Shri Charan Singh was imprisoned in Bareilly Central Jail In 1941 during the Individual Satyagraha movement to free India from Imperial rule. Sitting with his friends in the jail courtyard under a tree, with leisure at his command, he discussed over weeks and months a set of moral rules he had put together for his children based on his own understanding of truth, knowledge and the Vedas. These gradually and surely took shape as an easy-to-read book for young parents and their children to guide them on living a  life in line with Indian civilizational ethics.  

Due to his busy public life after release from jail, the manuscript remained unfinished for many years. The famous writer Shri Bhagwati Charan Verma read and appreciated the manuscript and, on his advice, Shistachar was published in January 1954.

The then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Govind Ballabh Pant writes in the preface to Shishtachar:

"Good conduct has a very intimate relationship with courtesy. Good conduct is, in fact, at the very root of courtesy. Without good conduct, man's life is baseless and without courtesy, even a virtuous man is deprived of the sweetness of life. In our country, affection and goodwill have always been visible in our social interactions. A rule that has been widely prevalent in our society is to take special care of the feelings of others and, as far as possible, not say anything that hurts others.

Truth is considered the basis of morality, though it is not considered appropriate to express this truth in unpleasant words. As a result of our slavery, disorder came about in our speech because of which our manners too have become blurred. All the sects and classes of our country have traditionally followed good manners and etiquette. The dignity that had been lowered during foreign rule should now be corrected such that our social life once again becomes full of sweet meaning. The usefulness of good manners for happiness and peace of life is no less than that of morality. With the thought that personal and social life can become healthy and beautiful through manners and discipline, my colleague and friend Shri Charan Singh ji has written this book. I hope that this will benefit our society, and especially the youth will take full advantage of it.”