View source for Karan Singh

{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{other uses}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = [[Maharaja]] Karan Singh
| image               = Pranab Mukherjee receiving the first copy of the book entitled "VB-Raju-The Visionary Leader" from the President of ICCR, Dr. Karan Singh, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.jpg
| caption             = Singh at the [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]] in December 2013
| office2             = [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)#Rulers|Prince Regent of Jammu and Kashmir]]
| monarch2            = [[Hari Singh|Sir Hari Singh]]
| term_start2         = 20 June 1949
| term_end2           = 17 November 1952
| office              = 1st [[Governor of Jammu and Kashmir]]
| term_start          = 30 March 1965
| term_end            = 15 May 1967
| predecessor         = ''Position established''<br> Himself as [[Sadr-i-Riyasat]]
| successor           = [[Bhagwan Sahay]]
| office1             = [[Sadr-i-Riyasat]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| primeminister1      = [[Sheikh Abdullah]]<br /> [[Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad]] <br /> [[Khwaja Shamsuddin]] <br /> [[Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq]]
| term_start1         = 17 November 1952
| term_end1           = 30 March 1965
| predecessor1        = ''Position established''
| successor1          = ''Position abolished''<br> Himself as [[Governor of Jammu & Kashmir|Governor]]
| office3             = [[Indian Ambassador to the United States|Ambassador of India to the United States of America]]
| term_start3         = 1989
| term_end3           = 1990
| predecessor3        = [[P. K. Kaul]]
| successor3          = [[Abid Hussain]]
| office4             = [[Minister of Education (India)|Minister of Education and Culture]]
| primeminister4      = [[Charan Singh]]
| term_start4         = 30 July 1979
| term_end4           = 14 January 1980
| predecessor4        = [[Pratap Chandra Chunder]]
| successor4          = [[B. Shankaranand]]
| office5             = [[Minister of Health and Family Welfare (India)|Minister for Health and Family Planning]]
| primeminister5      = [[Indira Gandhi]]
| term_start5         = 9 November 1973
| term_end5           = 24 March 1977
| predecessor5        = [[Uma Shankar Dikshit]]
| successor5          = [[Raj Narain]]
| office6             = [[Ministry of Tourism (India)|Minister of Tourism]] and [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Civil Aviation]]
| primeminister6      = [[Indira Gandhi]]
| term_start6         = 13 March 1967
| term_end6           = 9 November 1973
| predecessor6        = ''Ministry established''
| successor6          = R. Bahadur
| office7             = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|Member of the Rajya Sabha]] for<br />[[New Delhi|National Capital Territory of Delhi]]
| term_start7         = 28 January 2000
| term_end7           = 27 January 2018
| office8             = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of the Lok Sabha]] for [[Udhampur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Udhampur]]
| term_start8         = 1971
| term_end8           = 1984
| predecessor8        = G. S. Brigadier
| successor8          = [[Girdhari Lal Dogra]]
| term_start9         = 1967
| term_end9           = 1968
| predecessor9        = ''Constituency established''
| successor9          = G. S. Brigadier
| party               = [[Indian National Congress]] (1947 - 1979, 2000 - Present)
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1931|3|9}}
| birth_place         = [[Cannes]], [[France]]
| spouse              = Yasho Rajya Lakshmi
| children            = [[Ajatshatru Singh]], [[Vikramaditya Singh (politician)|Vikramaditya Singh]], Jyotsna Singh
| awards              = [[File:Padma Vibhushan Ribbon.svg|50x50px]][[Padma Vibhushan]]<br />[[File:Memorial_Medal_of_Tree_of_Peace_ribbon.jpg|50x50px]] 
Memorial Medal of Tree of Peace
| relations           = [[Dogra dynasty]]<br />[[Chitrangada Singh (princess)|Chitrangada Singh]] (daughter-in-law)<br />
[[Bhim Singh (politician)|Bhim Singh]] (kinsman)<br> [[Dhian Singh]] (ancestral Kinsman)
| alma_mater          = [[University of Kashmir]] ([[B.A.]])<br />[[University of Delhi]] ([[M.A.]], [[PhD]])
| parents             = [[Maharaja]] [[Hari Singh|Sir Hari Singh]]<br />[[Maharani]] Tara Devi
| website             = [http://www.karansingh.com karansingh.com]
| signature           = Karan Singh Autograph.jpg
| Residence           = Mansarovar 3, Nyaya Marg, [[Chanakyapuri]], [[New Delhi]], 
| otherparty          = [[Indian National Congress (U)]] (1979 - 1984) <br />
[[Independent politician|Independent]] (1984) <br />
[[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference|National Conference]] (1996 - 1999)
}}

