A life committed to upliftment

IN CONTEMPORARY society, there are many trailblazers that have quietly chosen the challenge of charting new courses for the upliftment of the lesser endowed. In education the plight of special needs pupils was largely ignored and indeed othered.

- NIRODE BRAMDAW

PB SINGH at the University of Manchester in 1963.

(Supplied)

Speaking at the opening of the iconic Sastri College, India’s first agent general to South Africa, Sir Srinivasa Sastri, said: “What the Indian learner lacks in facilities, he more than makes up for in faculties.”

This famous anecdote was stated at a time when the community rallied together to erect their own schools as the state had no interest in providing education for its black population.

Moreover, special needs pupils were completely blindsided and it was the vision of Prithipal Bhoop Singh to bring it into focus.

Singh passed away at the age of 86 on October 23 this year.

“PB Singh”, as he was most often called, is a pioneer in the provision of special education and services for people with disabilities, and whose yeoman efforts in the arena have improved the lives of thousands of South Africans.

Singh’s involvement with pupils with special education needs began in 1962 shortly after completing his teaching degrees (BA, B.Ed and U.E.D) at the University of Natal.

He was encouraged by a benevolent mentor and professor to read for a certificate in remedial education at the University of Natal.

Having passed with distinction, he then volunteered his services at the Merrick Bennet Clinic, which was situated at the Medical School in Umbilo.

It was here that his interest in the education and care of pupils with special education needs was sparked.

He soon realised that there were thousands of children who had learning difficulties; the visually and hearing impaired, and the physically and intellectually disabled were denied education.

In subsequent years, Singh worked tirelessly at the community level with other like-minded colleagues and parents to establish education and rehabilitation services for such children and adults as none existed at that time for the Indian community.