Key Landmark of 101 Rural Schools achieved by The Kalgidhar Trust – Baru Sahib

Oct. 4, 2011 - PRLog -- In a landmark historic moment, The Kalgidhar Trust – Baru Sahib is set to initiate its 101st Akal Academy at Chunni Kalan, Dist. Mohali, Punjab on the 7th of October 2011 from 10 am to 1 pm. This milestone is meant as a homage to its founding fathers Sant Attar Singh and Sant Teja Singh (MA LLb, AM Harvard). This august gathering will be attended by religious leaders, Top Officials, Decision Makers, volunteers and most importantly the Sadh Sangat (benefactors) who have been instrumental in reaching this milestone. The program will start with Shabad Kirtan (spiritual hymns) by the little angels (students) of various rural Akal Academies and then after the Ardaas (supplication), the foundation stone laying ceremony would be held at the site.

In a Kinetising move, the Trust had resolved in 2008 to setup 150 schools within the next 5 years in deep rural hearts of North India; thereby bringing up their global peace messengers to 2,50,000 and thereby touching, moving, inspiring 1 crore citizens. With this 101st School, it is expected that The Kalgidhar Trust may meet its target a year ahead of its schedule. Already 31 new schools have been flagged off in 2011.

The way for The Kalgidhar Trust as charted by its founding father, Sant Attar Singh way back in 1906; was a simply defined mission “To establish permanent peace in the world through the synthesis of value-based scientific education and moral rejuvenation thereby creating good global citizens”. Having identified the perils that accompany imparting of science without morality, Sant Attar Singh charted out a modest effort in the shape of the 1st Girls College in Punjab and after that a large number of schools and colleges, which he believed would someday lead to permanent peace. Such was his fame and love among masses across all faiths that he was asked by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya to lay the foundation stone of the Sanskrit College at Banaras Hindu University in 1914.

Later, his disciple Sant Teja Singh, a renowned Educationist of his times, took upon himself to achieve his master’s vision. Thus in 1956, Baru Sahib was founded and The Kalgidhar Trust was given a formal shape. In 1965, Sant Teja Singh handed over the reins to Baba Iqbal Singh, Retd. Director Agriculture - Himachal Pradesh, who set up in 1986, the 1st School called Akal Academy at Baru Sahib nestled in the laps of Himalayan foothills, with only 5 students. Today Akal Academy – Baru Sahib has proved to be the fountainhead for the inception of 101 such Akal Academies spread all over rural North India.

A humble mission that started a few decades back realising this huge opportunity and the need to bridge the skill gap between the urban and rural population through quality education to the doorstep of students from far-flung rural areas, The Kalgidhar Trust, a multi-faceted not-for-profit charitable organization took up the responsibility of propelling the sidelined rural youth towards the mainstream and today its vast resource of 60,000 students is spread in 101 English Medium Schools in Rural North India working silently towards this favourable situation. These young students have been instrumental in positively impacting their immediate society by exhorting people to shed social vices like alcohol, drugs, crime and even marital discord.

Tucked away in the remote corner of a far-flung region of Himachal Pradesh, nestled in the lap of the mighty Himalayas stands this unique institution that is toiling un-noticed and coming closer to its dream of showing the world “The way to permanent peace”.  

Painstakingly, brick by brick, the structure of this unsung organization has started taking shape under the able guidance of Baba Iqbal Singh, and his team of dedicated Educationists. The challenging job of “creating good global citizens” has been possible due to selfless efforts of this non-descript organization, which has gathered momentum and swollen from a tiny stream into a great river. Building on its achievements so far, it is carrying out an even more silent but sure movement for peace for reversing the course to destruction. The mission is to create “good global citizens” and not just professionals.

The strategy is simple yet effective - "Move away from urbanization"  "Provide value-based scientific education and spiritual upliftment" - "Reach out to the unreached with health care".

It is expected that a silent socio-economic upliftment reform will result out of this sure-footed grass-root exercise. The footprints of "eradication of illiteracy and vices" would keep on growing and positively touch the lives and fulfill the needs of the rural deprived classes.

To further strengthen the educational drive, The Kalgidhar Trust resolved to initiate modern higher learning ‘Real Education’ centres that stand out in today’s world as fountainheads of excellence and ‘humane’ character. Eternal University was setup, which again would be a unique experiment of inculcating moral discipline with higher education. Being the first private University for the community, Eternal University has 24 streams including Colleges of Engineering, Nursing, Management, General Education, Divine Music,  Teachers Training programs etc. The Akal College of Engineering and Technology has stood 1st amongst 19 Engineering Colleges in 2011 under the Himachal Pradesh University. The Trust has recently also announced the desire to setup another University at Sabo ki Talwandi, Damdama Sahib, Punjab.

Other multifaceted activities of The Kalgidhar Trust are De-addiction Centres (under the pattern of Alcoholics Anonymous), Modern 280 bed Hospital, Orphanage, Women Care Centre, Free Teacher’s Training Centres and Senior Citizen Centre. These cater to rural poor from far-flung and backward areas of the Himalayan region and rural North India. Especially successful has been the endeavor to empower rural women with imparting of handskills and techniques under ARY – Akal Rozgar Yojana. Now around 2500 women have benefited from this exercise. Other than this, around 1500 poor girls are being imparted Free Teacher’s Training and provided with jobs in these chain of Schools thereby and not only earning their livelihood but self-respect and confidence too.  

Time will tell the world as today these messengers of peace coming out of this schools named as Akal Academy, spread out their wings moving out into the world and destiny takes shape through their message of universality and brotherhood; thereby creating a perpetual line of good global citizens which is the only answer to reversing the course of destruction that the world has set itself on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIOj9OZdx38