Singh began t# tea&h Indian
Deigi#us and C#nte(p#rar' Indian 6#iti&s at Swarth(#re C#ege! These
e&tures were ater pubished under the tite! :isi#n #f India! "is stint at
Swarth(#re aid the f#undati#n f#r the pattern #f ife that Khushwant Singh
f##ws t# this da'! It was here that he de%e#ped his egendar' respe&t f#r
ti(e!
"e began t# eat itte- drink (#re and be&a(e a sti&ker f#r ti(e! Khushwant
Singh f##ws a stri&t regi(en in his dai' ife t# this da'! This is a
dia(etri&a'
#pp#sed t# his i(age as a (err' Sardar wh# is as# a drunkard and a
w#(ani*er!
"e gets up ar#und H a!(! prepares tea f#r hi(sef and his guards! Then read
The
"industan Ti(es- isten t# (usi& #n the transist#r! The rest #f the da' is
spent in
reading #ther paper- b##k /he read #ne b##k e%er'da'0- etter /he (ake it a
p#int
t# answer ea&h #ne t# the(0- writing re%iew transating b##k and p#etr'-
w#rking
up#n his &#u(n- and b##ks! In the e%ening a swi( pr#%ides additi#na
e$er&ise!
This is a#wed b' s#(e reading- s#(e T!:! and then his +u#ta #f three
s&#t&hes-
an ear' dinner and bed b' 3< p!(! ,uests are in%ariabe asked t# ea%e b' 5
p!(!
The &redit #r keeping t# this regi(en g#es t# his wife as we! She (akes sure
that
guests- h#ws#e%er distinguished- d# n#t #%ersta' their we&#(e! The r#utine
%aries s#(ewhat when he is s#&iai*ing- #r is #ut #f ;ehi! This dis&ipine has
n# 5<
d#ubt heped Khushwant Sing t# (ake a distin&t na(e f#r hi(sef in the
iterar'
w#rd! In #rder t# prepare f#r his e&tures- Singh read a #t ab#ut India and in
this
wa' earnt a great dea (#re ab#ut his #wn &#untr'! It was here that
Khushwant
Singh studied and earnt ab#ut the (a)#r reigi#ns #f the w#rds- ike@
Christianit'-
Isa(- "induis(- ?uddhis(- and Shikhis(! ?ased up#n his understanding #f
the
%ari#us reigi#ns- the agn#sti& Singh de%e#ped his #wn pers#na reigi#n! This
has been #utined in his arti&e! =>eed f#r a >ew Deigi#n in India =! "e has
written se%era #ther essa's ike .Deigi#n2- .Cpiu( #f the Masses2 and
.Deigi#n
%ersus M#rait'2! Se%era b##ks as# f##wed #n the sa(e t#pi&- s#(e #f
whi&h
are: Shri Da( : A bi#graph'- Deigi#n #f the Shikhs- and ,uru ,#bind Singh -
the
Sa%i#ur! Singh had n#w be&#(e a pr#fess#r with se%era b##ks t# his &redit-
starting with an in&redib' p##r a&ade(i& re&#rd! In spite #f su&h audabe
a&hie%e(ents- Khushwant Singh did n#t de%e#p a sw#en head:
I had n# iusi#n ab#ut (' being a g##d tea&her #r a
great writer! ?ut I awa's (anaged t# raise a augh
whene%er I sp#ke! I a( a b#rn )ester! And whate%er
rubbish I wr#te- g#t pubished!
6

Whie Singh was sti at Swarth(#re he was in%ited t# take #%er as the
edit#r #f The Iustrated Week' #f India! "e had been #ffered the p#siti#n
earier
as we- but he had been unabe t# take it up! At that ti(e he had been
&#((itted
t# the D#&kefeer 4#undati#n! This ti(e r#und he had n# su&h &#(pusi#ns!
In 3565 Khushwant Singh rea&hed ?#(ba' t# )#in The Iustrated Week'!
In anti&ipati#n- his s#n Dahu had resigned his )#b with The Ti(es #f India as
he
did n#t wish t# w#rk at the sa(e pa&e as his father! Dahu Singh t##k #%er
the
edit#rship #f Deader1s ;igest instead! F%er'da' Khushwant Singh was in
#ffi&e an
h#ur bef#re an'#ne ese! ;uring that h#ur he (anaged t# finish his entire
da'1s
w#rk! This &#nsisted #f writing the edit#ria- (aking &apti#ns- editing st#ries
and
arti&es- and answering the unanswered (ai! Khushwant Singh reai*ed that
)ust
as he had n#t kn#wn (u&h ab#ut India pri#r t# his )#b at Swarth(#re-
ikewise 53
was the &ase with (#st Indians! S# he started a series #n the different
sub&#((unities #f India ike 9inga%ats- 7ats- Ai'ers- Chitpa%ans- Ai'engars-
:#kkaingas- ,u)ars- Me(#ns- Kh#)as- ?#haras and the ike! The resut was
(ira&u#us! Fa&h issue was a se#ut! The Week'- whi&h had ti n#w been at
the
b#tt#( #f a the TCI pubi&ati#ns sh#t t# the t#p with a wide (argin! As the
&ir&uati#n #f the Week' &i(bed- s# did Khushwant Singh1s reputati#n! "e
be&a(e a &ut figure #f s#rts and a&+uired a f#r(idabe reputati#n at this
ti(e!
"e &a(e t# be ad(ired b' (an' and at the sa(e ti(e was hated and
en%ied b' se%era #f his &#eagues! Khushwant Singh had three assistant
edit#rs-
#f wh#(- 4ati(a Oakaria the )uni#r (#st (anaged t# be&#(e his nu(ber
tw#!
This was b' %irtue #f the fa&t that she was an e$&eent #rgani*er! She
assu(ed the
r#e #f a (#ther hen t# the #ther (#re pr#ifi& writers ike: ?a&hi Kanga-
D!,!K-
Da)u ?haratan- M!7! Akabar- 7iggs Kara and ?ikra( :#hara! Khushwant
Singh1s
s#&ia ife t## began t# re%#%e ar#und the Oakarias! "e (ade friends with
a(#st
a the friends #f the Oakarias! These in&uded 4aisa Fssa- C#nsu ,enera #f
Kuwait- Da)ani 6ate-The ar&hite&t- Ibrahi( Iadri- the Chudasa(as- and
nu(er#us #thers! "#we%er- he did (ake a few friends #n his #wn ike:
,haf##r
>##rani- the 6akhiwaas- the S#rab)is- Sar'u ;#shi- ;e%'ani Chauba- >ina
Mer&hant- >ir(aa Matthan- Tri#&han- ?ir Sahni and the Ad%anis! 4#r his
b##k-
W#(en and Men in M' 9ife- he wr#te a &#upe #f essa's ab#ut the friends he
(ade during this ti(e! The essa's in Khushwant Singh1s ini(itab' witt'-
f#rthright and p#ignant st'e are: =;e%'ani Chauba= and =>ir(aa Matthan=!
It
was during this ti(e that the bub #g# that gra&es Khushwant Singh &#u(n
was
designed b' Mari# Miranda! Apart fr#( hi(- D!K! 9aksh(an was as# a
reguar
%isit#r at his #ffi&e! Khushwant Singh1s tenure with the week' was +uite
&#ntr#%ersia! "is %iews ab#ut reigi#n f#r #ne- were unpaatabe f#r (an'! "e
is
an agn#sti& and b#d' wr#te against the &#n%enti#na reigi#sit' and the &ut
#f
s#-&aed g#d-(an! "e fre+uent' pubished ph#t#graphs #f inade+uate'
&#thed
'#ung w#(en a#ng with a reas#nabe e$&use ea&h ti(e! The resut was
angr'
pr#tests! It was aeged that The Week'- f#r(er' a fa(i' (aga*ine was
being
turned int# a trash' rag! At the sa(e ti(e the &ir&uati#n kept #n in&reasing-
and 52
b' the ti(e Khushwant Sing was fired- the &ir&uati#n had in&reased fr#( a
(ere
B<-<<< t# #%er f#ur akhs! It was the nine fa(#us #r infa(#us 'ears with The
Week' that ga%e Singh his =unsa%#ur' reputati#n11 that has asted ti t#da'!
