Daljit Singh (ophthalmologist)

Daljit Singh
Born (1934-10-11)11 October 1934
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Died 27 December 2017(2017-12-27) (aged 83)[1]
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Occupation Ophthalmologist
Years active 1957–2017
Known for First to introduce intraocular lens in India, in 1976
Spouse(s) Swaran Kaur (?–2007; her death)
Children 2
Awards Padma Shri
Dr. B. C. Roy Award

Daljit Singh (11 October 1934 – 27 December 2017) was an Indian ophthalmologist.[1] He was an honorary surgeon to Giani Zail Singh, President of India.[2][3]

Early life and education

Daljit Singh was born on 11 October 1934 to Sahib Singh, a Sikh academic of Sikh literature. Daljit was enrolled at Khalsa School. After encouragement from a family member who was a doctor, he began studying to become one as well.[2][3] He was pre-medical at Khalsa College, then graduated in medicine with MBBS from the Government Medical College, Amritsar in 1956.[4] After receiving his Bachelor's of medicine and surgery, he performed a "house job" in ophthalmology and earned an ophthalmic diploma (DOMS). After working for a couple years, he earned a master's degree (MS) in ophthalmology in 1963.

Career

For more than two years, Dr. Singh worked as a general practitioner in the rural hinterland and also performed eye surgery.[3] After obtaining his master's degree, Singh returned in May 1964 to Amritsar as a senior lecturer in ophthalmology. He later transferred to Medical College, Patiala, for five years.[4]

Singh served as a member of faculty of the Government Medical Colleges in Amritsar and Patiala for 23 years and became an Emeritus professor of the institutions.[4]

His accomplishments included pioneering work in lens implants beginning in 1976[3] and the Fugo technique[2][3] "plasma scalpel" for glaucoma and cataract surgeries.[1] His innovations and contributions were Trans-ciliary Filtration (invented in 2001) and the Pre-Tenon Tangential Micro Track Filtration.[2][3] Another significant contribution involved Singh’s discovery of lymphatics in the eye.[2][3] Chaudahary Devi Lal and Giani Zail Singh were patients of his.[1]

Other endeavors

Singh was Aam Aadmi Party's unsuccessful candidate from Amritsar for Lok Sabha elections held in 2014.[1][5] He later joined the Congress after a rift with AAP.[1]

He was also a poet. An author who penned over a dozen books on ophthalmology, Dr Singh wrote two poetry and three anthologies of essays: “Sach di Bhal Vich” (In search of truth), “Dooja Passa”(The other side) and “Badi di Jarh” (The root of evil) to educate rural masses about national and international issues. Dr Singh also wrote a book titled ‘Naroi Akh’ (Healthy Eye) in Punjabi decades ago. His three poetry books —‘Dharti Tirhai’, ‘Sidhre Bol’ and ‘Babre Bol’ have been translated into Urdu, English and Hindi.

Honors and awards

The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri in 1987.[2][6] Seven years later, he received Dr. B. C. Roy Award, the highest Indian medical award from the Medical Council of India in 1994.[4]

Personal life

Dr. Singh was married in 1957 to Swaran Kaur until her death in 2007. His two sons Ravijit Singh and Kiranjit Singh — and their wives Dr. Indu and Dr. Seema — are also eye doctors.[2]

After a chronic illness and being bedridden for a month, Singh passed away on 27th December 2017 at age of 83.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Singh Gill, Manmeet (2017-12-27). "Noted eye surgeon Dr Daljit Singh passes away in Amritsar at 82". The Tribune. Amritsar. Tribune News Service. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Walia, Pushpinder (29 March 2008). "A Perfect Vision". India Today. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Surgeon pushes limits within ophthalmic surgery conforms technology to situation". Ocular Surgery News (India ed.). January 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via Healio.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Asia Ophthalmology profile" (PDF). Asia Ophthalmology. 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "AAP's ophthalmologist candidate eyes niche support base". The Indian Express. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2015.


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