Jagjit Singh Dardi

Jagjit Singh Dardi, an Educationist and a renowned Media personality was born on 19.01.1949 in the house of late Giani Harnam Singh and Sardarni Harbans Kaur of Patiala. After doing his graduation in Engineering, he was mainly inclined towards the promotion of his mother tongue, Punjabi. He did his Hons. in Punjabi and started a paper named as CHARDIKALA from Patiala. This paper became popular and made S. Jagjit Singh, a known Journalist. He expanded his Media business by starting a T.V. Channel of the same name. Jagjit Singh Dardi being a devout Sikh and having a firm faith in gurbani has started a number of programmes on his Channel which cater to fulfil the demand of Gurbani lover. One of these programmes was the Sehaj Path of Sri Guru Granth Sahib which not only promoted the concept of Sehaj Path, but also presented the correct way of doing the Path.Another aspect of the personality of this Gursikh role model is his love for education. He not only gave higher education to his children, but also opened Sikh Schools and Colleges for promoting education in the Sikh community. No wonder, that presently his wife and sons are carrying on successfully the running of four schools and colleges with the name of Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib.

The family is also bringing out a magazine with the title CHARDIKALA for encouraging the intellectual to contribute articles and write-ups on Sikh religion. Dardi family is living in Patiala as a Joint family which itself presents a role model in this present age of breaking families. As a representative of the Punjabi Media, he has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Indian Newspaper Society. He became Chairman of the Chandigarh segment covering the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, J & K and Chandigarh in September 2000. He has also been actively associated with Parliamentary Press Advisory Committee, The National Integration Council and Standing Committee of the All India Newspaper Editor’s Conference. In March 2001, he was nominated as a member of the Press Council of India and INS appointed him the Chairman of the small and Medium Newspaper Committee. These positions were held by him because of his vital experience of participating in various International Conferences and accompanying the Prime Minister Delegation to various countries for the coverage of VIPs visits. In August 1990, he presided over the World Punjabi Conference held in Toronto (Canada). His interest in literature is evidenced by the fact that he edited the commemoration volumes about the two great scholars of Sikhism, Principal Satbir Singh and Dr. Balbir Singh (brother of Bhai Vir Singh). For his immense contribution in the sphere of Journalism, education and promotion of religion through media, he has been honoured by many organizations at different platforms. These include Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazoor Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra, the Deptt. of Languages, Govt. of Punjab, Chief Minister of Punjab, Governor of Punjab, President of India and the World Punjabi Conference. The titles conferred upon him alongwith the cash awards include, Shromani Patarkar, Shromani Sahityakar and that of Punjab Ratan. A widely travelled S. Jagjit Singh Dardi is definitely one of the role models in the respective spheres.