"e
be&a(e the (#st wide'-read )#urnaist- the (#st dis&ussed edit#r- s#ught
after b'
s#&iaites- Industriaists and p#iti&ians aike! In 3585- he was h#n#ured with
the
6ad(a ?hushan b' the Indian ,#%ern(ent f#r his distinguished &#ntributi#n
t#
iterature and )#urnais(!

"#we%er- )ust as a g##d things &#(e t# an end- s# did Khushwant Singh1s
tenure at The Week'! The end was as bad as his edit#rship was g##d! Singh
had
aread' been gi%en tw# e$tensi#ns at the Week' and he e$pe&ted t# get a
third!
?ut the p#iti&a &#(pusi#ns #f the da' di&tated #therwise! Khushwant Singh
had
awa's supp#rted Indira ,andhi and San)a' ,andhi! This was una&&eptabe t#
the
6ri(e Minister M#rar)i ;esai! This was &#n%e'ed t# Singh b' the pr#priet#r
Ash#k 7ain! M!:! Ka(ath was t# take his pa&e! A&&epting a this- he had
written
a t#u&hing arti&e bidding e%er'#ne a n#stagi& farewe! "e e$pe&ted a
p#ignant
farewe part' with fa%#urabe spee&hes fr#( s#(e- as the staff had a(#st
be&#(e an e$tended fa(i'! "e g#t a rude sh#&k instead! A week bef#re he
was t#
ea%e- he arri%ed in #ffi&e and was abrupt' handed a etter asking hi( t# +uit
i((ediate'! Apparent' s#(eb#d' had spread the fase ru(#ur that he had
written a bitter pie&e #n the highhandedness #f the (anage(ent! ,reat'
distressed- Singh eft pr#(pt'! The hurt #f this ing#ri#us e$it haunts hi( ti
this
da'! "is farewe pie&e was pubished in se%era papers subse+uent'! It is
in&uded in his b##k- >#t a >i&e Man t# Kn#w under the tite- =4arewe t# the
Iustrated Week'11! S##n after Khushwant Singh resu(ed w#rk #n his n#%e
;ehi #n whi&h he had been w#rking #ff and #n! A &#upe #f (#nths ater he
eft
f#r ;ehi! "e had re&ei%ed se%era te(pting #ffers but &h#se t# edit Indira
,andhi1s >ati#na "erad with#ut an' pa'! This was a #sing pr#p#siti#n right
fr#( the beginning! The staff was #ften #n strike be&ause #f n#t ha%ing been
paid
f#r (#nths! Twi&e the p#i&e raided the #ffi&e in an atte(pt t# i(pi&ate the
(anager in s#(e iega business deas! Tired #f a the pett' intrigues- Singh
resigned after three (#nths! "e t##k up the edit#rship #f >ew ;ehi- a
f#rtnight' 53
(aga*ine that had been aun&hed b' the Anada ?a*aar ,r#up #f
6ubi&ati#ns!
This t## did n#t take #ff pr#per'! The reas#n was that the (aga*ine was
printed
in Ca&utta and a(#st ne%er appeared #n the stas in ti(e! Khushwant
Singh1s
trias did n#t ast #ng! Mrs! ,andhi was s##n ba&k in p#wer and re(e(bered
hi(
f#r unwa%ering supp#rt thr#ugh her bed 'ears! "e was #ffered the &h#i&e #f
be&#(ing either the "igh &#((issi#ner in 9#nd#n- #r a (e(ber #f the Da)'a
Sabha as we as the edit#r #f The "industan Ti(es- he &h#se the atter! In
35B< he
be&a(e a (e(ber #f the 6aria(ent and- as# the edit#r #f the argest
&ir&uating
newspaper #f ;ehi! Singh1s si$ 'ears in 6aria(ent &#in&ided with an
i(p#rtant
phase in the hist#r' #f (#dern India! This was the ti(e when tr#ube in
6un)ab
erupted! Khushwant Singh being a n#(inated (e(ber was n#t e$pe&ted t#
speak
against the g#%ern(ent #n &#ntr#%ersia issues! Degardess #f this- he sp#ke
fer%ent' against the ar(' st#r(ing the ,#den Te(pe /he returned his
6ad(a
?hushan as a pr#test0 and the (assa&re #f the Sikhs f##wing the
assassinati#n #f
Mrs! ,andhi! ;ue t# his apparent dis#'at' in the 6aria(ent- his three-'ear
&#ntra&t with The "industan Ti(es was n#t renewed! The pr#priet#r- K!K!
?ira-
h#we%er- asked Singh t# &#ntinue writing his week' &#u(n =With Mai&e
T#wards Cne and A=! This &#u(n was thr#ugh the 'ears pi&ked up b' #%er
fift'
papers and en)#'s a faithfu readership t# this da'! Khushwant Singh was we
aware #f the fa&t that he w#ud n#t be gi%en a se&#nd ter( in 6aria(ent as
we!
This was be&ause Da)i% ,andhi was &#(pete' against his ren#(inati#n-
e%en
th#ugh the 6resident- Oai Singh was a in his fa%#ur! Khushwant Singh has
based
se%era #f his essa's and arti&es #n this peri#d #f his ife! "e has sket&hed a
pen
p#rtrait #f 6rabha ;utt- wh# was his hard-w#rking assistant in The "industan
Ti(es /in&uded in his b##k- >#t a >i&e Man t# Kn#w0! "e has as# written
arti&es entited: =Khaistan=- =M' Nears in 6aria(ent=- =,iani OaiSingh= and
=M! "ida'atuah= in his b##k- .Se$- S&#t&h and S&h#arship!
The gr#wth #f Khushwant Singh1s iterar' &areer has t# be seen in the
&#nte$t #f 6un)abi iterature! Creati%e w#rks in 6un)abi are &hara&teri*ed b' a
reaisti& and earth' fa%#ur! A aspe&ts #f the ph'si&a- whether it is %i#en&e
#r
se$ua e$pi&itness- e%en &rudeness- f#r( an integra part #f the 6un)abi
iterar' 5H
ps'&he! This has &#(e d#wn thr#ugh the ages in the f#r( #f rusti& taes and
f#k
s#ngs! This uninhibited appr#a&h t#wards the ph'si&a is seen in the w#rks #f
A(rita 6rita(- Shi% Ku(ar ?ata%i- Kartar Singh ;ugga and se%era #ther
6un)abi writers! :asant Shahane beie%es that Khushwant Singh as a writer #f
fi&ti#n has been infuen&ed b' Ind#-Angian writing as we as 6un)abi &reati%e
writing! The heath- reaisti& spirit and traditi#n #f 6un)abi and Grdu w#rks
see(
t# ha%e inspired hi(! "is r##ts ha%e as# infuen&ed his st'e #f writing! "is
use
#f anguage is d#wn-t#-earth- reaisti& and #ften an e$a&t transati#n #f the
"indi
#r the 6un)abi diae&t! "is anguage is a i%ing and %ita entit' that &an be
ter(ed
as Indian-Fngish #r Indianis(! The &riti&s are #f the #pini#n that Singh
spe&iai*es in the use #f Indianis( whi&h faithfu' depi&t the gestures-
attitudes
and the %erna&uar #f 6un)abi %iagers! In 35B6 Khushwant Singh retired in
#rder
t# &#n&entrate s#e' #n freean&e )#urnais( and writing! "e as# be&a(e the
&#nsuting edit#r #f 6enguin! In 35B5- he was at the Wis#n Centre #f
S(iths#nian
in Washingt#n t# update his tw#-%#u(e A "ist#r' #f the Sikhs! There he
earnt
fr#( the ibrar' &#(puter re&#rds that there were 5B tites t# his &redit ti
then!
