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Death at My Doorstep
The death has a warrant in its hands, whose name is at the top today? Death, the eternal truth, the fact which is breath-taking, sad, gloomy. Everyone looks at death from a different aspect. Some consider it to be the end of life, and for some it is beginning of a new life. Some feel that dying is changing bodies by the souls. Some feel that death is being nothing. And some feel that it is a full-stop to everything. What is it actually? When the body becomes lifeless, what happens to the soul? What happens to the mind situated in the body? What happens to the feelings in it? Many such questions remain unanswered. Death is considered to be a blow, bereavement, an agony, a pain, much crying, much mourning. Death is a very serious topic. But this very death meets us in every article under this book in the peculiar style of the author in a very straight forward way. His articles on many of the famous personalities reveal the unknown sides. They make us laugh, think, cry, and they bedazzle us.
- GenresNonfictionIndia
170 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2005
17 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Khushwant Singh
298 books1,426 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 16, 2018
It is a memoir of mourning, missing those who are gone, and at the same time meditations on death, on the ridiculously short time we are allotted on earth. Singh in his 90s talks about people he has admired (including his dog) in his life, and poignantly observes that in a fairer world, they should be writing his obituary, and not the other way round. Most of these people were fairly younger than him. Life has its own way in allotting lifelines.
Singh has such a bad reputation in India. In his own writings, he portrays himself as a drinker, an incorrigible flirt, an agnostic, and sexually promiscuous. While these are not vices in themselves, in fact, these could be considered attributes in cosmopolitan circles, in the Indian context, these are enough to dismiss a person and brand such a person as an incurable debauch. Of course, part of this reputation is choreographed by Singh himself. He wrote extensively on sex, women, adultery, corruption with candor, and at times to shock his smug and conceited countrymen.
The less reflecting and highly conservative public take such things on face value. His own extended family would not send their young daughter to visit him or read what he writes. His critics already branded him a writer–cum journalist who writes.(He actually transformed 'bullshit' into an art form). Many researchers, academics claim that he has not achieved anything significant except his few years when he was the editor of 'the Illustrated Weekly of India.' Some of his readers disliked him so much, they would either drag him to civil-courts or write abusive letters addressed as such: Khuswant Singh, The Bastard, India. (these letters would still reach by the efficient Indian postal services.)
Of course, while bashing writers like him, one forgets that he has spent all his life writing. In his later years, he often regretted that he came to writing late in life. He has written extensively on politics and culture, written several volumes of history– the most formidable being 'The History of Sikhs,' and many novels, two of my favorites are 'Delhi' and 'The Train to Pakistan.' He wrote until the end of his life– without even once failing a deadline (he drank every day for the last seven decades of his life without once getting drunk). Now such a man cannot just be a 'hedonist,' on the contrary, it seemed to me that he slogged and slogged day after and most probably have lived his life like a monk– not in the Himalayas though but in the comforts of his Sujan Singh Park flat.
It is this man– when one really sees beyond the facade– who wrote 'Death at My Doorstep.'
All the people that reminisced had made a strong impression on him; most of them were well-known people in India– professional, hard-working, humane and successful. One of my favorites is a chapter on Dharma Kumar, a very accomplished economist who died of cancer. Later on, I read and heard more about her and found out that many people who knew her remembered that way. There were chapters on Rajni Patel–a Rhodes scholar who eventually became India's topmost Lawyer, and Bhutto– the Pakistani Prime Minister who was sentenced to death under General Gia's dictatorship.
He also wrote about a young journalist/writer Dhiren Bhagat who died in a road accident, and another journalist Megha Dutt– outspoken and blunt– who worked with him for years, and later died of cancer. Both these death were untimely.
And then there was a chapter on his dog 'Sambha.' Again a beautiful chapter that showed Singh's not so over the top humanity– his goodness was not a performative act, and it was not seeped in 'sentimentalism.' He might be everything that most people say about him, but at his core, he was a Gandhian– a scotch drinking, English speaking, gossipmongering, beef eating, but a Gandhian nevertheless.
