{"id":6623,"date":"2025-04-14T11:44:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T06:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.barusahib.org\/?p=6623"},"modified":"2025-12-02T12:33:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T07:03:57","slug":"drones-robots-dreams-akal-academies-spark-ai-wave-in-punjabs-heartland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/drones-robots-dreams-akal-academies-spark-ai-wave-in-punjabs-heartland\/","title":{"rendered":"Drones, Robots &#038; Dreams &#8211; Akal Academies Spark AI Wave in Punjab\u2019s Heartland"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/drones-robots-dreams-akal-academies-spark-ai-wave-in-punjabs-heartland\/#Bridging_Rural_Roots_with_Future_Tech\" >Bridging Rural Roots with Future Tech<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/drones-robots-dreams-akal-academies-spark-ai-wave-in-punjabs-heartland\/#Empowering_the_Future_From_Grade_VII_to_XII\" >Empowering the Future: From Grade VII to XII<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/drones-robots-dreams-akal-academies-spark-ai-wave-in-punjabs-heartland\/#Mentored_by_a_Silicon_Valley_Pro\" >Mentored by a Silicon Valley Pro<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/drones-robots-dreams-akal-academies-spark-ai-wave-in-punjabs-heartland\/#From_Silicon_Valley_to_Sangrur_A_Journey_of_Purpose\" >From Silicon Valley to Sangrur: A Journey of Purpose<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/drones-robots-dreams-akal-academies-spark-ai-wave-in-punjabs-heartland\/#The_Power_Couple_Fueling_Dreams\" >The Power Couple Fueling Dreams<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/drones-robots-dreams-akal-academies-spark-ai-wave-in-punjabs-heartland\/#Rural_Classrooms_Global_Vision\" >Rural Classrooms, Global Vision<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/drones-robots-dreams-akal-academies-spark-ai-wave-in-punjabs-heartland\/#Be_a_Part_of_the_Change\" >Be a Part of the Change!<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/drones-robots-dreams-akal-academies-spark-ai-wave-in-punjabs-heartland\/#_Volunteer_With_Us\" >\u00a0Volunteer With Us<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/drones-robots-dreams-akal-academies-spark-ai-wave-in-punjabs-heartland\/#Enroll_Your_Child_at_Akal_Academy\" >Enroll Your Child at Akal Academy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bridging_Rural_Roots_with_Future_Tech\"><\/span>Bridging Rural Roots with Future Tech<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em>What happens when tradition meets tech? Magic.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s exactly what <strong>Akal Academy<\/strong>, a <strong>network of 130 value-based schools across rural Punjab<\/strong>, is creating. In an epic move to future-proof young minds, the academies have launched an ambitious <strong>Artificial Intelligence (AI)<\/strong> education program\u2014right in the heart of Punjab\u2019s villages.<\/p>\n<p>Backed by global AI trailblazer <strong>Dr. Sandeep Singh Sandha,<\/strong> a US-returned genius with roots in Punjab, the initiative was officially blessed by <strong>Dr. Davinder Singh<\/strong>, <strong>President of Kalgidhar Trust<\/strong>, during a special ceremony in <strong>village Jiwan Arian<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6625\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.barusahib.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Akal-Academies-introduce-AI-Skills-for-children-in-rural-Punjab-1536x1026-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Akal-Academies-introduce-AI-Skills-for-children-in-rural-Punjab\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Akal-Academies-introduce-AI-Skills-for-children-in-rural-Punjab-1536x1026-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Akal-Academies-introduce-AI-Skills-for-children-in-rural-Punjab-1536x1026-1-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Akal-Academies-introduce-AI-Skills-for-children-in-rural-Punjab-1536x1026-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Akal-Academies-introduce-AI-Skills-for-children-in-rural-Punjab-1536x1026-1-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Akal-Academies-introduce-AI-Skills-for-children-in-rural-Punjab-1536x1026-1-270x180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Akal-Academies-introduce-AI-Skills-for-children-in-rural-Punjab-1536x1026-1-570x381.jpg 570w, https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Akal-Academies-introduce-AI-Skills-for-children-in-rural-Punjab-1536x1026-1-749x500.jpg 749w, https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Akal-Academies-introduce-AI-Skills-for-children-in-rural-Punjab-1536x1026-1-740x494.jpg 740w, https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Akal-Academies-introduce-AI-Skills-for-children-in-rural-Punjab-1536x1026-1.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Empowering_the_Future_From_Grade_VII_to_XII\"><\/span>Empowering the Future: From Grade VII to XII<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Starting in the <strong>academic year 2025\u201326,<\/strong> <strong>more than 15,000 students<\/strong> across <strong>100+ Akal Academies<\/strong> will dive into futuristic fields like <strong>AI, Machine Learning, Robotics, Drones<\/strong>, and <strong>3D Printing<\/strong>. This next-gen curriculum isn\u2019t just about theory\u2014it\u2019s real-world, hands-on learning with one-on-one mentorship from none other than <strong>Dr. Sandha<\/strong>, an <strong>IIT Roorkee<\/strong> alumnus and <strong>Ph.D. holder<\/strong> in <strong>AI<\/strong> from <strong>UCLA.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Think of it as <strong>coding + creativity + compassion.<\/strong> The perfect blend for today\u2019s young changemakers.