This in&uded transati#n ike: G(ra# 7aan Ada: C#urtesan #f 9ukhn#w b'
Mir*a
M#ha((an "adi Duswa! I Take This W#(an b' Da)inder Singh ?edi- The
Skeet#n and #ther Writings and See&ted p#e(s b' A(rita 6rita(- Shi+wa
and
7awab-i-Shikwa - C#(paint and Answer- I+ba1s ;ia#gue with Aah b'
Muha((ad I+ba and se%era #thers! "e has as# been the edit#r #f se%era
b##ks
ike: 9and #f 4i%e Di%ers: St#ries fr#( the 6un)ab- ,urus- ,#d(en- and
,##d
6e#pe- Sunset #f the Sikh F(pire- and s#(e #thers! "e has as# written a
i%e'
pa' entited- T'ger T'ger ?urning ?right! This entertaining pa' has ne%er
been
ena&ted #n stage as 'et- whi&h is s#(ewhat surprising! In 355< his third
n#%e
;ehi whi&h t##k hi( twent'-fi%e 'ears t# &#(pete was pubished! A
,er(an
transati#n #f the b##k has as# been pubished! As #f date- Khushwant Singh
has
82 tites under his na(e! "is b##k- The ?est #f Khushwant Singh was
pubished in
3553! The f#rew#rd t# this b##k was written b' #ne #f the brightest stars #f
the
Indian iterar' fir(a(ent- :ikra( Seth! 55
T#da' Khushwant Singh is the (#st we-kn#wn auth#r- &#u(nist and
)#urnaist #f India with an internati#na readership! Sin&e the past se%era
'ears he
had been w#rking up#n his aut#bi#graph'! This was intended t# be his swan
s#ng!
?ut Kn#wing Singh1s pen&hant f#r n#t (in&ing w#rds- it was t# be e$pe&ted
that
the aut#bi#graph' w#ud &ause s#(e ruffed feathers! And it did! In C&t#ber-
3555
an e$tra&t #f his aut#bi#graph'- Truth- 9#%e and a 9itte Mai&e- was
pubished in
India T#da'! This great' upset Menaka ,andhi- the '#unger daughter-in-aw
#f
Indira ,andhi and then Minister f#r S#&ia 7usti&e and F(p#wer(ent! She fet
that p#rti#ns #f the b##k infringed up#n her pri%a&'! C#nse+uent' she fied a
&ase
seeking a sta' up#n the b##k! "#we%er the +uesti#n #f pri%a&' d#es n#t
arise
be&ause- Khushwant Singh has written ab#ut the wide'-pubi&i*ed fra&as
between
Indira ,andhi and Menaka ,andhi! The in&ident had #&&urred in fu %iew #f
pubi& ser%ants- pers#na se&retaries and p#i&e #ffi&ers! Subse+uent'
Menaka
had t# ea%e the pri(e (inisteria h#use! At the ti(e this had happened-
Menaka
had hersef rung up Khushwant Singh s# that he &#ud aert the f#reign press!
Mu&h ater the tw# fe #ut with ea&h #ther! The first r#und has g#ne t#
Menaka
,andhi with the C#urt ruing in her fa%#ur in Apri 3558!The ?##k was
s&hedued
t# be reeased in 7anuar' 3556 but it was pubished in 2<<<! >#w iterar'
&ir&es
are waiting f#r Khushwant Singh1s ne$t (#%e!
Singh1s i(p#rtan&e &#ntinues t# gr#w- regardess #f a su&h &#ntr#%ersies!
"e has tra%eed e$tensi%e' a #%er the w#rd #n in%itati#ns t# gi%e e&tures!
This
has resuted in se%era tra%e#gues ike: =Austraia 9#ne 9and #f Magnifi&ent
;istan&es=- =S#uthern Safari2- .In 7apan with#ut M#ne' #r 6assp#rt=- and
nu(er#us #thers! What (akes Khushwant singhLs tra%e#gues spe&ia is his
t#ta
a&k #f inhibiti#n! "e tes it a as he saw it- (issing #ut n#thing whether it
was a
rebuffed pass at a gir- a )#ke at his e$pense #r a e&her#us intenti#n that
&a(e t#
n#thing!
The in%itati#ns &#ntinue t# p#ur in t# this da' in spite #f his ad%an&ed age!
Khushwant Singh is 55 'ears #d n#w! The (edia seeks his #pini#n regarding
e%er' i(p#rtant e%ent in the &#untr'! In C&t#ber 3558- he was h#n#ured with
the 56
M#nde#w award- a iterar' award gi%en in Ita'! "e re&ei%ed it f#r Train t#
6akistan whi&h was transated int# Itaian! Singh appears reguar' #n %ari#us
tee%isi#n pr#gra((es that are br#ad&ast b' the nu(er#us &hannes! In spite
#f his
stature- he &#ntinues t# guide and en&#urage '#ung aspiring writers and
)#urnaists! At the sa(e ti(e he retains his (#dest' ab#ut his iterar'
abiities! "e
said in a dis&ussi#n f#ru( #n a tee%isi#n pr#ggra((e:
I (ust disp#se #f the +uesti#n whi&h pe#pe #ften
ask (e: `What d# '#u think #f '#ursef as a WriterJ
1With#ut appearing t# wear the fase &#ak #f
hu(iit'- et (e sa' +uite h#nest' that I d# n#t rate
('sef %er' high'!
8

In Crder t# &#(prehend the w#rks #f Khushwant Singh- it is first
ne&essar' t# understand his ideas #n fi&ti#n and his (a)#r &#n&erns! This wi
gi%e
a better insight int# his &h#i&e #f the(es up#n whi&h he has based (#st #f
his
writings! It is fair' #b%i#us that his pers#na e$perien&es and the hist#ri&a
e%ents
that shaped the &#untr' pa' a (a)#r r#e in his w#rks! Criti&s beie%e that
the
6un)ab &#untr'side- the &apita #f India-;ehi and the &it' #f 9#nd#n are the
(#st
i(p#rtant infuen&es up#n hi(! F$p#sed as he has been t# the ideas and
attitudes
#f the West- Singh is essentia' an Crienta wh# has su&&eeded in
(aintaining his
Indian sef and indi%iduait'!
A: "#n#urs and awards:
3! De&kefeer ,rant /35660
2! 6ad(a ?hushan- ,#%ern(ent #f India /358H0
3! "#nest Man #f the Near- Suabh Internati#na /2<<<0
H! 6un)ab Dattan Award- The ,#%ern(ent #f 6un)ab /2<<60
5! 6ad(a :ibhushan- ,#%ern(ent #f India /2<<80 58
?: "is W#rks:
a: Sh#rts st#ries :
3! The Mark #f :ishnu and Cther St#ries! 9#nd#n- Saturn 6ress- 355<!
2! The :#i&e #f ,#d and Cther St#ries! ?#(ba'- 7ai&#- 3558!
3! A ?ride f#r the Sahib and the Cther St#ries! >ew ;ehi- "ind- 3568!
H! ?a&k 7as(ine! ?#(ba'- 7ai&#- 3583!
5! The C#e&ted St#ries! >! 6! Da%i ;a'a- 35B5!
b: >#%es:
3! Train t# 6akistan! 9#nd#n- Chatt# and Windus- 3556 >ew N#rk- ,r#%e
6ress- 3563 @ as Man# Ma)ra- ,r#%e 6ress- 3556
2! I Sha >#t "ear the >ightingae! >ew N#rk- ,r#%e 6ress- 3555@ 9#nd#n-
Cader- 3563!
3! ;ehi : A >#%e 6enguin ?##ks India 355<
H! The C#(pan' #f W#(en! >ew ;ehi and >ew N#rk- :iking- 3555
&: >#n-4i&ti#na W#rks :
3! The Sikhs- 9#nd#n- Aen and Gnwin- and >ew N#rk- Ma&(ian- 3553!