'''Karan Singh''' (born 9 March 1931) is an Indian politician and philosopher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.karansingh.com|title=Dr. Karan Singh|website=karansingh.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> He is the son of the last ruling [[Maharaja]] of the [[princely state]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Hari Singh|Sir Hari Singh]]. He was the [[prince regent]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] until 1952. From 1952 to 1965 he was the ''[[Sadr-i-Riyasat]]'' (President) of the state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] in the Republic of India.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/karan-singh-on-accession-of-kashmir-to-india/735445|title=Karan Singh on Accession of Kashmir to India|date=2017-07-19|work=[[Outlook India]] magazine|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> For the [[2022 Indian presidential election|2022 Indian Presidential Election]], he was reported as a potential candidate in Indian media, as recommended for nomination by [[Ankit Love]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ankit Love wants nomination of Dr Karan Singh & Bhim Singh for President and Vice President of India|url=https://www.crosstownnews.in/post/65562/-ankit-love-wants-nomination-of-dr-karan-singh-a-bhim-singh-for-president-and-vice-president-of-india.html|access-date=2021-11-22|website=News - Cross Town News, a Leading Newspaper of J&K|language=en-US}}</ref> He is the chairperson trustee of the [[Dharmarth Trust|Dharmarth Trust of Jammu and Kashmir]] which maintains 175 temples in north India and works in other areas such as historical preservation.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 March 2021|title=PM releases Manuscript with commentaries by 21 scholars on shlokas of Srimad Bhagavadgita|url=https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1703587|access-date=2022-01-29|website=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020|title=Working Group Report on Improving Heritage Management in India|url=https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2020-06/Improving-HeritageManagement-in-India.pdf|publisher=[[NITI Aayog]]|page=43}}</ref>

