Refuse to take yourself too seriously
Khushwant Singh was a man of wit. Often, he cracked jokes at his own expense and took criticism positively. His lively conversations, making light of himself, brought him a huge following. He refused to take himself too seriously. Taking oneself too seriously leads to a dull and boring life.
Approach the world without fear
Success came early to Khushwant Singh, a result of his irreverence to authority. He was deeply upset after the 1984 military action at the Golden Temple, and had the conviction to return the Padma Bhushan. During his stint as editor of Illustrated Weekly, he invited sharp and derogatory criticism. Yet, he approached the world without fear and touched the lives of many. Fear straitjackets one’s potential and fearlessness frees one from the clutches of one’s own imperfections.
Study and live out your art
Khushwant Singh was a keen observer of life, people, politics, culture and society. He had that rare knack to assess situations well. His deep relationship with philosophy and poetry prepared him to succeed in the serious craft of journalism. His observations shaped his creative expression. Coming into close connect with reality makes us better interpreters of it. This in turn helps us in our personal and professional lives.
Be true to yourself
Khushwant Singh was also known for his professional integrity. He was principled, and open about his imperfections. His outspokenness about his love of whiskey and women is well-known.
Singh was not a hypocrite. He lived what he preached. Being true to oneself means to be aligned with one’s core values. Khushwant Singh may have led an indulgent life, but never once did he feel guilty about it.
Live life to the fullest
Khushwant Singh lived a rich inner life and an exemplary public life. His agnosticism came from his deep belief in the world, in man, and hence he lived a life of bright colours. It never makes sense to live half-heartedly, one must love in the moment and maximise it. Singh lived a truly creative, vibrant and inspiring life. His life and work will continue to inspire the writer, poet and lover of life within us.
(Khushwant Singh, journalist and novelist, died at 99 in Delhi on March 20)