Dr. Amrik Singh (1921-2010):
Man of Letters
Eminent academician, literateur, educationist, and former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University (Patiala, Punjab), Dr. Amrik Singh passed away at The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, on Tuesday, March 23, 2010, following a brief illness. He was 89.
A Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin, U.S.A., and among the founders of the Delhi University South Campus, Dr. Amrik Singh is survived by his wife, Harsharan Kaur; daughter, Rachna Kaur, an artist; and son, Pardeep Singh, an IAS officer.
He brought out the Journal of University Education in 1962, which ran for five years. Soon after, he was named Secretary of The Association of Indian Universities, a post he held for 17 years. In between, he also did a visiting assignment at the University of Wisconsin, founded the South Campus. A teacher for more than 25 years, he became Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala.
He also served as President of the International Congress of University Adult Education for 10 years. He was the President of the National Institute of Punjab Studies, Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, New Delhi.
Dr. Amrik Singh put down his experiences at Patiala in a book, "Asking for Trouble: What it Means to be a Vice-Chancellor Today". Another book, "Fifty Years of Higher Education in India: The Role of The University Grants Commission", caught the attention of academicians nation wide.
"Anita da Faisla", written just five years ago, established Dr. Amrik Singh as a Punjabi playwright too. "He was in the process of writing another play," said Dr. Jaswinder Singh of Punjabi University, who remembered Dr. Amrik Singh as a "man committed to education".
He was the author of several other books and essays, both in English and Punjabi, on Education, Literature, Language, the post-1984 Punjab Tragedy, and the Sub-continental political scene. In addition to those listed above, some of the others are:
- Remaking Higher Education: Essays in Dissent
- The Challenge of Education
- The Hindu-Muslim Divide: A Fresh Look - Sikh Shrines in Delhi
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday condoled the death of the noted academician, saying that he was 'one of our most distinguished educationists'.
In his condolence message to the professor's wife, Sardarni Harsharan Kaur, the Prime Minister said: 'I am deeply grieved to learn of the passing away of your husband.'
'Your husband's sad demise is a great personal loss for me. He was one of my most dear friends, and one for whom I had the highest regard and affection,' he added.
Dr. Amrik Singh was also the eldest brother of Sardar Manjit Singh of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, who, in retirement from an executive position with Air Canada, joined McGill University as its first Sikh chaplain, and seven years later, became the McGill University Chaplaincy Services' first non-Christian Director.
Prof.Pritam Singh's Death Shocks The Literary World
Los Angeles, Oct.26,2008 Gary Singh
Prof. Pritam Singh, an eminent scholar, a teacher of teachers, writer and author of over sixty books died of cardiac arrest on Saturday, October 25, 2008 at his residence in Patiala. His daughter Dr. Rupinder Kaur of Ludhiana and his physician son-in-law Dr. Gurpal Singh, his next door neighbor, were at his bedside while he breathed his last. His son, Dr. Jai Rup Singh, Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University and other family members also reached soonsoon after hearing his sudden demise.
Pritam Singh started his teaching career as lecturer in Punjabi at Doaba College Jullunder in 1941 on obtaining two M.A. degrees in English and Persian. He joined Sikh National College Lahore as the Head of Persian and Punjabi Department. After partition of Punjab, he started working with Punjab University, Simla. In 1950, he joined Mahendra College Patiala as Head of the Post-Graduate Department of Punjabi. He served as principal of some Government Colleges including Government College, Ludhiana, Faridkot, etc. From 1972 to 1980, he served as the founder-chairman and head of the Centre for Guru Nanak Studies at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. He was the most revered Professor of Punjabi.
Prof Pritam Singh, was a well-known and highly respected figure in literary circles, a scholar of great repute, a well-known author and editor of reputed journals in both English and Punjabi. He had served the cause of Punjab and Punjabi by collecting and preserving old manuscripts of Punjabi and has left a rich personal library with rare manuscripts. He had done in-depth research on Guru Granth Sahib and also had done commendable work in children literature. He was a linguist, a successful translator and author of over 60 books.
Prof Pritam Singh had been a towering figure and was known as “Bhisham Pitama” of Punjabi language. He received numerous honors and awards including Shiromani Sahitya Award, Fellowship by Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, World Punjabi Writers Conference, Government of India, Emritus Fellowship, Bhai Vir Singh International Award and by the President of India. In January 2008, Panjab University conferred honorary D.Litt degree on him. In 2005, Doordarshan, Jalandhar honored him with the "Panj Pani Award" which is given to eminent personalities in the field of literature, arts, music and agriculture. In 2003, Provost and Vice-President of San Jose State University, San Jose (California), Dr Marshal R. Goodman honored Prof. Singh for his outstanding and sustained contribution to Punjabi and Sikh Studies in India and abroad. In April 2001, Prof. Pritam Singh received Punjabi Sahit Akademi’s prime award for high literary merit and creative qualities.
Prof. Pritam Singh taught M.A. students for about forty years, had been guide for Ph.D students and had numerous students, admirers and scholar friends both in India and overseas. He had many times visited United States, Canada and some other countries to speak at conferences and seminars at the invitation of universities and institutions.
