Early Life and Education
Born in Georgetown, Penang, Karpal Singh was the son of watchman and part-time herdsman Ram Singh. Ram had moved from India to Penang in 1921. Karpal's ancestors were wheat farmers from the village of Samna Pind, near Amritsar, in the Punjab region. He visited the village in 1963 while attending university and in 1974 when his father was killed in an accident there.
Karpal studied at St. Xavier's Institution. He met his wife, Gurmit Kaur, while herding his father's cows.
He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Singapore. During his time there, he also served as president of the student's union. He was barred from the hostel for protesting against the university's decision to mandate the "certificate of political suitability" for enrolling students. Karpal said he took seven years to graduate, admitting that he was "playful" and "didn’t attend lectures." After failing his final year courses, the dean, made him sit at the front of the class, and according to Karpal, "I couldn’t play the fool any more and I passed my exams accordingly!"
Read more about this topic: Karpal Singh
Famous quotes containing the words early, life and/or education:
“When first we faced, and touching showed
How well we knew the early moves ...”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)
“The ceaseless labor of your life is to build the house of death.”
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)
“Whatever may be our just grievances in the southern states, it is fitting that we acknowledge that, considering their poverty and past relationship to the Negro race, they have done remarkably well for the cause of education among us. That the whole South should commit itself to the principle that the colored people have a right to be educated is an immense acquisition to the cause of popular education.”
—Fannie Barrier Williams (1855–1944)