Singh was a member of India's Upper House of Parliament, the [[Rajya Sabha]], representing the national capital territory of [[Delhi]]. He is a senior member of the [[Indian National Congress]] party who served successively as President (''[[Sadr-i-Riyasat]]'')<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A5YkBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA341|title=The Life and Times of Lokmanya Tilak|last=Saraf|first=Nandini|date=2012|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|isbn=9788184301526|pages=341|language=en|quote=Before leaving Srinagar he also had long talks with Yuvraj Karan Singh, who was then being pressed to become the Sadr-i-Riyasat - Head of State of the State.}}</ref> and [[List of governors of Jammu and Kashmir|Governor of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir]]. He was a life trustee and president of [[India International Centre|India International Center]]. He was elected chancellor of [[Banaras Hindu University]] for three terms,<ref>{{Cite web|last1=|first1=|date=24 June 2010|title=Karan Singh elected BHU chancellor for 3rd time|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Karan-Singh-elected-BHU-chancellor-for-3rd-time/articleshow/6087983.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2020-02-22|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> and served till 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/madan-mohan-malaviya-s-grandson-next-bhu-chancellor-118112701006_1.html|title=Madan Mohan Malaviya's grandson next BHU chancellor|date=2018-11-27|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2020-02-22}}</ref> He has been a prospective presidential candidate over the years.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-06-14|others=PTI|title=I'm available for the top job: Karan Singh|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/i-m-available-for-the-top-job-karan-singh/story-Kov6Y1uWErEEaTuniaZogO.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-13|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=23 June 2021|title=Ankit Love wants nomination of Dr Karan Singh & Bhim Singh for President and Vice President of India|url=https://www.crosstownnews.in/post/65562/-ankit-love-wants-nomination-of-dr-karan-singh-a-bhim-singh-for-president-and-vice-president-of-india.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-16|website=Cross Town News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Bhim Singh pitches Dr Karan Singh as next President|date=2017-06-05|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7D7C4KXKl0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/i7D7C4KXKl0 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|work=Daily Excelsior|access-date=2017-06-18}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jkmonitor.org/index.php/local/24487-propose-dr-karan-singh-as-next-president-prof-bhim|title=Propose Dr. Karan Singh as next President: Prof. Bhim|website=JK Monitor|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-06-18|archive-date=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905003200/http://jkmonitor.org/index.php/local/24487-propose-dr-karan-singh-as-next-president-prof-bhim|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early and personal life==
''[[Yuvraj]]'' Karan Singh was born at the [[Martinez hotel|Martinez Hotel]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Karan Singh recalls his French Connection|url=https://www.netindian.in/news/people/karan-singh-recalls-his-french-connection|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-22|website=NetIndian|language=en}}</ref> [[Cannes]], [[France]], into the [[Dogra dynasty]]. He was the only son of [[Hari Singh|Sir Hari Singh]], [[Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajya-sabha-mp-karan-singh-slams-attempts-to-brand-hari-singh-as-communal-4495865/|title=Rajya Sabha MP Karan Singh slams attempts to brand Hari Singh as communal|date=28 January 2017}}</ref> His mother, Maharani Tara Devi, who was the fourth wife of his father, was the daughter of a landowning [[Katoch]] [[Rajput]] family and came from [[Bijapur, Chhattisgarh|Bijapur]] (Vijaypur near [[Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur]]) in [[Kangra district]] of [[Himachal Pradesh]].{{dubious|date=January 2020|reason=Bijapur is in Karnataka, not Himachal Pradesh, and not in Kangra District.}}{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

Singh was educated at [[Doon School]], [[Dehra Dun]], a boarding school, which represented a departure from the usual practise of princes being educated by tutors at home. The school was very elite, but it nevertheless meant that Karan Singh shared the classroom (though not the hostel) with boys from non-royal backgrounds, and received a standard education. Unusually for the scion of an Indian royal family, he then enrolled in a college for a graduate degree, receiving first a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] degree from [[University of Kashmir|Jammu and Kashmir University]], [[Srinagar]], and subsequently an [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] degree in Political Science and a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] degree from [[University of Delhi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doononline.net/pages/info_features/features_spotlights/spotlights/ksingh/index.htm |title=Dr. Karan Singh Profile |publisher=Doon School |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918194945/http://www.doononline.net/pages/info_features/features_spotlights/spotlights/ksingh/index.htm |archive-date=2009-09-18}}</ref>

In 1950, the 19-year-old Karan Singh was married to 13-year-old Yasho Rajya Lakshmi, daughter of a nobleman belonging to the [[Rana family]] of [[Nepal]]. Her father, General Sharada Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, was a senior army officer and the son of [[Mohan Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana]], the last Rana Prime Minister of [[Nepal]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.jkdharmarthtrust.org/maharani.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100924170621/http://jkdharmarthtrust.org/maharani.html| archive-date = 2010-09-24| title = Jammu & Kashmir Dharmarth Trust - Maharani Yasho Rajya Lakshmi}} </ref> The match, arranged by their families in the usual Indian way, was entirely harmonious and lasted all their lives. The couple had three children:

