Eminent educationist passes away

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 11

The demise of Dr RK Batra, former Associate Professor of English at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is a great loss to the teaching fraternity, besides his family and friends.

Batra, an acclaimed teacher, served as the president of the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers’ Association for several years. He was a strong leader and earned the respect of his colleagues and the university authorities.

“RK Batra has left a void which cannot be filled. Even after his retirement, he continued to help the association with his seasoned guidance,” said Dr NS Sewak, former Prof and Head, Department of Journalism Languages and Culture, PAU.

Batra was a great scholar. His doctoral work on Tenesse Williams, an American playwright under the supervision of Dr CL Ahuja and Dr SN Sewak at Punjab University, Chandigarh, was an outstanding piece of literary research.

Dr Sewak, perhaps his closest friend and colleague, is bewildered at his loss. His other colleagues — Dr JS Bains, Manohar Lal, Narinderpal Singh, Ramesh Bala, Manjit Singh Mehram, and Prithpal Singh — are heartbroken.