2! The Gnending Trai- >ew ;ehi- Da)ka(a- 3558!
3! The Sikhs T#da': Their Deigi#n- "ist#r'- Cuture- Cust#(s- and Wis' #f
9ife- ?#(ba'- Crient 9#ng(an- 3555@ re%ised editi#n- 356H re%ised
editi#n- >ew ;ehi- Sanga(- 3586- 35B5
H! 4a #f the Kingd#( #f the 6un)ab! ?#(ba'- Crient 9#ng(an- 3562
5! A "ist#r' #f Sikhs 3H65-356H- 6rin&et#n- >ew 7erse'- 6rin&et#n Gni%ersit'
6ress- and 9#nd#n- C$f#rd Gni%ersit' 6ress- 2 %#s!- 3563-66
6! Dan)it Singh: Mahara)ah #f the 6un)ab 38B<-3B35! 9#nd#n- Aen and
Gnwin- 3563!
8! >#t Wanted in 6akistan- >ew ;ehi- Da)ka(a- 3565 5B
B! ,hadar- 3535: India1s 4irst Ar(ed De%#uti#n- with Satindra Singh- >ew
;ehi- D and K 3566!
5! "#(age t# ,uru ,#bind Singh- with Suneet :eer Singh! ?#(ba'- 7ai&#-
3566
3<! Shri Da(: A ?i#graph'- with Arun 7#shi- 9#nd#n- Asia 6ubishing- 356B
33! Deigi#n #f the Sikhs /e&ture0! Madras- Gni%ersit' #f Madras- 356B
32! Khushwant Singh1s India: A Mirr#r f#r its M#nsters and M#nstr#sities-
?#(ba'- India ?##k "#use- 3565
33! Khushwant Singh1s :iew #f India /e&tures0- edited b' Dahu Singh-
?#(ba'- India ?##k "#use- 358H!
3H! Khushwant Singh #n War and 6ea&e in India- 6akistan- and ?angadesh-
edited b' Maa Singh- >ew ;ehi- "ind- 3586
35! ,##d 6e#pe- ?ad 6e#pe- edited b' Dahu Singh! >ew ;ehi- Crient-
3588!
36! Khushwant Singh1s India With#ut "u(bug- edited b' Dahu Singh-
?#(ba' India ?##k "#use- 3588
38! Ar#und the W#rd with Khushwant Singh- edited b' Dahu Singh- >ew
;ehi- Crient- 358B
3B! Indira ,andhi Deturns! >ew ;ehi- :isi#n- 3585
35! Fdit#r1s page- edited b' Dahu Singh! ?#(ba'- India ?##k "#use- 35B3
2<! We Indians- >ew ;ehi- Crient- 35B2
23! ;ehi: A 6#rtrait- >ew ;ehi and C$f#rd- C$f#rd Gni%ersit' 6ress- 35B3
22! The Sikhs- ph#t#graphs b' Daghu Dai- ?enares- 9uster 6ress- 35BH!
23! Traged' #f the 6un)ab: Cperati#n ?uestar and After- with Kudip >a'ar-
>ew ;ehi- :isi#n- 35BH!
2H! Man' 4a&es #f C#((unais(! Chandigarh- Centre f#r Desear&h in Dura
and Grban ;e%e#p(ent- 35B5!
25! M' ?eeding 6un)ab! >ew ;ehi and 9#nd#n- G?S6;- 3552
26! W#(en and Men in M' 9ife! >ew ;ehi- G?S 6ubisher ;istribut#rs- 3555
28! "#w the Sikhs 9#st Their Kingd#(! >ew ;ehi- G?S 6ubishers
;istribut#rs- 3556 55
2B! Fdit#r- with 6eter Dusse- A >#te!!!#n ,!:! ;esani1s =A ab#ut "!
"atterr= and ="ai!= 9#nd#n and A(sterda(- S*eben- 3552
25! Fdit#r- with 7a'a Thadani- 9and #f the 4i%e Di%ers: St#ries #f the 6un)ab-
?#(ba'- 7ai&#- 3565!
3<! Fdit#r- Sunset #f the Sikh F(pire- b' Sita Da( K#hi- ?#(ba'- Crient
9#ng(an 3568!
33! Fdit#r- I ?eie%e! >ew ;ehi- "ind- 3583
32! Fdit#r- 9#%e And 4riendship! >ew ;ehi- Stering- 358H!
33! Fdit#r- with Iurratuain "a'der- St#ries fr#( India! >ew ;ehi Stering
358H
3H! Fdit#r- ,urus ,#d(en and ,##d 6e#pe! ?#(ba' Crient 9#ng(an- 3585!
35! Fdit#r- with Sh#bha ;e- Gn&ertain 9iais#ns: Se$- Strife and T#getherness
in Grban India! >ew ;ehi And 9#nd#n! :iking 3553!
36! Fdit#r- with S'eda Sai'adain "a(eed- A ;rea( Turns Se%ent'-4i%e: The
M#dern S&h##- 352<-3555!->ew ;ehi- Aied 6ubishers 3555!
38! Fdit#r- A ?rush with 9ife: An Aut#bi#graph' ?' Satish ,u)ara! >ew
;ehi! India 6enguin ?##ks India 3558
3B! Transat#r- 7up)i: The Sikh M#rning 6ra'er! 9#nd#n- 6r#bsthain- 3555
35! Transat#r- With M! A! "usain- G(ra# 7an Ada: C#urtesan #f 9u&kn#w-
?' M#ha((ed Duswa! ?#(ba'- Crient 9#ng(an 3563!
H<! Transat#r- With Cthers- Sa&red Writings #f The Sikhs! 9#nd#n- Aen And
Gnwin- 358H!
H3! Transat#r- With Cthers- C#(e ?a&k- M' Master- And Cther St#ries- ?' K!
S! ;ugga! >ew ;ehi ?e! 358B
H2! Transat#r- Shikwa and 7awab-i-ShikwaKC#(paint and Answer: I+ba1s
;ia#gue with Aah- >ew ;ehi and C$f#rd- C$f#rd Gni%ersit' 6ress-
35B3!
H3! Transat#r- A(rita 6rita(: See&ted 6#e(s! >ew ;ehi- ?harti'a ,nanpith
35B2
HH! Transat#r- The Skeet#n And That Man- ?' A(rita 6rita(! 9#nd#n-
Crienta Gni%ersit' 6ress! 35B8! 6<
II
When Singh began his &areer as a writer- he de&ided t# (ake a th#r#ugh
stud' #f
his #wn pe#pe- the Sikhs:
Writing #n Sikhs was a &a&uated (#%e! I fet that
in a high' &#(petiti%e fied (' best &han&e was t#
spe&iai*e in a sub)e&t #n whi&h %er' itte had been
written! ># Sikh had pubished a b##k #n the Sikhs
either in Fngand #r the Gnited States!
B
This is as# in%#%ed a stud' #f Sikh reigi#n! In #rder t# gain a
&#(prehensi%e understanding #f the sub)e&t- he read ab#ut a the reigi#ns
#f the
w#rd! As a resut #f this- he has written se%era b##ks and essa's up#n
reigi#n!
"en&e it is but natura that #ne #f the (a)#r the(es in his fi&ti#n w#ud be
reigi#n! In India- there is a &#se reati#n between reigi#n and p#iti&s! And
Khushwant Singh is n#t #n' a writer but a )#urnaist as we! S# he &ann#t
re(ain
unaware #r unt#u&hed b' the e%ents that ha%e shaped #ur &#untr'! "e is
keen'
aware #f the hist#r'- &uture and p#it' #f India! An i(p#rtant aspe&t #f his
fi&ti#n- espe&ia' his n#%es- is his %iews #n p#iti&s!
As Singh beie%es that the =ring #r truth= is the essentia ha(ark #f a
g##d fi&ti#n- he has (#st' written ab#ut what he is pers#na' a&+uainted
with!
