Dr. Dil Bhatia

Dr. Dil Mohan Singh (D.M.S) Bhatia, also lovingly, known as Kiwi, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at Ahava Healthcare in Clarksville. Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 20, 2023 at Sykes Funeral Home & Crematory. Viewing will start at 12:00 PM followed by a Sikh religious service to include prayers and reflections at 1:00 PM, officiated by Bhai Sher Singhji of the Nashville Gurudwarra, followed by cremation at the funeral home crematory. At the end the family will receive friends at a reception in the funeral home.

Kiwi was born in India on October 19, 1939, to the late Dr. Gyan Singh Bhatia and late Mrs. Jagjit Kaur Sodhbans Bhatia. He received his B.SC. From Jabalpur, India, 1959; M.Tech, Saugar, India, 1962; M.SC, New Brunswick, Canada, 1970; and Ph.D., University of Missouri, Rolla, 1976. He was a professor of Geology at Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN from 1977 to 2007. He held various other professional appointments, memberships, and offices; he was a consultant and served on the Board of Directors of various professional organizations in the Clarksville Rotary Club (1986-1989). He received a variety of honors and fellowships, published a book and 40 scientific and technical papers. He was a faithful follower of the Sikh religion throughout his life and attended the Nashville Gurudwara. 

As a dedicated professor at APSU, Dr. Bhatia was highly regarded, and loved by his students, some of whom claimed he was one of the best teachers they ever had. He tried to make his classes very interesting, and they were mostly jam packed. He was a jovial fellow with a great sense of humor. Sometimes he would teasingly tell his students that he and his wife lived in a tent with no electricity, and running water, which some of them actually believed! His hobbies included mountaineering, photography, tennis, bridge, and travel. He went on Himalayan expeditions, and his love of travel took him to many different countries. While on his travels, he and his wife chased volcanoes. He had a great love for nature and animals, which led him to get Fluffy, a Pekingese dog, who was the love of his life and like a child to him. Neither heavy rain or snow, would deter home from taking Fluffy for her daily walks which she loved. 

Dr. Bhatia is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Rajinder "Ginger" Kaur Saluja Bhatia; a sister, Soshi (her late husband Sunandan) Singh; a brother, Harvinder “Pinku” Bhatia; 3 nieces; and a grand nephew and a grand niece. 

In lieu of, flowers, the family request donations be made to the southeastern Sikh Religious Society and mailed to Gurudwara, 7673 Sawyer Brown Rd., Nashville, TN 73221. 

Please Visit Dr. Bhatia's guestbook and share a memory with the family.