Sikh Education Related Organizations in India

Gursikh Scholarship Fund (GSF) Patiala

It is a different kind of organization, which is, infact, an initiative of some Sikh professional who started contributing certain amount as Daswandh to provide financial help to poor deserving Sikh students to enable them to pursue their higher education. An account was opened in the bank for making the deposits and also for accepting donations from other willing professionals who wanted to join for this Nobel cause. It was decided at the time of beginning this unique effort in 2012 that all these accounts will be managed by GSF Fund Management Committee. This three member committee has been formed from the donor members. It calls for the applications from eligible students and then decides their cases on merits. The committee members render honorary sewa and spend the amounts for granting scholarships only through cheques signed by the Secretary and one member of the committee. The committee presently consist of Col. (Retd.) Davinder Singh of Dwarka, New Delhi, Prof. Harbans Singh Kohli (Retd.) from Punjabi University Patiala and Brijpal Singh (Retd.) Professor LBSNAA Mussoorie. Dr. Brijpal Singh is the Secretary of the organization. He informed that ‘funds are used only for giving scholarships to partly finance the professional education of those meritous and needy, preferably Nitnemi Gursikhs, who get admission in government or recognized institutes on merit after +2 examinations. A brief account of the work and expenditures is given below for general information. Accounts are being checked by registered Chartered Accountants Income Tax Returns are filed. All information is available on asking.’ He further gave details of the students helped during all these years and the amount spent on them. The details are as under:-

Dr. Brijpal Singh added that any information regarding deserving needy Nitnemi Gursikh students can be given by the students or others on email or by mail as per the following details. The address for such details is 11 Green View Colony near Leela Bhawan Chowk behind Harbans Residency Hotel Patiala 147001. Those who want to send donations may also contact on email ikonkarbps@gmail.com or on telephone nos. 0175-2216738 & 9888328138.

International Sikh Confederation

The Institute of Sikh studies called an International Sikh Convention at Chandigarh on 13 November 2005, which was attended by eminent scholars from all parts of India, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Malaysia and Singapore. It was in the course of this convention that a decision was taken to constitute an International Sikh Confederation (ISC). The said confederation was got registered under the society registration act (XX) of 1860 as amended by Punjab amendment act 1957 on 14th December 2005 by Registration No. 1720 at Mohali. One of its main objects was to provide guidance and direction in the Sikh community’s march towards its ordained mission to spread the effulgent message of the Gurus and to ensure a rightful place for the community, nationally as well as internationally. However, the organisation under the able leadership of Dr. Sardara Singh Johal, the convenor, Lt. Gen. Kartar Singh Gill, the Secretary General and Col. S. Jagtar Singh Multani, the Secretary, realized that no aim could be achieved without giving maximum attention on the education of the community. Thus, it focussed its attention on the central minority scholarship schemes for ensuring that the Sikh children in Punjab and Haryana could get maximum benefit from this scheme. It was because of their efforts that the amount of allotment has increased to Rs. 360 crore during this year as against a meagre amount of 6 crores in 2007-08. Te persons named above had noted that in 2007-08 when minority scholarship scheme was launched by the Prime Minister for the benefit of the poor students, the amount of Rs. 6 crore set apart for Punjab could be utilized only up to 50 lakhs. It was mainly because there was no awareness among the people. International Sikh Confederation led by S. Kartar Singh Gill launched a massive awareness scheme by conducting TV shows, through advertisements and making personal visits to educational institutions and holding seminars and discussions with teachers, NGO’s, students and concerned departments. As a result of these efforts the amount of such scholarship and distribution thereof marked a tremendous increase.

Young Sikh Cultural Association

Young Sikh Cultural Association was registered in 1973 under the Societies Act 1860 at Delhi wide registration number S/4176. Its aims and objects included removing economic disparity in the Sikh society through education in National Capital Region of Delhi and to create awareness about Gurmat and Sikhism among the Sikh youth. The society is of the view – as the jews with small population like us can became so powerful in the world, so can the Sikhs if they are educated like them. Jews are so educated that they have won the highest number of Nobel Prizes and in addition to having a country of their own, control even the most powerful economy of USA. Thus, to achieve this laudable object, the association has created a Gursikh Education Fund with sole object of serving the community by helping the needy students to continue their education. They are granting scholarships to those deserving students who are living as per Sikh Rahat Maryada. Such students are selected on the basis of written test/interview and given priority by assessing their family income. This fund is also utilized to provide stationery items, bags, educational tabs, tuition fee of the institution, transportation or other items as per the need of an individual student. Such like students are also supported to pursue the professional courses. The association is also running some other educational and social projects. The same are listed as under:-

