Iqbal Singh (spiritual leader) explained

Honorific Prefix:Baba
Iqbal Singh
Honorific Suffix:Baru Sahib
Birth Name:Iqbal Singh Kingra
Birth Date:1 May 1926
Death Place:Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, India
Birth Place:Bharyal Lehri, Punjab, British Raj
Nationality:Indian
Education:Master of Science (M.sc.) (Agriculture)
Occupation:Sikh Leader, retired Government official
Known For:Baru Sahib and Kalgidhar trust

Iqbal Singh Kingra (1 May 1926 – 29 January 2022) was an Indian socio-spiritual leader of the Sikh community.[1] [2] [3] He was the Founder President of The Kalgidhar Trust, The Kalgidhar Society and Baru Sahib.[4] [5] He was considered to be one of the most influential Sikhs in the world.[6] [7] He was awarded the Sikh Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. In 2018 he was bestowed with Shiromani Panth Rattan (precious jewel of the Sikh community) by Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib. In 2022, he was conferred with the Padma Shri by the Government Of India for his contributions in the field of social work.

Early life

Singh was born to Sanwal Singh and wife Gulab Kaur in Bharyal Lehri, Gurdaspur district of Punjab.[8] Young Iqbal Singh was particularly fascinated by the lives of Dhruva and Bhakta prahlada on the one hand and Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, the younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh on the other hand. While in 6th grade, he was touched by the lives of Sanghamitta and Mahinda, the daughter and son of Ashoka.[8]

Education and career

Singh completed a Bachelor of Science Agriculture in 1949 from Lyallpur, Pakistan. In Pakistan he met Teja Singh Ji and Attar Singh and was influenced by their teachings. He later became disciple of Teja Singh Ji.[9] [10] Singh was highly impressed by their lives and teachings. He remained in constant touch with Teja Singh while pursuing his master's degree in Agriculture science.[9]

Iqbal Singh later worked for the Himachal government.[9] He revealed the hitherto known Tapo Bhoomi at Baru Sahib, which was established in 1956.[10] Later in 1982, Iqbal Singh founded and registered The Kalgidhar Trust and later The Kalgidhar Society.

Works

Iqbal Singh retired in 1986 from his job with the Himachal government.[4] He moved permanently to Baru Sahib after his retirement and immediately started working on Brahm Vidya Kendra.[10] He started the Akal Academy assisted by Khem Singh Gill, with only five students as a one-room school.[11] [12] The school later evolved as a 10+2 English-medium private school, affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi. This school is now affiliated with the International Baccalaureate for IB Primary Years Programme.[13]

Apart from the educational programs, 129 low-cost schools and two private universities were established by Iqbal Singh at Baru Sahib in Himachal and at several other places in Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.

Iqbal Singh has been working with the support of beneficiaries and volunteers in the direction of imparting education in the rural marginalised areas of North India.[14] He believed that rural children are excluded from the mainstream and cannot contribute to the nation's growth, hence the drive to “educate-enshrine-empower” these large masses is necessary.[15] [16] [17] [18]

He established Eternal University at Baru Sahib in 2008[19] [20] [21] [22] and Akal University,[23] Guru ki Kashi at Damdama Sahib in Punjab in 2015.[24] His biography by Benedict Parmanand was released in April 2017 by former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.

Death

Singh died in Baru Sahib on 29 January 2022, at the age of 95.[25]

Books

Biography

Awards and recognition

Controversies

Iqbal Singh has been criticised for his take on the early regimen of his students, vegetarian habits and simple dress code of the school. In the institution established by him, students are punished even with expulsion if caught defiling their hair or beards as per Sikh tenets.[35]

Akal Academy became the center of a controversy in 2008.[36] There was an allegation that the 'Turban' was being imposed on them.[37] Akal Academy later replied to the controversy explaining that Sikh students were expected to wear the Turban and that children from other faiths needed to cover their heads with a simple patka (piece of cloth as a headgear).[38] [39]

