Khushwant Singh’s Journalistic Career and Political Vision: Navigating Religion, Identity, and Nationalism through His Writings

Abstract

Khushwant Singh, one of the most widely read post-colonial writers in English, is celebrated for his multifaceted career as a distinguished journalist, adept historical novelist, influential columnist, political commentator, and social critic. His influence spans both contemporary Indian literature and journalism, having held key editorial roles at notable publications such as The Illustrated Weekly of India, The National Herald, and The Hindustan Times. Known for his wit and humour, Singh’s writing continues to resonate with readers today. With a prolific body of work that includes over a hundred books—ranging from fiction and non-fiction to historical novels, short stories, and joke collections—his legacy is firmly established. At the age of 98, he published Khushwantnama: The Lessons of My Life. This article aims to explore his journalistic career and political vision, providing a brief look at his most influential works.