Sardar Saran Singh, I.A.S. (Retd.) President of Sikh Cultural Centre, Calcutta and Editor of the SIKH REVIEW, Calcutta has attained a prominent position in the realm of Sikh journalism. As the (Honorary) Editor of the only Sikh Monthly journal of long standing, he has displayed immense labour of love, ceaseless devotion and great missionary zeal for the spread of Sikhism. His insight into Gurbani and Sikh History is evident from the special issues of the Sikh Review which highlight the significance of the tenets of Sikhism and the Saga of Sikh History.
Born in Peshawar (NWFP) Sardar Saran Singh studied at the Forman Christian College, Lahore, during 1940’s, and achieved many distinctions, including Punjab University Gold Medal, in B.A. (Hons) and a First Class First in M.A. In 1948 in the first post-World War II competitive examination for Civil Services, he was selected for the prestigious Indian Administrative Service, and assigned to Bihar State, where he served in different capacities, rising to the positions of Member, Board of Revenue, Development Commissioner and the Chief Secretary.
On deputation to Govt. of India at New Delhi, Sardar Saran Singh served as the Secretary to Government of India - successively, in the Ministries of Steel, Social Welfare, and the Department of Textiles, before retiring in 1981. He was subsequently appointed Adviser to the Governor of Assam (Feb 1982 to Feb 1983) during the President's Rule in the troubled state.
Sardar Saran Singh has represented India at a number of international conferences, under the auspices of FAO / United Nations, including as Head of Delegation to the "UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Treatment of Offenders", held at Caracas (Venezuela). He was elected Chairman of the UNICEF Committee for Administration and Finance, UNICEF, for 1980-81, at UN HQ, New York.
After retirement, he settled down in Calcutta. On Capt. Bhag Singh Ji's age related illness in 1984-85, he had to step in to take up the editorship of the Sikh Review. This Labour of Love has been a boon for the journal. His commitment to the doctrinal Sikhi and exemplary devotion, with a degree of efficiency that can hardly be matched, has been an asset for the Journal. His achievements in terms of quality, content, the steady expanding circulation and popularity of the Journal could be the envy of any Periodical anywhere in the World – working on a shoe-string budget, but having moral support of a host of distinguished theologians, authors and practitioners of GUR-SIKHI across the Continents.
He is widely respected for his incisive analysis of, and forthright approach to, national and Panthic issues. Through his enlightened editorials and careful selection of material published in the Journal he has made a significant contribution towards propagation of the beneficent message of Sikhism – as a World Religion. He was invited to attend the International Congress of the World’s Religions, held at Chicago (USA) in 1993 and also in its next session at Barcelona (Spain) in 2004.
During the World Sikh Sammelan held at Amritsar in September 1995, Sardar Saran Singh played a key role in steering and obtaining consensus for the concept of the World Sikh Council, which has since been formed.
On 8th Oct 2011 he was conferred with "Shiromani Sikh Lekhak Sanmaan" by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar, the highest temporal Seat of the Sikhs: with the Citation below:
"In recognition of his services to the cause of the Panth and his outstanding to Sikh journalism, the Institute considers it a privilege to present this award to Sardar Saran Singh."
More recently, the United Kingdom – based 'World Sikh University, London' conferred on Sardar Saran Singh the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy – even as he attained the sage age of Ninety years!