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Best Indian Short Stories, Volume II
Khushwant Singh, the country's foremost literary figure, serves up another volume of the finest fiction from across India. 'A good read . . . engaging . . . The names live up to their reputation.' - India Today 'Tremendous richness of characters on display.' - Deccan Herald 'Offers much . . . to the discriminating reader.' - Deccan Chronicle 'An eminently readable book . . . The range of geographical areas and social backgrounds that this selection represents are truly vast.' - The Tribune
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2012
12 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Khushwant Singh
298 books1,429 followersKhushwant Singh, (Punjabi: ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ, Hindi: खुशवंत सिंह) born on 2 February 1915 in Hadali, Undivided India, (now a part of Pakistan), was a prominent Indian novelist and journalist. Singh's weekly column, "With Malice towards One and All", carried by several Indian newspapers, was among the most widely-read columns in the country.
An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.
An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 6, 2015
Rating : 2 stars
January 20, 2022
This book took me quite some time to finish.
In the beginning and throughout the book, I was trying really hard to connect with the stories that were there but, I don’t know if these stories were translated from another language or written as it is, they were quite shallow?
It took me a lot of efforts to make up my mind for reading this book or even a single chapter.
Many stories were based on misogyny and patriarchal theme (which would make sense if they were written between 50’s-90’s).
There were 2 stories in particular that I hated a lot, I won’t be naming them and giving any spoilers but after reading them I was simply aghast!
This is my personal opinion. I am sure many people won’t agree with it, maybe they could relate to the stories and I just couldn’t which is totally okay. These stories had kind of a similar genre as Premchand, but boy, what Premchand could do, no one else can, I guess!
Kindly read this book at your own risk.
In the beginning and throughout the book, I was trying really hard to connect with the stories that were there but, I don’t know if these stories were translated from another language or written as it is, they were quite shallow?
It took me a lot of efforts to make up my mind for reading this book or even a single chapter.
Many stories were based on misogyny and patriarchal theme (which would make sense if they were written between 50’s-90’s).
There were 2 stories in particular that I hated a lot, I won’t be naming them and giving any spoilers but after reading them I was simply aghast!
This is my personal opinion. I am sure many people won’t agree with it, maybe they could relate to the stories and I just couldn’t which is totally okay. These stories had kind of a similar genre as Premchand, but boy, what Premchand could do, no one else can, I guess!
Kindly read this book at your own risk.
December 4, 2022
With stories that have been selected from a wide range of authors and translated into English, this book helps you get back on the reading bandwagon just like any other good anthology of short stories.
Some authors are famous (Karunanidhi, Yashpal, Dina, Manto, Khushwant Singh himself) while the others, I read for the first time. Often I felt that the stories could have ended with a much better twist and that the translations could have been better. The stories largely have good plots but the language and vocabulary leaves a lot to be desired.
Read it in a PDF form and don't attach too much importance to Khushwant Singh's selections (he would have done a much better job if his team would have shortlisted better stories, I guess).
Some authors are famous (Karunanidhi, Yashpal, Dina, Manto, Khushwant Singh himself) while the others, I read for the first time. Often I felt that the stories could have ended with a much better twist and that the translations could have been better. The stories largely have good plots but the language and vocabulary leaves a lot to be desired.
Read it in a PDF form and don't attach too much importance to Khushwant Singh's selections (he would have done a much better job if his team would have shortlisted better stories, I guess).
October 11, 2019
This book was a pleasant surprise. For one I have never read or known about so many Indian authors. Two I do relate to the context much more easier than say a short story collection of English classical author.
Mozelle by Saadat Hassan Manto, Woman at the window, Accident by R K Laxman, Miss Scrooge by Dina Mehta being my favourites.
Mozelle by Saadat Hassan Manto, Woman at the window, Accident by R K Laxman, Miss Scrooge by Dina Mehta being my favourites.
April 30, 2021
I enjoyed reading the short stories. Would recommend reading in a leisure afternoon when the mind needs to relax.
July 31, 2022
A delicious potpourri of stories with an undercurrent of waspish, knowing humour from an editor and author who has a a delighfully cynical view of life in India.
December 17, 2025
I just couldn’t connect with the stories.
February 20, 2015
What a fine collection of well-written crisp stories.. Entirely unrelated but trying to out-do each other yet coexisting in perfect harmony.
Read
February 26, 2019Beautiful cohabitation of unrelated stories
Perfectly curated stories which do not have anything in common but beautifully complemented the previous story. The ones by RK Laxman was the cherry on top. Perfect read for any age or start developing the reading habit.
Perfectly curated stories which do not have anything in common but beautifully complemented the previous story. The ones by RK Laxman was the cherry on top. Perfect read for any age or start developing the reading habit.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews