Born on February 2, 1915, in Hadali, now in Pakistan's Punjab, he was the founder-editor of Yojana and editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India, the National Herald and the Hindustan Times.

His books include, "Train to Pakistan", "I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale" and "Delhi". At 95, he wrote the novel "The Sunset Club". His non-fiction works include the classic two-volume "A History of the Sikhs", a number of translations and works on Sikh religion and culture, Delhi, nature, current affairs and Urdu poetry. His autobiography, "Truth, Love and a Little Malice", was published by Penguin Books in 2002.

Singh was a Member of Parliament from 1980 to 1986 and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974 but returned it in 1984, in protest against the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar by the Indian Army.

In 2007, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.