Title: A Statesman and a Seeker: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Dr Karan Singh Author: Harbans Singh Publisher: Speaking Tiger About the Book: The authorized biography of one of Indias most well-known and admired public figures, whose life journey is inextricably linked to that of Jammu and Kashmir, and of India since Independence. Karan Singh was just 18, 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 Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir who had recently signed the Instrument of Accession to India, appointed him Regent and left the State, never to return. Over the next two decades, Karan Singh presided over J&Ks difficult transition to a modern but troubled democracyfirst as Regent, then as Head of State (Sadr-e-Riyasat) and finally as Governor. In 1967, he joined Indira Gandhis Congress government at the Centre, becoming Indias youngest cabinet minister, and served as Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Health, and Education. He was also Indias 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. Throughout, he has remained of independent mind and spirita gentleman and a consensus-builder in the fractious world of Indian politics, and a celebrated scholar of Hinduism, a philosopher and spiritual seeker who has championed interfaith understanding for over half a century. Both intimate and objective, A Statesman and a Seeker tells the story of Karan Singhs life and legacyand his fascinating encounters with, among others, Nehru, Patel, Sheikh Abdullah, 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, Karan Singh remains one of Indias most respected public personalitiesand arguably the best President India never had. This comprehensive biography examines his life and times with the rigour and nuance that has never been brought to any portrait of this remarkable figure. About the Author: Harbans Singh was born in Samba, in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir. He began his career as a college professor before moving on to journalism. Over the years, he has worked for the Observer of Business and Politics, The Tribune, Chandigarh and Dainik Bhaskar. Singh has authored books in both Hindi and English. He is the author of Sufi Satta aur Samaj, written in Hindi. His books in English include a trilogy on the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Chandigarh, June 24: Sunil Jakhar, former president of the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stated on social media that the viral video of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is not a political issue but one related to religious sentiments. In his post on X, Jakhar emphasized that the video does not pertain to politics. Instead, it ... Read more Punjab BJP Claims Viral Video of CM Bhagwant Mann Tied to Religious Sentiments
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