Khushwant Singh, Journalist And Writer, Dies At 99

NEW DELHI: Noted writer and journalist Khushwant Singh passed away on Thursday. He was 99.

Singh was best known for his trenchant secularism, his humour, and an abiding love for poetry.

"He was fine and passed away peacefully at home on Thursday," his daughter Mala Singh said. His cremation will take place at Lodhi Crematorium at 4pm today.

Read also: Khushwant Singh's column in TOI, dated October 23, 2011 - An agnostic's view of life & death

Born on February 2, 1915 at Hadali, now in Pakistan, Singh wrote classics like "Train to Pakistan", "I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale" and "Delhi".

He was a lawyer-turned-diplomat-turned-writer. His autobiography, "Truth, Love and a Little Malice", was published by Penguin Books in 2002.

He was editor of several literary and news magazines, including the Illustrated Weekly of India as well as two newspapers, the Hindustan Times and the National Herald, through the 1970s and 1980s.

In 2007, he was awarded with the Padma Vibhushan.


Read also: Khushwant Singh's column in TOI, dated May 17, 2011 - He lived by example



Read also: Vinita Dawra Nangia's blog, dated November 3, 2013 - Be true to your self, is Khushwant's lesson



Singh, who was a Member of Parliament from 1980 to 1986, was awarded with the Padma Bhushan in 1974 but returned the decoration in 1984 in protest against the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar by the Indian Army.

He is survived by son Rahul and daughter Mala.

(With inputs from AP)