Hyderabad, Feb. 3 -- The late Khushwant Singh's acerbic style, his writing flair, and his outspoken views earned him millions of diehard fans but also numerous critics. The famous journalist, author, lawyer, and politician was born on Feb 2, 1915, and this Sunday was his 110th birth anniversary.

From 1980 to 1986, he was a member of the Rajya Sabha and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974 for service to his country. However, following the Blue Star operation at the Golden Temple in 1984, he returned the award. In 2007, the government awarded him the Padma Vibhushan.

As a journalist, Khushwant Singh was often accused of favouring the Congress party, especially during the period when Indira Gandhi was in charge. When she announced the na...