Author, journalist Khushwant Singh dies at 99, quiet cremation ceremony in Delhi

The man who set the benchmark for English writing in India, Khushwant Singh passed away today at the age of 99.

Zee Media Bureau/ Aparna Mudi

New Delhi: The man who set the benchmark for English writing in India, Khushwant Singh, passed away on Thursday, 20th March, at the age of 99. The writer breathed his last at 12:55 pm. The news was confirmed by his son, Rahul Singh. The cremation ceremony for the writer was held at 4:30 PM, on Thursday, at Lodi Crematorium. Apart from the family members, a few politicians, journalists and writers had come to pay homage at the quite cremation ceremony. Born in 1915, Singh was known for his witty and candid writing that carried him through the 1960s, 1970s. Thereafter he carved a niche for himself in the world of post-Independent India. Singh has nearly 40 books to his credit, which include more than half a dozen short story collections. His seminal work `Train to Pakistan` (1956), a tale of the trauma of partition, still remains on the bestseller lists. His last book 'The Good, The Bad and The Ridiculous' was released in October 2013. You can read more about him here.