Jaipur, Jan 14: A much-awaited book on the life and legacy of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir princely state’s royal and renowned statesman, Dr Karan Singh, will be unveiled at Jaipur Literature Festival 2026 that begins here tomorrow.
The book, “The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Dr Karan Singh”, is authorised biography of the nonagenarian Statesman and public figure. The book is authored by Harbans Singh.
This examines the remarkable journey of one of India’s most distinguished public figures—a statesman, scholar, humanist and spiritual seeker—whose story is inextricably linked not only to Jammu and Kashmir’s journey, but also to India’s journey as a nation and a society since Independence.
The book will be unveiled on January 15 under JL Festival’s First Edition segment by festival directors Namita Gokhale, William Dalrymple and Sanjoy K. Roy, followed by a conversation between Dr Karan Singh, author Harbans Singh and publisher Ravi Singh.
While this will mark the book’s first public presentation, it will be officially released and made available to readers nationwide on February 10, 2026, a festival communiqué stated here.
Karan Singh was just 18 years old, and had barely recovered from a mysterious illness that left him bedridden for over a year, when he was catapulted into political life in 1949.
His father, the last King of Jammu and Kashmir who had signed the Instrument of Accession to India, appointed him Regent before he was compelled by Jawahar Lal Nehru to leave the state and never to return. Over the next 18 years, Karan Singh presided over J&K’s difficult transition to a modern but troubled democracy—first as Regent, then as Head of State (Sadr-e-Riyasat) and finally as Governor.
In 1967, he resigned as Governor of J&K and joined Indira Gandhi led Congress government, becoming India’s youngest cabinet minister. He had served as union Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Health, and Education and Culture.
Singh was also India’s Ambassador to the USA, head of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Member of the Rajya Sabha, Chairman of the Auroville Foundation and member of the UNESCO Executive Board.
Together with his political journey, he has made a singular journey as a philosopher and spiritual seeker, trying to understand life’s ultimate purpose and meaning.
Meticulously researched and both intimate and objective, A Statesman and a Seeker tells the story of Karan Singh’s extraordinary life and legacy—and his fascinating encounters with, among others, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Sheikh Abdullah, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, J.R.D. Tata, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Rajiv Gandhi, Aldous Huxley, and the spiritual gurus Sri Krishnaprem and Sri Madhav Ashish.
At 94, Dr Karan Singh remains one of India’s most remarkable and respected public personalities.
