Truth, Love & a little Malice is a blunt and honest autobiography of India's most renowned, read, lauded, critically acclaimed and controversial living author and journalist Khushwant Singh. He starts it by apologizing for writing an autobiography and calls it a swansong of his profound career and eventful life. It is a memoir with footprints on the sand of time.It contains some unforgettable experiences both good and bad, unbelievable experiments both successful and flop, undeniable truths and a life both worth reading, writing and remembering about. Written with utmost candidness it talks about his relationship with his grandmother, parents, friends and colleagues.
The novel being an autobiography is written in sequential manner beginning with the childhood episode of KS to the present day. Singh who has been a witness to all the major events in modern Indian history- from independence and partition to emergency and operation blue star remains forthright in telling them. He also has stories to tell about many influential people like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lady Mountbatten, Jinnah, Amrita Shergill and many more.
He records the comforts and disappointments in his marriage of over sixty years; his first, awkward sexual encounter; his phobia of ghosts and his fascination with death. In one of the chapters he writes about the ingredients essential to be a good writer. It also gives us a glance into the frailty and fragility of communal harmony, unenlightened masses in times of crises and political propaganda. "It is written in a simple, lucid and unpretentious style characteristic of Khushwant Singh"-India Today.
The story is captivating, unmatched and full of meaningful quotations and poems. The Last but One Chapter is the last chapter of his autobiography where he mentions his desire to die the way his parents died. He wraps up his life’s account by saying that he would like to go as Allama Iqbal exhorted strong men to go
“Nishaan-e-mard-e Momin ba too goyam?
Choon marg aayad, tabassum bar lab -e-lost”
(You ask me for the signs of a man of faith? When death comes to him He has a smile on his face.)
“Nishaan-e-mard-e Momin ba too goyam?
Choon marg aayad, tabassum bar lab -e-lost”
(You ask me for the signs of a man of faith? When death comes to him He has a smile on his face.)
rilly good piece of writing... makes me want to read the book.. :D
ReplyDeleteyou have actually reviewed the book exactly the way it should be... by making people curious to read the book... :)
ReplyDeleteHey Deepak i like the critical appreciation of the book and the way you've written it makes me believe that you enjoyed reading the book :)
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work