{"id":9619,"date":"2025-12-19T17:44:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T12:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.barusahib.org\/?p=9619"},"modified":"2025-12-19T17:48:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T12:18:14","slug":"a-journey-back-to-the-roots-alumni-reflections-from-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/a-journey-back-to-the-roots-alumni-reflections-from-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"A Journey Back to the Roots: Alumni Reflections from Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>When roots are strong, distance does not weaken them, it deepens their meaning.<\/em><\/p>\n<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\/a-journey-back-to-the-roots-alumni-reflections-from-chicago\/#USA_Sangat_Darshan_An_Emotional_Homecoming\" >USA Sangat Darshan: An Emotional Homecoming<\/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\/a-journey-back-to-the-roots-alumni-reflections-from-chicago\/#An_Evening_of_Gratitude_and_Shared_History\" >An Evening of Gratitude and Shared History<\/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\/a-journey-back-to-the-roots-alumni-reflections-from-chicago\/#From_Rural_Punjab_to_Global_Leadership\" >From Rural Punjab to Global Leadership<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/a-journey-back-to-the-roots-alumni-reflections-from-chicago\/#Education_Beyond_Academics\" >Education Beyond Academics<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/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\/a-journey-back-to-the-roots-alumni-reflections-from-chicago\/#A_Decade_That_Shaped_a_Life\" >A Decade That Shaped a Life<\/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\/a-journey-back-to-the-roots-alumni-reflections-from-chicago\/#Bridging_the_Rural%E2%80%93Urban_Divide\" >Bridging the Rural\u2013Urban Divide<\/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\/a-journey-back-to-the-roots-alumni-reflections-from-chicago\/#Impact_Across_Generations_and_Geographies\" >Impact Across Generations and Geographies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/a-journey-back-to-the-roots-alumni-reflections-from-chicago\/#Towards_40_Years_of_Education\" >Towards 40 Years of Education<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/a-journey-back-to-the-roots-alumni-reflections-from-chicago\/#A_Call_to_Reconnect\" >A Call to Reconnect<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"USA_Sangat_Darshan_An_Emotional_Homecoming\"><\/span>USA Sangat Darshan: An Emotional Homecoming<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As the USA Sangat Darshan and Awareness Campaign of Hon\u2019ble Dr. Davinder Singh Ji reached Chicago, it became more than just another stop on an international journey. It turned into an emotional homecoming, where memories resurfaced, values were revisited, and lives shaped decades ago stood as living proof of the power of value-based education.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_Evening_of_Gratitude_and_Shared_History\"><\/span>An Evening of Gratitude and Shared History<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The warmth of this moment was beautifully reflected when Akal Academy Baru Sahib alumnus Lakhwinder Singh hosted a special gathering at his residence. The evening was marked by humility, gratitude, and deep reverence as Hon\u2019ble Dr. Davinder Singh Ji was welcomed into a space filled not just with people, but with shared history and purpose. Another alumnus, Manraj Singh, joined the gathering to seek blessings, making the occasion deeply nostalgic and meaningful.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Watch the Conversation here:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oyAfHwmQxDo?si=_NS6aazeSYdWZk7l&amp;controls=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_Rural_Punjab_to_Global_Leadership\"><\/span>From Rural Punjab to Global Leadership<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Lakhwinder Singh\u2019s journey mirrors the story of countless children who begin their lives in small villages with limited exposure and big, unspoken fears. Coming from rural Punjab, he once worried about competing with city students\u2014especially due to language barriers. Yet, his 11 years at Akal Academy Baru Sahib transformed those insecurities into strength.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Education_Beyond_Academics\"><\/span>Education Beyond Academics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The disciplined routine of the Academy\u2014beginning each day with Nitnem, early mornings, structured learning, and moral grounding\u2014did more than impart education. It built character. Over time, Lakhwinder gained confidence, communication skills, and an unshakeable belief in himself. Today, he carries those lessons into his professional life as a Process Engineering Manager at HYDAC Group, a testament to how strong foundations create global professionals without erasing their roots.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Decade_That_Shaped_a_Life\"><\/span>A Decade That Shaped a Life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Another proud reflection came from Manraj Singh, who studied at Akal Academy Baru Sahib for ten formative years between 1996 and 2006. He recalled how his parents chose the Academy in the absence of quality educational institutions in their village. What began as a practical decision became a life-shaping one. Manraj credits his professional journey and personal values to the education and discipline he received during those years\u2014an education that extended far beyond textbooks.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bridging_the_Rural%E2%80%93Urban_Divide\"><\/span>Bridging the Rural\u2013Urban Divide<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Both alumni joined Akal Academy at a young age, carrying the hesitations common to rural children\u2014uncertainty around language, exposure, and opportunity. Over the years, those same children emerged confident, capable, and rooted in values. Their journeys reflect the larger mission of Akal Academy Baru Sahib: bridging the rural\u2013urban divide, nurturing discipline, and instilling the belief that no child is lesser than another.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Impact_Across_Generations_and_Geographies\"><\/span>Impact Across Generations and Geographies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>These reflections are not isolated success stories. They are living examples of how value-based education creates ripple effects across generations and geographies. From the hills of Himachal Pradesh to global cities like Chicago, the impact of this movement continues to unfold quietly, powerfully.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Towards_40_Years_of_Education\"><\/span>Towards 40 Years of Education<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As Akal Academy Baru Sahib moves towards 40 Years of Education (1986\u20132026), moments like these reaffirm the vision with which the journey began\u2014to empower rural India, nurture moral leadership, and build a more peaceful world through education and seva.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Call_to_Reconnect\"><\/span>A Call to Reconnect<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We warmly invite alumni and Sangat across the globe to reconnect with this collective mission\u2014of rebuilding Punjab, strengthening society, and shaping global citizens anchored in values.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAkalAcademyBaruSahib%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0CNmWhT1gbS1XQzfJkKGD6KauRhpxwLacZo9xftBwWxExok78sGgc7dwyqEJq9xQbl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"729\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When roots are strong, distance does not weaken them, it deepens their meaning. USA Sangat Darshan: An Emotional Homecoming As the USA Sangat Darshan and Awareness Campaign of Hon\u2019ble Dr. Davinder Singh Ji reached Chicago, it became more than just another stop on an international journey. It turned into an emotional homecoming, where memories resurfaced, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9621,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[61,3],"tags":[145,82,83,125,136],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-9619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-event","category-spiritual","tag-alumni","tag-ets-news","tag-ets-stories-of-change","tag-nri-for-change","tag-spiritual","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9619","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=9619"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9620,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9619\/revisions\/9620"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9619"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=9619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}