INDIAN RAILWAYS
TECHNICAL SUPERVISORS
ASSOCIATION
A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF Er. HARCHANDAN SINGH FOUNDER GENERAL SECRETARY, IRTSA
(Shri Harchandan Singh who retired on 30 September, 2001 after about 38 years' service on the Railways, devoted over 35 years serving IRTSA and the Trade Union Movement of Railwaymen at large. This Biographical Sketch
was presented as a tribute on the eve of his retirement)
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Childhood and family Background - Harchandan was born at Lahore (now in West Pakistan), on 19.09.1941.
His Father - then a Professor of English later on Joined Government Service after partition, and retired as a Senior Officer from Punjab Legislative Assembly. His Mother, an educated, pious and religious lady, brought up all her three children in a most upright manner inculcating in them the virtues of truth and truthful living. His Maternal Grandfather, Justice Sardar Man Singh was a highly respected personality and was a judge of the High Court of the erstwhile PEPSU. Paternal Grandfather, Sardar Labh Singh, did his Bar-at-Law in England, and later on practiced as an Advocate at the Punjab High Court. He participated in the Freedom Struggle against the British .
Nick-named Chani, he was a rebellious child and was ever ready to take up cudgels against any sort of injustice. Moreso, he always sought deeper meaning to life. He was very friendly and affectionate to all, but at the same time, would maintain a distinct aloofness. Educated at Hartcourt Butler School, Shimla and later as Government High School and Government College at Chandigarh up to Intermediate (with Science), he joined Diploma in Central Polytechnic at Chandigarh (where he was awarded distinction and Merit Scholarship. However his vocation lay elsewhere, and he left Chandigarh Polytechnic midway to join the Railways as an Apprentice mechanic at STS, Luchnow, to undergo a five year course, in January 1963.
He was indeed very lucky to have found a life - partner in (Mrs). Jagjit Kaur whom he married in
1970 - who has been a source of great inspiration and support to him throughout his career in the railways as well as Trade Union Struggle. The couple are blessed with two dutiful, affectionate and talented daughters.
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