Nostalgia and Grief on Twitter As VS Naipaul Passes Away at 85

British author and Nobel laureate VS Naipaul passed away on Saturday in his London home.

The world is what it is; men who are nothing, who allow themselves to become nothing, have no place in it.

VS Naipaul, A Bend in the River

British writer and Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, popularly known as VS Naipaul, died at his home in London at the age of 85, family sources said on Saturday.

In addition to the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001, VS Naipaul also won the Booker Prize in 1971, and is considered one of the most important writers in the English language.

Sir Vidiadhar was born in rural Trinidad in 1932. He wrote more than 30 books notably A Bend in the River and his masterpiece, A House for Mr Biswas.

He was just a few days shy of his 86th birthday which is on 17 August.

Memoriams and condolences started pouring in as soon as the news broke in the early hours on Sunday.

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

Deeply saddened to learn about the death of literary giant and Nobel Laureate Shri #VSNaipaul. He has inspired a whole generation of writers. In his death the world loses a genius today. Offering my prayers to the departed soul.

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) August 12, 2018

“The world is what it is; men who are nothing, who allow themselves to become nothing, have no place in it.” #VSNaipaul

— Shivam Vij (@DilliDurAst) August 12, 2018

On the day of VS Naipaul’s death, here is a video I took of the first encounter between Paul Theroux and Naipaul in Wales after 20 years of feuding. Naipaul whispers, “One wishes things would have turned out differently.” Paul was shaking and almost cried. #VSNaipaul pic.twitter.com/rxOcPMXMUz

— Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) August 12, 2018

#VSNaipaul For A House for Mr Biswas and the magic of the written word.. disagreed with much of his politics, celebrated his prose.. RIP..

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) August 12, 2018

RIP #VSNaipaul an intellectual par excellence ... 😢 pic.twitter.com/Z8kyB7sutO

— सुशील कुमार झा (@sushilkrjha) August 12, 2018

#VSNaipaul RIP. Cheers to A House For Mr Biswas and many more!

— surabhi gupta (@surabhig2) August 12, 2018

Saddened to hear about the death of great writer and Nobel Laureate Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul aka #VSNaipaul. His demise is huge loss to world literature. May God give him place in Baikunth dham. ॐ शांति। pic.twitter.com/KjxBpO1pAd

— Amit Srivastava ॐ 🇮🇳 (@AmiSri) August 12, 2018

Sir Vidia was a genius. We will remember him as a great writer. We will also remember him as a politically incorrect person in a world full of politically correct people. RIP #VSNaipaul You’ve inspired generations of writers. pic.twitter.com/S4hcMih22N

— Shweta Singh (@Shwetaspree) August 12, 2018

The Death Left Many Feeling Nostalgic

In the 1960s, #VSNaipaul visited India. My father joined BHU protests over the author’s arrival and his “wretched” labeling of a land/people. Papa moved to America a decade later and tried Naipaul again. And saw him (and home) in new light. Glad both exposed me to this dichotomy.

— S. Mitra Kalita (@mitrakalita) August 12, 2018

RIP to one of my fav writers & heroes #VSNaipaul 🖤😢 pic.twitter.com/OslvURIZN1

— ERZEN KRIVCA (@ERZEN) August 12, 2018

RIP V.S. Naipaul, from whom I learned so much.

Eight years ago, he came over for dinner and I handed him my first book, which was about to be published. He reveled in @HenryLouisGates. And at night’s end, it felt strange and poetic to help one of the greats down the staircase. pic.twitter.com/CokhkAsD7c

— Anand Giridharadas (@AnandWrites) August 11, 2018

Some users also shared pictures of books autographed by Mr. Naipaul.

His publisher wouldn’t allow him to sign more than one book at a time, so I kept going back to the line armed with four of his books. At one point he said to me” You are back?” And he laughed! #VSNaipaul #RIP #NYC pic.twitter.com/h6dh8VEXUo

— Aseem Chhabra (@chhabs) August 12, 2018

Treasured possessions. I was lucky to have my copy of Magic Seeds signed by him when he came to Calcutta years ago. RIP V.S. Naipaul #VSNaipaul pic.twitter.com/wVUVx7k46E

— Rajat Chaudhuri (@rajatchaudhuri) August 12, 2018

#VSNaipaul autographed a copy of his book of essays for me in October 2004. pic.twitter.com/SoVj6dVBQz

— Sugata Srinivasaraju (@sugataraju) August 12, 2018

The hashtag ‘#VS Naipaul’ also started trending on Twitter in India.

Deeply saddened over the passing away of Nobel prize winning author #VSNaipaul A perceptive chronicler of his times, Naipaul's writings on #India and Islamic civilization have been widely appreciated here and abroad, RIP.

— Rajat Sharma (@RajatSharmaLive) August 12, 2018

Intellectualism has lost its brand ambassador. A truly irreplaceable loss. R. I. P Sir Vidia #VSNaipaul https://t.co/IFb3ZueeSY

— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) August 12, 2018