One of the last chroniclers of contemporary Sikh and Punjab history of the last century –95 year old Prof. Kirpal Singh merged with the Almighty in the early hours of the morning at his home in Chandigarh.

Prof. Kirpal Singh -a true academic and a remarkable individual and author of many authoritative books on Sikh history rose from his humble abode of Gujranwala, now Pakistan and chronicled many aspects of Sikh and Punjab history.

He was the founder of Oral History department in Punjabi University Patiala. His area of special interest is History of Punjab with special reference to Sikhs and their Religion.

I have had the privilege of interacting with him on many subjects and he was particularly interested in my work –activism and scholastic on the Sikligar Sikhs, when he appraised my dissertation at the annual seminar of the Institute of Sikh Studies some years ago.

Speaking to World Sikh News, long-time associate Dr. Himadri Banerjee, formerly head of Guru Nanak Chair of Sikh Studies, Jadhavpur University on learning of the passing away of Professor Kirpal Singh said, “This is a person loss to me. I have had the privilege of knowing him for more than four decades. It possibly began in the early 1980’s when he was serving in the History Department of the Punjabi University.”

“I must add that he was a devout Sikhs and remarkably informal in his social interactions”, said Dr. Banerjee.

Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh has expressed deep condolences at his demise and reminisced his personal association with him.

May his soul rest in peace and may his work be read over and over again and inspire more such classic historians which the Sikh community needs.

For books written by Prof. Kirpal Singh, visit www.sikhbookclub.com/