Big woman on campus!

Baldev Singh

LALA Suraj Bhan, an eminent educationist, had retired as  Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, Chandigarh, in 1974. He procured his first Master’s degree in English literature from Panjab University, Lahore, and the second from London University. He started his career as a lecturer in English at DAV College, Lahore, and after the Partition, became Principal of DAV College, Jalandhar.  

   During the late 1950s, I was studying at Panjab University College, Hoshiarpur, and I, along with some friends, would go to Jalandhar to watch the final match of Panjab University Inter-College Hockey Tournament in which, most times, DAV College, Jalandhar, would be one of the contestants. Since 2013, the college has been upgraded to a university. 

  I had the privilege of three short interactions with Lala Suraj Bhan. One, when he presided over the selection committee which interviewed me for the post of  a lecturer in biochemistry at the PU. Second, when I was a barati during the wedding of his daughter with the son of the HoD of the biochemistry department. 

Third, when on the completion of his first term as VC, he was given another term, and the faculty felicitated him. 

Speaker after speaker, praised him for his qualities of head and heart, amid much applause. 

He first thanked the faculty, and then looked towards his wife, smiled, and said: “Ladies and gentlemen, as you  all know, there is always a woman behind a successful man. I am not an exception. In my case also, there is a woman behind my success, and that woman is my wife, Mohini. She has been a pillar of strength to me. These days, she is doing some of the jobs that I would do earlier. I had to attend several functions in various women’s colleges and hostels, where she is now being invited. There are many reports that suggest she is a better speaker than I am! 

  “Her talks have benefited me in two ways: it saves a lot of my time, and earlier, every day on reaching home,  I had to listen to her lecture for more than an hour. Now since she is exhausted by evening, I am saved from the ordeal of listening to her lecture at home.

“Further, people tell me that Mrs Suraj Bhan is very gentle, soft-spoken, and kindhearted. It seems she has different external and internal policies. I have yet to enjoy the benefits of these sterling qualities!”