Singh has such a bad reputation in India. In his own writings, he portrays himself as a drinker, an incorrigible flirt, an agnostic, and sexually promiscuous. While these are not vices in themselves, in fact, these could be considered attributes in cosmopolitan circles, in the Indian context, these are enough to dismiss a person and brand such a person as an incurable debauch. Of course, part of this reputation is choreographed by Singh himself. He wrote extensively on sex, women, adultery, corruption with candor, and at times to shock his smug and conceited countrymen.
The less reflecting and highly conservative public take such things on face value. His own extended family would not send their young daughter to visit him or read what he writes. His critics already branded him a writer–cum journalist who writes.(He actually transformed 'bullshit' into an art form). Many researchers, academics claim that he has not achieved anything significant except his few years when he was the editor of 'the Illustrated Weekly of India.' Some of his readers disliked him so much, they would either drag him to civil-courts or write abusive letters addressed as such: Khuswant Singh, The Bastard, India. (these letters would still reach by the efficient Indian postal services.)
Of course, while bashing writers like him, one forgets that he has spent all his life writing. In his later years, he often regretted that he came to writing late in life. He has written extensively on politics and culture, written several volumes of history– the most formidable being 'The History of Sikhs,' and many novels, two of my favorites are 'Delhi' and 'The Train to Pakistan.' He wrote until the end of his life– without even once failing a deadline (he drank every day for the last seven decades of his life without once getting drunk). Now such a man cannot just be a 'hedonist,' on the contrary, it seemed to me that he slogged and slogged day after and most probably have lived his life like a monk– not in the Himalayas though but in the comforts of his Sujan Singh Park flat.
It is this man– when one really sees beyond the facade– who wrote 'Death at My Doorstep.'
All the people that reminisced had made a strong impression on him; most of them were well-known people in India– professional, hard-working, humane and successful. One of my favorites is a chapter on Dharma Kumar, a very accomplished economist who died of cancer. Later on, I read and heard more about her and found out that many people who knew her remembered that way. There were chapters on Rajni Patel–a Rhodes scholar who eventually became India's topmost Lawyer, and Bhutto– the Pakistani Prime Minister who was sentenced to death under General Gia's dictatorship.
He also wrote about a young journalist/writer Dhiren Bhagat who died in a road accident, and another journalist Megha Dutt– outspoken and blunt– who worked with him for years, and later died of cancer. Both these death were untimely.
And then there was a chapter on his dog 'Sambha.' Again a beautiful chapter that showed Singh's not so over the top humanity– his goodness was not a performative act, and it was not seeped in 'sentimentalism.' He might be everything that most people say about him, but at his core, he was a Gandhian– a scotch drinking, English speaking, gossipmongering, beef eating, but a Gandhian nevertheless.
May 15, 2009
I have never liked the work of Khushwant Singh. Honestly, I have read another book by him and I just did not like it. However, when I look at the title of this book and read a synopsis, I picked it up. I also liked the cover immensely. It's a wonderful photograph. When I started reading the book, I felt it had a good start with some writing about death and dying. However, when I reached the section where he has written obituries of people he has known over a period of time, I felt that it was titillating stuff. I did not like that part at all. It is provocative and bold. I have no problems with that but it came across as something written to create some demand for the book. It's an average piece of work.
April 17, 2014
I am reading Khuswant Singh, 'seriously', for the first time. I had read his short stories as lessons in school and that's that. I thought or had an image of him as an elderly man who loves children and writes soft stories. So I had a great man in my mind. But how all that was shattered by this one.
This is a book of memoirs of some people he had come across in his life and are presently dead. It's like he is awaiting his death and thinking about some others he knew and are currently dead. He doesn't necessarily criticize or praise anyone with intent, though does that inadvertently some times.
He comes across as a typical rationalist who seeks proof for every single thing on the earth or the universe which cannot be sensed by humans or which could be sensed. Though he only bothers to ask this from others and not at any time is concerned about a proof for his own theories. Example when he says there is no proof for life after death, he also has to think about there not being a proof for NO life after death! But I think thats why he calls himself an agnostic.
