Obituary: He had a passion for ‘Good Motoring’

A name familiar to The Tribune readers since the 1990s, H Kishie Singh passed away today in Chandigarh at the age of 87. An expert in driving and rallying, his Good Motoring column ran in The Tribune for 27 years.

Kishie, as we all knew him, was the happiest on the road, whether riding a motorcycle or driving a vehicle. He drove in India and abroad, including Europe, Canada, USA, South-East Asia and West Asia. He once even drove from London to Delhi. His experiences, observations and the ability to tell a story about virtually each of his pit stop made for an interesting and informative copy.

Kishie had a larger-than-life presence and the ability to instantly connect with those he came across. Born on August 28, 1937, in Shimla and son of the Oxford-educated Santokh Singh and Malvinder Kaur, he studied at Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, and St Stephen’s College, Delhi. After graduation, he joined Air India, which took him to Lebanon. He also lived in Thailand and sold insurance to American GIs. He worked in senior positions with Investors Overseas Limited in Geneva and Montreal, where he imported a rickshaw, and was splashed riding it in local papers! A Formula 3 driver, he was the proud owner of a Ford Mustang.

Kishie studied visual art at McGill University and also worked as a photographer for a while before coming back to India because of family commitments. He got busy motoring, rallying, farming, besides doing photography and other activities. Kishie’s column, like Khushwant Singh’s, was never late, and the count crossed 650. Good Motoring had a wide readership and he was always willing to engage with his readers with a wry sense of humour — his trademark style. He had written for the Statesman earlier and was on the editorial board of some automotive magazines.

Kishie had been associated with Khushwant Singh Literary Festival since its inception as an organiser and speaker. In 2017, he released his book “Good Motoring”, a curated selection of his write-ups that figured in his column. He also co-authored “Whispering Deodars”, a book on HP. Motoring events, including the Himalayan Rally and Raid de Himalaya, allowed him to combine his love for the mountains and driving.

The fragrance of the incense sticks he lit in his study every day was still fresh when we went to his house in the morning, as is the memory of a remarkable raconteur and a great friend. He is survived by his wife, Neena Singh, and daughter Malvika Singh.