*''[[Yuvraj]]'' [[Vikramaditya Singh (politician)|Vikramaditya Singh]], elder son and crown prince; married [[Chitrangada Singh (Princess)|Chitrangada Scindia]], the daughter of [[Madhavrao Scindia]] of Gwalior, in 1987.<ref>[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/history-came-to-life-at-the-wedding-of-chitrangada-raje-scindia-and-vikramaditya-singh/1/337885.html The Gwalior Royal Wedding] Event covered in India Today</ref>
*[[Ajatshatru Singh]], second son; took to politics, was elected to the state assembly from the Nagrota constituency and became a minister in the state government. His wife is the daughter of an army officer.
* Jyotsna Singh, only daughter, married to Dhirendra Singh Chauhan, from  a Chauhan family belonging to [[Mainpuri]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/unlike-father-a-son.html| title=Unlike Father, son | website= The Week| date= }}</ref>

==Political career==

In 1949, at age of eighteen, Singh was appointed as the Prince Regent of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] state after his father stepped down as the ruler, following the state's accession to India.<ref>[http://jkrajbhawan.nic.in/His%20Excellency/present5.htm Dr. Karan Singh] Raj Bhawan, Jammu and Kashmir official website.</ref> From that point, he served successively as regent, the ''Sadr-i-Riyasat'', and the first governor of the state of Jammu and Kashmir from 1965 to 1967.

On August 8, 1953 as the President ([[Sadr-i-Riyasat]]) of Jammu and Kashmir, Karan Singh backed a [[Coup d'état|coup d'etat]] against the elected Prime Minister [[Sheikh Abdullah]],{{sfn|Puri, Jammu and Kashmir, State Politics in India|2015|p=229}} allegedly for harboring independent ambitions for Kashmir, which led to the imprisonment of Abdullah for eleven years following the [[Kashmir Conspiracy Case]].

In 1967, he resigned as [[Governor of Jammu and Kashmir]], and became the youngest-ever member of the Union Cabinet, holding the portfolios of Tourism and Civil Aviation between 1967 and 1973.<ref>{{cite web|title=COUNCIL OF MINISTERS: GANDHI 2|url=http://www.kolumbus.fi/taglarsson/dokumentit/gandhi2.htm|publisher=kolumbus.fi|access-date=10 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=COUNCIL OF MINISTERS: GANDHI 3|url=http://www.kolumbus.fi/taglarsson/dokumentit/gandhi3.htm|publisher=kolumbus.fi|access-date=10 March 2018}}</ref> Two years later, he voluntarily surrendered his privy purse, which he had been entitled to since the death of his father in 1961. He placed the entire sum into a charitable trust named after his parents.