"is pers#na e$perien&e- &#se ass#&iati#n- and inti(ate kn#wedge ab#ut the
sub)e&t taken up- awa's &#(es thr#ugh in a his fi&ti#n! "is first &#e&ti#n #f
sh#rt st#ries- The Mark #f :ishnu was the resut #f his briefess da's as a
aw'er in
9ah#re! =A(#st a #f the( are based #n rea ife e$perien&es #r th#se
reated b'
friends! I t##k (ini(u( iberties with the fa&ts and this #n' t# gi%e the(
s#(e
pun&h!=
5
>atura' the aut#bi#graphi&a n#te in his fi&ti#n is rather pr#n#un&ed!
Khushwant Singh has written f#ur n#%es and fi%e &#e&ti#ns #f sh#rt
st#ries! The detais #f n#%es are gi%en be#w! 63
3 Train t# 6akistan! 9#nd#n- Chatt# and Windus- 3556 >ew N#rk- ,r#%e
6ress- 3563 @ as Man# Ma)ra- ,r#%e 6ress- 3556
2 I Sha >#t "ear the >ightingae! >ew N#rk- ,r#%e 6ress- 3555@ 9#nd#n-
Cader- 3563!
3 ;ehi : A >#%e 6enguin ?##ks India 355<
H The C#(pan' #f W#(en! >ew ;ehi and >ew N#rk- :iking- 3555
Singh1s first n#%e Train t# 6akistan /35560- #rigina' entited Man#
Ma)ra- is #ne #f the finest reaisti& n#%es #f p#st-W#rd War-II Ind#-Angian
fi&ti#n! The 6#t and the narrati%e se+uen&e #f the n#%e is di%ided int# f#ur
parts :
/i0 =;a&#it'=- /ii0 =Ka'ug=- /iii0 =Man# Ma)ra= and /i%0 =Kar(a=! Man# (a)ra- a
tin' %iage in the 6un)ab- ser%es as the fi&ti#na setting #f Train t# 6akistan! It
is
situated #n the Indian b#rder- haf a (ie awa' fr#( the ri%er Sute)! In spite
#f
b##dshed and ri#ting in the fr#ntier area- ife in Man# Ma)ra re(ains t# be
pea&efu! The Sikhs- Musi(s and "indus are i%ing in har(#n' and a(it'!
6artiti#n has n#t t#u&hed Man# Ma)ransP =n# #ne in Man# Ma)ra e%en kn#ws
that the ?ritish ha%e eft and the &#untr' is di%ided int# 6akistan and
"industan!=
9ife here is reguated b' trains with their arri%a and departure! The %iagers
are
n#t a&+uainted with the pr#gress #f s&ien&e and ign#ran&e #f s&ientifi&
pr#gress is
biss t# the(!
The 6ea&efu ife in Man# Ma)ra &#(es t# a )#t when #n an August night
the %iage (#ne'-ender1s h#use is raided b' Mai- a dreaded da&#it! The
da&#its
dr#p banges in the h#use #f 7uggut Singh #f the sa(e %iage! 9ater 7uggut
Singh
is arrested as the suspe&t #f the (urderer and da&#it'! 6e#pe1s part' #f India
sends its representati%e I+ba Singh t# w#rk f#r pea&e when there are
&#((una
disturban&es there! 6#i&e as# arrests hi( as a suspe&t in (#ne'-ender1s
(urder
&ase! The situati#n at Man# Ma)ra aggra%ates further! A &#((#ti#n is &reated
with the arri%a #f the gh#st train fr#( 6akistan! This engufs Man# Ma)ra!
Madness takes #%er the pe#pe #f different &#((unities! It f##ws senseess
kiing- ##ting burning and raping! The partiti#n #f India &aused a great dea
#f 62
tur(#i t# Khushwant Singh and the resut was his in&#(parabe (asterpie&e-
Train t# 6akistan! Sin&e he was a witness t# the %i#en&e that #&&urred- he
gi%es a
graphi& des&ripti#n #f the &#((una ri#ts right at the beginning #f the n#%e:
The fa&t is- b#th sides kied! ?#th sh#t and stabbed
and speared and &ubbed! ?#th t#rtured! ?#th raped!
4r#( Ca&utta- the ri#ts spread n#rth and east and
west: t# >#akhai in Fast ?enga- where Musi(s
(assa&red "indus@ t# ?ihar- where "indus
(assa&red Musi(s! Muahs r#a(ed 6un)ab and
the 4r#ntier 6r#%in&e with b#$es #f hu(an skus
said t# be th#se #f Musi(s kied in ?ihar!
3<

Su&h a narrati#n is &ear' an indi&t(ent #f the reper&ussi#n #f the
partiti#n- rather- the partiti#n itsef! F%en th#ugh the n#%e essentia'
des&ribes
the h#rrifi& e%ents #f the 6artiti#n- Khushwant Singh resists the te(ptati#n t#
sit
in 7udg(ent #n the p#iti&a eaders #f the da'! S#(e #f the &hara&ters d#
speak in
a biased (anner at ti(es- but this is in keeping with the de(ands #f the
st#r'!
I Sha >#t "ear the >ightingae is the st#r' #f tw# fa(iies- #ne Sikh and
the #ther "indu- set against the ast peri#d #f ?ritish Da) in the 6un)ab
pr#%in&e
and )ust ab#ut fi%e 'ears bef#re the a&hie%e(ent #f India1s independen&e!
Ath#ugh the n#%e substantia' deas with India1s &#n&urrent p#iti&a
situati#ns
in 6un)ab- 'et it is n#t a tru' p#iti&a n#%e sin&e the p#iti&s in it apparent'
a&ks a deep in%#%e(ent with the situati#ns- interest and &#((it(ent t# the
p#iti&a (#ti%es and e%en the p#iti&a phi#s#ph'! The n#%e has a i(ited
range
and a restri&ted (iieu and it d#es n#t g# be'#nd an #b%i#us i(it #f a
s#&i#p#iti&a narrati%e interests- th#ugh it has substanti%e ee(ents #f
intensit' and
funess #f passi#n! Khushwant Singh has n# apparent p#iti&a (#ti%e #f
in%#%e(ent! 63
I Sha >#t "ear the >ightingae is set in A(ritsar in 35H2 during the
height #f IndiaLs freed#( (#%e(ent! It e$p#res the i(pa&t #f the freed#(
(#%e(ent #n the fa(i' #f a (agistrate ?uta Singh- a #'a ser%ant #f the
?ritish
Da)! Gnkn#wn t# hi(- his s#n Sher Singh be&#(es the eader #f a gr#up #f
anti?ritish re%#uti#naries! The s#n is arrested@ if pr#%ed guit' #f treas#n he
&#ud be
senten&ed t# death! The Fngish ;eput' C#((issi#ner 7#hn Ta'#r- #ffers the
s#n
tw# aternati%es: either betra'ing his &#(rades and sa%ing his ife- #r ese
being
hanged!
This n#%e e$p#res rather a despi&abe side #f IndiaLs hist#r'- that #f
ser%ie Indian g#%ern(ent ser%ants in the ?ritish regi(e! "#w unbeie%ab'
the
Indian &i%i ser%ants #f that ti(e w#ud degrade the(se%es st#pping sh#rt #f
n#thing t# be in the g##d b##ks #f the ?ritish! The n#%e depi&ts the ?ritish
the(se%es as be(used b' su&h Indians at their be&k! ?uta Singh t'pifies
th#se
#i' Indians awaiting e%en that sight n#d #f appr#%a fr#( the ?ritish Da)!
