A life so extraordinary

BOOK EXTRACT

On April 28 the newly married couple left Bombay for Jammu and Kashmir. The Regent needed to take up his official responsibilities again. While Yasho Rajya Lakshmi started to settle into her new life and began learning Hindi and English, Karan Singh took up a Bachelor's course at the Jammu and Kashmir University as a private candidate. He would eventually graduate from a University of which he was Chancellor. He recalls that on the convocation day, as Chancellor, he presented degrees to the other students while stepping down to receive his own from the then Vice-President of India, Dr S Radhakrishnan.

The young couple's life slowly fell into a pattern "" two hours of study every morning with tutors, after which Karan Singh would attend some formal meetings. Yasho Rajya Lakshmi had picked some conversational English, but still hesitated to speak. Oftentimes, when they had guests, Karan Singh found himself speaking on behalf of both of them. The young couple would sit opposite each other in the middle of the dining table, with guests on either side. These parties were usually intimate, with a maximum of 16 people. 'Over the years,' says Karan Singh nostalgically, 'I found these meals of real value, because a broad spectrum of people "" some highly intelligent and stimulating "" came from various parts of India and many other countries of the world.' A quick learner, he picked up valuable information and ideas from those conversations.

In 1950, Sheikh Abdullah sent the Regent two proposals for the abolition of the jagirdari (the feudal land-grant system) without any compensation to the landed gentry. He wanted the Regent to sign these proposals. While Karan Singh understood the merits of the measures proposed, he was aware that large sections of the population would be affected were these measures to be carried out. He, thus, sent the proposals to Delhi to seek the Government's opinion. An enraged Sheikh Abdullah was quick to point out that Karan Singh had overstepped his brief as the Regent, and, given the constitutional set-up, the Government of India had no say in this matter.

Karan Singh: A Tryst with History

Author: Tultul and Bikash Niyogi
Publisher: Niyogi Books
Pages: 144
Price: Rs 1,500