The Cobbler who turned a kid into a Monk!

It was a sunny and hot day in the sleepy village of Bheryal Lehri in Gurdaspur. Summer was at its peak and the fiery sun was making sure that all were indoors. In the midst of this, the Divine Lord had plans for instilling a seed of enlightenment in its pure ones.

A young kid was joyfully running down the village street with a pair of sandals in his hand. He was always happy running errands for his house and his sister had just asked him to get her sandals repaired from the village cobbler. As he perched himself on the dirty mat under the large tree next to the smelly cobbler, the kid was overpowered with a nauseating smell of leather, grime, sweat and dust. The wizened old man with heavily grayed hairs, sweating profusely and looking untidy as if he needed a wash; looked like a picture of pity to the kid.

8 yr old Iqbal Singh felt yucky since he hated leather and immediately collected himself. There was a sense of being clean and superior to the poor man in front. The old cobbler started mending the sandals and put a thread into his mouth while deftly sewing loose scrappy ends.

Iqbal was curious since the thread too smelled badly. He mumbled askance to the cobbler “what is it that you putting in your mouth?”. The old man replied, “This is cow leather created out of dead cows”. Iqbal was ready to throw up and winched his face contorting with disgust and empathy “Chee Cheee…Chamda (leather) in your mouth?”. The wise guy softly asked the kid looking deep into his eyes “tu maa da dudh pita hai?” (have you suckled your mother’s breasts?). Promptly Iqbal replied “Yes, I have” with a glint of pride in him. “Taan oh chamda nahi si tere mooh vich?” (was it not leather in your mouth?).

The boy looked wide-eyed as if a thousand blows had been rained on him. His sense of superiority evaporated instantly and it hit him with intensity that there is a subtle difference at how you look at things.

Silent, brooding but not hurt the young man nudged back home dragging his feet at the new learning that taught him a lesson that no school or university could ever have.

This young boy turned over a leaf in his life and later became Baba Iqbal Singh ji of Baru Sahib. 

Baba Iqbal Singh ji's childhood memoires - In his own words!

Baba ji describes his early days of childhood. One incidence of knowing Sikh History changed his life. He always had love to help and serve humanity.

BIOGRAPHY

Biography

Name: Mr. Iqbal Singh

Parents: Sanwal Singh & Gulab Kaur

D.O.B.: 01 May 1924

Marital Status: Unmarried

Qualifications: M.Sc (Agriculture), Retired Director Agriculture (Himachal Pradesh)

Taking Over Charge Of The Kalgidhar Trust In 1965 After His Guide/ Mentor Mr. Teja Singh (MA. LLb, AM Harvard) Passed Away, Iqbal Singh After Retiring In 1987 Operationalised The Mission Of “Combining Modern Education With Faith To Produce Good Global Citizens”.

He Started A 1 Room School In 1986 With Only 5 Students Which Today Is A Chain Of 121 Cbse Affiliated English Medium Schools, 42 Courses/Programs, 2 Private Universities Benefitting Around 60,000 Rural Students. These Institutions Are In Deep Rural Hearts Of North India “Away From Urbanisation” Imparting Value-Based Education To Rural Marginalised Children Who Otherwise Are Exposed To The Menace Of Drugs And Alcohol Abuse In Rural North India.

Furthering The Cause Of Women Empowerment In Rural Areas By Setting Up Educational Institutions Dedicated To Women, Teachers Training Programs And Employment Centres Within The Villages. Today More Than 2000 Rural Girls Are Being Imparted Free Teachers Training To Be Inducted Into Own Schools. 

With Millions Of Beneficiaries/Volunteers Worldwide, Mr. Iqbal Singh Has Been Working Relentessly In The Direction Of Imparting Education In The Rural Marginalised Areas Of North India. He Believes That Rural Children Are Getting Pushed Away From The Mainstream And Cannot Really Contribute Much To The Nation’s Growth Hence The Drive To “Educate-Enshrine-Empower” These Large Masses Is The Need Of The Hour.

Now At 89 Years Of Age, He Is Vigourouly Working To Achieve The Short Term Goal Of 150 Schools By 2013 And Long Term Goal Of 500 Schools Within The Next Decade.