Whie
the ending #f the n#%e is d#(inated b' the (#ther Sabhrai tr'ing t# sa%e
her
fa(i' fr#( faing apart- the #pening &hapters #f a Sarus Crane &hasing the
kiers
#f its (ate gi%es the reader g##sefesh! A starting' written &hara&ter #f
Cha(pak
is unanti&ipated! She is the se$ua' de(anding wife #f Sher Singh wh# is
gr#wing tired #f her in&essant se$ua needs! She in&ites his desire b'
(assaging
his egs and then taking %ugar- i(agined things that happened t# her during
the
da' t# ar#use hi( t# perf#r(! An#ther interesting &hara&ter is #f Madan 9a-
Sher
SinghLs friend and &#(rade against the ?ritish! Madan 9a is the &ri&ket star
#f
&#ege- a swashbu&king &asan#%a wh# has b#th Cha(pak and Sher SinghLs
sister
?eena usting f#r hi(- whie his #wn wife re(ains ('steri#us' awa'! ?ut
d#es it
n#t surprise that when auth#rs ike Irwing Waa&e and Sidne' Shed#n add
se$ in
their st#ries we ap it up with gee! ?ut if s#(e Indian auth#r d#es it there is a
hue
and &r'! 6r#bab' we think that writing ab#ut se$ is %er' western! Khushwant
Singh #r Sh#bha ;e d#nLt g# ab#ut &ai(ing that the' are writing iterar'
(asterpie&es! S# whether it is f#r (arket de(ands- pers#na peasure #r
pure
h#r(#na ki&ks the se$ in their n#%es is entire' their prer#gati%e! ?esides
that-
Khushwant Singh p#puates I Sha >#t "ear the >ightingae with utter' 6H
beie%abe &hara&ters and situati#ns! "is st'e is deightfu' sar&asti&-
(#&king at
ea&h #f his &hara&ters! "u(an beha%i#ur- +uesti#nabe %aues- &utures are
a
p#inted fingers at- aid bare and (aigned! There is (u&h hu(#ur thr#ugh#ut
the
b##k as there is as# a &han&e that '#u (a' shed a tear #r tw# t##- a
(aking it a
%er' readabe b##k!
"is third n#%e ;ehi is a +ueer bend #f hist#r'- r#(an&e and se$! The
&hapters #f the n#%e &#ntain the %i%id pi&turisati#n #f hist#r' &#((en&ing
fr#(
Muga peri#d #f Oahiruddin ?abar and ending t# the assassinati#n #f Indira
,andhi! The n#%e s#(eti(es appears t# be a fine tra%e#gue when
Khushwant
Singh presents #f %i%id pi&tures #f %ari#us r#ads- anes and hist#ri&a pa&es
#f
;ehi in its rea na(es- f#r(s and features! The hist#ri&a e%ents narrated in
the
different &hapters #f the n#%e are seen ni&e' wrapped with se$ and
r#(an&es!
The narrat#r1s being hi(sef the n#%eist- se$ua en&#unter with the
?hag(ati- a
`hi)ra1 /her(aphr#dite0- &reates a sinister feeing a(#ng the readers!
The C#(pan' #f W#(en (a' be regarded as =the (ienniu(Ls ast ,reat
Indian 9as&i%i#us >#%e= gi%ing the =%#'euristi& %iew #f (ae and fe(ae
anat#(' and titiating a&&#unts #f the innu(erabe se$ua en&#unters #f his
pr#tag#nist1! The auth#r1s narrati%e ski is s# superb that a reader fees ike
wat&hing a bue fi( rather than reading a fi&ti#na n#%e!
The n#%e begins with its her# M#han Ku(ar- a su&&essfu ;ehi1s
business(an- breaking #ff with his wife and his e%erasting =ust'= eff#rts t#
set
up a (#re fe$ibe arrange(ent f#r appease(ent #f his ph'si&a needs! The
initia
endea%#ur begins at his h#(e with the sweepress and e$tends t# the wide
w#rd #f
#ne' w#(en be'#nd the neighb#urh##d t# the 6rin&et#n- ha%ing (#st
bi*arre #f
his =triu(ph= in #ne night en&#unter with a de%#ut Musi( w#(an fr#(
6akistan!
The n#%e &hr#n##gi&a' presents the (#st sensu#us pi&tures #f the nine
w#(en
with wh#(- the her# beds- in&uding his wife! Cf the eight #n the des&ripti#n-
#ne
ea&h is Afri&an-A(eri&an- Kash(iri 6andit- Musi(- ;ait "indu- "indu
?rah(in- Ta(iian Christian- ,#an D#(an Cath#i&- Sri 9ankan ?uddhist and
an 65
unna(ed w#(en #f eas' %irtue in ?#(ba'! Singh see(s t# ha%e e$tending
the
s#gan that the #%e and se$ kn#w n# &aste- &ass and &#((unit' bar!
In #rder t# e$p#re the n#%es #f Khushwant Singh- it is first ne&essar' t#
understand his ife and his ideas #n fi&ti#n and his (a)#r &#n&erns! This wi
gi%e
a better insight int# his &h#i&e #f the the(es up#n whi&h his (#st #f the
writings
are based up#n! It is fair' #b%i#us that his pers#na e$perien&es and the
hist#ri&a
e%ents that shaped the &#untr' pa' a (a)#r r#e in his w#rks! The resear&her
beie%es that the 6un)ab &#untr'side- the &apita #f India-;ehi and the &it' #f
9#nd#n are the (#st i(p#rtant infuen&es up#n hi(! F$p#sed as he has been
t#
the ideas and attitudes #f the West- Singh is essentia' an Crienta wh# has
su&&eeded in (aintaining his Indian sef and indi%iduait'! The resear&her has
f#und his aut#bi#graph' a usefu t## t# e$p#re his gr#wth as an indi%idua
we
as a great &#nte(p#rar' Indian n#%eist writing in Fngish! When he utters
these
w#rds .I a( n#t a ni&e (an t# kn#w!11 "is aut#bi#graph' inf#r(s us a #t
ab#ut
hi(-ab#ut (iieu- (#(ent and ra&e!
Khushwant Singh as a sh#rt st#r' writer pursues and f##ws the art #f
sh#rt st#r' as in its ear' twentieth &entur'! "e is &#nsidered as a reaist and
hu(anist in #ne- and this pi&ture #f hi( is re%eaed in his sh#rt st#ries! The'
re%ea his gente ir#n' and his fa&ut' #f being ir#ni&a #n the part #f his
&#untr'(en! Ir#n' f#r(s #ne #f the basi& &hara&teristi&s in his st'e #f st#r'
writing! Ir#n' in its itera sense is &#nsidered as a de%i&e with dua #r tw#
(eaning: Cne the itera #r a&tua (eaning and the se&#nd whi&h bring #ther
(eaning in the senten&e #r situati#n than the a&tua #ne- in #ther w#rds
Ir#n' is
the w#rd that sa's #ne thing but (eans an#ther!
The st#r'- .The Mark #f :ishnu2- is #ne #f the re(arkabe and high'
appre&iated st#ries a(#ng Ind#-Angi&an St#ries! The tite is weighed b' the
reigi#us %aues- but the ir#n' #f the tie is re%eaed thr#ugh the st#r' fr#(
whi&h
the auth#r (#&ks at the superstiti#us Indian! In this st#r'- a "indu de%#tee-
,anga
Da(- has (u&h beief in ba&k &#bra genera' &aed Kaa >ag! ,anga Da(-
ike 66
(an' "indus- &#nsiders Kaa >ag t# be a deit'! ,anga Da( is a pi#us and
de%#ted ?rah(in- and- as a (ark #f "indu w#rship #f Kaa >ag /Shesh->ag0-
he
used t# p#ur (ik in a sau&er f#r the >ag! "e sh#ws great faith in ?rah(a-
:ishnu
and Mahesh /#r Shi%a0- the Creat#r- the 6reser%er and the ;estr#'er g#ds
respe&ti%e'! As his s'(b# #f faith- he wears a .:2 (ark #n his f#rehead with
the
sandaw##d paste! Cne da' a ba&k-h##ded- si$ feet #ng- r#unded and
fesh'
&#bra is seen #n a rain' (#rning! As s##n as s#(e s&h## &hidren see the
snake-
the' surr#und hi( and hit hi( #n the h##d! The >ag rea&hes a state #f pain
and
ag#n' due t# the w#und #n his h##d- it is redu&ed in .s+uish'-s+uash' pup
#f
ba&k and white )e'- spattered with b##d and (ud2!
