The Proustian self-introspection.

[By The Delhi Proustians]

The Proust Questionnaire represents a form of interview that owes its structure to answers given by French novelist Marcel Proust, the author of In Search of Lost Time, at two birthday parties that he attended at ages 13 and 20 in the late 19th century.

In 2013, The Delhi Proustians takes Les confidences de salon (Drawing room confessions) around the city to explore people’s lives, thoughts, values and experiences. This series involves interviews across Delhi and is conducted by writers Manika Dhama and Mayank Austen Soofi.

For the eleventh installment in the series Delhi’s Proust Questionnaire, Govind Singh made confessions to Manika on the Gurgaon-Faridabad road. Mr Singh works as a driver and stays in Gijhor village in NOIDA.

Your favorite virtue or the principal aspect of your personality
Integrity

Your favorite qualities in a man
Integrity

Your favorite qualities in a woman
She should not lie

Your chief characteristic
My devotion to God

What do you appreciate the most in your friends?
They must be clear-hearted in their actions and speech

Your main fault
If I ever do anything wrong, like sell liquor, ganja, etc

Your favorite occupation
Those who are educated can choose any profession. With limited education I can only rely on hard-work

Your idea of happiness
For everyone in India to be happy

Your idea of misery or what would be your greatest misfortune?
If I hurt anyone

If not yourself, who would you be?
I always wanted to be an IAS

Where would you like to live?
Anyplace that is peaceful, has lots of greenery and good people

Your favourite colour and flower
White and red; Rose

Your favorite bird
Gauraiya

Your favorite prose authors
[No response]

Your favorite poets
Harivansh Rai Bachchan. I read his poems in High School

Your favorite heroes in fiction
Aamir Khan’s character in the film Lagaan

Your favorite heroines in fiction
Divya Bharti’s character in the film Deewana

Your favorite composers
I don’t have time to listen to music, so I listen to anything that comes my way

Your favorite painters
[No response]

Your heroes/heroines in real life
Narendra Modi. He is not corrupt

What characters in history do you most dislike?
Why speak ill of those who have passed away

Your heroines in World history
Indira Gandhi

Your favorite food and drink
Dal, chawal, roti, subzi

Your favorite names
Ram, and other names of Hindu Gods

What do you hate the most?
Any form of wrong-doing

The military event you admire the most
When India gained independence

The reform you admire the most
Indian Constitution. Nobody has done anything new after that. They are still working within the ideas stated in the Constitution

The natural talent you’d like to be gifted with
I wish to be educated enough to bring about change in my country. My English is weak and unfortunately that is considered a hindrance. Hindi should have been given more prominence in India

How do you wish to die?
It does not matter. Death is the ultimate truth in life and the greatest equalizer. It is incorrect to say someone was killed. Nobody is killed by anyone or anything. It is simply that their time had come

What is your present state of mind?
I am content. My four sisters are all married. My parents live in our village near Allahabad and have ample bank balance. I am able to support myself and send money home.

Faults for which you have the most tolerance
None

Your motto in life
My family’s happiness and safety, and to live with good values and the right mindset

Diving deep within, like Marcel

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