‘Nikki’s dad was only one in batch who wore trousers’

“During those days,the College of Agriculture used to be in Amritsar. It was just after partition and we were all kind of rustic students who came from villages. Randhawa was the son of an Army Captain and he was a fashionable boy,” added Dr Johl. Speaking to Newsline just before departing for a trip to the USA,Johl said,“I have been invited to deliver a lecture in the US and would be meeting Dr Randhawa,Dr Madho Singh,Dr Gian Singh and other batch mates who are now settled in the US.”

Johl and Randhawa shared a room at Gandhi Hostel,which Dr Johl said was located at Putli Ghar Amritsar. The present College of Agriculture,Punjab Agricultural University,was a part of Punjab Agricultural College and Research Institute,Layallpur,now called Faislabad,Pakistan. Recalling his days with Randhawa,Johl remarked,“We passed out in 1952 after which he shifted to foreign shores. He was an intelligent boy,very good natured but while many of us continued to study together for our Masters and Doctorates. In those days we all used to be very close to each other for we were just about 30-40 boys in one class.”