sikhpride

Dr. Santokh Singh, a well known name in Sikh circles, was born on 21st July 1923 in Rawalpindi (Pakistan). He completed his Medical education with M.S. (Ophthalmology) from Medical College, Lahore (1944-1947) and after partition from Medical College, Bombay (1947-1953). He served as lecturer in Department of Ophthalmology in Medical College, Gwalior from 1954- 1958 and then as Professor, Head of Department and Dean in Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. He was Director of Medical Education and special Secretary (health) Govt. of Madhya Pradesh at the time of his retirement in 1984. He had commonwealth fellowship at London during 1967-68 and was the visiting Professor in International School of Ophthalmology, London. Apart from his services in the medical field he will always remain a role-model being one of the founders of All India Sikh Students Federation (along with S. Sarup Singh, S. Amar Singh Ambalwi and others). He also founded the branches of this organization at Mumbai (1947), Gwalior (1954), Bhopal (1959) and also in London in 1967. He remained a guide of the federation at different places. He was the main person behind the first Gurmat training camp of All India Sikh Students Federation in Paonta Sahib in 1949. Since then a large numbers of Gurmat training camps in various cities of Madhya Pradesh were organized under his stewardship. Madhya Pradesh Sri Guru Singh Sabha (now MP and Chhatisgarh) was formed in 1973 and he has been its patron right from 1973 till date. This sabha has also organized various Gurmat Sikhya camps, seminars on different topics and started charitable programmes for the community, particularly for the Sikligar Sikhs at Bhopal. Dr. Sahib worked as Chairman, Guru Nanak Public School, Bhopal in 1991-2000 and guide and patron of Guru Nanak Charitable Centre, Gurudwara TT Nagar, Bhopal (with S. Baldev Singh, IAS retired as Chairman). His greatest contribution is his active role in acquiring of land at Fort Gwalior for building of historical Gurudwara Data Bandi Chhod. Dr. Sahib, possessing the qualities of a Gursikh like humility, humanity and credit sharing with others, admits that many other persons and organizations were helpful in all the services attributed to him. Although he himself has always been a great source of inspiration, he praises his colleagues like S. Baldev Singh (IAS) (he was collector Gwalior at that time) S. Inderjeet Singh, a well known banker and S. Darshan Singh IG (prisons) MP, without whose valuable cooperation, this great deed of acquiring land for historical Gurdwara was not possible.