Sarup Singh


Dr. Sarup Singh was an Indian academic turned politician. He remained a faculty member at Kirori Mal College, Delhi, and later became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi. He was member of the Rajya Sabha from Haryana of Lok Dal party. He was later appointed Governor of Gujarat in December 1990 and held the position till 1995, and earlier he was the Governor of Kerala.

Early life and education

Born in Sanghi Village, Rohtak district in Haryana, Singh studied till Class IV in his native village and completed his matriculation from Punjab University in 1934 and Intermediate Arts from Delhi University in 1936. He also did his B.A. in English from Ramjas College, Delhi, followed by a M.A. in English in 1940.

Career

Singh started his career as a lecturer at Hindu College, University of Delhi in 1940, where he taught for over a decade, when in 1951 joined University College, London, and received his Ph.D. in English Literature in 1953. Thereafter he rejoined Hindu College. However the following year, he was appointed Vice-Principal of Kirori Mal College, Delhi and later its Principal in 1957.
In 1961, when the Department of English was established at the University of Kurukshetra, he became its first Head. Then in 1965, he became Professor and Head of the Department of English in the University of Delhi. Eventually, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University in January, 1971.
He also remained member of Union Public Service Commission, and a became a member of Rajya Sabha from Haryana.
He remained Governor of Kerala from 12 February 1990 to 20 November 1990
After his death, 'Dr Sarup Singh Chair' was created at the Kurukshetra University, Haryana, while its Department of English also organized "Dr. Sarup Singh Lectures" on his birth anniversary, while the Chair organizes seminars of Shakespeare in collaboration with Shakespeare Society of India starting 2006. The first "Dr. Sarup Singh Memorial Lecture" was held at University of Delhi in 2005.

Works