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Jaswant Singh Neki:
Eminent Punjabi Poet, Sikh Theologian, Psychiatrist
NEWS REPORT
JASWANT SINGH NEKI
1925 - 2015
Dr Jaswant Singh Neki, an eminent Punjabi poet, Sikh Theologian, Psychiatrist and former Director of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research ("PGI"), Chandigarh, Punjab, passed away in New Delhi on Friday afternoon, September 11, 2015. He was 90.
Besides his contribution to medical science, Dr Neki was a Sikh scholar and an eminent Punjabi poet known for metaphysical poetry. He had more than 20 books of prose and poetry to his credit.
He remained director of the PGI from 1978 to 1981 and is remembered for giving autonomy to the super-specialty departments.
After doing his MA in Psychology from Aligarh Muslim University, he qualified as a psychiatrist and became Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (“AIIMS“), New Delhi. Then he was appointed Director of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Punjab, where he spent three years (1978–1981).
From there, he was picked up by the World Health Organisation, Geneva, as a consultant for a project in Africa where he served for over four years (1981–1985).
Eminent psychiatrist and former head of psychiatry at Delhi's AIIMS and the PGI Dr NN Wig recalls him as one of the finest psychiatrists the country has produced. He said he was one of those who laid the foundation of this discipline in India.
His long-time associate and General Secretary of Delhi's Punjab Sahitya Sabha, Gulzar Singh Sandhu, said that in the Punjabi literary world he would always be remembered for his metaphysical poetry, especially for his 'Asle to Ohle Tak' (Illusion and Reality, 1955) and autobiographical, 'Koi Naon Na Jaane Mera' (2000).
He was also awarded the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for his book Karuna di Chhoh toN MagroN (The Compassionate Touch) in 1979.
"He was a fine poet and a man of intellectual integrity," said London-based Punjabi poet Amarjit Singh Chandan.
Jaswant Singh always had a keen interest in religion. During his student life, he was close to Master Tara Singh and became president of the All India Sikh Students Federation. He was during this period an ardent supporter of a ‘Sikh Homeland’.
He was born at Murid village in Jhelum, Punjab (now in Pakistan) and later lived in Quetta in Baluchistan (also in the present-day Pakistan.) His early studies were at King Edward Medical College, Lahore, and Government Medical College, Amritsar, where he also worked later. He also worked at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, for a brief time.
September 14, 2015
Conversation about this article
1: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), September 14, 2015, 8:13 AM.
All who come must go one day. I had the pleasure of knowing Dr Jaswant Singh ji when he visited Malaysia a couple of times. He had a good sense of humour. I remember him telling how 'Neki' got attached to his name. As a young student he raised his hand and asked Master ji what was 'Neki' and that got stuck to his name. A great loss indeed. He was also actively attached to the illustrious institution, Bhai Vir Singh Sadan.
2: Bhai Harbans Lal (Dallas, Texas, USA), September 14, 2015, 12:24 PM.
It was devastating to hear about the loss of Dr. Jaswant Singh Neki, our unfaltering colleague and our rich intellectual resource on Sikh thought. It has been a privilege for me and the family of the All India Sikh Students’ Federation to work with Dr Jaswant Singh ji and avail his wisdom for over half a century. All of us benefited from his leadership. I met him first in 1946 in Amritsar when I was a delegate to AISSF’s annual general body meeting. Since then I learnt so much from him in almost every aspect of public service and community leadership, including apprenticeship in being a press reporter and a journalist. It is not well remembered that one time he even served as the Editor of 'Daily Parbhat', an Urdu paper that Master Tara Singh had just taken over. Jaswant Singh ji was on full time staff at the hospital and I was a full time student. Still, we worked nights writing editorials and other material so that the morning edition came out on time and with news and views that represented the Sikh view and attracted the nation’s attention. Through this paper, we in the AISSF leadership were a mouthpiece of panthic leadership, not counting input to other press outlets. There are many more examples of his contributions. His loss will be felt by all of us for a long time to come. I hope that time will soften the sudden sadness, and leave you and us with many cherished memories of the times we spent together. Even in his absence, we will continue to benefit from his extensive writings and numerous public presentations. I hope that some of us may get together in near future and share our memories and his contributions toward Chardi-Kalaa of our Nation.
3: Amritjit Singh (Athens, Ohio, USA), September 14, 2015, 8:58 PM.
I am heartbroken to know about Dr. Jaswant Singh Neki's passing. He was a rare combination of learning, creativity, administrative skills, humility and gentleness. My Dad (late Professor Kesar Singh Uberoi) and my eldest brother (late Dr. Atamjit Singh) respected him deeply. I met him twice in Ohio and three times at Bhai Vir Singh Sadan in Delhi last year - where he was the unassuming guiding spirit behind the institution's many activities. I had hoped to have a couple of extended sessions with him regarding issues I was exploring in my current book project. That did not happen - my loss! My extended family and I send his children and grandchildren our most heartfelt condolences. [Amritjit Singh, Langston Hughes Professor of English, Ohio University]
4: Roop Dhillon (London, United Kingdom), September 15, 2015, 11:40 AM.
So sad.