Born on 9th October, 1917, Shri Randhir Singh received his college education at Ewing Christian College at Allahabad where his father Shri Ramanugrah Singh practiced law. The family lived at Attarsuiya Road. Shri Randhir Singh completed his graduation in Arts and Law at Allahabad University. He was a good athlete with muscular body. He once covered the distance of 80 kms from Allahabad to Varanasi on bicycle in 3 hours.
He acquired his M.A. (English) degree from Patna College as a private candidate along with Shri Satyendra Narain Singh (1917-2006), former Chief Minister of Bihar. In fact, private acquisition of degrees was pioneered by them. They were close friends. In a chance meeting in Patna in late 1990, Shri S.N. Singh rued the fact that they could not meet once they settled down in their respective vocations; and as a friend he would have loved to be of some help to him.
While doing M.A., Shri Randhir Singh taught English at D.A.V. School, Mithapur, Patna. He also took tuitions.
Shri Randhir Singh had a brief stint as Message Supervisor in Provincial War Room(WW2) at Ranchi before he qualified in Public Service Exam and was appointed as Deputy Collector and Magistrate. He got his first posting at Gaya. His handling of partition riots in a calm and resolute manner was commended in writing by the then Deputy Commissioner, Shri JC Mathur,ICS..
In 1949, he was transferred to Jamshedpur as District Supply Officer. He returned to Patna in 1952 on transfer and was posted as Executive Officer at Patna Municipal Corporation then newly formed. He was famous in Patna for his bicycle tour of inspection[1] of routine basis in the morning.
He had some very good friends Shri SN Jha, Justice, Patna High Court, Shri AT Achari, Health Officer, Patna Municipal Corporation(his bridge partner), Shri Kuber Pandey, Inspector of Schools and Shri ……., erstwhile editor of Hindi daily ’Aryavart”. He used to learn Sitar from AIR artist Shri Jiv Ranjan Pathak.
He was transferred to Koderma in 1959 as Inspector of Mica Accounts[2]. His normal tenure of 3 years was cut short owing to his stern conduct and brutal honesty. He survived[3] at least two attempts on his life.
In April, 1961, he was sent on deputation to hold a non–executive job of Assistant Secretary in the upcoming giant Heavy Engineering Corporation (H.E.C.) at Ranchi with a better salary package. He was elevated to the rank of Additional District Magistrate (Super Selection Grade) and HEC promoted him to the rank of Secretary, a position hitherto held by senior I.A.S. officers. His sincerity, honesty and integrity, was taken note of. For the first time and perhaps never again; he was given charge of Administration, Personnel, Vigilance and Town Administration. HEC Township was a city in itself spread over 7000 Acres with a population of over 2 lakhs.
He had the privilege of working under Shri M.Nagraj Rao, an eminent technocrat, Shri T.R. Gupta, a well-known industrialist, owner of Usha Group of industries and K. D. Malviya a former M.P. and Union Minister.
.During his stint at HEC, he was instrumental in starting Ram Lila and Ravan Dahan’’ in HEC during Navratri and Durga Puja festival.
His stay in Ranchi till 1970 was very fruitful and satisfying as far as education of his children was concerned as almost all of them completed their studies at Ranchi.
On reversion from HEC in 1971 to State Government, he was posted as Dy, Secretary P.W.D. and P.H.E.D. He retired in1977 as Joint Secretary, State Planning Board.
Following superannuation, he joined the Bar at Ranchi High Court. As an Associate Member of Indian Institute of Secretaries, he was a guest lecturer, set questions papers and evaluated answer books relating to Companies Secretary examination for a long time.
He built his modest house on land provided by Ranchi State Cooperative Society in Ashok Nagar[4]. He was instrumental in volunteering conceptual support in the construction of Temple complex and Meditation place (Chintan Asthal) inside Ashok Nagar campus.
He spent his remaining days with his children and grandchildren and maintained excellent health devoid of any illness till his last day. He died at the age of 85 on 23.03.2002.
[1] http://wohkagajkashti-recollections.blogspot.com/2013/06/blog-post.html
[2] http://www.bareactslive.com/BIH/BH442.HTM
[3] http://wohkagajkashti-recollections.blogspot.com/2012/05/2.html
[4] https://www.facebook.com/groups/715570368502417/?ref=bookmarks
