Career
He was the editor of Nawan Zamana for more than half a century. He is known for his plain speaking on the opportunism of the Akalis,, the Congress, and the terrorists during the Punjab Crisis in the last two decades of the twentieth century. Anand countered death threats defiantly: "I will not be cowed down by death threats and attempts on my life by the extremists and I will uphold the freedom of the press at all costs."
Later he joined Forman Christian College, Lahore, where he cut his political teeth and was the General Secretary of Lahore Students" Union from 1938 to 1941.
During these years he joined the Communist Party and rose to its highest ranks in the post independence years.
Here he also came in contact with Navtej Singh, then a young son of established Punjabi writer Gurbakhsh Singh Preet Lari, and later an important Punjabi short story writer on his own. Together they translated Wanda Vasiliuska"s novel "Rainbow" into Punjabi, whose Punjabi version known as "Satrangi Peengh" has never been out of print for almost 70 years now and is considered a landmark translation.
Jagjit Singh Anand strode the twin political and literary careers throughout his life. A journalist by profession he was a prolific writer and translator and has more than 30 publications to his cartulary-register
In 1974, he was elected to the Upper House of Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha, to represent the state of Punjab.
He also served as a President of Northern Railways Worker"s Union and the North India University Employees" Federation. He was also the Working President of All India University and College Employees" Federation. He remained the Chief Editor of Daily Nawan Zamana from 1963 until his death in June 2015.