It is a dark day in the world of literature today as we lost a literary gem to life. Celebrated Nobel winning author, VS Naipaul died at the age of 85 at his London home, according to his family. The man who gave us works like 'A House For Mr. Biswas' and 'A Bend In The River' has left a gaping hole in the hearts of all his fans.

RIP Sir VS Naipaul! a literary genius of questionable character (especially to his birth country that he based some of his most successful works on), but A House For Mr. Biswas will always be one of my favourite books

— saadiqa (@saadiqa_xo) August 11, 2018

The world mourns the death of this great author.

Sir VS 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.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 12, 2018

#VSNaipaul has passed away. Dostoyevski of our time. A giant who proved that language and culture belong not to those who inherit it, but to those who live it. “So he looked without trying to see and heard without listening” (Half a Life, 2009) Rest in peace, Sir Vidia! pic.twitter.com/c9SdxODz0r

— Nickolay E. MLADENOV (@nmladenov) August 12, 2018

The Trinidad-born author had a love-hate relationship with his Asian readers who thought that he somewhere glorified colonialism and others felt that he dared to say things about countries like India which no one ever did in their literary work.

We disagreed all our lives, about politics, about literature, and I feel as sad as if I just lost a beloved older brother. RIP Vidia. #VSNaipaul

— Salman Rushdie (@SalmanRushdie) August 12, 2018

 

The river bends.
An era ends.
RIP VS Naipaul pic.twitter.com/vDGUJ9OdHe

— Vikas Swarup (@VikasSwarup) August 12, 2018

 

RIP VS Naipaul, a giant among us. Even if you disagreed with much that he wrote, particularly about India, you couldn't help be stimulated, influenced  & catalysed by the brilliance of his laser sharp vision. It was a great honour that his last appearance was @ZEEJLF

— William Dalrymple (@DalrympleWill) August 12, 2018

The man was called “a literary circumnavigator, only ever really at home in himself” in his Nobel citation, which stands true. May his soul rest in peace.