Prominent People visit Dhanal Kalan Academy and Appraise about the Wave of Rural Transformation!

“A teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself. A lamp can never light another unless it continues to burn its own flame.”     – S. Gurmit Singh Dhugga, DPRO (Jalandhar)

Honorable guest – S. Gurmit Singh Dhugga, DPRO (Jalandhar), who visited Akal Academy and Akal Teacher Training Institute, Dhanal Kalan in the recent event, spoke these words whilst lauding the work of the Kalgidhar Trust, during his speech on his graced visit.

He was accompanied by S. Manjit Singh Bakshi, Ex-DPRO, who has now dedicated his life to spread awareness about the noble mission of Sant Baba Iqbal Singh Ji, and is an important functionary of The Kalgidhar Trust at Baru Sahib. S. Narender Pal Singh Chhinna (Retired SP) was also among the eminent guests who showed keen interest in visiting the Academy and the Teacher Training Institute running at Dhanal Kalan.

The guests were escorted by the Principal, Ms Harpreet Kaur – Akal Academy Dhanal Kalan; she introduced them with students of different classes whilst also facilitating interaction. They walked through the entire campus and also visited different facilities and labs viz. Computer Lab , English Language Lab , Science Lab and EVS Lab.

Later, the guests, after interacted with the students, expressed great impression about the teaching methodology and ways of imparting education whilst also praising about the stark infrastructure that provides such advanced level of schooling to students alongside value based knowledge.

S. Manjit Singh (Ex-DPRO) warmly introduced the Chief Guest, S. Gurmit Singh Ji DPRO (Jalandhar), to the Teacher Trainees and proudly narrated about – how he became a part of the Kalgidhar Trust charitable organization.

S. Gurmit Singh Ji DPRO (Jalandhar) spoke about the fast disappearing spiritual and moral values causing wide spread corruption of character;  “it is in this scenario that Baba Ji’s mission becomes all the more relevant and indispensable”, he cited.  He was all in praise of Baba Ji’s vision of empowering young rural women from impoverished backgrounds. Thereafter S. Narender Pal Singh (Retired SP) also shared his views regarding women’s education with special reference to the emerging importance of English as the medium of instruction.

It was an honor for the Institute to receive these guests who wanted to have a 1st hand experience of how well Sant Baba Iqbal Singh Ji’s mission of educating, grooming and nurturing rural women as future educators, is taking shape. They also appraised the path breaking alliance forged with the Cambridge University where handpicked faculty, sent by the University, educates the trainees personally.

The guests also interacted with our team of instructors, including foreign faculties, Mr. Thomas Harriot, who is a senior teacher of Science;  Ms. Elisabeth Deane who specializes in teaching 6 to 11 year olds and Ms. Natalia Kierniewicz, who specializes in Pedagogy;  they deeply lauded the fact of the Institute’s interest in this unique Teacher Education Program.

There was also interactions with Teacher Trainees, several of whom have been with Baru Sahib for as long as 5 to 6 years; some of them narrated their learning experiences and growth they have had with the institution whilst expressing about their personal milestones and future aspirations to the guests.

The encouraging audience included hosts spiritual visionary Jaivinder Veer Ji, S.R.S. Mehta – Director Akal Academies and Principal Mrs. Harpreet Kaur. Senior instructors Mr. Manmohan Singh Kohli and Ms. Neelam Nijjar helped to acquaint them with the Trainees and where the 5 senior most received “Siropas” from the honored guests.

Read all about the Akal Teacher Training Institute here. Support generously for the cause here – http://barusahib.org/donate/

~ Deeksha Singh
~ New Delhi, 29th Nov ’13