A multifaceted person with interests ranging from diplomacy to writing, Lt. Gen. (Retd) S.K. Sinha has served the Army with distinction holding several important assignments including Director Military Intelligence and Vice Chief of Army Staff. A prolific writer, he has authored five books and contributed more than 300 articles on various issues in several national newspapers. His works include his autobiography,"A Soldier Recalls" and a book on J&K Operation of 1947-48. During his diplomatic stint as Ambassador to Nepal, he contributed a lot to improve Indo-Nepal relations.

Born in 1926, Gen. Sinha graduated with honours from Patna University at a young age of 17. Soon after, he joined the Army and passed out as the Best Cadet from Officers Training College, Belgaum, the war time equivalent of Sword of Honour. He participated in combat operations in Burma and Indonesia during the Second World War and, after Independence, in Kashmir. During his two tenures in Nagaland and Manipur, he took part in counter insurgency operations.

General Sinha scored the top position at the Defence Services Staff College in 1953 and at the Joint Services Staff College, U.K in 1962. Holding all levels of active command in the Army, he commanded a battalion in Ladakh, a brigade in Manipur, a mountain division in Assam, an infantry division in Jammu, a corps in Punjab and a Field Army in the Western Theatre. The key staff and instructional positions held by him include Director Military Intelligence, Adjutant General and Vice Chief of Army Staff at Army Headquarters. He also served as instructor at Mhow and Staff College, Wellington.

In 1949, he was appointed Secretary of the India delegation on delineation of the Ceasefire Line in Kashmir at a meeting convened by the United Nations. He led the India delegation to Italy in 1972 for Conference on Application of Human Rights during warfare. Awarded the Param Vishisht Sewa Medal in 1973, he was made Honorary ADC to the President of India as also President of the Gorkha Brigade. Noted south Asian expert, Stephen Cohen has described him as one of India's outstanding Generals after Independence.

In 1990, General Sinha was appointed India's Ambassador to Nepal and during his tenure, Indo-Nepal relations, hit in the wake of trade and transit impasse, reached a high level of cordiality. The Prime Ministers of India and Nepal appreciated his contribution toward this end.

General Sinha was appointed Governor of Assam in 1997 when insurgency in the state was at its peak. During his tenure, improvement was visible in the situation and the state is now emerging from the tunnel of violence. He took over as 11th Governor of J&K on June 4,2003.