Singh began his public life by focusing on educational and social reform. In 1906, he attended a session of the
Indian National Congress, after which he became involved in the
Indian independence movement.
Prem Mahavidyalaya In 1909, Singh established India's first polytechnic college, Prem Mahavidyalaya in
Vrindavan, with the dual vision of promoting education and nurturing nationalist thought. During the inauguration of Prem Mahavidyalaya, Madan Mohan Malaviya was also present. Over time, it evolved into an intellectual centre for revolutionary ideas and a meeting place for freedom fighters and
Congress leaders. Prominent figures such as
Subhas Chandra Bose,
Rabindranath Tagore,
Sarojini Naidu,
C. F. Andrews, and
Jawaharlal Nehru visited the college, leaving their remarks in its visitor book.
Mahatma Gandhi spent a day there on 19 April 1915, recording his admiration for Singh's dedication to the national cause. Singh was influenced by the ideas of
Dadabhai Naoroji,
Bal Gangadhar Tilak,
Maharaja of Baroda, and
Bipin Chandra Pal, and actively supported the
Swadeshi movement and opposed
untouchability. In 1914, Singh left Prem Mahavidyalaya to seek international backing for India's independence, publishing the periodical
Nirbal Sevak from
Dehradun and travelling through
Germany,
Bulgaria,
Hungary,
Turkey,
Afghanistan,
Russia, and
Japan to advocate for the Indian independence movement before returning to India in 1946. The government operated from Afghanistan and sought diplomatic and military support, though it did not gain official recognition from the Afghan ruler. This initiative is considered one of the earliest attempts by Indians to assert
sovereignty outside the subcontinent. Following the Kabul mission, Singh spent several decades abroad, engaging in diplomatic and activist work across Europe and Asia. He met various leaders, including Kaiser
Wilhelm II in Germany and
Bolshevik leaders in Russia. Singh's efforts in establishing the provisional government of India in Kabul (1915) received recognition from various leaders in the Indian independence movement.
Mahatma Gandhi acknowledged Singh's contributions in a series of letters exchanged between them. Gandhi stated that Singh held a "special place" in his regard from 1915 and noted that he had been aware of the Hindu Jat leader since his time in
South Africa. In his correspondence, Gandhi described Singh's dedication and patriotism as commendable.
Nomination for Nobel peace prize In 1929, Singh founded the World Federation, a platform promoting international cooperation, peace, and anti-imperial advocacy. In 1929, Singh donated 3.05 acres of land to
Aligarh Muslim University for its expansion and development. In 1932, he was nominated for the
Nobel Peace Prize by Swedish activist N. A. Nilsson for his contributions to international dialogue and anti-colonial activism. During
World War II, in 1940, Singh established the executive board of India in Tokyo, Japan. The organisation aimed to unite Indian nationalists abroad and coordinate efforts to secure support from the Axis powers for India's independence. On 22 November 1957, Singh moved a bill in
Lok Sabha to recognise the service of people like,
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar,
Barindra Kumar Ghosh, and
Bhupendranath Datta. The bill was defeated, with 48 votes favouring it, and 75 against it. He, along with other members walked out of the
Lok Sabha saying "I hope every Bengali and every
Maratha will also walk out". == Electoral history ==