Nobel Prize-winning writer V S Naipaul dies at 85

London, August 12

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Nobel Prize-winning author V.S. Naipaul, known for his critical commentary on colonialism, idealism, religion and politics, has died at the age of 85, his family said early Sunday.

“He was a giant in all that he achieved and he died surrounded by those he loved having lived a life which was full of wonderful creativity and endeavour,” his wife Lady Nadira Naipaul said in a statement.

Naipaul wrote more than 30 books of fiction and nonfiction. His first book was ‘The Mystic Masseur’. His most celebrated novel, A House for Mr Biswas, was published in 1961.

His other works include the three stories in ‘In a Free State’ (1971), ‘Guerrillas’ (1975), ‘A Bend in the River’ (1979), ‘A Way in the World’ (1994), ‘The Mimic Men’ (1967), ‘The Enigma of Arrival’ (1987), ‘Beyond Belief: Islamic Excursions among the Converted Peoples’ (1998), ‘Half a Life’ (2001), ‘The Writer and the World’ (2002) and ‘Literary Occasions’ (2003), ‘The Novel Magic Seeds’ (2004) — a sequel to Half a Life’ — and ‘In The Masque of Africa’ (2010).

He was the recipient of numerous honours, including the Man Booker Prize in 1971 and a knighthood for services to literature in 1990.

Naipaul was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001.

In awarding him the prize, the Swedish Academy praised him “for having united perceptive narrative and incorruptible scrutiny in works that compel us to see the presence of suppressed histories”.

Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul was born on August 17, 1932, in Trinidad into an Indian Hindu family and moved to England at 18 after receiving a scholarship to the University College, Oxford. He subsequently settled in England, although he travelled extensively thereafter.

During his early career Naipaul was dogged by money worries and loneliness. He met his first wife, Patricia Ann Hale, at Oxford, who became his constant literary support. He married Pat in 1955.

She died in 1996, and he later revealed that he felt he hastened her death by publicly admitting while she fought cancer that he had frequented prostitutes.

Naipaul married Pakistani journalist Nadira Khannum Alvi the same year Pat died.

He was famously outspoken and had a reputation for cutting people out of his life, but once retorted: “My life is short. I can’t listen to banalities.” Naipaul’s ire ranged from corruption in Indian politics to the West’s cynical treatment of its former colonies to the cult of personality in “The Return of Eva Peron”.

He pulled out of a Turkish literary event in 2010 following protests over his views that Islam both enslaved and attempted to wipe out other cultures.

He likened former British prime minister Tony Blair to a pirate at the head of a socialist revolution, and was also disparaging about “sentimental” female novelists.

Naipaul also fell out with US travel writer Paul Theroux, who later wrote a bitter, no-holds-barred memoir of their long association. They later resolved their differences.

PM Modi, political leaders condole demise     

NEW DELHI: Leaders from across the political spectrum condoled the demise of Naipaul, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, it was a major loss for the world of literature.

Modi wrote on Twitter, “Sir VS Naipaul will be remembered for his extensive works, which covered diverse subjects ranging from history, culture, colonialism, politics and more.”

“His passing away is a major loss to the world of literature. Condolences to his family and well wishers in this sad hour.”

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also took to Twitter to condole the death of the “literary giant”.

“My condolences on the passing away of Nobel Laureate #VSNaipaul - a literary giant and a modern philosopher who enthralled and influenced the world with his keen observations, creativity and often critical descriptions. May his soul rest in peace,” he tweeted.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also condoled the author’s death and said the world lost a genius. “Deeply saddened to learn about the death of literary giant and Nobel Laureate Shri #VSNaipaul. He has inspired a whole generation of writers,” he said.

“In his death the world loses a genius today. Offering my prayers to the departed soul,” Chouhan said.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted, “Saddened to learn about the passing away of celebrated author & Nobel laureate #VSNaipaul.” “His works exploring colonisation, migration & unraveling of the British empire were exemplary & thought-provoking,” he said. Agencies