In the 26th amendment<ref>{{Citation|title=The Constitution (26 Amendment) Act, 1971|url=http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend26.htm|work=indiacode.nic.in|year=1971|publisher=Government of India|access-date=9 November 2011}}</ref> to the [[Constitution of India]] promulgated in 1971, the Government of India, of which Karan Singh was a [[Union cabinet]] minister, abolished all official symbols of [[princely state|princely India]], including titles, privileges, and remuneration ([[Privy Purse in India|privy purses]]).<ref>'''1.''' {{cite book|last=Ramusack|first=Barbara N.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kz1-mtazYqEC&pg=PA278|title=The Indian princes and their states|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2004|isbn=978-0-521-26727-4|page=278|author-link=Barbara Ramusack}}, "Through a constitutional amendment passed in 1971, Indira Gandhi stripped the princes of the '''titles''', privy purses and regal privileges which her father's government had granted." (p 278). '''2.''' {{citation|last=Naipaul|first=V. S.|title=India: A Wounded Civilization|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XYeWbmq7pkIC&pg=PT37|page=37|year=2003|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|isbn=978-1-4000-3075-0|author-link=V. S. Naipaul}} Quote: "The princes of India – their number and variety reflecting to a large extent the chaos that had come to the country with the break up of the Mughal empire – had lost real power in the British time.  Through generations of idle servitude they had grown to specialize only in style.  A bogus, extinguishable glamour: in 1947, with Independence, they had lost their state, and Mrs. Gandhi in 1971 had, without much public outcry, abolished their privy purses and '''titles'''." (pp 37–38). '''3.''' {{citation|last=Schmidt|first=Karl J.|title=An atlas and survey of South Asian history|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzmkFXSgxqgC&pg=PA78|page=78|year=1995|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|isbn=978-1-56324-334-9}} Quote: "Although the Indian states were alternately requested or forced into union with either India or Pakistan, the real death of princely India came when the Twenty-sixth Amendment Act (1971) abolished the princes' '''titles''', privileges, and privy purses." (page 78). '''4.''' {{citation|last=Breckenridge|first=Carol Appadurai|title=Consuming modernity: public culture in a South Asian world|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LN4MN35b-r4C&pg=PA84|page=84|year=1995|publisher=U of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0-8166-2306-8|author-link=Carol Breckenridge}}  Quote: "The third stage in the political evolution of the princes from rulers to citizens occurred in 1971, when the constitution ceased to recognize them as princes and their privy purses, '''titles''', and special privileges were abolished." (page 84).  '''5.''' {{citation|last=Guha|first=Ramachandra|title=India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2fvd-CaFdqYC&pg=PA441|page=441|year=2008|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-06-095858-9|author-link=Ramchandra Guha}} Quote: "Her success at the polls emboldened Mrs. Gandhi to act decisively against the princes. Through 1971, the two sides tried and failed to find a settlement. The princes were willing to forgo their privy purses, but hoped at least to save their titles. But with her overwhelming majority in Parliament, the prime minister had no need to compromise. On 2 December, she introduced a bill to amend the constitution and abolish all princely privileges. It was passed in the Lok Sabha by 381 votes to six, and in the Rajya Sabha by 167 votes to seven. In her own speech, the prime minister invited 'the princes to join the elite of the modern age, the elite which earns respect by its talent, energy and contribution to human progress, all of which can only be done when we work together as equals without regarding anybody as of special status.' " (page 441).  '''6.''' {{cite book|last=Cheesman|first=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rtBi1MgVD0AC&pg=PA10|title=Landlord power and rural indebtedness in colonial Sind, 1865–1901|publisher=Routledge|year=1997|isbn=978-0-7007-0470-5|location=London|page=10}} Quote: "The Indian princes survived the British Raj by only a few years.  The Indian republic stripped them of their powers and then their '''titles'''." (page 10). '''7.''' {{citation|author=Merriam-Webster, Inc|title=Merriam-Webster's geographical dictionary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Co_VIPIJerIC&pg=PA520|page=520|year=1997|publisher=Merriam-Webster|isbn=978-0-87779-546-9}} Quote: "'''Indian States''': "Various (formerly) semi-independent areas in India ruled by native princes .... Under British rule ... administered by residents assisted by political agents.  Titles and remaining privileges of princes abolished by Indian government 1971." (page 520).  '''8.''' {{citation|last=Ward|first=Philip|title=Northern India, Rajasthan, Agra, Delhi: a travel guide|date=September 1989|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KubCD2jHjEsC&pg=PA91|page=91|publisher=Pelican Publishing|isbn=978-0-88289-753-0}} Quote: "A monarchy is only as good as the reigning monarch: thus it is with the princely states.  Once they seemed immutable, invincible.  In 1971 they were "derecognized,"  their privileges, privy purses and '''titles''' all abolished at a stroke" (page 91)</ref> During the conclusion of the [[Cold War]], he was India's ambassador to the [[United States|USA]]. Singh received the [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 2005.[[File:Pratibha Devisingh Patil confers Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for the year 2009 to the German Chancellor, Ms. Angela Merkel, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. The President.jpg|thumb|203x203px|Dr. Karan Singh and President of India [[Pratibha Patil|Pratibha Pati]] present the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding]] to German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] at the [[Rashtrapati Bhavan|Presidential Palace]] in New Delhi, India in 2009.|left]]In 1971, he was sent as an envoy to the Eastern Bloc nations to explain India's position with regard to East Pakistan, then engaged in civil war with West Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.karansingh.com/|title=Dr. Karan Singh}}</ref> He attempted to resign following an aircraft crash in 1973, but the resignation was not accepted. The same year, he became the Minister for Health and Family planning, serving in this post until 1977.
Following the Emergency, Karan Singh was elected to the Lok Sabha from Udhampur in 1977 on a Congress ticket [the party had not split into Congress(I) and Congress(U) factions till then], and became Minister of Education and Culture in 1979 in Charan Singh's cabinet, representing Congress(U), which had split from Indira's Congress. Notably, Charan Singh became Prime Minister after the fall of Janata Party government headed by Morarji Desai. And Charan Singh himself resigned without facing Parliament even for a day as he was not sure of having a confidence motion passed in his favour. Karan Singh contested the 1980 Lok Sabha election on a Congress(U) ticket and won. In 1989–1990, he served as Indian Ambassador to the US, and this experience became the subject of a book he wrote, "Brief Sojourn".<ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/karan-echoes-omar-but-j&k-part-of-india/701340/ Karan echoes Omar, but ‘J&K part of India’], Arun Sharma, Jammu, Sat 23 October 2010, The Indian Express Limited</ref>

