Remembering Hitch: A voice for reason

Imlisanen Jamir

Courageous, brash, witty, humorous and most importantly honest – This is but a very brief summation of the genius that was (and probably still is) Christopher Hitchens. Hitch, as his friends and fans love to address him, would have been 64 today. But on December 15, 2011, literature and social discourse suffered the loss of one of 20th century’s greatest minds.  

Author of numerous published books and essays, his legacy seems to attract most attention because of his views on religion and spiritually. As a journalist, war correspondent, essayist, biographer, historian, Hitch fought against every form of tyranny. Most commentators would focus more on his bestselling, “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.” However, this attitude tends to gloss over the fact that Hitch was more importantly a literary genius than a political contrarian; a voracious lover of conversation than a fierce debater and an exponent of reason than an atheist.

His beautifully nuanced rants against religion may have garnered attention but the true prowess of his writing can be seen in his literary criticism. His writings on Larkin, Powell, Rushdie, Bellow and above all, Orwell is indeed "imperishable," to use his favorite word. 

His numerous videos on youtube indicate that in conversation, Hitch was the most intellectually generous man.  His love for reason, freedom and humanity exuded his enthusiasm for life. 

His love for the bottle also never failed to grab attention. In conversation, he would fill up his glass to the brim and pour out ideas like a fountain. But he was not an alcoholic. If he were one, he could never have written so much, so fast and at such a high standard. 

His left leaning days in the 70’s and 80’s and his support for the Iraq war provided a rollercoaster of a life.  He lost friends, publishers, writing jobs but Hitch never once shied away from speaking his mind. Whether it be a scathing criticism of Clinton and Kissinger, a damning rant against Mother Teresa, a moving support for Sulman Rushdie or an inspiring rhetoric for science and humanism; Hitchens never failed to rouse strong emotions.

His mastery over the written and spoken word was legendary. One of the joys of living in a world filled with ignorance and hate was to watch hitch respond. One could not help but smile at his delivery of the now famous “hitch-slap” to his debate opponents. In his speech, we remember his terse witticism and in his prose we remember his magisterial knowledge. 

Even on the inevitability of his death from esophageal cancer, Hitchens remained witty and calm as ever. On being asked about his health in one of his last debates, he calmly replied, “Well, I’m dying.” After a pause, he smiled wryly and added, “But so are all of you.” How can anyone not love the man?

Hitch spoke for those who were too scared to voice out against tyranny. On behalf of humanists all over the world, Christopher would bravely stand against peddlers and apologists of tyranny. And he did so with a rhetorical dazzle rarely seen in public figures. 

Two years after his death and the world is a little less without the likes of Christopher Hitchens. But he leaves us with much to ponder upon. As inevitable death approached, he was asked about his expectations on the afterlife. Hitchens put on that famous smile and muttered, “I do like surprises.” Wherever he is now, I hope there is conversation, debate and of course a bottle of his favorite Johnny Walker.    
 



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