Vidya Vichari - Akal Academy Baru Sahib's new song video by Davinder Pal Singh (Indian Idol 6) & Arshpreet Kaur

A walk across the Akal Academy - Baru Sahib campus is an absorbing experience.
The atmosphere is distinct, simple with modest uncomplicated approach, rich with the spirit of potential, the heritage of past achievements, and the vitality of inquiry and discovery.
So much happens here.

Baru Sahib holds the promise of a different life. A sophomore discovers inner peace and happiness. An inquisitive child identifies the power to unburden by confession. An asthma patient lives longer and better. An artist creates unforeseen beauty. An old couple realizes the real essence of their lives. A teacher hones a revolutionary theory. A widow finds her esteem restored. An athlete achieves a championship dream.


Akal Sewa -- Baru Sahib is an unsung unassuming fountainhead that for decades now has been advancing all aspects of life: education, health, socio-economic-moral empowerment. We map the child's heart to create an enabler that spreads love and compassion. We examine the society around us, its advantages and its threats, and develop ways to make the globe a safer, peaceful, sustainable, sensitive, more equitable place. Our students explore the finer aspects of micro-organisms, Newton's laws, Polonium -- the new entrant in the periodic table and the subtle issues of human values, pardon, inner awakening; all in the same breath. Our schools or shrines of education nurture and attract the simplest and most deprived human talent and open a window to science, art and elevated thinking. Our libraries connect scholars from rural rustic background across global developments. Faculty in our schools and colleges motivate, stimulate and challenge our students, who respond by exploring worlds inner and outer, they never before imagined. Our alumni are equally outstanding, shaping society with their leadership, creativity and innovation yet remain firmly rooted to the basic values and stand out with their simplicity and sensitivity.


It is this breadth of accomplishment and activity - in Pavneet, Tejprakash and Rampreet and beyond - that separates Akal Baru Sahib from other institutions. Students and faculty have the opportunity to achieve more at Akal Academy than anywhere else. This is why our campaign is KINETISING TOMMORROW!

Adieu - The queen who chose to be a Pauper! I know now, Why?

                                                                                                                             19 May 2013

I know now why?

Born a queen

Amidst glitter, silver spoons and a gold sky

She still chose to be a pauper

I know now, Why?

She was a queen

She did not live like one

She chose to give away

Every heart she won

Her Man, material, wealth, gold, every breath

Was all dust for her

To be laid at GOD's feet

Only one small room she'd prefer

She could not walk much

Yet she walked the trail

That few ever dared to

Carrying thousands with her, despite being frail

She had the midas touch

Her touch spun stone-hearted into gold

Her Man, from demon she wove 

Onto a godly person, equally bold   

Sister to all, she was sent off like a queen

Her brothers gave shoulder to her pall

The 89 yr Father lit the pyre 

When time came for her recall

The last prayers saw, her thousands

Shower gold, money and everything they had

For the Queen who ruled their hearts

Sad if they could not help her Dad

We will see you again

This is not where it ends

Till we see you again

Goodbye but sight you at the bends

Coz the world needs you

She was born a queen

But chose to be a pauper

I know now, Why?

- dedicated to the martyr 

who traded her life for Guru Gobind Singh ji's Guru Kashi

Akal Academy chain of schools sign up Pearson Education Services to Install DigiClass Solution in over 1040 classrooms

One of the country’s largest e-classroom order slated to benefit over 40,000 rural students

New Delhi, May 17, 2013: Pearson Education Services, part of Pearson plc and one of India’s leading education service company today announced that they are entering into an agreement with The Kalgidhar Trust / Society (KTS), Baru Sahib for installation of 1040 DigiClass solutions in more than 20 Akal Academy rural schools of the KTS spread across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. DigiClass is Pearson’s ICT based solution that aims at converting traditional classrooms into interactive sessions by combining state-of-the-art hardware with syllabus-compliant, multimedia content. It has been created with the objective of improving the quality of education and equipping teachers with skills to manage a 21st century classroom. The DigiClass solution is currently being used by over 2,000 schools in India and abroad (Maldives, Nepal, UAE, etc.).

