The Sunset Club tells the story of three octogenarian friends. There is a Hindu Brahmin, Preetam Sharma, a Muslim Baig Sahab and a Sikh gentleman, Boota Singh. They are in the sunset years of their lives and hence the name of their unofficial club and the book.
The book traces their lives over the period of an year, from the Republic Day of 2009 to the same day of the year 2010. There are real life events intertwined with the narrative like the national elections of 2009, the inter caste marriage between the son of Bhajanlal and a lady, the "sexploits" of N.D. Tiwari et. al.
The religion of the protagonists matter because there are many theological issues which are discussed between them and their diverse background ends up giving different colors to the discourse .
Khushwant Singh is as candid as ever as he gives us a glimpse of what goes through the minds of the old. There are many lines dedicated to the seemingly mundane task of daily bowel movement for the geriatric.
The old are not the objects of the reader's pity. They drink, curse with impunity, have defined views on religion and engage in a game of brinkmanship with their closest friends. They are quick to take offense and give back as good as they get.
They bare all in candid sexual confessions. The language used in the description is one step above what is used in two pence magazines but this actually gives a real world hue to the dialogues. Many of the exchanges would leave you probably blushing and giggling.
Khushwant has always been pro Congress and his views are reflected by two of his three characters. He never misses a chance to rub the nose of the so called fundamentals in the ground.
He uses many beautiful verses from Urdu and they end up increasing the beauty of the book.
This is a book which is very easy to read.Kindly go through it to understand the fears and the motivations of the old, to comprehend they are also like us although neglected by all and sundry.
The Penguin edition has great font size and it can be easily finished in under two hours. Go for it.
I like his style and candidness. Will read this some day.
ReplyDeletePlease do sir. This is much better than Burial at Sea and I shall hear the nightingale, his two preceding novels. You would be equally amused and disgusted.
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