Born in India, where his father was viceroy, Lytton is the grandson of the famous novelist. He succeeded his father as 2nd Earl at the age of fifteen in 1891. He was educated at Eton and at Trinity College, Cambridge, gaining a second in history. He was appointed to his first government post in 1901 (he is a Conservative), and holds a variety of posts in public bodies, largely concerned with the arts. He is an advocate of women's suffrage. In 1916, he joined the Admiralty, serving as civil lord until 1917, then as additional parliamentary secretary from 1917 to 1918. From 1918 to 1919, he served as commissioner for propaganda in France, and then returned to the Admiralty as civil lord, being sworn of the Privy Council and serving until 1920.In 1920, Lytton moves to the India Office as parliamentary under-secretary. In 1922, he is sent to India as governor of Bengal, remaining in the post until 1927 and acting as viceroy during Lord Reading's absence from 10 April to 9 August 1925. He is sympathetic to the Indian people, and wins their respect and affection, acquiring many Indian friends of all castes and classes. In 1927 and 1928 he is asked to lead the Indian delegation to the eighth and ninth Assemblies of the League of Nations.
Rabindranath wrote letters to each of Nagendranath, Kalidas Nag, Prasanta Chandra Mahalanabison that he would be going to Calcutta on 4th January, 1926.But he didnot write the reason for which he was coming to Calcutta.
On 31st Dec 1925, he received a long letter from Lord Lytton about the note given by him when Lord Lytton came to Shantiniketan. He wrote to Rabindranath expressing his inability of granting Viswabharati as a University which Rabindranath request him to grant Viswabharati a charter as a University enabling it to confer its own degrees." He wrote in his letter;
" I am not satisfied that your institution at Shantiniketan has yet reached the high standard which is necessarily required before a University charter can be granted."
Rabindranath prepared the answer of the letter written by Lytton in consultation with many important persons of Shantiniketan on 4th Jan, 1926. Lytton replied to the letter of Rabindranath on 16th Jan .
