I turned to the Partition experiences, which were churning in my mind. Then came my first novel Train to Pakistan.

I was unhappy with the jobs I did after law. I got into the diplomatic service. There again I had really little to do.

Nature provides that a man who slaves all day should spend the hours of the night in a palace full of houris whereas a king who wields the sceptre by day should have his sleep disturbed by nightmares of rebellion and assassination.

I am not a serious person. I don't claim any profundity for any of my writing.

No one has invented a condom for the pen yet. My pen is still sexy.

Friends meddle with my plan of work. I resent people dropping in for a chat.

I use vulgar language in my writing. Or for people I don't like, but I have never had an outburst of anger and I think that's largely [Mahatma] Gandhi's influence. When you lose your temper, you've lost your cause.