Khushwant Singh (2 February 1915 - 20 March 2014) was an Indian novelist and journalist. An Indo-Anglian novelist, Singh was best known for his trenchant secularism,[1] his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit. He served as editor of several literary and news magazines, as well as two broadsheet newspapers, through the 1970s and 1980s. He is a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in India.Singh was born in Hadali District Khushab, Punjab (which now lies in Pakistan), in a Sikh family. His father, Sir Sobha Singh (builder), was a prominent builder in Lutyens Delhi. His uncle Sardar Ujjal Singh (1895–1983) was Ex. Governor of Punjab & Tamil Nadu. He was educated at Modern School, New Delhi, Government College, Lahore, St. Stephens College in Delhi and Kings College London, before reading for the Bar at the Inner Temple.[2][3] Singh has edited Yojana,[4] an Indian government journal; The Illustrated Weekly of India, a newsweekly; and two major Indian newspapers, The National Herald and the Hindustan Times. During his tenure, The Illustrated Weekly became Indias pre-eminent newsweekly, with its circulation raising from 65,000 to 400000
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 07:51:53 +0000