Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will honour eminent writer Khushwant Singh with the Punjab Rattan in New Delhi on August 31.

Amarinder will present a silver memento to Khushwant.

'The government of Punjab has instituted the Punjab Rattan Award to felicitate personalities whose eminence in the field of art, literature, culture, transcends national boundaries and frontiers. S Khushwant Singh, who has become a legend and icon in his lifetime, is the sub-continent's most prolific writer, historian, critic and columnist,' a press note issued by the Punjab government said.

The 91-year-old Khushwant is credited with making the Illustrated Weekly of India one of the most prestigious magazines during his tenure as its editor with the choice of its contents and his own spicy write ups. He later became the editor of the Hindustan Times.

His book Train to Pakistan that dealt with Partition made him a household name.

He has written scores of books including one on Delhi and Sikh history.

He also wrote Fall of the Sikh Kingdom.

Khushwant was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974 for his contribution to Indian journalism and the field of literature.