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mentored_by_a_Silicon_Valley_Pro\"><\/span>Mentored by a Silicon Valley Pro<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>\u201cWe\u2019re beyond grateful to Dr. Sandha for choosing to guide our students in emerging tech,\u201d<\/strong> <\/em>said <strong>Dr. Neelam Kaur, Advisor for Education and Health, Kalgidhar Trust.<\/strong> <em><strong>\u201cThis collaboration aligns beautifully with our mission to combine spiritual values with practical, future-forward education.&#8221;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>With over a decade in <strong>Silicon Valley<\/strong>, Dr. Sandha has led high-impact <strong>AI research<\/strong> <strong>at Amazon<\/strong>, <strong>IBM<\/strong>, <strong>Oracle<\/strong>, <strong>ARM<\/strong>, and more. <strong>One of his biggest tech flexes?<\/strong> <em><strong>The Mango Library\u2014a tool that\u2019s now used in commercial CPUs powering smartphones like Samsung and iPhone.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Yep, the guy who helped build the tech in your phone is now building futures in Punjab.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_Silicon_Valley_to_Sangrur_A_Journey_of_Purpose\"><\/span>From Silicon Valley to Sangrur: A Journey of Purpose<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>After achieving global recognition, Dr. Sandha chose to come back to his roots in January 2025. His goal? Simple but powerful\u2014to bring world-class AI education to village classrooms through his <strong>Punjab AI-Excellence Programme.<\/strong> He\u2019s not just mentoring school kids, but also advising IITs across India on how to make AI more accessible.<\/p>\n<p>In a heartfelt chat with Dr. Davinder Singh, he said:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>AI is the future\u2014and Punjab\u2019s students deserve to be part of it. Whether it&#8217;s farming, healthcare, or education\u2014AI is shaping everything. We can&#8217;t afford to wait.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Power_Couple_Fueling_Dreams\"><\/span>The Power Couple Fueling Dreams<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>And he\u2019s not doing it alone. <strong>His wife, Dr. Inderjot Kaur<\/strong>, a <strong>Ph.D.<\/strong> and <strong>postdoc<\/strong> from <strong>Mississippi State University<\/strong>, is also on a mission. She\u2019s helping rural students crack their path to international education and universities abroad. Together, this dream duo left behind high-paying jobs in the US to give back to their homeland.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rural_Classrooms_Global_Vision\"><\/span>Rural Classrooms, Global Vision<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With this initiative, Akal Academies are rewriting the story of rural education. Imagine kids <strong>controlling drones,<\/strong> <strong>programming robots<\/strong>, and <strong>dreaming of tech careers\u2014all while staying grounded in their values and culture.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>This is not just education. This is a revolution. And it\u2019s only just beginning.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Who says only cities get the cool stuff? Thanks to Akal Academies and visionaries like Dr. Sandha, Punjab\u2019s rural youth are stepping into the future\u2014with tradition in their hearts and technology in their hands.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Be_a_Part_of_the_Change\"><\/span>Be a Part of the Change!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_Volunteer_With_Us\"><\/span>\u00a0Volunteer With Us<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Are you passionate about education, technology, or making a difference in rural lives? Join hands with Akal Academies as a volunteer and help us mentor the next generation of tech leaders rooted in values. Whether you&#8217;re an educator, techie, student, or simply someone who cares\u2014your skills can spark a revolution.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Become a Volunteer:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener sponsored\">https:\/\/barusahib.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Enroll_Your_Child_at_Akal_Academy\"><\/span>Enroll Your Child at Akal Academy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Looking for a school that blends value-based education with futuristic learning like AI, Robotics, and more?<br \/>\nAkal Academy is the place where dreams meet discipline and innovation thrives in every classroom.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Admissions Open for 2025\u201326<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Grades: <\/strong>Nursery to XII<strong>, <\/strong><strong>visit your nearest Akal Academy campus!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bridging Rural Roots with Future Tech What happens when tradition meets tech? Magic. And that\u2019s exactly what Akal Academy, a network of 130 value-based schools across rural Punjab, is creating. In an epic move to future-proof young minds, the academies have launched an ambitious Artificial Intelligence (AI) education program\u2014right in the heart of Punjab\u2019s villages. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6626,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[132,102,125],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-6623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-akal-academies","tag-akal-academies","tag-education-academies","tag-nri-for-change","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6623"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6632,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6623\/revisions\/6632"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6623"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=6623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}