1937 - 2025
OBITUARY
Dr. Singh passed away peacefully on Saturday February 01, 2025 after a short struggle with cancer and after living a full life of 87 years. He was a beloved husband to Ved, his wife of 52 years; beloved father to his children Neena and Anil; doting grandfather to his grandchildren Sahil, Aiesha, Divya, and Maya; and a giving friend to all those who knew him.
Dr. Singh was born in the small village of Jhanda Khurd, Punjab in 1937. His father, Shri Roop Ram, a soldier in the Free India Army, moved the family to Hisar after India declared independence in 1947. Although Dr. Singh's dad never benefited from his patriotic service, his dad ensured that all his four children were properly educated.
Dr. Singh attended the Jat High School in Hisar where he was renowned for his skills as a playwright, actor, and director in the Bhagat Singh Theater Production Company. In 1953, he joined the National Cadet Corps as a cadet in the 154th Punjab Troop. He continued his service in the NCC at Dayanand College, Punjab University in the 4th Punjab Infantry. He was also very active as a community organizer and held the post of General Secretary of the Youth Wing of the Co-operative Societies of Punjab and Rajasthan. As a student, Dr. Singh excelled in his studies and represented Punjab University in the All India Hindi Debate in 1956 and also at the All India Declaration Contest in 1957. He graduated 3rd in his University where he was a member of the Cricket team, Editor of the College Magazine, and winner of the Best Orator three years in a row. Dr. Singh received his Masters in Arts in History in 1959, ranking 2nd in his Department. For his thesis, he wrote a seminal piece on the impact of Bindusara Maurya on the Mauryan Empire. Dr. Singh subsequently worked as a History Professor at Upkar University in Rohtak from 1959 to 1964 where he started to research and teach on African History.
In 1964, Dr. Singh was one of 22 Indians recruited by the Ministry of Education and Fine Arts of the Imperial Ethiopian Government to help professionalize the Ethiopian K-12 Education system. Some of his notable achievements during his tenure include being recognized by the Emperor's staff for his work on the Administration of National Exams in 1968 and 1969; being recognized by the Minister of Education for starting a National Debate Competition in 1970 and for his work on the National School Library Catalog Project; and being recognized by the Minister of Health for his work organizing students to support the National Anti-Cholera Campaign of 1971.
During this time, Dr. Singh was also accepted into various PhD programs such as the renowned History Department at the University of Chicago but ultimately chose to complete his PhD at Cambridge University in England. Dr. Singh married Mrs. Ved Vati in 1972 and they spend the next few years supporting education initiatives across Africa including Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
In 1978, Dr. Singh was invited to Zambia by the Zambian Minister of Education after a chance meeting at a Regional Conference organized by the Zambian Historical Association. The Zambian Teaching Service Commission formally invited Dr. Singh to Zambia in 1979 where he spent the net few years establishing K-12 school systems in remote provincial towns. Dr. Singh was personally recognized, by name, by then President Kaunda for his selfless dedication to his profession. Dr. Singh immigrated to New York in 1986 where he taught a course on African History at Brooklyn College from 1986 to 1989. Dr. Singh was hired by the NYC Board of Education in 1989, eventually rising to the rank of Education Evaluator before his retirement in 2009 after 20 years of extremely meritorious service.
In retirement, Dr. Singh pursued his passions of poetry, writing, activism, and service to the community. He wrote two books - one on education in Central Africa and another on Educational Challenges of the Indian Community. Dr. Singh was frequently invited to events at the Indian Consulate in New York due to his status as one of the pre-eminent members of the Indian American diaspora in New York. In 2017, Dr. Singh was nominated and then unanimously selected by the Executive Board of the United Federation of Teachers to receive the Pearl Berger Award for Lifetime Contributions to improving Education.
Most importantly, and despite a lifetime of success, Dr. Singh always preferred to be remembered as kind, pleasant, and warm hearted elder statesman whose contributions to his community would help improve the lives of future generations through education. Dr. Singh leaves behind his heartbroken wife of 52 years, two children, four grandchildren. many friends, and a legacy within the Indian Community in North America.
FUNERAL SERVICE
Wednesday, February 5
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
New Hyde Park Funeral Home
506 Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park, NY
CREMATION SERVICE
Wednesday, February 5
2:00 PM
Long Island Cremation Company
91 Eads Street, West Babylon, NY