This time, it’s village Bhairon Khurd’s Sikh boy Karandeep Singh, a baptized “Amrit-Dhari” , who at 17, determinatively marched his way into serving Indian Army, scoring All India Rank 30 in the NDA (National Defence Academy ) intermediate entrance exam & selected as a CADET in 2013-14 batch to receive specialized 3 Yr Army training in Kharagwasla, Pune and 1 yr at IMA Dehradun for purpose of serving The Indian Army.

India Army offers 2 intermediate examinations NDA & TES wherein TES seeks candidates to serve the army as Engineers; Karandeep Singh independently prepared, appeared & cracked through both the examinations, he scored a strong AIR 74 in TES exam also, but chose to serve the Army as a Soldier.

Young Karandeep Singh has no special family background; coming from a rural village, his childhood & family situation have had no exceptions. His farmer family had been living through the gloomy conditions of financial instability, negative output & declining profits, etc that have been pervading the country’s agrarian societies over the past 2 decades; draining the life out of farmers especially in the Northern Rural belt, where farmer suicides remain trending.

We also learned from Karan’s father that Karan has always been a reserved person, even as a child, his interests were atypical. He was never too keen on playing or going outside much, he was a close observer & analyst of things around; perhaps that is what kept him occupied & that is how his determination & motivation developed.

Besides academics, Dharmic Programs & Faith were the only things that have kept Karan’s keen interest throughout all these years, which remains intact; though his family is not baptizes like him, but his father revealed that his family has always been graced to have remained clean off alcohol; they in fact have been pure vegetarians!

Further revealing about his early days during schooling, his dad told that Karan has always remained an independent child ever-since he was little, his only focus was on education he received at the school & his only time-pass was cricket & football, that too indoor, at house veranda with his young brother Jyot-Prakash. He was always so engrained with the studies at school there was never any room, space or even need for any tuitions.

His father also reveal, that in early years of his childhood itself, Karan told his father that observing the given circumstances & stand of agriculture in India, he is decided about not following agriculture & is aiming for becoming a Big officer, that holds prominence in the country.

Karandeep Singh has been a bright student all through his academics. With a keen interest in studies and co curricular activities, Karandeep has never let us down. When I came to know about this great achievement of his, I knew somewhere that this kid had all the capabilities to be where he is now. I wish him all the luck and I am sure he will do the best; said Mrs. Pawan Sahni, principal, Akal Academy Gomti.

Currently, Karandeep is taking training as a CADET under NDA regime; he was travelling when we got a chance to speak to him for a few minutes, as mobiles are prohibited otherwise during the training program. We thank & salute his father for giving his time to us for telling so much about Karan’s journey & bringing up a courageous & determined child in conditions so tough!

~ Deeksha Singh
~ New Delhi, 26th Sep ’13

The Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib believes that rural health; especially amongst children is a critical aspect & a binding element for sustainable & inclusive Rural growth.

In fact, a true Rural transformation is only possible, or let’s say, is only meaningful, if healthy well-being amongst is also assured & ensured for the Rural folks alongside education. Ill-health can well impale a person’s abilities & render a person incompetent to take benefit of the opportunities that education offers, not only it can hamper growth but also break the financial stability of an entire Rural family.

Medical Check-Ups are routinely undertaken across all Rural Akal Academies to ensure that young rural children stay healthy & have a steady & smiling growth. Child Specialists maintain a record & keep a close observation upon both basic & critical health aspects including eye-sight, height & weight ratio, signs of any other developing problem/issue, etc to identify any lurking abnormalities or symptoms, so they can be treated or eliminated with care, in time.

A beaming Ms. Satvinder Kaur, Principal, Akal Academy, Phaphre Bhaike informed us “The last Medical Check-Up session was held here with child Health Experts counseling & examining all school students. And with the grace of God, the Doctors were able to detect a few cases that needed immediate medical treatment. I would endeavor to have Medical check-ups annually.”

~ Deeksha Singh
~ New Delhi, 26th Sep ’13

In the wake of growing personal insecurity, where danger is lurking at every nook & corner of the Nation, young rural kids at Akal Academies are being prepared to combat all adversities.

In an initiative to tackle the ongoing menace created by crimes, especially against women of the country, Akal Academies are resorting to fundamentals of the Sikh faith i.e. of being prepared to fight for protection, for self and others to ensure that the Truth & Good prevail over the sinful & bad in the society.

Young boys and girls at Akal Academies, alongside carrying their routine study and spiritual prayer sessions, are also being trained to be combat-ready. Specialist Karate experts have been appointed for the task of ensuring that self-defense, protection & safety of women is fostered as the number One priority amongst the youth.

The concept and inspiration behind this, is not new to the followers of Sikh faith; its connection, roots back to the ancient theory as professed by Guru HargobindJi, who has put forth the blended concept of Miri (Temporal Power) &Piri (Spiritual Power) for the followers of the Faith, which was further consolidated by the 10th Master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who gave it the concluding shape explicating the artistry at the battlefield against Mughals, while fighting for the protection of Faith of others & safeguarding their free will to follow a Faith of their own choice, when the rulers tried to convert everyone to Islam by force.

It was then when he termed the followers of this newly-bred faith as “Sikhs”, who will live lives of learners of Almighty, who shall fight for protection of Faiths that may exist.

The Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib endeavours to instill confidence in its students to be able to face the perils of modern life.

