Changing Sketches
Khushwant Singh’s home in Sujan Singh Park is still the best place to catch elusive literary giants. Last week, it was Vikram Seth’s turn to sit in the seat to the right of Khushwant’s functioning ear and be quizzed by the Grand Old Sardar (in between sips of single malt on the rocks and banter with his ‘harem’ of women friends) about what he’s been up to in the three years since he’s published Two Lives. "Painting," was Vikram’s blithe answer. Oils, sketches, portraits, Chinese calligraphy. "Why don’t you have an exhibition then?" Khushwant asked with equal blitheness. "Because they are no good." "Why don’t you let others decide?" pressed on Khushwant. Vikram promised to think it over, inscribing salam alequoom on Khushwant’s palm with his pen as a parting gift.
B-List Bangalored
The after-launch party took a new twist at the launch of Nandan Nilekani’s 530-page tome, Imagining India. Soon after the Q&A session was over, the author, along with his A-list of invitees, disappeared to what was rumoured to be a private party, leaving the B-list guests and gatecrashers to enjoy the free drinks and sushi, without feeling the pressure of getting their copies autographed.
Sethji Of Shopping
Spotted at Dilli Haat, alone and having a great time, was none other than Vikram Seth. Now that he’s declared he’s not writing, he has all the time for shopping. When he left, an eyewitness swears, he was heavier by at least 20 shopping bags and was on first-name terms with all the artisans in the Nature Bazar being held in Delhi’s most happening mall.