About the book itself I found nothing interesting as a whole. Though some parts like that of Bhutto, one Rajni Patel and lastly his dog, Simba was interesting. I think I could see the first impression of him,that I had, only in the Simba portion. He is not having an open mind for an agnostic and I expected much better thoughts and a heart from a man 96 years old and with all that experience.
If you have nothing else to do and a couple of hours to spare, you can pick this book up and go through.
This is a book of memoirs of some people he had come across in his life and are presently dead. It's like he is awaiting his death and thinking about some others he knew and are currently dead. He doesn't necessarily criticize or praise anyone with intent, though does that inadvertently some times.
He comes across as a typical rationalist who seeks proof for every single thing on the earth or the universe which cannot be sensed by humans or which could be sensed. Though he only bothers to ask this from others and not at any time is concerned about a proof for his own theories. Example when he says there is no proof for life after death, he also has to think about there not being a proof for NO life after death! But I think thats why he calls himself an agnostic.
About the book itself I found nothing interesting as a whole. Though some parts like that of Bhutto, one Rajni Patel and lastly his dog, Simba was interesting. I think I could see the first impression of him,that I had, only in the Simba portion. He is not having an open mind for an agnostic and I expected much better thoughts and a heart from a man 96 years old and with all that experience.
If you have nothing else to do and a couple of hours to spare, you can pick this book up and go through.
May 2, 2019
I have translated this book from English into Urdu for Nigarshat Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan. The title of Urdu translation is Maut Meri Dehleez Par مَوت میری دہلیز پر.
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September 11, 2022'Death at my doorsteps (മരണം എന്റെ പൂമുഖത്ത്)' എന്ന പുസ്തകം ആണ് ആദ്യമായി പുസ്തകരൂപത്തിൽ ഖുഷ്വത്ത് സിംങിനെ വായിച്ചത്.190 പേജുകളിലായി മരണത്തിന്റെ പല വർണങ്ങൾ...രണ്ടു ഭാഗങ്ങളായി പുസ്തകം ഒരുപാട് കാര്യങ്ങൾ പറയുന്നു ഒരുപാട് ചിന്തിപ്പിക്കുന്നു...
ഒന്നാം ഭാഗം മരണത്തെപ്പറ്റി....
അല്പം നർമരസത്തോടെ മരണമെന്ന വാക്കിനെ നോക്കി കാണുന്നു...ആദ്യം തന്നെ സ്വന്തം മരണത്തെ പാറ്റി കഥാകാരൻ അല്പം രസകരമായി എഴുതുന്നു...തന്റെ മരണത്തോട് സുഹൃത്തുക്കളുടെ പ്രതികരണം എങ്ങനെ എന്ന് രസകരമായി ഒപ്പം ചിന്തർഹമായ രീതിയിൽ വർണിക്കുന്നു...ഹാസ്യത്തിലൂടെ ആധുനിക സൗഹൃദത്തിന് നേരെയുള്ള ഒളിയമ്പു കൃത്യമായി എയ്തിട്ടുണ്ട് ഈ ആമുഖ ലേഖനത്തിൽ...
രണ്ടാം ഭാഗം മരണത്തിന് ശേഷം ...... ശരിക്കും ഈ ഭാഗത്താണ് മരണത്തിന്റെ നിസംഗഭാവങ്ങൾ .... താനുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട ഏതാനും ആളുകളുടെ മരണ വൃത്താന്തമാണ് തുടർന്നുള്ള ലേഖനങ്ങളിൽ : ഏറെ വേദനിപ്പിച്ചത് സ്വന്തം മുത്തശ്ശിയെ കുറിച്ചുള്ള അനുസ്മരണമാണ്.
ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ സന്ധ്യയിൽ അതായത് പ്രായം തൊണ്ണൂറുകളുടെ തുടക്കത്തിൽ ഒരാൾക്ക് മരണത്തെ ഇത്രയും ഫിലോസഫിക്കലായി സമീപിക്കാൻ കഴിയുന്നത് ഒരു സാത്വിക ജീവിതക്രമത്തിന്റെ അനന്തരഫലമാണെന്ന് ഞാൻ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നു. അത് കൊണ്ട് തന്നെ ഖുശ്വന്ത് സിംങ് ജീവിതം സാർത്ഥകമാക്കിയ ഒരു വ്യക്തിയാണ് എന്ന് ഞാൻ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നു....
പിൻകുറിപ്പു :പല ലേഖനങ്ങളിലും ഖുശ്വന്ത് സിംങ് ഇടത് ചിന്താഗതികളെ വിമർശിക്കുന്നതും പരിഹസിക്കുന്നതും കണ്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്. എന്നാൽ ഈ പുസ്തകത്തിൽ പലയിടത്തും വർഗീയതയുടെ ബദലായി ഇടത് പക്ഷത്തെ കാണുന്നുണ്ട് .പ്രായം നൽകിയ തിരിച്ചറിവാണോ അതോ അറിയാതെ വന്നതാണോ?...... എന്തായാലും ഇന്നത്തെ ഇന്ത്യൻ സാമൂഹിക വ്യവസ്ഥയിൽ ഇത് ഒരു തിരിച്ചറിവ് തന്നെയാണ്:
ഒന്നാം ഭാഗം മരണത്തെപ്പറ്റി....
അല്പം നർമരസത്തോടെ മരണമെന്ന വാക്കിനെ നോക്കി കാണുന്നു...ആദ്യം തന്നെ സ്വന്തം മരണത്തെ പാറ്റി കഥാകാരൻ അല്പം രസകരമായി എഴുതുന്നു...തന്റെ മരണത്തോട് സുഹൃത്തുക്കളുടെ പ്രതികരണം എങ്ങനെ എന്ന് രസകരമായി ഒപ്പം ചിന്തർഹമായ രീതിയിൽ വർണിക്കുന്നു...ഹാസ്യത്തിലൂടെ ആധുനിക സൗഹൃദത്തിന് നേരെയുള്ള ഒളിയമ്പു കൃത്യമായി എയ്തിട്ടുണ്ട് ഈ ആമുഖ ലേഖനത്തിൽ...
രണ്ടാം ഭാഗം മരണത്തിന് ശേഷം ...... ശരിക്കും ഈ ഭാഗത്താണ് മരണത്തിന്റെ നിസംഗഭാവങ്ങൾ .... താനുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട ഏതാനും ആളുകളുടെ മരണ വൃത്താന്തമാണ് തുടർന്നുള്ള ലേഖനങ്ങളിൽ : ഏറെ വേദനിപ്പിച്ചത് സ്വന്തം മുത്തശ്ശിയെ കുറിച്ചുള്ള അനുസ്മരണമാണ്.
ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ സന്ധ്യയിൽ അതായത് പ്രായം തൊണ്ണൂറുകളുടെ തുടക്കത്തിൽ ഒരാൾക്ക് മരണത്തെ ഇത്രയും ഫിലോസഫിക്കലായി സമീപിക്കാൻ കഴിയുന്നത് ഒരു സാത്വിക ജീവിതക്രമത്തിന്റെ അനന്തരഫലമാണെന്ന് ഞാൻ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നു. അത് കൊണ്ട് തന്നെ ഖുശ്വന്ത് സിംങ് ജീവിതം സാർത്ഥകമാക്കിയ ഒരു വ്യക്തിയാണ് എന്ന് ഞാൻ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നു....
പിൻകുറിപ്പു :പല ലേഖനങ്ങളിലും ഖുശ്വന്ത് സിംങ് ഇടത് ചിന്താഗതികളെ വിമർശിക്കുന്നതും പരിഹസിക്കുന്നതും കണ്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്. എന്നാൽ ഈ പുസ്തകത്തിൽ പലയിടത്തും വർഗീയതയുടെ ബദലായി ഇടത് പക്ഷത്തെ കാണുന്നുണ്ട് .പ്രായം നൽകിയ തിരിച്ചറിവാണോ അതോ അറിയാതെ വന്നതാണോ?...... എന്തായാലും ഇന്നത്തെ ഇന്ത്യൻ സാമൂഹിക വ്യവസ്ഥയിൽ ഇത് ഒരു തിരിച്ചറിവ് തന്നെയാണ്:
February 13, 2020
Generally, I don't prefer to read Novel stuff.
