Tribute: M.M. Puri - A Gentleman in the True Sense of Word

by Prof. Ranbir Singh *

During my stay at the Department of Political Science, Punjab University, Chandigarh from 1962 to 1964 as a student of M.A. Course, I had the good fortune of having outstanding scholars like Dr. I.D. Sharma, Dr. M.M. Puri, Prof. J.C. Anand, Dr. C.F. George and Dr. K.C. Markaran. All of them were good teachers as well as good researchers. However, Dr. M.M. Puri was a Teacher with a difference. He was a gentleman in the true sense of the word. He was not only the most well dressed person among them but also the most well mannered person in the teaching faculty of the Department. Dr. Puri would address every student very respectfully. He would address me as ’Chaudhary Sahab’. Gurbachan Singh Maan was addressed as Maan Sahib and Jagdish Kaur as Bibi Jagdish Kaur. Dr. Puri would seek our permission before smocking. As the Head of the Department he recruited the best teachers from all part of India and made it the best Department of Political Science in North-Western India. Later on he as the Vice Chancellor, made Punjab University as the best Institution in region. But above all, he remained a gentleman for excellence. His death on 10 October, 2022 is a great loss for the academia.

(Author: Prof Ranbir Singh is Senior Fellow, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi)