Dr Sukhdev Singh, 89, former vice-chancellor of PAU, passed away here today after a prolonged illness.

According to his daughter Parminder Kaur, who is assistant director (museum) at the Centre for Communication and International Linkages, PAU, the cremation will be held at 11a.m at the cremation ground behind Arya College.

While mourning the sad demise of Dr Singh, PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang described him as a renowned sugarcane scientist, an able administrator and an excellent human being. He conveyed his heart-felt condolences to the bereaved family. A condolence meeting will also be held at PAU tomorrow.

Dr Sukhdev Singh was born in year 1919 in Dumna village near Ropar. He did his Bachelors in Agriculture from College of Agriculture, Layalpur before completing his masters too from the same college.

After serving at the Department of Agriculture for some time, Dr Sukhdev Singh joined PAU from where he was sent to Lousiana University, USA, for pursuing a doctorate degree. After his return, Dr Singh is credited with developing various varieties of sugarcane. Dr Singh was appointed as director by Dr M.S. Randhawa in the early 70s when the latter was the vice-chancellor of the university.

Dr Singh took over as PAU VC in 1976, a post which he had to leave after mere 24 days following the declaration of Emergency. Dr Singh was then sent as V-C to Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Jabalpur. Dr Singh has also served as deputy director, Crops, in the UCAR and was appointed as VC, PAU, in 1981. He remained in this post till 1989.