But big people’s illnesses are always made to sound big. The simple shutting and opening of the royal arse-hole was made to sound as if the world was coming to an end.

Your principle should be to see everything and say nothing. The world changes so rapidly that if you want to get on you cannot afford to align yourself with any person or point of view.

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

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.

I did subscribe to the freedom movement and I was much closer to the Congress than to the Akali party. It is a communal party.

I am alone, but never lonely. You have always books around you.

I think the sense of belonging does give you a certain amount of mental satisfaction.