University Leadership
H.E. (Late) Padma Shri Baba Iqbal Singh Ji
- Founder Chancellor, Akal University
- Founder President, Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib, India
- Shiromani Panth Rattan by Takhat Sri Harmandir Sahib, Patna
- Vidya Martand award by Sri Akal Takht Sahib
- Sikh Lifetime Achievement Award (London) -2012
- Former Director, Agriculture (Government of HP, INDIA)
Excerpts from a discussion with revered Baba lqbal Singh, President of the Kalgidhar Trust, India at Berkley Center, USA.
The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University, created within the Office of the President in 2006, is dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of religion, ethics, and public life. Through research, teaching, and service, the Center explores global challenges of democracy and human rights; economic and social development; international diplomacy; and interreligious understanding.
The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University, created within the Office of the President in 2006, is dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of religion, ethics, and public life. Through research, teaching, and service, the Center explores global challenges of democracy and human rights; economic and social development; international diplomacy; and interreligious understanding.
Please expand on value-based education, and what it means to you and to your work?
Broadly speaking, there are three types of education. The first type focuses only on literacy without any moral content. I believe the merely literate person is the most egoistic and selfish because he is taught no moral values and thinks only about himself. Most schools, colleges, and universities around the world, impart literacy and not value-based education.
The second type of education is value-based, where you combine literacy with moral, ethical, and religious instructions & which is far more holistic. An individual who has gone through this type of scholastic career starts to think about the needs of others and begins to see himself connected to them and has a very broad outlook.
The third type of education is the spiritualized education with divine wisdom for which you have no need to go to any school, because the divine knowledge of the universe springs from within. None of the prophets or the founders of the great world religions went to any university to learn the lessons about the Divine. One only needs to delve into the scriptures of the great religions for this type of education.
Our organization combines spirituality with literacy (basic education) to impart value-based education to students. As a result, our students are free from drug/substance abuse and the use of alcohol. They are thus able to focus their minds on study, sports, and the well-being of others around them. Value-based education is the real need of the day to produce good upright human being, who can inspire others to tread on the divine path and serve mankind selflessly. The effects of Value Based education has been far-reaching. Our students have helped reduce tension in their homes by counseling their own parents. In some cases, they have succeeded to keep their parents from divorcing. We are convinced that Value Based education is the best way to enable society to move forward and to bring about sustainable development in the world. Through such education, we will be able to harness the energy of the youth and persuade them to work for the betterment of the world, which is now in turmoil.
Honorable Baba Dr Davinder Singh ji MBBS, MD. Delhi University
Chancellor, Akal University
Three centuries ago, the tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji stayed at Talwandi Sabo, finalized the compilation of Guru Granth Sahib Ji and prophesied that this place will manifest as Guru Ki Kashi, a great Centre of teaching and learning from where will emerge great scholars of Sikhism. About two centuries thereafter, establishment of Gurmat Vidyalaya by Sant Attar Singh Ji Maharaj was the first step in this direction. About a century thereafter, establishment of Akal University, Talwandi Sabo under the leadership of Hon’ble late Baba Iqbal Singh Ji was culmination of what the tenth Guru prophesied about three centuries ago. The vision statement enunciated by Sant Attar Singh Ji Maharaj, objectified creation of outstanding human beings who could spread the message of love and spiritual brotherhood not only in this country, but the entire world. 'Sanskar Nirman' is the 'Mantra' which the founding fathers had proposed to be the foundation on which the educational edifice of this institution was to rest.
The campus, with its beautiful diversity of students from all over the region, provides ample opportunity to young boys and girls to express themselves uninhibitedly and evolve into outstanding human beings who have nerves of steel and at the same time possess unlimited patience, forbearance, tolerance and love for the entire humanity.
Vice Chancellor, Akal University
Envisioned to become a Centre of Excellence at par with best Universities in the country, (AU) is entering eleventh year of its academic journey with promise of providing quality learning.During the last Ten years the University has attained many milestones with contributions from its students, teachers, and non-teaching staff. The University makes sustained efforts to meet the intellectual requirements of the society by offering courses in the areas of Business education, IT, Science, Social Sciences and Languages.
The institutions of higher education have witnessed unprecedented developments in the last few years with inter-disciplinarity taking the centre stage. It is not only that the field of higher education have undergone massive changes, even the expectations and demands of stakeholders have changed a lot. Our commitment is to steer the University on to the right direction well in keeping with the demands of the contemporary times.
We seek to nurture core competencies in communication, to enhance scientific literacy, to foster critical thinking and to build the capacity to work across cultures, languages and traditions. In addition to equipping students with necessary professional and entrepreneurial skills, the University also contributes significantly to their physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual growth. The University offers an opportunity of inclusive growth through a blended model of learning including those of curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
In its endeavour to adhere to the path of 'Sarbat Ka Bhala' as projected by the Sikh Gurus, the University is committed to make value-based education accessible and affordable to all by providing liberal scholarships to the meritorious and needy students from the disadvantaged background.
Quality education, path-breaking research, innovative teaching and quality extension services such as well-developed infrastructure, hostel facility for boys and girls, free and well-furnished accommodation for faculties as well as transportation facilities for day scholars and staff members are hallmarks of Akal University.
Under the leadership of revered late Baba Iqbal Singh Ji and Baba Dr. Davinder Singh Ji, the AU has set high goals of grooming students academically, professionally, socially and spiritually who will serve the society-both locally and globally.
At AU we take pride in being an institution that is committed to excellence and open to innovation. We do our best to create an ambience that is conducive to teaching and learning, allowing students to think out of the box and to work creatively through a problem to a solution. Let us come together and Eduventure into a successful future.
It is my great pleasure and privilege to welcome you to Akal University!