No one can forget the great movie ‘RANG DE BASANTI’ that spoke of our Punjab revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and their contemporaries, which the soil of Punjab is proud of. They at that time were trying to awaken the corrupt and poverty laden country, same way the students of Akal Academy are trying to carry in the spirit by carrying on the flame of empowering the mind, body and soul. They are passionately carrying on the mission of ‘EK NOOR’ and unlike the world, which is busy lapping up all the materialistic pleasures of life in a self-centric approach. The students right from the time that they step into school maintain a simple attire of Kurta Pyjamas, which enhances the principle of gender equality and lesser distractions for impressionable minds. Their characters are chiseled through a carefully laid out regimen, which includes daily prayers (nitnem), which help nourish the young tender brains. They are taught, “ Every human being is the Light of the Divine contained in a human form propelling that we need to respect all humans”. Seva and Simran become the foundation stone of pedagogy followed by Akal Academies.
Fatehgarh Channa is a sleepy village of around 3000 persons, in Tehsil Samana of District Patiala. In 1997, Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib established an Akal Academy with only 22 students. Today, this branch has again proved themselves in ‘RANG DE’ spirits by scoring well in the 12th and 10th CBSE examinations, Sohan Singh scored 89.4%, Yadwinder 82.2%, Harpreet Singh 77% and Mohanjeet 75% in their 12th exams. In the class 10th Ankita Kansal, Arashpreet Kaur, Harbir Kaur, Jashan Sharma, Ravneet Kaur all notched to 10 CGPA. The School is not only famous for the academic output, but also very progressive in sports and co-curricular activities; ensuring the holistic development of the learners.
The underlying key factor to it that even now in their own way, Akal Academy chain of schools have managed to enthuse the spirit of being vivacious, dedicated and passionate to build India’s first chain for rural transformation by sowing the seeds of Value based education at its best.
As a wise man said “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever”. This has been one of the guiding forces of the Kalgidhar Trust under the umbrella of Baba Iqbal Singh Ji.
~ Ramneet Singh, B.Com.,
~ Rohini, New Delhi, 22nd June 2013