From 1967 to 1984, Karan Singh was a member of the Lok Sabha. In 1984, he contested the Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate from Jammu but lost the election. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 30 November 1996 to 12 August 1999, representing [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference|National Conference]], a Muslim dominated party active in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. Later, he was a [[Rajya Sabha]] member from 28 January 2000 to 27 January 2018 representing [[Indian National Congress|INC]]. He is known for switching his loyalties from one political party to another quite frequently. He has served as Chancellor of [[Banaras Hindu University]], Jammu and Kashmir University, [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]], and NIIT University.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.niituniversity.in/|title=NIIT University: Best University in India for B Tech, Integrated MBA, Ph. D Courses|website=niituniversity.in}}</ref><gallery>
File:The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressing at the launch of a film - "I Believe Universal Values for a Global Society", by Raja Choudhury based on the beliefs of Dr. Karan Singh, in New Delhi on March 09, 2011.jpg|Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] addressing at the launch of a film - ''I Believe Universal Values for a Global Society'', by [[Raja Choudhury]] based on the beliefs of Dr. Karan Singh in 2011.
File:Manmohan Singh presenting the “Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award” to Dr. Kiran Seth of SPIC MACAY, at a function, in New Delhi. The President of ICCR, Dr. Karan Singh and the Member of Parliament.jpg|Dr. Karan Singh, along with Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] and [[Rahul Gandhi]] present the [[Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award]] to Dr. K[[Kiran Seth|iran Seth]] in 2011.
File:Hillary Clinton with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.jpg|Dr. Karan Singh meets Hillary Clinton along with Congress party President Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi. July 2009
</gallery>

=== Later life ===
He has been engaged by [[Sansad TV]] (a merged Global TV Channel of [[Lok Sabha TV]] and [[Rajya Sabha TV]]) as a Guest Anchor along with some other senior celebrated experts from diverse fields such as [[Bibek Debroy]], [[Amitabh Kant]], [[Shashi Tharoor]], [[Hemant Batra]], [[Maroof Raza]] and [[Sanjeev Sanyal]] to present some flagship programmes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=All set for Sansad TV launch; Karan Singh, Tharoor, Kant, Sanyal to host special shows|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/all-set-for-sansad-tv-launch-karan-singh-tharoor-kant-sanyal-to-host-special-shows-311049|website=[[Tribune India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=10 September 2021|title=PM Narendra Modi to launch Sansad TV on September 15: Report|newspaper=Business Standard India|agency=Press Trust of India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/pm-narendra-modi-to-launch-sansad-tv-on-september-15-report-121091000907_1.html|via=Press Trust of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=PM Modi to launch Sansad TV on September 15, say sources|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-to-launch-sansad-tv-on-september-15-say-sources/articleshow/86096208.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

