World acclaimed The Kalgidhar Trust, a non-profit social development organization based at Baru Sahib in Himachal Pradesh picked up by Harvard Business Review for listing on its case collection. The writers, Dr AS Ghura, IIMA and Prof. Vijay Sherry Chand, Ravi J Matthai Centre for Educational Innovation (RJMCEI), IIMA, chose to do a case study titled “The Akal Academies” for the unique strategy of this social enterprise that stands out for innovation and entrepreneurship in education. This case study documents the real-life dilemma of Baba Iqbal Singh Kingra who is retired Director Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh popularly known as Babaji. He simply followed the divine vision of his masters Sant Attar Singh Ji, who conceptualized the whole mission of synthesizing scientific education with moral values and Sant Teja Singh who founded Baru Sahib.
The Kalgidhar Trust adopted a unique participation of the general public to accelerate the rural school development activities of the Trust to 500 Akal Academies, in the next decade, which shall cater to 250,000 students from a small unit of 19 schools in 2007.
The case study documents the unique model been adopted by Akal Academies, by merging spiritual and high-quality scientific education, inspired by the Sikh Gurus and faith and how the Trust has been integral in sustaining the growth of Akal Academies from one school in 1986 to 129 schools catering to 70,000 students in 2018. Moreover, the donation-based low-cost financial model and loan-driven model for financing the capital cost of new schools is a unique mix to be taught to the future managers who wish to have their careers in education industry by developing skills in evaluating options using a set of criteria and recommending a plan of action.
Sant Teja Singh was the first turbaned Sikh graduate to have completed his course in Harvard, way back in 1911. Finally, the case study now being available at Harvard Business Case Centre is in itself a pleasant divine blessing and a tribute to Sant Teja Singh Ji (1877 – 1965).
