You do not know Delhi till you know its dargahs: graves of its many Sufi pirs. Historic monuments like the Qutub Minar and the Red Fort mark victories of Muslim armies as explicitly claimed by the Quwat-ul Islam mosque next to the Minar.
As an ardent dog-lover I find myself in the dog house (provoked by an article written by Baba Umar in the latest issue of Tehelka, entitled Who Let the Dogs Out? Khushwant Singh writes.
When Saeed Naqvi suggested I hold a Mushaira in my falt, I readily agreed to do so. Saeed has a phenomenal memory and he delivers poems with panache that no one can match.
Khushwant Singh reports.
India knows Anupam Kher as one of the many stars of Bollywood: he has starred in over 450 films. India does not know there is another side to him; he is also a thinker. He has put his thoughts in a newly published book of some 200 pages, illustrated with scenes from nature to match his observations. He has entitled his publication The Best Thing About You is You, (Hay House). He tackles questions like: “Where do we come from? What are we expected to do? And, where do we go after we die?”
Every Republic Day I draw up my own honour list for Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards. I impose two pre-conditions. First, anyone known to have convassed for any award should be banned from receiving any honour. Nine out of 10, men and women do so.
Khushwant Singh writes.
At the end of last year some journals published what eminent personalities were reading at the time. Sonia Gandhi replied: She was reading Vinod Mehta's autobiography Lucknow Boy (Penguin Viking). I assumed Vinod would be on cloud nine and celebrating with his friends.
Salman Rushdie came into my life briefly as I was adviser to Penguin-Viking (India). I was one of the millions of his fans who had been bowled over by his classic novel Midnight’s Children.
Khushwant Singh writes.
Anna Hazare has made fasting into a tamaasha. I observe the same kind of fast daily. I don't eat between breakfast and lunch. Nor between lunch and supper. He makes the front page of all newspapers and top news on TV channels. No one takes the slightest notice of my two fasts a day. I think this is most unfair.
Khushwant Singh writes.
The high-water mark of my journalistic career was reporting the Indo-Pak War of 1971 for the New York Times. I had the rare opportunity of meeting some of the leading characters of this dramatic episode in history including Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, known as Banga Bandhu, Maulana Bhashani and General Jagjit Singh Aurora, writes
Khushwant Singh.
Rupa publishers have done India a great service by bringing out eleven volumes of Encyclopaedia of Hinduism. It has taken over five years to accomplish the task.
My neighbour Reeta Devi Varma has given me a one foot high lamp with glass on all its four sides. Inside is a wax-lit diya. Since it is enclosed on all sides, its flame rarely flickers.
Khushwant Singh writes.
Syeda Henna Babar Ali who I had the privilege of meeting on my last visit to Lahore many years ago has sent me her collection of poems A Rose.
Khushwant Singh writes.
Mayawati, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has announced her resolve to divide the state she rules into four. Her decision can be rubbished on many grounds.
Khushwant Singh writes.
Once Bhupen Hazarika picked me up from Delhi when I was editing the Hindustan Times and flew me to his home town for his annual bash at Siliguri. On the way and over drinks in the evening he told me about his past and present life. Khushwant Singh writes.