33

The &hidren then ift the &#bra #n a ?a(b## sti&k and ater pa&e it in a
s(a tin b#$- and tie it with a r#pe! The' take the b#$- the %er' ne$t da'- t#
present it t# the s&ien&e tea&her! As s##n as the id #f the tin is #pened- the
>ag
&#(es #ut with b##dsh#t e'es- sur%e'ing the s&ene! "e- b' a hiss and f#rked
t#ngue- (akes a dart- he as# wants t# ea%e the pa&e but his w#unded be'
d#es
n#t a#w hi( t# (#%e! ?ut s#(e h#w he (anages t# drag his b#d' t# the
d##r as
his ba&k is br#ken but his h##d re(ains unda(aged! ,anga Da( waits #n
the
d##r with a sau&er in his hands- and as s##n as he sees the nag- he pa&es
the
sau&er in fr#nt #f hi(! After pa&ing the sau&er he hi(sef sits #n his knees #n
the
f##r in #rders t# pra' t# the >ag t# f#rgi%e the s&h## &hidren f#r their
(isbeha%i#r! The >ag- in fur'- bite ,anga Da( a #%er his b#d'- the tea&her
wipes the b##d dr#pets fr#( his f#reheads Q sees a .:2 (ark- where Kaa
>ag
has dug his fangs! This st#r' has ir#ni&a' been pa&ed and stru&tured! Ir#n'
is
i(pied thr#ugh the tite itsef! The tite is s'(b#i& as .The Mark #f :ishnu2
(eans the di%ine fun&ti#n #f preser%ati#n #f ife #n Farth! ?ut here the ir#n'-
the
.Mark #f :ishnu is i(pied as the M(ark #f snake biteL! In "indu reigi#n the
de%#tees #f :ishnu /the preser%er0- &aed the :aishna%aites- n#r(a' bear
three
straight stripes #f sandaw##d #n their f#rehead! ?ut ,anga Da( pa&es a .:2
(ark #n his f#rehead instead #f three straight stripes- it sh#ws that th#ugh
the
pra&ti&e #f bearing a three stripes #f sandaw##d is s'(b# #f de%#ti#n #f
:ishnu-
the preser%er@ but here the .:2 (ark a&ts as a s'(b# #f de%#ti#n t# Kaa
>ag 68
/snake0- the destr#'er- and the (ark #f his fangs is as# #f .:2 shape! The
st#r'
rea&hes n# end@ the auth#r ea%es the end t# be de&ided b' the readers!
The #ther st#r' b' Mr! Singh- is .The :#i&e #f ,#d and Cther St#ries-2
whi&h is representati%e #f b#th %erba and situati#na ir#n'- whi&h (akes the
tite-
(eaning and stru&ture #f the st#r' ir#ni&a in a wh#e! It is a tae #f pe#pe #f
tw#
%iages in 6un)ab- ?ha(ba Kaan and ?ha(ba Khurd- its b#th &## pa&es
where
n#thing unpeasant happens but the pea&efu ife #f the pe#pe is disturbed
b' the
ee&ti#n fue and gae #f p#iti&s! Mr! 4#rs'the- an Fngish deput'
&#((issi#ner
arri%es at ?ha(ba apparent' #n an #ffi&ia %isit but his a&tua %isit is t#
&a(paign
f#r ,anda Singh- wh# pre%i#us' heped ?ritish ,#%ern(ent b' sub)ugating
the
present agitati#n and the C#ngress (#%e(ent- in his bid f#r 6un)ab Asse(b'
ee&ti#n! ,anda Singh is a &hief #f da&#its and thugs- as is said in the st#r'-
.his
(en r#bbed with i(punit' and shared the pr#&eeds with the p#i&e2!
32
Mr!
4#rs'the praises ,anda Singh and appre&iates his w#rk and pretends hi( as
a
pride #f the distri&t! Th#ugh the pe#pe hate ,anda Singh f#r his inhu(an
a&ti%ities and in)usti&e t# the pe#pe! After the spee&h ,anda Singh
distributes
sweet t# Oaidars- 9a(bardars and :iage Cffi&ers in referen&e t# their
pr#(ise
t# %#te f#r hi( in the ee&ti#n! "is ri%a in the ee&ti#n is Kartar Singh- wh# is
a
>ati#naist n#(inee and an ad%#&ate b' pr#fessi#n! Seth Sukhtankar- a
(ii#naire- wh# is in%#%ed in &#th business and #wes &#th (is- supp#rts
hi(!
"e &as the pe#pe f#r a (eeting t# &#n%in&e the(- .if H<< (ii#n Indians
united
and spat in a tank- there w#ud be en#ugh spit t# dr#wn the entire Fngish
p#puati#n in India!2 This &#((ent b' Mr! Singh re%eas his deep ir#n' and
hu(#ur when he sa's- .?ut s#(eh#w the fa&iities f#r su&h a (ass sui&ide
had
ne%er been pr#%ided!2
33
Cne (#re &#ntestant ?aba Da( Singh is f#und wh# is a de%#ted w#rker
a(#ng p##r peasants wh# &a hi(sef a kisan /an #rdinar' far(er0! 6#ing
takes
pa&e #n the spe&ifi& date and Sardar ,anda Singh is de&ared ee&ted #%er
his
nearest ri%a Sardar Kartar Singh b' a (argin #f 2-22< %#tes! ?aba Da( Singh
n#t
#n' #ses ee&ti#n but as# f#rfeits his dep#sit! Cn this #&&asi#n the &#((ent
b' 6B
Mr! Singh sh#ws deep ir#n' and hu(#ur- when he sa's- .The pe#pe had
sp#ken!
The %#i&e #f the pe#pe is the :#i&e #f the ,#d2!
3H
"ere the disbeief and
h'p#&ris' #f the pe#pe is sh#wn b' the ir#ni&a &#((ent! ;uring the ti(e #f
ee&ti#n there %aues are subsided b' the pressure #f the &#ntestants and
#n&e the
pers#n is ee&ted he beha%es as a Mini-,#d and f#rgets his pr#(ises and
%iews
(ade t# the pe#pe!
An#ther sh#rt st#r'- .Kar(a-2 re%eas the ps'&h##g' #f an edu&ated
Indian in ?ritish India and his &hara&ter is presented in an ir#ni&a wa'- this
&hara&ter heps the auth#r t# present his ir#n' f#r su&h pe#pe! Sir M#han
9aLs
en&#unter with the (irr#r sh#ws the %aues #f su&h Indians- their indifferen&e
and
%aried nati%e feeings! The (irr#r is Indian (ade and .the red #$ide #f its
ba&k
had &#(e #ff at se%era pa&es and #ng ines #f transu&ent gass &ut a&r#ss
its
surfa&e2! This &#((ent is an ir#ni&a e$a(pe #f Indians with ?ritish ikings in
?ritish Da)! The (irr#r is a s'(b# #f e%er'thing Indian and nati%e- ineffi&ient
and indifferent- dirt' and int#erabe t# M#han 9a! In this in&iden&e Mr! Singh-
fu' and in fine (anner- sh#ws his ir#n' f#r the Indians in ?ritish
,#%ern(ent!
M#han 9a wears the suit tai#red at Sa%ie D#w- the s'(b# #f ?ritish
arist#&ra&' and upper &ass Cuture@ and ?ai# tie- a s'(b# #f e$&usi%e
C$f#rd
upbringing and edu&ated hu(an being! "e is (arried t# 9a&h(i - wh# is
ir#ni&a' being &aed 9ad' M#han 9a b' the auth#r but she has n#
rese(ban&e
t# her husband! Sir M#han 9a is depi&ted as an edu&ated Indian in &#ntrast t#
his
iiterate wife! In an in&iden&e the harsh ir#n' #f the auth#r is depi&ted when
Sir
M#han 9a in suit and tie is presented sitting in a first &ass waiting r##(-
+uiet'
sipping his .Fk Ch#ta2 /a S(a 6eg0! Whie his wife- a fat and an iiterate
w#(an is f#und eating &hapattis and pi&kes and &hewing bete ea%es whie
sitting #n a stee trunk #n the patf#r(! Sir M#han 9a tra%es in first &ass
&#(part(ent a#ng with a edu&ated and we pa&ed pe#pe- whereas his
iiterate
wife is ad)usted in adies genera &ass &#(part(ent!
