A cosy winter evening with a warm fire blazing. A glass of scotch and the indomitable Khushwant Singh. Ever wondered what it would be like to hear the 95 year old share his anecdotes, his experiences and his “naughty thoughts”? To sit with him evening after evening as he loses himself in a stray memory or thought or as he vociferously opines on a political event?” If yes, then Absolute Khushwant is the book for you.
From his wife’s affair soon after marriage to his views on communal violence, Sikhism, Pakistan, Kasab and 26/11, Singh reveals it all in short and often unconnected chapters. This is one book you don’t need to sit through. Pick it up, select the topic you are in a mood for and just breeze through the chapter, for like all his other works, this too is written with the reader in mind. There are no big words, no attempt at literary one-upmanship because as Singh himself says, to be a good author you need to talk at the level of the reader. Perhaps, it is this readability of his works that makes Singh so popular. That and the innate honesty.
I have often wondered what is it that sells Singh’s books – the gossip, the malice, the scandal, the innate nosiness or the candour. After all honesty is a rare quality in today’s world. To find it in writing must offer some form of solace.
The first few chapters describe in great detail Singh’s daily routine and his sexual encounters. At times, you wonder at the hypocrisy of his candour. Singh criticizes Vikram Seth for publicizing something as innately personal as his homosexual preferences and yet he opens the door of his bedroom for you. He goes on to tell you that a single partner is boring; don’t worry about STDs; romance is useless; and sex is all that matters.
For the politically inclined Singh recounts his encounters with Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nirad C Chaudhari, Manmohan Singh and all the Gandhis beginning with Indira Gandhi, and you see new sides to these famous personalities. Perhaps Singh’s greatest advantage is his age and his experience which spans almost a century. From Partition to the anti-Sikh riots to 26/11, he has lived through it all and in Absolute Khushwant, he gives his uncensored opinion on them. You may or may not agree with his politics but to hear from someone who has seen it all is a real treat.
To sum it up, Absolute Khushwant is like a sampler: a collection of motley conversations on a variety of topics that you might have had with Singh. There is no depth here, no continuity and no explanations; just candid opinions and descriptions. Take them or leave them. If you are interested in the whys, hows and what fors then go back to his previous works. This book provides some quick peeks into the mind of this self proclaimed loner who loves to gossip in his writing but stays away from gossip mongers in real life.
Speaking of Delhi, Khushwant Singh had once said, “You can love Delhi or hate it, but you cannot be indifferent to it.” The same can be said of the man and his works.
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