Nation mourns loss of versatile, acerbic, witty and celebrated journalist

President, PM, Sonia, Modi and scores of celebrities pay rich tributes

New Delhi: Author, journalist, commentator Khushwant Singh, known for his witty, fearless and acerbic writings, is dead, his family announced. He died in his 100th year. The veteran writer and journalist, who was suffering from age-related illness and had faded from public life, passed away at his Sujan Singh Park home built by his father Sir Sobha Singh, a civil contractor and a prominent builder of Lutyens' Delhi. He was predeceased by his wife Kawal and is survived by son Rahul and daughter Mala.

Singh's body was consigned to flames today at the Dayanand Mukthidham electric crematorium here on a quiet evening amidst the presence of family members, close friends and wellwishers. Singh was one of the finest authors who elevated English writing in India with his classic works on partition and history of Sikhs, literature and displayed an impeccable sense of wit and humour. Singh had edited Yojana, an Indian government journal; The Illustrated Weekly of India, a newsweekly; and two major Indian newspapers, The National Herald and the Hindustan Times. He also worked in All India Radio.

A fearless writer, who had taken on Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale who had spearheaded the insurgency in Punjab from Golden temple, fell out with the then Indira Gandhi government after Operation Bluestar in 1984. He surrendered the Padma Bhushan in protest. Later he was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2007. Singh's son Rahul, also a journalist, said the author breathed his last "very, very peacefully" and was mentally alert till the end. President Pranab Mukherjee described him as a "fearless intellectual" who had sharp insight and unique wit, as well as sense of humour. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi were among scores of people who paid homage to the author at his residence. Singh said: "A gifted author, candid commentator and a dear friend. He lived a truly creative life," he said. BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi also condoled his death