But, the heading caught my attention in library and I brought it.
In the initial phase, khushawant singh tries to focus on philosophical aspect of death and that to very lightly.
And in rest of chapter he describe the person who were close to him and passed before him.
Some of the stories like that of Bhutto, then his grandmother ( I loved this one) and his dog are really wonderful.
And in most of the stories khushwabt is like khsuwantji ie witty and many time below the belt stuff.
If u want to go by the heading of books then there is least on this regard in this but if fir general reading , this is quite good
But, the heading caught my attention in library and I brought it.
In the initial phase, khushawant singh tries to focus on philosophical aspect of death and that to very lightly.
And in rest of chapter he describe the person who were close to him and passed before him.
Some of the stories like that of Bhutto, then his grandmother ( I loved this one) and his dog are really wonderful.
And in most of the stories khushwabt is like khsuwantji ie witty and many time below the belt stuff.
If u want to go by the heading of books then there is least on this regard in this but if fir general reading , this is quite good
October 1, 2024
One of the finest writing by Khushwant singh ji.
How a person alive can think so much out of the box about his death and pay condolences to other people whom he has been with.
Totally bold move and fearful writing.
How a person alive can think so much out of the box about his death and pay condolences to other people whom he has been with.
Totally bold move and fearful writing.
February 2, 2018
gives nice insight into the life of celebrities of the subcontinent, i gained lot of knowledge about the people about whom i have heard but did't know much about them.
October 7, 2019
Death at my Doorstep (Hardcover) by Khushwant Singh- (Hindi translation by Shubhankar Mishra) The Book is in two parts- first On death- which contains views of Dalai Lama, Acharya Rajnish on death and old age. Second part is obituary of 39 persons among them are his friends from Lahore, Cambridge, New Delhi, Mumbai, Canada, and others whom he met during his course of journalist's journey in life. Obituary is written in a short span of time in a day as it has to be sent to the press soon. Therefore, it contains remembrances of a person when the two had met. In this connection, all pen portraits attract the attention of the reader. The author is well versed in Punjabi, Urdu, English languages. He has referred to Persian and Urdu poems and has translated them for us. Z A Bhutto, Sanjay Gandhi, Tikka Khan, M O Mathai, Mountbatten, Rajni Patel, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Dhiren Bhagat, Prabha Dutt Mother of Barkha Dutt, Lala Hardayal, Mulk raj Anand, RGK, Nirad C Chaudhari, Balwant Gargi, R K Narayan, Ali Sardar Jafri, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Dom Moraes, Kishanlal, Yogi Bhajan, Satish Lumba, Mohan Kumar managalam, Gurnam Singh, Protima Bedi, Nargis Dutt, Amrita Shergill, Chetan Anand, Dharma Kumar, Air Marshal P C Lal, Zack Peale, Manzoor Quadir, Bhisham Sahni, his Grandmother, Chajju Ram, Simba. We have heard much about life in Lahore, (Paris of East) before independence. The Author's pen portraits of Balwant Gargi, Ali Sardar Jakri, Faiz Ahmed FAiz, Amrita Shergill, Chetan Anand, Air Marshal P C Lal, Manzoor Quadir, Bhisham Sahni are remind the quality of life they lived at Lahore and with some at Oxford as a student. Remembering friends at Mumbai- Rajni Patel, Mulk raj Anand, Protima Bedi, Dom MOraes, RGK, Nargis Dutt are not available in any other book. Delhi friends and notable Indians- Sanjay Gandhi, M O Mathai, Prabha Dutt, Kishan lal, Yogi Bhajan, Dharma Kumar, his Grandmother are interesting. The author has taken one or two characteristics of the person whose obituary has been written. It is a worth reading book for all.