Notes and References

  1. News: Kaur. Jasleen. How one man is using education to treat Punjab's drug menace.
  2. Web site: Georgetown. University. A Discussion with Baba Iqbal Singh, President of the Kalgidhar Society, India.
  3. Web site: Kaur. Komalpreet. A Living Legend!- Baba Iqbal Singh of Baru Sahib on Mission Divine!. barusahib.org. Sikh Review.
  4. 25 November 2016. "Baru Sahib" - on the lines of Nalanda: Article by TN Kaul in The Tri….
  5. News: Centre of excellence in nature's lap Gitanjali Sharma. 19 July 2003.
  6. News: Manmohan Singh ranked world's most powerful Sikh, Montek second. 10 November 2013.
  7. News: THE SIKH 100 LIST. 10 November 2013.
  8. Web site: A Discussion with Baba Iqbal Singh, President of the Kalgidhar Society, India. berkleycenter.georgetown.edu. 12 January 2017.
  9. Web site: Sant Teja Singh - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. sikhiwiki.org. 12 January 2017.
  10. Web site: Sant Baba Attar Singh - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. sikhiwiki.org. 12 January 2017.
  11. News: Saints' teachings key to state's revival, says Manmohan Singh.
  12. Web site: Gurdwara Baru Sahib - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. sikhiwiki.org. 12 January 2017.
  13. 12 January 2017. India Today - Simply Punjabi The Home Coming.
  14. 10 November 2016. How Canadian Canola Oil is Educating India's Poor - Jivo Canola Oil &….
  15. 12 January 2017. The Speaking Tree.
  16. 29 November 2016. Article on Akal Academy - Baru Sahib in Living India.
  17. 25 November 2016. Article in GovernanceNow on Punjab's midnight children who are victim….
  18. 12 January 2017. Fight of fancy~ from the paddy Fields of Ratia to CASA Colorado.
  19. 12 January 2017. The Tribune.
  20. 12 January 2017. Northern voices.
  21. 12 January 2017. Akal Academies.
  22. 12 January 2017. Sikh network.
  23. 11 November 2016. Akal University - A University with a difference (HT).
  24. Web site: Sant Baba Iqbal Singh Ji and Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ji speak on Vaisakhi. writtenepisodes.com. 8 January 2017.
  25. News: Singh. JK. Nonagenarian Baba Iqbal Singh, whose was conferred Padma Shri award passes away in Baru Sahib. 2022-01-29. The Times of India. en.
  26. News: An Epitome of Inter-Faith – an apt message for the modern generation!. 9 February 2014. The Kalgidhar Society, Baru Sahib. 8 January 2017.
  27. 23 June 2014. Turban - The Pride of India.
  28. Web site: Baba Iqbal Singh - Mission to reboot Punjab Through Value - Based Education. vpindia.co.in. 8 January 2017.
  29. 23 June 2014. Report on Workshop 'Global Development & Role of Faith Inspired Insti….
  30. 10 November 2016. Baba Iqbal Singh with British PM, David Cameron.
  31. 23 June 2014. New York State Assembly Awards Citation to Baba Iqbal Singh ji, Baru ….
  32. Web site: Winners 2016. Sikh Awards.
  33. News: Social activist gets Shiromani Panth Ratan award - Times of India. The Times of India. 2 August 2018.
  34. News: Bureau. The Hindu. 2022-01-25. Full list of Padma Awards 2022. en-IN. The Hindu. 2022-01-29. 0971-751X.
  35. Web site: The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Haryana. tribuneindia.com. 12 January 2017.
  36. News: Turban diktat kicks up row in Punjab's Sikh school. Reuters Editorial. Reuters India. 12 January 2017. en-IN.
  37. Web site: Punjab school orders on turban kick up row - Indian Express. archive.indianexpress.com. 12 January 2017.
  38. Web site: The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Amritsar PLUS. tribuneindia.com. 12 January 2017.
  39. 23 June 2014. Turban - The Pride of India.

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