Description
Baba Iqbal Singh S/o S. Sawan Singh is a renowned Sikh personality all over the World as he has dedicated
his life to Sikh education and has succeeded through Kalgidhar Trust and Society and Akal Foundation of
which he the Chairman, in setting up a large number of academies, colleges and two universities. He was
born on 01.05.1926. Right from his early age, he was attached with Sant Teja Singh Ji, who was, in turn a
close associate of Sant Attar Singh Ji Mastuane Wale (1866-1927). When S. Iqbal Singh Ji retired as Director
Agriculture, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh on 30.03.1987, he dedicated himself to the task started by Sant Teja
Singh Ji. Sant Teja Singh (1877-1965) was a highly educated person (M.A., LLB and M.A. Harvard from
U.S.A.) and he wanted to establish a high class Sikh Educational Institution at a spiritual place, which he had
discovered at Baru Sahib in Himachal Pradesh. In search of this place, Baba Iqbal Singh had helped him
and as such after his death, S. Iqbal Singh Carried forward this mission and very shortly a high class Sikh
Institution was set up at this beautiful picturesque place also known as The Valley of Divine Peace. After
that Baba Iqbal Singh Ji set up a large number of academies in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Uttaranchal and
U.P. Most of these academies have been set up at rural locations including Cheema Sahib in Punjab, the
birth place of Sant Attar Singh Ji. When Baru Sahib University known as Akal University came into being, a
number of colleges were started and affiliated to the same. Another university at Talwandi Sabo has been set
up recently of which Baba Iqbal Singh is the Chancellor and it is his dream to make it a Centre of Excellence
on par with the best universities in the World.
Baba Ji has not only taken a keen interest in the education of Sikhs living in India and abroad and also
those living in villages where there are no schools, but has also started a number of other projects for the
welfare of the community. For example, he has given training to the poor village girls in many vocations
which can help them in establishing themselves in life. Teacher training including basic teacher training
is also given to poor girls without charging them anything and then they are employed in the Academies
run by the trust and society. Akal Foundation also has an orphanage in which thousand of orphans are
getting free education. Baba Ji, even at this old age works with untiring and missionary zeal. He visits many
foreign countries to solicit the students, the financial help and also the first hand knowledge of the education
system in those countries. His magnetic and dynamic personality is so inspiring and motivating that many
students who have got education in the Institutions under his guidance are winning laurels as true Gursikhs
in different fields in different part of the world. Thus he is one of the great Sikh Role Models and will always
be remembered for his immense and laudable contribution not only in the field of education, but also
preparing the role models for future.