- Guru Nanak Library having 5000 books on Sikhism- cum reading room for IAS preparing students. Reading Room for Professional girl students.
- Publishing fortnightly matrimonial newspaper GURSIKH SANJOG since 1983 enabling the parents to find out suitable matches for their children.
- Organising Gurmat Quiz, Keertan, Turban Tying Competitions.
- Arranging workshops for Carrier Guidance.
- Conducting Matrimonial meets for Gursikh families.
- Arranging Gurmat, Punjabi Classes.

The association is working from Guru Nanak Library at Gurdwara Akali Baba Phoola Singh Complex, Near Karol Bagh Metro Station, Gate No. 7, Rajendra Nagar, New Delhi. It’s President is S. Narinder Singh Sethi (9312254047) and the secretary is S. Apinder Singh (9289329190) It can be contacted on landline no. 25862955 or 65849478. Its E-mail is gursikheducationfundysca@gmail.com.

Atam Pargas Social Welfare Council

Atam Pargas Social Welfare Council is non profitable, non political NGO with its Head Office at 99, Preet Vihar, Pakhowal Road, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Its mission is to sensitize academia to voluntarily take up the mission of grooming students as Truthful Human Beings. Series of Regional Educational Workshops, National and International Educational Conferences had been organised by the Atam Pargas Team in the last 8 years since its inception in 2009. More than two dozen colourful curriculum books (for nursery to 9th standard) have also been published. The publications meet high quality international printing standards and are prescribed for the subjects of Punjabi, Moral Science, Arts, Drawing and Social Science. More than 3000 academic institutions are already using these books in their school curriculum.

This organization has conducted many educational workshops wherein these books have proved very useful. The books are a thorough practical approach to teach the young minds the meaning of Gurbani. The compilation of, ‘Jeeveey Gurbani Naal’ books by Dr. Varinder Pal Singh are really useful for this purpose not only for students, but also for the teachers. There are books in which the students are required to colour the pictures contained therein. This exercise by the children not only imbibes the ethical values in their minds, but they also understand the true import of Guru’s Teachings. The organization also held awareness camps for the farmers and national student personality developments workshops. They have held so far eight national educational conferences, the last one was held on 1st and 2nd October 2017 at Pingarwara, Manawala, Sri Amritsar Sahib. The creative books throw light on the moral and ethical values. The visual aids provided in the books make them interesting and leave and everlasting impression on the little ones. The amalgamation of visual imagery and holy writings are instrumental in creating a positive effect on the young mind. This is really a new method of learning with fun which inspires the students. It is the need of the time to inculcate moral values in the children so that they learn to respect their religion, parents, teachers, elders, fallow human beings and nature. It is really a great mission which enlightens the sole with the internal message of Gurbani. There is a DVD available on YouTube, entitled ‘SAMAJ DE BIGREE SAWARAN LAEE ADHIYAPAKAN ATE MAPIYAN DE KARAN JOG KARAJ’. Its stirs and provide solution to the issues related to kids. It is really a very good initiative to inspire and empower teaching community to provide Gurbani based learning. Such a mission can change the society. The scientific explanations of Gurbani as explained during the educational workshops are really amazing. The whole team led by Dr. Varinder Pal Singh deserves appreciation. They can be contacted on the e-mail office@atampargas.org and also on Mobile Nos. 8288010531 and 8288010532.

