5 Jan 2016: The Kalgidhar Trust/Society was conceptualized 110 years ago in 1906 by Sant Attar Singh ji Maharaj. Baru Sahib was founded by his disciple Sant Teja Singh ji (AM Harvard, MA. LLB) and the mission is being carried forward by his students / disciples Baba Iqbal Singh (Retd. Director Agriculture, HP) and Padma Bhushan Dr Khem Singh Gill (Retd. Vice-Chancellor PAU Ludhiana).
The Trust was formally registered in 1982. The mission is to create good global citizens through a blend of modern scientific education with Gurmat studies. Since the first inception of its educational journey in 1986, in just 30 years this organization has built 129 Akal Academy Schools, 2 Universities, 1 Digital Online University in USA, 1 Charitable Hospital, 2 De-Addiction Centers and many other social welfare projects.
Akal Academy students have had a strong positive impact on society with their “Simple Living, High Thinking”. Young kids have managed to turnaround their parents, relatives and neighbourhood; away from drugs / alcohol towards better Gurmat life.
It’s rural Alumni consists of thousands of achievers, scientists, researchers, IIT / IIM passouts, and one student from village Ratia even studying under a NASA program in USA. The organisational manpower of the Trust consists of hand-picked selfless individuals/Education is under the able leadership of Baba Iqbal Singh ji. These sewadars (volunteers) are made to practice Service to Humanity by adhering to Tyaag & Viraag (Sacrifice & Detachment). Dr Davinder Singh, MBBS MD and present Secretary of the Trust is an example for millions of youth by having sacrificed his career to choose Sewa for the noble cause since 1992. He is assisted by Dr Neelam Kaur, MBBS MS, who is also Director of Akal Academies.
Although the main mission of the Trust is value-based Education but its traditional faith-driven values are an integral part of this academic system. Baba Iqbal Singh ji has been indoctrinated by his mentors to encourage Sacrifice, Selflessness, Satbachan (unconditional acceptance of orders) amongst his team of volunteers.
The recent unfortunate incidents in Cheema Sahib are highly deplorable and are being exploited by vested interests and some mischievous bad elements in the village. This issue simply involves an internal matter where in the President of the Trust within his legal powers, Issued an internal transfer action to a Trust volunteer due to his refusal to follow rules, disobedience and embezzlement of precious funds.
This internal transfer action was twisted and portrayed to innocent villagers, who were manipulated to believe that the said volunteer was being thrown out of the Trust. It is sad to note that this volunteer and his cronies have been propagating that Baba Iqbal Singh, aged 90 years has gone senile and is being sedated by some people to process their own interests. These are sheer fabricated lies and blasphemous.
Through this statement Baba Iqbal Singh ji wishes to clarify that he is in the best of health and spirits; and in total control of the organisation as was mandated by Sant Teja Singh ji. Babaji believes that the highest virtue in this sewa is Satbachan(unconditional acceptance of orders). Defying the spiritual guide’s orders and by resorting to lawlessness, are not the mark of any spiritual subordinate.
Attachment to positions, offices, fame and resources are not desirable in this faith-driven mission. Baba Iqbal Singh ji is highly pained by the rumours that these misled individuals are spreading.
By resorting to threats, violence and illegal acts, these mischief-makers are creating lawlessness in Cheema Sahib with an intention to harm the credibility and reputation of the organization and Sikh panth. The Kalgidhar Trust’s objectives are driven to be protected by faith in the Almighty and blessings of Sangat. We do not believe in stooping down to these levels to deal with such Lawlessness. We have faith in the constitution, judiciary and state. And we believe that all such things should be dealt within the ambit of law by sheer legality and merits but not goondaism, rumours and lies.
The morale of 60,000 students and lakhs of parents / staff/ volunteers / supporters across 129 schools are affected by the reign of terror leashed by these anti-social elements in Cheema Sahib.
Although we are under tremendous pressure of these affected students ,parents and supporters to temporarily close down our Schools for the time being in the interest of students ‘security and well-being; we firmly believe that the legal, judiciary and state security system are adequate enough to deal with such situations.
We request our supporters to maintain peace in all areas and allow us to deal with this situation within the secure system of law enforcers and legal framework.
~ Baba Iqbal Singh, President, The Kalgidhar Trust/Society, Baru Sahib
~ Dr Khem Singh Gill, Chairman Akal Academies and Vice-President, The Kalgidhar Society, Baru Sahib
~ Dr Davinder Singh, Secretary, The Kalgidhar Trust/Society, Baru Sahib