== Academic career ==

Karan Singh served as the chancellor of [[Banaras Hindu University]] for three terms up until 2018. In 2008, he awarded an honorary doctorate to the then prime minister [[Manmohan Singh]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Manmohan-Singh-awarded-honorary-doctorate-degree-by-BHU/articleshow/2868309.cms|title=Manmohan Singh awarded honorary doctorate degree by BHU {{!}} India News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2020-02-22}}</ref> and in 2016, he was asked by university administration to award an honorary doctorate to prime minister [[Narendra Modi|Modi]], that the prime minister declined.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/modi-in-varanasi-visits-ravidas-temple-presents-medals-to-bhu-students-roundup-116022201162_1.html|title=Take pride in India's heritage, culture: PM Modi at BHU convocation ceremony|date=2016-02-23|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2020-02-22}}</ref>

== Honours and awards ==
{{Flagicon|India}}[[India]]: 

* [[File:Padma_Vibhushan_Ribbon.svg|50x50px]] [[Padma Vibhushan]] (2005).

[[File:Servare_et_Manere_flag.png|alt=|23x23px]] [[Servare et Manere]]:

* [[File:Memorial_Medal_of_Tree_of_Peace_ribbon.jpg|40x40px|Memorial Medal of Tree of Peace]] [[Memorial Medal of Tree of Peace]]. international peace award granted by a [[Slovakia|Slovak]] [[non-governmental organization]] (2021).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Servare et Manere |date=2022-04-22 |title=Dr. Karan Singh was awarded by Servare et Manere medal |url=https://www.tofp.eu/dr-karan-singh-was-awarded-by-the-servare-et-manere-award/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Tree of peace / Strom pokoja |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:The Chancellor, Banaras Hindu University, Dr. Karan Singh presenting Honorary Doctorate Degree to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, at the ‘90th Convocation Ceremony’ in Varanasi on March 15, 2008.jpg|thumb|The Chancellor, Banaras Hindu University, Dr. Karan Singh presenting Honorary Doctorate Degree to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, at the '90th Convocation Ceremony' in Varanasi on 15 March 2008]]
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi being welcomed by Dr. Karan Singh, on his arrival at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), in Varanasi on February 22, 2016.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] being welcomed by Dr. Karan Singh, on his arrival at the [[Banaras Hindu University]], in [[Varanasi]] on February 22, 2016.]]

== Views ==

=== On population ===
"In 1974, I led the Indian delegation to the World Population Conference in Bucharest, where my statement that 'development is the best contraceptive' became widely known and oft quoted. I must admit that 20 years later I am inclined to reverse this, and my position now is that 'contraception is the best development'.”<ref>{{cite web|title=Quotations|url=https://www.populationmatters.org/making-case/quotations/|access-date=3 July 2014|website=populationmatters.org|archive-date=3 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703161518/http://www.populationmatters.org/making-case/quotations/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Bibliography ==