Satnam Sarab Kalyan Trust

This trust based at House No. 1078, Sector-39B, Chandigarh was registered under the Indian Trust Act 1882 vide no. 1147 at Chandigarh in 2002. The mission of the trust was to impart career guidance and Gurmat to the students by appointing Gursikh professionals in various schools of Punjab and other states. In addition, helping the poor students for coaching and professional studies and improving standard of educations in schools were also included in its aims and objectives. In the year 2015-16, the trust conducted 92 career guidance camps in schools covering 9000 students. It provided coaching/tuition fee to 130 poor brilliant students. 135 students are still pursuing professional courses with a scholarships being awarded to them involving an expenditure of more than 30 lacs per year. For improving standard of education in schools 152 smart class rooms was setup in 98 schools covering 40000 students. In 2016-17 also 80 career guidance camps were organized and coaching/tuition fee was provided for 130 poor and brilliant students. Smart class rooms were also setup in 107 schools (nos. of class rooms 161). In addition to these educational efforts, the efforts of the trust to impart Gurmat Education have benefited more than 2 lacs children during the last 2 years. They also encouraged the students to do Sahaj Paths and become Amritdhari. As per the reports of the trust 6408 Sahaj Paths were completed by the children in 2015-16 and 9658 Sahaj Paths were recorded for 2016-17. The nos. of children getting baptized during these two periods is 4136 and 3936 respectively. The trust has also claimed that 4169 Patit students were restored to Sabat Surat during 2015-16 and 4314 such students adopted Sikhi Saroop in 2016-17. Wing commander D. S. Ahluwalia is the Chairman of this trust (mobile no. 91-9872401595), S. Harkirat Singh the managing trusty and Dr. Kawaljeet Singh, the trusty of this trust can be contacted on mobile nos. 9872638700 and 9855170184 respectively. The contact details of the organization are landline no. 0172-2691922 and e-mail : sskt39@rediffmail.com.

The Sikh Hope

The Sikh Hope is an NGO formed with a commitment to the welfare of the Gursikh youth who are academically meritorious but financially weak. The society is aimed at providing excellent coaching , boarding and lodging facilities to such youth. As per its plan, this kind of coaching is to be given in different batches. The organisation had come into existence in January 2015 when some retired officersof Punjab and Sind Bank came together with this mission. They immediately started working on the planned agenda. Till recently they have already trained seventeen batches and also helped them in getting jobs. S. Gurinderpal Singh, the President of the organisation told that more than 300 Gursikh students have benefited from their coaching centre. He made it clear that the training given is for banking examination or examinations conducted by Punjab Public Service Commission. It is their endeavour to expand their activities and cover UPSC examinations to extend the benefits to more such students. S. Inderjeet Singh Satija is the Secretary of the organisation. Their contact details are address H.No.3848, Sector 32-D, Chadigarh, Phone : 09814203848, Email : thesikhhope@gmail.com.

Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Educational Trust, Hong Kong

This is an important organisation in Hong Kong. It was established in April 1999, to co-inside with the 300th celebration of establishment of Khalsa by the 10th Master of the Sikhs. It was registered with the registrar of societies in Hong Kong under SEC 5A (1) Chapter 151 of Societies ordinance vide no. CP/LIC/50/19/23729 in year 2000 as a non profitable organization and its main function since its establishment has been “to promote education among the ethnic minorities especially the Sikhs”. The trust has helped the students by providing financial help to pursue their degrees. In addition, their thrust has been to teach Punjabi to the children of those Punjabis who are willing to keep their children connected to their roots. The children are encouraged not only to learn Punjabi, but also to do paath particularly, the Nitnem banis and those who are able to do it are amply awarded.

Their effort to improve the standard of education is also appreciable. In the year 2001, the trust officials approached the Education Department of Hong Kong for permission to hold tutorial classes after the school hours, in the school premises, so as to help the children do their home work and improve their standard of education by personalized coaching.

Since then, 4-5 teachers were deputed by the trust to Sir Ellis Kadoorie Primary and Secondary Schools to help the children to improve their standard of education. Since 2013 tutorial classes were also started free of cost in this regard. Quite encouraging results were visible in children’s annual examination results. The Trust has not only helped the children in their education, but has also developed their interest in Gurmat and Sikh religion by taking them to various camps and competitions. Further, the Trust has helped the new brides and bridegrooms coming to Hong Kong by educating them in the accounting method and other related matters with a view to become good accountants for which there is a huge demand in Hong Kong. Many of the adults were unable to settle themselves for lack of computer knowledge. Thus, the Trust felt that those adults should be given such knowledge as to enable them to settle themselves. Mr. Sharanjeet Singh has been given this task of imparting this knowledge to all such persons. Considering all these facts, it can be said that the said trust is doing excellent job. Hong Kong Government is also helping them by allotting significant grants to those schools which are being patronized by them. The Government is also helping them by allotting community halls at different states like Tungchung, Hung Hom, Wah Fu estate and Shatin area. The Chairman of the Trust Mr. Inderbethal Singh and the secretary Mr. Gulbeer Singh Batra take a lot of interest in various activities. The Trust can be approached on Telephone Nos. 22457755.

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