The Company of Women by Khushwant Singh – A Book Review

 Claim to Fame : Khushwant Singh has been the editor of 'The Illustrated Weekly' and the author of various novels including ‘Train to Pakistan’ and his autobiography ‘Truth, Love and a little Malice’. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974 which he returned after the attack of the Sikhs at the Golden Temple. His books 'The History of the Sikhs' is much acclaimed. Later he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.

There were 2 reasons for me to pick up this book for a read.

• I wanted something lighter to read after having read the hard hitting and duly affecting novel ‘Disgrace’ by J.M.Coetzee
• As an ode to the lively author who passed away recently on 20th Mar 2014, at the age of 99, just a year short of his century.

Mohan Kumar, the protagonist, is a highly educated individual having immense business acumen. He is the eyeball candy, the Casanova of Delhi’s upper class social circuit. But alas, he is neither so lucky nor successful in his marriage. Having married into the family of one of the wealthiest business tycoons in Delhi, he gradually falls in the pits of his nagging wife and bears the brunt of her disrespectful family. This inevitably ends in separation and divorce in spite of having 2 wonderful kids from their wedlock.

            The novel is the journey of Mohans' sexual escapades, the unending journey of his libido. What started as a incognizant push into the lusty fires during his college days in America, makes him succumb to his effusive libido post his separation with his wife as he advertises for women, not proposing for marriage but to accompany him for a short duration, to share his bed on a contractual basis. As the cliche goes ‘He lives his life between his legs’.

            There is nothing much to write about the plain and unimaginative writing. I should have read the foreword and stopped there because that is the most truthful part of the book. The book is nothing more than a retiring 83 year old man’s nonsensical ostentation of his sexual fantasies, of placing him as the hero at the altars of his virile sex drive, of having the ‘Oh, wow, you have the longest’ THINGY. It is the rejoicing in fiction of the incapability in real life.

            The writing is truly amateurish and unimaginative. It almost feels like reading a Nancy Friday erotica. Sorry, but I guess I picked the wrong book to celebrate this distinguished personality’s colorful life. I guess ‘Train to Pakistan’ would have been an apt choice.

My rating        :           * * * * * * * * * * - 2/10

Khushwant Singh