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Khushwant Singh Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth15 August 1915

Age98 (at time of death)

BirthplaceHadali, Khushab District, Punjab (now in Pakistan)

ProfessionAuthor, Lawyer, Journalist, Diplomat, Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseKawal Malik

FamilySon - Rahul Singh; Daughter - Mala

Khushwant Singh Biography

Khushwant Singh was an Indian author, lawyer, journalist, diplomat and politician whose sharp, witty prose and long career in public life made him one of

Early life and background
Khushwant Singh was born Khushal Singh on 15 August 1915 in Hadali, in the Khushab District of Punjab, an area that is now part of Pakistan. He was raised in a prominent family: his father, Sobha Singh, was a noted builder in Lutyens' Delhi, and his mother was Veeran Bai. Khushwant attended Modern School in New Delhi and went on to study at Government College of Lahore and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi. He later pursued studies at King’s College, London.

Career
Singh began his professional life in the law courts, practicing at the Lahore High Court from 1938. In the years around Indian independence he entered government service, joining the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and serving in the Indian Foreign Service before leaving that role in 1951 to begin a career in journalism.

His journalism career included work with All India Radio and a period at UNESCO’s Department of Mass Communications in Paris in the mid-1950s. He became an influential newspaper and magazine editor, serving as founder-editor of Yojana and later editing the Illustrated Weekly of India, the Hindustan Times and the National Herald.

Alongside his work as an editor, Singh was a prolific writer. Over the course of his life he produced nearly eighty books, including fiction, short stories and nonfiction. His first published story, "The Mark of Vishnu," appeared in 1948. Among his best-known books are the novel Train to Pakistan (1956), Delhi: A Novel (1990), The Company of Women (1999), Truth, Love and a Little Malice (2002) and later works such as Gods and Godmen of India (2012) and The Good, the Bad and the Ridiculous (2013).

Singh also wrote a widely read newspaper column, With Malice Towards One and All, noted for its dry humour and caustic wit. He is credited with popularizing light comic material such as Santa-Banta jokes, and he continued to publish and speak publicly well into old age. On his 98th birthday he launched Khushwantnama: The Lessons of My Life, and his last book, The Good, The Bad and The Ridiculous, was written with co-writer Humra Qureshi.

Public profile
A public figure comfortable in many roles, Singh was recognized for his outspoken views on religion and belief. Described in his later years as agnostic, he addressed these convictions explicitly in a book published in 2011 titled Agnostic Khushwant: There is no God.

Over the decades Singh received numerous official honours and awards. His recognitions include a Rockefeller Grant in 1966, the Padma Bhushan in 1974 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2007. He also received the Punjab Rattan Award in 2006, a Sahitya Akademi fellowship in 2010, a lifetime achievement award from Tata Literature Live! in 2013 and a fellowship of King’s College London in 2014. In July 2000 he was presented with the "Honest Man of the Year" award by Sulabh International Social Service Organization.

Personal life
Khushwant Singh married Kawal Malik in 1939. The couple had two children: a son, Rahul Singh, and a daughter, Mala. His siblings included brothers Bhagwant Singh, Daljit Singh and Major Gurbakhsh Singh, and a sister, Mohinder Kaur. Khushwant Singh’s hometown is given as Hadali in the Khushab District, and he maintained a long-term residence near Khan Market in New Delhi.

He was known for enjoying premium scotch, and publicly identified as agnostic. His political inclination is recorded as aligned with the Indian National Congress.

Death and legacy
Singh died on 20 March 2014 in New Delhi at the age of 98. The cause of death was reported as cardiac arrest. His death prompted widespread public mourning and statements from national leaders.

Latest updates
In the final years of his life Singh continued to publish and receive honours. He released Khushwantnama at age 98 and co-authored his last book, The Good, The Bad and The Ridiculous, in 2013. A fellowship from King’s College London was conferred in 2014, the same year as his passing.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Khushwant Singh, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Khushwantnama: The Lessons of My Life

Autobiographical reflections launched on his 98th birthday.

2013
The Good, The Bad and The Ridiculous

Final book co-written with Humra Qureshi.

2013
Agnostic Khushwant: There is no God

A public statement of his agnostic beliefs published in 2011.

2011
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Career Highlights

  1. Practiced law at the Lahore High Court beginning in 1938
  2. Served in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Foreign Service
  3. Worked at All India Radio and UNESCO’s Department of Mass Communications
  4. Founder-editor of Yojana and editor of Illustrated Weekly of India, Hindustan Times and National Herald
  5. Author of nearly eighty books including Train to Pakistan and Delhi: A Novel
  6. Long-running newspaper column With Malice Towards One and All
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Khushwant Singh born?

Khushwant Singh was born on 15 August 1915.

What is Khushwant Singh known for?

Khushwant Singh is known for author, Lawyer, Journalist, Diplomat, Politician.

What is Khushwant Singh’s marital status?

Khushwant Singh's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Khushwant Singh married to?

Khushwant Singh is publicly listed as married to Kawal Malik.