The ater haf #f the in&iden&e is fu #f ir#ni&a beha%i#ur #f the pe#pe
with b#th Mrs! and Mr! M#han 9a! 9ater the train arri%es and b#th are
ad)usted in 65
their respe&ti%e &#a&hes- Sir M#han 9a enters in first &ass &#(part(ent and
9ad' M#han 9a in a genera adies &#(part(ent! As s##n as he enters in the
&#(part(ent he d#es n#t e%en find a singe pers#n in it- but- after s#(e
ti(e- tw#
Fngish s#diers arri%e- #ne s#dier sa' t# an#ther t# et hi( d#wn! And the'
start
sh#uting at M#han 9a- .Fk ;u( 7a#2 /,# at Cn&e0! The' ift his suit&ase and
thr#w it #ut #n the patf#r(! The train starts (#%ing and the' pu hi( b' his
ar(s
and thr#w hi( #ut #f the &#(part(ent! The ir#n' #f his fate is presented
here- as
he a' #n the patf#r( after hu(iiati#n whereas his wife is f#und &#(f#rtabe
in
inter - &ass &#(part(ent! As- .the train speed p#st the ighted part #f the
patf#r(- 9ad' 9a spat and sent a )et #f red dribbe f'ing a&r#ss ike a dirt2E
This
a&ti#n #f ad' 9a is presented as a %i&t#r' #f a si(pe Indian w#(an #%er a
earned- arr#gant and pr#ud' Indian (an- wh# pretends t# be f#reigner!
=The ?a&k 7as(ine= is- n# d#ubt- a bawd' st#r'- whi&h betra's
Khushwant Singh1s predie&ti#n f#r the ris+ue! Net- it #ffers #ne #f the best
iustrati#ns #f &#(i& ir#n' reinf#r&ed b' ir#n' #f situati#n! When the
pr#tag#nist
#f this st#r' ?anner)ee was in S#rb#nne pursuing higher studies- a
&ur%a&e#us
Afri&an gir Martha Sta&k be&a(e friend' with hi(! Sin&e she was +uite a
s(asher- the #ther (ae students were a(#st en%i#us #f ?anner)ee!
Cne da'
in a high' r#(anti& (##d she #ffered hersef but ir#ni&a' ?anner)ee- wh#
had
wasted (an' h#urs #n da'drea(ing the wa' he w#ud sedu&e her- faied t#
sedu&e her! >ear' thirt' 'ears after this in&ident Martha wh# is .#ne
en#r(#us
(ass #f huk' fesh= &#(es t# India as a t#urist and (eets an #d and w#rn-
#ut
?anner)ee! Ir#ni&a'- ?anner)ee n#w de&ides t# (ake up f#r the earier
faiure!
The (issed passi#n war(s up his i(bs under the infuen&e #f i+u#r and
#%erwhe(s his senses! Khushwant SinghLs re(arkabe te&hni&a ski is
e%ident
in .?a&k 7as(ine2 whi&h deas with a singe passi#n #f unr#(anti& se$ua
e$p#rati#n! The wh#e st#r' &entres #n the singe &hara&ter Martha! The #ne
and
#n' a&ti#n that ?anner)ee undertakes is t# sedu&e Martha and this he
a&&#(pishes at an une$pe&ted (#(ent! There is n# digressi#n #r di%ersi#n!
As a
resut- there is n# fagging #f interest!
8<
The st#r' entited .6aradise2 begins with the &ause re%eaed b' the
her#ine Margaret ?##( wh' she fet b#und t# g# t# India! It was- perhaps-
the
sa(e reas#n that &#(pes the pe#pe fr#( e%er' &#rner #f the w#rd- t#
&#(e t#
India- parti&uar' Fur#peans- t# find pea&e! Margaret ?##( gi%es the rea
a&&#unt #f the reati#nship between her parents! "er father was a big-buit
(an
whie her (#ther was s(a and e$tre(e' attra&ti%e- with g#den br#wn hair-
dark
bue e'es and b##bs t# die f#r! She asked t# hersef Wh' she agreed t# (arr'
her
father- wh# was a &#arse (an! "e was ne%er abe t# understand! "e was the
&hief
saes (anager #f a arge- )ewish-#wned depart(ent st#re@ she the pers#na
se&retar' #f a (e(ber #f the ?#ard #f ;ire&t#rs wh# wanted her t# be his
(istress! The (an h#unded her- s# she t#d hi( where t# get #ff and be&a(e
the
se&retar' #f an#ther (e(ber #f the ?#ard! She as# agreed t# (arr' her
father
wh# had been (aking passes at her f#r a #ng ti(e! Fur#pean w#(en- &#(e
t#
India i(peed b' different purp#ses! S#(e #f the( are drawn b' the
pr#digi#us
%ariet' #f the Indian ife- the #thers &#(e f#r a better kn#wedge #f IndiaLs
,e#graph'- art and &uture! Sti #thers &#(e t# India in sear&h #f 6ea&e #f
Mind
and S#u! The' are attra&ted b' the Indian saints wh#- the' beie%e- ha%e the
p#wer t# unra%e t# the( the ('ster' #f ife and t# #ffer the( the ight #f
truth!

It is an indisputabe fa&t that Khushwant Singh has e$&eed a(#st a
#ther Indian Fngish sh#rt st#r' writers in artistr'! A his st#ries ha%e a
r#unded
perfe&ti#n! .The 6#rtrait #f a 9ad'2- .The 4awn2 and .A 9#%e Affair in
9#nd#n2-
.A 6un)ab 6ast#rae2 with their ri&h suggesti#n &an stand &#(paris#n with
an'
st#r' #f the (asters in this fied!
83
Deferen&es
3! ;hawan- D!K! Three C#nte(p#rar' >#%eist! >ew ;ehi: Cassi&a
6ubishing C#(pan'- 35B5! p! 36!
2! Ibid!- 6g!36
3! Singh- D#hini! Man Caed Khushwant Singh >ew ;ehi: G?S 6ubishers
;istribut#rs /60- 9i(ited- 2<<2! p!55
H! Shahane- :asant- A! Khushwant Singh! >ew N#rk: Twa'ne 6ubishers
In&!- 3565! p!3B
5! Singh- Khushwant! W#(en and Men in (' 9ife! >ew ;ehi: G?S
6ubishersL ;istribut#rs 9td!- 3555! p!38<!
6! Singh- Khushwant! >eed f#r a >ew Deigi#n in India and Cther Fssa's!
>ew ;ehi: G?S 6ubishers ;istribut#rsL 9td!- 355! p!53!
8! F*ekie- >issi(! I(print- 3:6! ?#(ba': Septe(ber-3563! p!355
B! Singh- Khushwant! Se$- S&#t&h and S&h#arship- >ew ;ehi: "arper
C#ins- 2<<3! p! 32
5! Singh- Khushwant! >#t a >i&e Man t# Kn#w! >ew ;ehi: 6enguin- 3553!
p!3
3<! Singh- Khushwant! Train t# 6akistan! >ew ;ehi: Crient 9#ng(an 6ri%ate
9td! p!3
33! Singh- Khushwant- The Mark #f :ishnu and Cther St#ries- ?#(ba': 7ai&#-
3558- p! 36
32! Singh- Khushwant- The %#i&e #f ,#d and Cther St#ries- ?#(ba': 7ai&#-
3558- p! 5
33! Ibid!- p!33
3H! Ibid!- p!38