Architecture
Nishan-e-Sikhi: A New Institution Takes Shape
by PERNEET SINGH
Better known for his outstanding work in augmenting green cover in Punjab, Bhai Sewa Singh Khadoor Sahibwale will be dedicating to society a multi-storey educational centre named Nishan-e-Sikhi here in April to prepare the youth in different fields, enabling them to compete in the fast-paced world.
Spread over four acres of land, the eight-storey tower will facilitate a bouquet of religious education, spiritual awareness, cultural understanding, historic information, vocational knowledge, national cohesion and entertainment options.
The idea behind Nishan-e-Sikhi is to provide attractive avenues to students, teachers, preachers, professionals, sportspersons and general public in the wake of falling standard of education and decline in values of life in society.
Bhai Sewa Singh explains: "The projects scheduled for the Nishan-e-Sikhi tower have been planned very carefully and are expected to facilitate resources for educationists, learners and professionals to help plan for the future of education in enhancing job orientation and life values."
The tower, with 80,000 square feet floor area, will have an auditorium, administrative block, conference hall, religious academy, coaching classes for plus one and plus two students, and a library. "The coaching facility for competitive exams like the Indian Administrative and Police Services, and the National Defence Academy are also under consideration," he added.
Apart from these, Guru Angad Institute of Careers and Courses will also move into Nishan-e-Sikhi. Scores of girls from the region have joined the Border Security Force (BSF) and police services after receiving training at the institute.
Bhai Sewa Singh said that their religious academy had already started functioning. The academy was running a five-year course in Sikh religion, M.A, (Gurmat), affiliated with Guru Nanak University.
"Every year 15 to 20 students are admitted in the academy. They are charged no fee and are provided free lodging and boarding facilities here. On completion of the course, they will become parcharaks. Therefore, we will be producing 75 to 100 parcharaks every five years from our academy. These students are taught different languages like Punjabi, Hindi, English and Brij, while French is also under our consideration," he added.
Incidentally, this is not the only innovative project of Bhai Sewa Singh. Earlier, he had been instrumental in setting up a multi-media Sikh museum, the first of its kind in the world, adjacent to Gurdwara Angitha Sahib here.
The Nishan-e-Sikhi is financially supported with donations by S. Kartar Singh Thukral from Singapore and the Sikh sangat, while Mahinderjeet Singh is the architect. The project was proposed in 2004 to mark the 500th birth anniversary of Guru Angad, while its foundation was laid on January 5, 2006.
[Courtesy: The Tribune]
March 1, 2011
Conversation about this article
1: Pritam Singh Grewal (Canada), March 03, 2011, 8:48 AM.
The idea enshrined in Nishan-e-Sikhi is laudable and very valuable. Hopefully the selfless seva being rendered by the sangat, as depicted in the accompanying images, will bear the desired fruit.
2: Vikramjit Singh (Tarn Taran, Punjab), April 19, 2011, 3:27 AM.
It is a great effort and thanks to the Thakral family and Bhai Seva Singh ji for bringing it to reality. Such noble efforts and institutes will bears long-lasting fruits
3: Harpreet Singh (Sangrur, Punjab), January 21, 2015, 2:08 AM.
It is a new approach to help Sikh students clear National Defence Academy (NDA) exams.