The Kalgidhar Trust/Society run one of the largest rural chain of CBSE schools in North India with 129 low cost rural schools that benefit 60,000 students who eventually are saved from drugs and alcohol abuse that has destroyed the socio-economic fabric of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. KTS believes in imparting value-based and spiritual education that not only meets the demands of the time but also trains students to use their skills for the welfare of humanity. Quality education is provided to the students irrespective of their caste, religion or region or ethnicity. Special effort is made to promote education to and empower the girl child, ethnic background or gender. KTS strives to inculcate love for humanity at large education in children in the initial years and supports adequate ambience and infrastructure to supplement that all through their academic life.

As part of their belief of value-based education, this agreement would go a long way in enhancing the teaching learning process across the schools run by KTS. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Davinder Singh, Secretary of KTS said “We have always wanted to enrich the Teaching and Learning process across our rural schools the various schools and this agreement would equip the classrooms and the teachers with the necessary Teaching Aides so as to bring the education  in backward and rural  areas  at par with the urban areas to enrich and ensure the Student Learning process”

Welcoming the announcement, Srikanth Iyer, COO, Pearson Education Services said “We are honored to have been selected for executing this project across various schools of The Kalgidhar Trust/Society. Pearson has always endeavored to undertake initiatives that go a long way in improving school education and the future of the students studying there. Implementation of the DigiClass solution in these schools will ensure a more interactive and collaborative teaching –learning process in the classroom particularly the girl child living in the rural areas..  With this step we are closer to realizing our vision and hope of making ICT enabled education accessible to more schools across the nation.”

Pearson Education Services recently signed former Indian test cricket team captain Anil Kumble as its brand ambassador for its range of cutting edge education products.

About The Kalgidhar Trust/Society

The Kalgidhar Trust is an Education focussed not for profit charitable organization working for the cause of promoting quality Education alongwith Healthcare, Women empowerment and Social welfare, to the deprived people, in far-flung rural areas of North India. It has been instrumental in bringing about silent but sure reforms to uplift the socio-economic status of the rural poor in the areas covered. 

The rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, backward hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab are being covered with 121 outstanding low cost CBSE Schools, which provide modern value-based education to around 60,000 students. Our students are mostly from deprived sections of the rural society and our schools admit them regardless of caste, creed, region, religion and social status. The future outlook is to build these to 500 schools to bring the penetration of value-based education to village cluster levels.

Other than the schools, the Trust runs 24 Colleges, 2 Private Universities, 6 Free Teachers Training Centres to empower 2000 rural girls, 1 (280 bed) Hospital, 3 de-addiction centres, Orphanage home, Old Age home, Rehabilitation Centre for distressed women other than holding 4 Free Medical/Surgery Camps for rural poor in hilly areas of Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh.

The Team: The Trust is managed and run by eminent Educationists who are also dedicated selfless volunteers under a professional setup. 

Mr Iqbal Singh (M.Sc), President has retired as Director Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh. 

Dr Davinder Singh (MBBS, MD), Secretary is an ex-Professor from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi. 

Dr Khem Singh Gill (Padma Bhushan)(M.Sc Ph.D Univ of California), Vice-President is former Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agriculture University.

Dr M.S. Atwal (M.Sc Bio Chem, M.P.H, Ph.D, MBA), Trustee is former Dean, John Hopkins University.

And hundreds of educationists who care for the nation.  

The Need:

- India is a booming economy and India lives in its villages. But the contribution of rural folks to this uprising economy is negligible or non-existent.

- General perception of people about the economic conditions of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab is that they are progressive and are amongst the better performers in per capita income.

- Few know that Punjab has today slipped to position 5 from being no. 1 in 1990 in per capita income and in the present 12th five-year plan; Punjab is the slowest growing state. Even slower than Jharkhand.

- One of the major factors for this decline is lack of Education and rampant drugs and alcohol abuse. 2 out of 3 school going students take drugs while 7 out of 10 college going students are into drugs.

- 69% rural households in Punjab do not have any matriculates. And 48.10% students dropout before class 10th.

- One strong indicator is that out of 56,240 students that enrolled for professional courses in the state in 2009 only 2084 students came from rural background.

- State spending on Education has come down drastically. Spending on education has come down to Rs. 525 per capita while the earning from the sale of liquor alone is Rs. 820 per capita.  

The need of the hour is to bring the rural talent on an equal platform of opportunities by educating, enshrining and empowering them; leaving alone our geographical outlines in the national interest.

 For more information on The Kalgidhar Trust/Society, please log on to www.barusahib.org