December 31, 2020
It is a brilliant book where Khuswant Singh talks about the philosophy and feelings around old age approaching death. The first part of the book is the authors views on death laced with beautiful Urdu couplets at few places. It also includes the Dalai Llama's views on death and afterlife.
The second part is in obituary style, where he recollects the days and experiences with his friends and acquaintances who are no more. What makes the book special is these obituaries of the rich and famous movers and shakers of his times. The list includes Bhutto, Sanjay Gandhi, Tikka Khan, M.O.Mathai, Mountbatten, businessman Rajni Patel, Gurcharan Singh Tohra of SGPC, Dhiren Bhagat, the journalist who died at 30, Prabha Dutt, Lala Hardayal, Mulk Raj Anand, R.K. Laxman, Nirad Babu, Balwant Gargi, Ali Sardar Jazfri, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, G.S.Fraser, Protima Bedi, Nargis, Amrita Shergill, Chetan Anand, Bhisma Sahni, economist Dharma Kumar, Manzur Qadir, etc followed at last by an obit for his favourite dog Simba. What an eclectic list it is. The best part is that the description is less of an obituary and more of a remembrance interspersed with all the foibles and idiosyncracies that makes these famous people worth remembring.
From his memory, Khuswant Singh brings alive all of them, so what, if only for a brief few pages that he could devote to each. In the end is his own epitaph - '....Writing nasty things he regarded as great fun / Thank the Lord he is dead, this son of a gun.'
The second part is in obituary style, where he recollects the days and experiences with his friends and acquaintances who are no more. What makes the book special is these obituaries of the rich and famous movers and shakers of his times. The list includes Bhutto, Sanjay Gandhi, Tikka Khan, M.O.Mathai, Mountbatten, businessman Rajni Patel, Gurcharan Singh Tohra of SGPC, Dhiren Bhagat, the journalist who died at 30, Prabha Dutt, Lala Hardayal, Mulk Raj Anand, R.K. Laxman, Nirad Babu, Balwant Gargi, Ali Sardar Jazfri, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, G.S.Fraser, Protima Bedi, Nargis, Amrita Shergill, Chetan Anand, Bhisma Sahni, economist Dharma Kumar, Manzur Qadir, etc followed at last by an obit for his favourite dog Simba. What an eclectic list it is. The best part is that the description is less of an obituary and more of a remembrance interspersed with all the foibles and idiosyncracies that makes these famous people worth remembring.
From his memory, Khuswant Singh brings alive all of them, so what, if only for a brief few pages that he could devote to each. In the end is his own epitaph - '....Writing nasty things he regarded as great fun / Thank the Lord he is dead, this son of a gun.'
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October 30, 2015its the ranting of a man who has lost all his friends to old age. The feeling, the fear and a mind that is populated by the thought of death all the time.
Good read. It gives one a peep into the mind of a nonagenarian.
Good read. It gives one a peep into the mind of a nonagenarian.
August 14, 2007
Khushwant singh writes about his journey & people he meet. How he looks as death is few years from him now? His views on many famous personalities & their deaths.
September 25, 2012
Good one-written straight from the heart!
March 8, 2015
Some of the anecdotes coupled with Ghalib's poetry are just amazing to read!
I liked the account of Z. Bhutto's death too.
I liked the account of Z. Bhutto's death too.
July 6, 2015
Rating : 3 stars
September 20, 2015
Humour and sophistication
Again Khushwant Singh proves how a prudent author ought to write even though he is writing an obituary..
Again Khushwant Singh proves how a prudent author ought to write even though he is writing an obituary..
December 19, 2023
layi hayat ... aaayi kazaa le chali chle
apni khushi na aye .. na apni khushi chale.
(i came with spring and went in fall ..it happened without me wishing it )
apni khushi na aye .. na apni khushi chale.
(i came with spring and went in fall ..it happened without me wishing it )
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