In Memoriam: Dr Karnail Singh (MBChB 1974) 1939/41 – 2023
The University of Liverpool was deeply saddened to learn of the passing in July this year of alumnus Dr Karnail Singh Dhigpal (MBChB 1974).
Dr Singh, who was born “a stone’s throw away from the Golden Temple” in the Holy Sikh city of Amritsar in Punjab in 1939/41, came to the UK after witnessing the Partition of India in 1947.
By all accounts he led an extraordinary and accomplished life; he was a doctor twice-over, a pilot, a researcher and an engineer, and spent the last 20 years of his career working as a GP on the Wirral.
After arriving in the UK in 1948, the family lived in the deprived area of Ancoats in Manchester, where Dr Singh was the eldest of eleven children. Following the tragic death of his beloved mother, Bibi Harbans Kaur Ji, at a young age, he assumed the responsibility of looking after his younger siblings, whilst also studying and raising a young family.
Despite being fluent in Hindi and Punjabi, he did not speak a word of English when he came to the UK. Nevertheless, after teaching himself English he completed an apprenticeship in Engineering, secured a job as a Machine Shop Engineer in Manchester and pursued a number of technical qualifications in Engineering at Newton Heath and Openshaw Technical Colleges, Manchester before working as a Lab technician at Brunel Technical College.
Dr Singh went on to enjoy an impressive academic career during which he completed a BSc in Physiology and PhD in Neuroendocrinology at the University of London, and was awarded an MBChB from the University of Liverpool in 1974, whilst also lecturing in physiology. Away from his academic studies, as well as being a keen sports fan – he rowed whilst at university in London, and enjoyed sailing and rugby – he was also something of an adventurer. Dr Singh gained his private pilot’s license in 1976, and enjoyed flying his own Beagle Pup aeroplane at Barton airfield, near Manchester.
His family recount one particularly remarkable story from 1980, when he drove his family from England to India and back again in a self-converted Bedford van. The journey, which took them through Europe and the Middle East – travelling through what was then the war zone of the Iran-Iraq war – took them a year. It was his first time back to his beloved homeland in 30 years, “and when he crossed over the border into Punjab, he got out of the vehicle and kissed the ground.”
His daughters describe him as having “a talent for surgery and a passion for aviation”, perhaps sparked by the first Christmas present he received from Santa at school - a Meccano aeroplane kit! But, they say, racism and the immigration policies at that time prevented him from realising his dream of becoming a surgeon or his other ambition of becoming a flying doctor in Australia (for which he had gained his private pilot’s license and certificate in aviation medicine in 1983).
After spending a number of years working in hospitals across the North West whilst training to be a doctor – including Clatterbridge Hospital, St Catherine’s and Birkenhead General Hospital – he entered General Practice, setting up his own surgery on the Woodchurch Estate on the Wirral in the early 1980s, where he worked single-handed as a GP for 20 years before his retirement. Dr Singh sadly battled with a number of disabling and painful illnesses in the later part of his life, which his family say he faced with great strength and courage, comforted by his love of music.
His eldest daughter Nyrmla says that whilst he always understated his own accomplishments, Dr Singh remained immensely proud of his family, and their achievements. His youngest daughters, Amrit and Rabindra, award-winning artists The Singh Twins, spoke of their trip to Buckingham Palace in 2011 to collect their MBE’s from the Queen as being “one of the proudest days” of their father’s life. They attribute their achievements (including the fact that they became the first girls in their family to go to University) to his unwavering support and the firm belief he held in education and equality for women.
Like Dr Singh, The Singh Twins as well as his nephew and niece Pravinder and Balvinder (who grew up as part of his traditional Indian extended family household) attended and have maintained close links to the University of Liverpool; The Singh Twins were made Honorary Graduates in 2019, Pravinder graduated from the University with a Law degree in 2007, and Balvinder graduated with a degree in International Business in 2011. Pravinder has also been working with the University’s Yoko Ono Lennon Centre, following the partnership between Milap (the cultural organisation for which he is Head of Programmes and Planning) and The Tung Auditorium last year. Dr Singh was also thrilled to see his three grandchildren follow in his footsteps and excel in their chosen careers of Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Engineering.
The University would like to thank the Singh family for their generosity in sharing such beautiful and personal memories of their father, uncle and grandfather. His family have spoken warmly and movingly about him as the perfect father figure and role model who placed family and friendship above everything. They remember him as “fun-loving and quick-witted, sensitive, selfless and courteous – a true gentleman".
This extract from a poem ‘All That I Am’ and accompanying illustrated miniature painting created as a tribute to their father is reprinted with kind permission of The Singh Twins.
In marking what would have been Dr Singh’s birthday on 17 October, the University of Liverpool would also like to express our sincere condolences to the Singh family.