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N
E W S August
21, 2003: Florida, USA
Akal Academy was the mission of Sant Attar Singh, born in 1868, who believed that modern education cannot make a person complete without spiritual education. Attar Singh had an ardent follower Teja Singh, MA, LLB Punjab University. He was the principal of the Khalsa College, the first Sikh education institution, from 1904 to 1906. Teja Singh was sent abroad to England, US and Canada to teach people about Sikhi. He continued his education while in the US and received an MA degree from Harvard University. He founded the first Gurdwara in Stockton, USA, and the first Gurdwara in Victoria, Canada. When he returned to India, Teja Singh joined the service of Sant Attar Singh and opened many schools and colleges. He laid the foundation of the Banaras Hindu University - one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in India. According to the wishes of Sant Attar Singh, Teja Singh laid the foundation stone of Gurdwara Baru Sahib in 1956. The Gurdwara marks the place where Guru Gobind Singh once visited in Himachal Pradesh, 1300 meters above sea level in the Himalayas. In 1965, Teja Singh established the Kalgidhar Trust to create social welfare institutions. Under this trust, the Akal Academy Baru Sahib was established in 1986. The academy combines quality academic education with spiritual education based on Sikh religious philosophy. The academy is accredited by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Government of India, New Delhi. According to Iqbal Singh, President of the Kalgidhar Trust and Akal Academy Baru Sahib, the academy was opened in 1986 with 5 students. Today, there are 1260 students, including 125 who are from abroad, and 66 of those are from the US. All children receive identical education whether they are from a rural village or from abroad. "The local students are very motivated when they see the foreign students go through the same routines," says Iqbal Singh. Students are admitted as early as 4 years old and finish at 12th grade, essentially pre-K to 12. The academy focuses on helping children in rural areas and other underprivileged children. Of the 1260 students at Akal Academy Baru Sahib, 650 are studying free of tuition; 350 are orphans of the '84 riots. The academy accepts children who are off the straight path and puts them through a rigorous schedule which includes waking up early in the morning, going to the Gurdwara and doing paath. "They become disciplined," says Iqbal Singh, "and they have high academic achievement because of it." These students continue on to universities and become productive members of society. "As a result, our academy has a good reputation." Other states like Punjab, Harayana, Uppar Pradesh and some southern states approached them to open similar academies in their states. Today there are 22 schools, 16 in Punjab, 3 in Uppar Pradesh, 1 in Harayana, and 2 in Himachal Pradesh. Over 15,000 students study at the Akal Academies of Punjab. Iqbal Singh says, "Wherever we have the schools, they have influenced the population." According to official police reports, there has been a reduction in crime, drug use and alcoholism in areas around the schools. These schools have also influenced other schools in the area to improve their curriculum. Iqbal Singh is presently touring with the four girls from Akal Academy. Their three month tour will take them to major cities across the US and the UK. The Sikh Sentinel caught up with them in Miami, Florida. Accompanying them was Inderjit Singh of Atlanta, Georgia, whose three young children are also students at Akal Academy. He says that the academy provides the best education for his children, something they cannot receive anywhere else. They are gone 9 months out of the year, but they like studying there. This was the same sentiment expressed by 12-year-old student Charanpreet Kaur who says she loves her school. When asked what her favorite part of school was, she said she liked all of it. Charanpreet wants to be a medical doctor. The children touring the US are definitely inspiring everyone
who sees them. One reporter commented: "Their determination to succeed
is evident with the students who went from the US to Akal Academy, and
then returned to the US for college. All those students have gone on to
some of the top universities and graduate schools in the country as they
studied to become our doctors, lawyers, engineers, and other productive
members of society. They are excellent role models for our children that
can hopefully influence them with their message of making the world a
better place to live. As an American, I hope that some part of these students
will rub off onto our children for it will benefit them tremendously down
the road."
Copyright
©The Sikh Sentinel 2003 |
Charanpreet
Kaur is a twelve-year-old student of Akal Academy in India. She and three
of her fellow students are touring the United States to inspire Sikh American
children and to get inspiration themselves from children here. With their
antique-like instruments - two thadh drums and a sarangi (like a violin)
- their traditional style of music has been described as tranquil and
peaceful. The message they share through their lyrics, their thadhi vaars,
is one of universal brotherhood. They translate what they are about to
sing in perfect English. An American observer at a Gurdwara said, "Their
music blew me away."