| Raja Sir Daljit Singh | |
| Office: | Member of the Imperial Legislative Council |
| Term Start: | 1913 |
| Term End: | 1915 |
| Office2: | Member of the Council of State |
| Term Start2: | 1915 |
| Term End2: | 1917 |
| Office3: | Member of the Third Council of the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab |
| Term Start3: | 1913 |
| Term End3: | 1916 |
| Office4: | Wazir of Hari singh |
| Term Start4: | 1917 |
| Term End4: | 1921 |
| Monarch4: | Hari Singh |
| Birth Date: | 7 December 1882 |
| Birth Place: | Kapurthala |
| Nationality: | Indian |
| Alma Mater: | Aitchison College, Lahore |
| Occupation: | Scholar, Musician, Statesman |
| Residence: | Strawberry Hill, Chotta Shimla |
| Known For: | Scholarly works on Sikhism, Musician, Theosophist, Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir |
Raja Sir Daljit Singh (7 December 1882 – 6 November 1946) was a politician born in Kapurthala. He is considered as the first prime minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1917–1921)[1] before Indian independence.[2]
Singh was born in 1882 as the grandson of Maharaja Nihal Singh, who ruled the Sikh Kingdom of Kapurthala from 1836 to 1852. He received his education at Aitchison College in Lahore, where he had aristocratic classmates, including King Thibaw Min of Burma.[1]
Singh displayed a deep intellectual inclination, studying philosophy and scriptures. He authored several books in English, including works on Guru Nanak's life and teachings and Guru Tegh Bahadur's hymns.[3] He also ventured into writing in "Braj bhasha" on Shri Krishna and published his work in notable publications like "Tri Dhara" and the Krishna Ank of the Gita Press Gorakhpur. Additionally, he translated the teachings of the Bhagwad Gita into his native Gurmukhi.[1]
Apart from his scholarly pursuits, Singh was a talented musician and a skilled rudra veena player. He was a disciple of Ustad Mir Kallan and his brother, Ustad Mir Rehmat Ali, who were direct descendants of the legendary musician Tansen. Despite being aristocrats, they lived with him and practiced music rigorously. He composed intricate musical compositions (gats) that continue to be played to this day. His home in Shimla was a hub for musicians and private concerts.[1]
Although he preferred a private life, Singh was drawn into public service due to various circumstances. He served as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council, the Council of State, and the Third Council of the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab during the early 20th century. He also held the position of Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir State for a brief period.[1] His contributions extended to cultural endeavors as he played a pivotal role in fundraising for the construction of the Indian Memorial Gateway at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, United Kingdom, securing donations from various Indian Maharajas.[1] [4]