~ Ramandeep Singh
~ New Delhi, 25th Sep ’13

Montek Singh, a bright student from Akal Academy Ratia has been invited to study at the University of Colorado Boulder’s CASA (Centre for Astrophysics & Space Astronomy) to pursue a specialised 5 year program on Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences. News covered in Ajit National Daily Newspaper.

As Lil’ Kiratjot Kaur Khalsa takes her little steps towards her school, the village watches her ‘Tall Walk’

This is not just because she is another little Rural enthusiast taking up schooling, but because she is the first Inaugural student of the newly come up Akal Academy at the village, which is first of its kind & the only one to provide Scientific as well as Gurmat value-based education to Rural students.

There is more connected to young Kiratjot Kaur Khalsa than just being the first student of the school; she alongside her mother have been playing an instrumental role since long before initialization of school services, the keen-team had beenvoluntarily going Door-to-Door reaching to each & every child-bearing family of the village, to educate, encourage & promote admission for the Rural children of the village at the school.

Her tiny steps alongside bold efforts of her mother have surely paved a concrete road that is set to put the village onto its true transformational mode through the big leaps little Kiratjot Kaur Khalsa takes every morning, walking tall towards the entrance of the Akal Academy.

We salute the courage, generosity & the philanthropy exhibited by the young mother-daughter team towards contributing & serving the society with such honest will to bring a transformation.

~ Deeksha Singh
~ New Delhi, 20th Sep ’13

Rural school kids rally against Drug-Alcohol Addiction

~At Village KilliNihal Singh Wala, Punjab.

Sadly, Punjab state has touched a consumption of 40 crore bottles of liquor this year. And the state departments have documented that 74% youth is addicted to Drugs. But there is a small section of well-wishers that has been working silently to turn this around.
Hundreds of Akal Academy students held a rally across village streets against DRUGS and ALCOHOL abuse encouraging de-addiction to drugs and alcohol& promoting Education through their emotional appeal to the families of the village.

Lines like these coming from the little kids, surely made an impact. These kids will eventually bring a bigger change –

“Nashey Chaddo, Kaurh Vaddo”

“Jo Jeher Tambaku Peendey Ne, oh Murda Jeevan Jeendey Ne”

“Papa Ji Na Piyo Sharab, Menu Le Deyo Ik Kitaab”

The village folks were moved by the representation and skits carried out by the kids. Many of them pledged to abstain from alcohol and drugs.

It gladdens our heart to know that, thanks to the efforts of these students from Akal Academies all across the state; 72 villages opted to be liquor free u/s 40 of the Panchayati Raj Act during 2012.

A small win but yes for a much better future!

~ Deeksha Singh
~ New Delhi, 19th Sep ’13

Surrey resident Sarwan Singh achieved a feat, which every Sikh is going to be proud of. He set a new Guinness Book of World Record by having the longest beard. Singh’s beard was measured at 2.36 meters or 7.7 3/4 ft, at a jam packed, Akal Academy in Surrey BC. Over 200 people came out in support of the Akal Academy Music Teacher and his attempt at breaking the world record.

The previous record was held by Shamsher Singh of Punjab, India, with a beard last measured at 1.83 metres in 1977.

“This is history in the making,” said Dr. Pargat Singh Bhurji, the principal and president of Akal Academy Surrey, where Singh is a popular and respected music teacher.

“Mr. Sarwan Singh is a devout, humble, spiritual man and his beard is considered as a divine gift. He’s blessed, he’s gifted. Hair is a divine gift. So this is a divine gift from God,” said Dr. Bhurji.

Singh stood on a stool while his beard was dipped in water, brushed and then measured three times on a flat surface with a measuring tape as the judges and media and over 200 other witnesses looked on.

As he posed for pictures with his wife and two children, Singh’s beard hung from his chin to the floor.

“I have a feeling of divine happiness and I am thankful that God has chosen me for the gift of the longest beard,” said Sarwan Singh, 42. The measurement was presided over by Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Singh Bains, Surrey RCMP Sgt. Baltej Singh Dhillon and lawyer Sukhjinder Singh Grewal.

Sarwan Singh’s family told CBC News they were exceptionally proud of his achievement. “Not only to me, he’s inspiring to the Sikh community,” said his young son Bikram Singh, sporting a tuft of hair on his chin that may one day set another record.

As a devoted Sikh, Singh does not cut or trim his hair, not just his beard, as uncut hair is one of the five objects (Five K’s) or symbols of faith of the Sikhs who have taken the vows of the Khalsa, as outlined by the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. “Whatever God gives us, it is just our job to take care of that. Don’t cut it or don’t do anything to it,” Singh’s daughter Gursimran Kaur told CBC News.

In addition to the Guinness World record, the event started with the students of Akal Academy performing Dhadhi Varan, a Sikh musical composition, explaining Sikh history taught to them by Sarwan Singh and other Akal Academy teachers. This was followed by talks on the importance and significance of hair from both a scientific and religious viewpoint as reflected in the teachings of the Sikh religion.

The cutely crafted models take us back to days of our childhood & play times, if feels great to realize that these Rural Kids too are enjoying through days of childhood, having fun, the way we all did, the way every child deserves. Kids from Classes Nursery to 2^nd participated.

SADA favorite hai Akashdeep Singh’s Da “Chakala Velna”!  What’s your Favorite?

Pics from a clay modeling competition held on 6^th Sept at Akal Academy in Village Mander Dona, Punjab.

Through this Initiative Rural students get benefit of ultra filtered drinking water

The Workshop, as a part of lessons on Ecology Restoration, intents to induce constructive character & creative abilities among little kids, at the time when their mind is under its natural development process of acquiring abilities skills.