"It's my harvest year," says Khushwant of the Padma Vibhushan and other awards or recognitions he has got this year.
***
Which other writer would walk into the butcher's and expect to be told, "We read you every week, in the Urdu papers"?
***
The golden Padma Vibhushan has fast been tucked out of sight. On display is a solid silver loon, given to him by Canadian Punjabis.
***
Khushwant Singh begins his day by chanting Om. "It's not prayer," he says. "It's really to get my bowels and bladder to work."
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He knows how to reach his reader: inform, amuse and provoke. "Indians are easy to shock. They are hidebound in
religion."
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His visitors include politicians, pundits, publishers and, lately, sightseers. "After Qutub Minar, Jantar Mantar, they want to see me."
***
Recently, a disciple of Dalai Lama tied a red thread on his wrist, "for peaceful death". "Wish it was for immortality," guffawed Singh.
***
At 92, India's Dirty Old Man and...
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