Educationist,former V-C Prof Amrik Singh dead

The 89-year-old academician is survived by his wife Harsharan Kaur,son Pradeep Singh,an IAS officer,and daughter Rachna,an artist.

In his illustrious career spanning six decades,the renowned academician served as the vice-chancellor of Punjabi University in Patiala,held the position of the secretary general of Association of Indian Universities for over 17 years and had been a member of the National Integration Council.

Though he officially retired in 1982,Amrik Singh wrote extensively and served on many academic committees. He was also the officiating president of the National Institute of Panjab Studies,Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan,New Delhi.

Amrik Singhs interest in higher education was evident in his writing. In 1962 he brought out the Journal of University Education,which ran for five years. Soon after,he was selected as Secretary of the Association of Indian Universities. In between,the professor also visited the University of Wisconsin on an assignment,founded the South Campus of Delhi University and became the Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University,Patiala. His experience at Patiala was penned in his work entitled Asking for Trouble: What it Means to be a Vice-Chancellor Today.

Calling Prof Amrik Singhs demise a great personal loss to him,the Prime Minister said in his condolence message to his wife: Prof Amrik Singh was a scholar who had a deep understanding of our culture and values. He was one of our most distinguished educationists. He was a teacher for more than twenty-five years and later became the vice-chancellor of Punjabi University,Patiala. He was the president of the International Congress of University Adult Education for 10 years. He wrote extensively on higher education and published about a dozen books. His achievements are indeed remarkable.