Naipaul's death major loss to world of literature: PM Modi
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the death of Nobel Prize-winning author V.S. Naipaul, who shared ancestral roots with India.
"Sir V.S. Naipaul will be remembered for his extensive works, which covered diverse subjects ranging from history, culture, colonialism, politics and more.
"His passing away is a major loss to the world of literature. Condolences to his family and well wishers in this sad hour," Modi tweeted. Lady Naipaul confirmed that her husband (85) had died peacefully in London on Saturday.
"He was a giant in all that he achieved and he died surrounded by those he loved having lived a life which was full of wonderful creativity and endeavour," she said in a statement.
President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted that he was saddened to learn about the passing of Naipaul, "whose books are an penetrative exploration of faith, colonialism and the human condition, in his home in the Caribbean and beyond".
"A loss for the world of letters and for the broader school of Indo-Anglian literature," Kovind tweeted.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that "the world of words" has lost "an artful master. She pointed out in a tweet that people could agree or disagree with Naipaul but he "wrote beautiful prose".
Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul was born in 1932 in Chaguanas on the island of Trinidad and Tobago, to a family that had arrived from India in the 1880s.
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
