I have never hidden my admiration for Khushwant Singh's works, reading them with great devotion. While his non-fiction books are captivating, his fictional narratives are not only hyperrealistic but also feature some of his finest prose. His extensive study of cultures and religions across the subcontinent and beyond gives him a distinct advantage. He writes about the traditions and customs of various faiths with such precision and depth that it often surprises the reader.
Return to Short Stories
Paradise and Other Stories, originally published in 2004, marked Singh's return to short story writing after decades. Although the collection contains only five stories, his sharp humor, satire, and indirect method of highlighting the stereotypes and superstitions that plague his characters make each story deeply moving.
The First Story: Paradise
The opening story, "Paradise," follows Margret Bloom, an American-born girl struggling with her overindulgent life in New York. She lives with her divorced mother, who is a nymphomaniac. Fed up and seeking a break, she decides to find peace away from the city's hustle and bustle. Looking at a map, she chooses the ashram Vaikunth Dhaam, which translates to "earthly paradise," located in the Himalayas in India. Her mother is astonished by her choice. Singh captures the exchange: "Why India of all places, for Christ's sake?' she asked. 'Full of beggars and all kinds of diseases and weird people.' 'It has something no other country in the world has. If I don't find it I'll be back sooner,' I replied." To survive, she buys an English-Hindi dictionary and learns a few words. She journeys to a new country, spends some days in New Delhi, and eventually reaches the ashram. There, she encounters a clash between traditional religious culture and modern secular life. Moral bankruptcy is rampant among the supposedly spiritual inhabitants, and she ends up indulging in the very activities she sought to escape, leading to her expulsion. Singh encapsulates her feelings: "I wondered whether this was what Adam and Eve felt when they were thrown out of Paradise."
Women and Men in Khushwant Singh's Life
He writes about the traditions and mores of different faiths with such accuracy and detail that it often surprises the reader.
The Second Story: Life's Horoscope
The next story, "Life's Horoscope," raises valid questions about the overreliance on horoscopes in Indian households. Madan Mohan Pandey, the son of a bureaucrat, falls prey to the superstition that life unfolds exactly as predicted by horoscopes. Days before his marriage, he gets his hands on the Kama Sutra and judges his spouse based on its teachings. He ends up making a mess of himself and becomes a figure of ridicule in his wife's eyes. While his father is critical and takes his words with a pinch of salt, his doting mother refuses to accept reality. Singh concludes with the parents' differing opinions: "You wait and watch. My son is a mahavidwan. With his wisdom and learning he will become a great leader of our country!' 'God save our country,' said Hari Mohan Pandey and returned to his pipe."
The Final Story: The Mulberry Tree
"The Mulberry Tree," the fifth and final story, is distinctly different. Singh challenges dogmas and sheds light on the life of Vijay Lal, a middle-aged, nondescript man, and his longing for a mysterious woman. Lal loves city life and spends evenings wandering around Khan Market. One evening, he sees a woman and becomes instantly besotted. A miraculous escape from death strengthens his belief that life must be lived fully. What ensues is predictable: he spends restless evenings waiting for a glimpse of Karuna Chaudhry. His obsession leads him to be tricked by a soothsayer, who claims to have a potion that will bring Karuna to him. Without thinking, he gives the soothsayer what he asks for, but soon realizes his mistake. His hopes crash when he learns that Karuna has moved to another city. Singh expresses his feelings: "The search would be as futile as that of Majnu sifting the sands of the desert to find his Laila. And that was what he felt like a lovesick Majnu. Which made him an old fool: he was fifty-four. He tried to console himself that it was an infatuation that would fade away in time. There would be other women. Or there would not."
Other Stories and Overall Impact
The other two stories, "Zora Singh" and "Wanted a Son," are interesting in their own right. The book innocuously exposes the flaws and hypocrisy of Indian society. Through dark humor, Singh underscores how greed, lust, and superstition often prevail over logic. His effortless writing style and code-switching lend a universal color to his stories, making them a compelling read.