*''Towards A New India'' (1974)
*''Population, Poverty and the Future of India'' (1975)
*''One Man's World'' (1986)
*''[https://books.google.com/books?id=E1g_q9_xBu0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Karan+Singh&hl=en&ei=UgwzTY7YMo-rrAf_x-mLCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false Essays on Hinduism]''. Ratna Sagar. 1987. {{ISBN|81-7070-173-2}}.
*''Humanity at the Crossroads'', with [[Daisaku Ikeda]]. Oxford University Press, 1988.
*''Autobiography'' (2 vols.)(1989)
*''Brief Sojourn'' (1991)
*''Hymn to Shiva and Other Poems'' (1991)
*''The Transition to a Global Society'' (1991)
*''Mountain of Shiva'' (1994)
*''Autobiography''. Oxford University Press, 1994. {{ISBN|0-19-563636-8}}.
*''[https://books.google.com/books?id=re9FjDFIk84C&pg=PA34&dq=Karan+Singh&hl=en&ei=UgwzTY7YMo-rrAf_x-mLCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false Hinduism]''. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd, 2005. {{ISBN|1-84557-425-7}}
*''Mundaka Upanishad: The Bridge to Immortality''.
*''Ten Gurus of the Sikhs Their Life Story'', Tr. into English Pramila Naniwadekar & Moreshwar Naniwadekar.
*''Nehru's Kashmir''. Wisdom Tree. {{ISBN|978-81-8328-160-7}}.
*''A Treasury of Indian Wisdom''. Penguin Ananda, 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-670-08450-0}}.
*[[An Examined Life]] ed. Raghav Verma. Harper Collins, 2019. {{ISBN|9353570239}}<ref>{{Cite book|last=SINGH, KARAN. VERMA, RAGHAV.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1100771553|title=EXAMINED LIFE : essays and reflections by karan singh.|date=2019|publisher=HARPERCOLLINS INDIA|isbn=978-93-5357-023-1|location=[S.l.]|oclc=1100771553}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=An Examined Life|url=https://harpercollins.co.in/product/an-examined-life/|access-date=2020-06-14|website=HarperCollins Publishers India}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir)]] to the [[Dominion of India]]
*[[List of topics on the land and the people of Jammu and Kashmir]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}
* [http://india.gov.in/govt/rajyasabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=82 Detailed Profile: Dr. Karan Singh] ''[[Government of India]]'' portal

==Further reading==

* An Examined Life: Essays and Reflections by Karan Singh, ed. Raghav Verma. Harper Collins, 2019. {{ISBN|9353570239}}

==External links==

{{commons category}}
* [http://www.karansingh.com/ Dr. Karan Singh's Official Website]
* [http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/8001/I-Believe--Universal-Values-for-a-Global-Society/ Film: I Believe: Universal Values for a Global Society] with Dr. Singh and by [[Raja Choudhury]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100612114256/http://jammukashmir.nic.in/govt/cntit1.htm#1 Proclamation of May 1, 1951 on Jammu & Kashmir Constituent Assembly by Yuvraj (Crown Prince) Karan Singh from the Official website of Government of Jammu and Kashmir, India]

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box|title=Prince Regent of Jammu and Kashmir|before=Post created following abdication of [[Hari Singh]]|after=Head of State of Jammu and Kashmir (Sadr-i-Riyasat)|years=1949–1952}}
{{succession box|title=Head of State of Jammu and Kashmir (Sadr-i-Riyasat)|before= Prince Regent of Jammu and Kashmir|after=Succeeded by that of [[Governor of Jammu and Kashmir]]|years=1952–1964}}
{{succession box|title=[[Governor of Jammu and Kashmir]]|before=Head of State of Jammu and Kashmir (Sadr-i-Riyasat)|after=[[Bhagwan Sahay]]|years=1964–1967}}
{{succession box|title=Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation|before=''Ministry established''|after=R. Bahadur|years=13 March 1967 – 9 November 1973}}
{{succession box|title=Minister of Health and Family Planning|before=[[Uma Shankar Dikshit]]|after=[[Raj Narain]]|years=9 November 1973 – 24 March 1977}}
{{succession box|title=Minister of Education and Culture|before=|after=|years=1979–1980}}
{{succession box|title=[[Indian Ambassador to the United States]]|before=[[P.K. Kaul]]|after=[[Abid Hussain]]|years=1989–1990}}
{{end}}

{{Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)}}
{{Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)}}
{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{Authority control}}

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