When VS Naipaul Was Bowled Over by Congress Leader Ram Niwas Mirdha

New Delhi: V S Naipaul was once so awestruck by Congress minister Ram Niwas Mirdha's knowledge of his books that he wondered what this "extraordinary kind of fellow" and "civilised man" was doing in politics.

During a visit to India when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister in the mid-80s, Naipaul wanted to meet some senior politicians with whom he could discuss India's political and economic scene and conveyed this to seasoned journalist Khushwant Singh.

Singh became anxious to find someone who would not embarrass him by not knowing who Naipaul was.

"I am pretty certain that not more than two or three of Rajiv's cabinet ministers have ever heard anything by Naipaul. The only one I could risk exposing him to was Ram Niwas Mirdha," Singh had written in one edition of his iconic column 'With Malice Towards One And All...'

And Mirdha did not let Singh down and Naipaul was pleasantly surprised to discover that Mirdha had read everything he had written.

"He did not say so himself but whenever Naipaul made an observation, Mirdha replied by quoting him, '... As you wrote in 'The Area of Darkness' Mr Naipaul you might recall your earlier observation in 'The Mimic Men'," wrote Singh.

On his way back to hotel, Naipaul asked Singh, "What is a civilised man like Mirdha doing in politics?"

To this Singh replied, "I haven't the foggiest idea except that whatever he's been given to do, he's done well. He's led dozens of delegations to international conferences, been chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi and is into sports as well - youth camps, Olympics and that sort of thing."

Naipaul then sighed, "Extraordinary kind of fellow." According to Singh, extraordinary is Naipaul's favourite expression for a phenomenon he cannot comprehend.

Mirdha held several portfolios including External Affairs, Water Resources, Communication and Textiles. He died in 2010.

Naipaul died at the age of 85, his family announced on Sunday. He leaves behind a rich collection of more than 30 works of fiction and non-fiction. Fellow author Singh predeceased Naipaul in 2014.