Karan Singh calls his 75 years ‘extraordinary’

Srinagar, June 20: Dr Karan Singh on completing 75 years of public service said that his political life has been extraordinary as he witnessed the whole panorama of Indian development and feels honoured to serve the nation.
Dr Karan Singh is the former Sadr-i-Riyasat (President) of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and while speaking with ANI on completing 75 years, he said, “On June 20, 1949, my father Maharaja Hari Singh Ji signed the paper appointing me as regent. I flew to Srinagar and I was living in this house. 75 years have been quite extraordinary because I have seen the whole panorama of Indian development. I am older than the Republic. I saw the British also, I remember my father’s rule. And then from 1972 to these recent elections, I have seen every single prime minister… It’s been a great privilege and joy for me to be of some service to this great country. It has been an honour to serve this great country, I enjoyed every minute of it.
Talking about his appointment as Jammu and Kashmir’s Sadr-i-Riyasat, he said, “That was a very critical time, the Jammu and Kashmir constitution was being made, the Delhi Agreement had been reached… All of that came during that period.”
He added further, “My effort was to keep Jammu and Kashmir balanced… Jammu was feeling very neglected for many years. So one of the things that I tried to do was to bring regional balance, maintain peace and tranquillity in Jammu and Kashmir and successfully implement the Delhi Agreement.”
Appointed as regent by his father, Maharaja Hari Singh, in 1949, Dr Singh exemplified an unwavering commitment to the nation, holding numerous esteemed positions over the decades.
Throughout his illustrious career, 93-year-old Dr Karan Singh has been a stalwart in Indian politics and diplomacy, serving as Regent, Sadr-e-Riyasat, Cabinet Minister (serving without salary), Ambassador to the United States, Member of the Executive Board of UNESCO, UNESCO Education Commissioner, Chairman of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), and President of the Auroville Foundation.
Beyond his political roles, Dr Singh is a prolific author renowned for his scholarly works on Hinduism and Vedanta. In 1982, he founded the Virat Hindu Samaj, significantly advancing arts and culture, particularly in painting and music. His advocacy efforts also led to the inclusion of the Dogri language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Notably, he established the Amar Mahal Museum and Library, housing a remarkable collection of Kangra Pahari paintings and a vast repository of over 20,000 books.
Dr Karan Singh’s influence extends globally through his contributions to the interfaith movement and as chairman of the Rumi Foundation. His lifelong patronage of the arts is underscored by his support for the construction of temples in Jammu, Pondicherry, and the United States.
ANI