Quotes from Khushwant Singh

In green heaven's fields I saw the sickle of the new moon Remembered by sowing and by harvest, And said: O Kismet, you sleep and the sun blossoms The reply: Do not be as hopeless as the past. She repeated the last line: 'Do not be as hopeless as the past.

My beloved tormented me so much We were forced to leave our native land; As drops wax from the burning taper So as we quit the circle of life Fell tears from our eyes. The gardener forbade us sporting in his garden, With laughter we came, With wailing we parted.

came to the conclusion that all you have to do is to fall in love with one person to love his or her community.

I came to the conclusion that all you have to do is to fall in love with one person to love his or her community.

One thing Mr Chaudhuri has overlooked in his remarkable thesis on Hinduism: no religious community in India would take this tarring and feathering of all that they hold sacred save the Hindus.

The need of our times is to revive the Nehruvian notion of secularism.

The government should, as a matter of policy, forbid the building of any more places of worship. We have more than enough of them. The government should never permit the use of public parks or open spaces for religious gathering, and if a place of worship becomes a bone of contention or happens to be misused by undesirable elements, it should simply take it over.

When in the garden enjoy every moment, Every moment of every day. Spring passes into summer, summer into autumn, And the flowers of henna Shall wither away.

Whichever way you look there is a din of tumult; Whichever way you go there are flames and torches; For tonight this world is heavy with labour pain; To give birth to a world which will forever remain.)

I believe that the essence of every person's religion should be the endeavour not to hurt another person or living thing and to preserve his environment.

A simmering fire burns our hearts away; We sink and my heart in depth of agony lies; As with the dawn the taper of the lamp Laps up the last drops of oil and dies.

The leaves of Lajwanti* wither with the touch of human hands.' A

You came here of your own accord and are lost in yourself; I know not what you search for, or who. If I want anyone it is you, if I want to see anyone it is you. You are the desire of my heart and my eyes' prayer.

We had heard that the people of Delhi loved their city as bees love flowers. But we could not believe that the child of a courtesan would prefer to live in a Delhi brothel rather than in our palace in Iran!

Marathas, Jats and Gujars who robbed and killed any man they could lay their hands on and raped any woman who fell into their clutches. It took me five days to reach Agra. By then Nadir's horde was busy pillaging and looting Delhi. I said to myself: 'No matter a city can be rebuilt and repopulated but no power on earth can put together a heart that has been shattered.' Agra was the city of my heart's ruination. I

Yaaro mujhey muaaf rakho main nashey mein hoon Ab do to jaam khaali hee do main nashey mein hoon Masti sey barhamee hai meree guftagoo key beech Jo chaaho tum bhee mujh ko kaho main nashey mein hoon. Maazur hoon, jo paaon mera betarah padey Tum sargiraan to mujh sey na ho main nashey mein hoon. Bhaagee namaaz-e-jumma to jaatee nahee hai kuchh Chalta hoon main bhee, tuk to raho main nashey mein hoon Naazuk mizaaj aap qayaamat hain Meer jee Joon sheesha merey munh na lago main nashey mein hoon

One day Aunt Bimbo asked Uncle Reloo: 'When I die, will you make a Taj Mahal for me?' He replied: 'You die first, we'll talk about a Taj Mahal for you afterwards.

To change the world, you need to get out of your temples and do some useful work

Once through this ruined city did I pass I espied a lonely bird on a bough and asked 'What knowest thou of this wilderness?' It replied : 'I can sum it up in two words: 'Alas! Alas

and, holy Mary Mother of Christ, he became as gentle as a lamb. The Pope is coming next week to give him first communion and confirmation.' The guru spoke next. He was in a wheelchair with an IV drip and both legs in casts.

Yahan khuda hai, wahan khuda hai... idhar khuda hai, udhar khuda hai... jahan nahin khuda hain, wahan kal khudega... Contributed

About my faith I wrote: I have gone beyond the temple and the mosque, I have made my heart my sanctuary; On this thorn-strewn path end All my wandering and my journey.

Muslims said the Hindus had planned and started the killing. According to the Hindus, the Muslims were to blame. The fact is, both sides killed. Both shot and stabbed and speared and clubbed. Both tortured. Both raped.

Happiness is the only good; the place to be happy is here; the time to be happy is now; the way to be happy is to help others.