Khalsa College ( pa, ਖਾਲਸਾ ਕਾਲਜ ''khālsā kālaj'') is a historic educational institution in the northern Indian city of
Amritsar
Amritsar (), historically also known as Rāmdāspur and colloquially as ''Ambarsar'', is the second largest city in the Indian state of Punjab, after Ludhiana. It is a major cultural, transportation and economic centre, located in the Majha r ...
in the state of
Punjab, India
Punjab (; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in northern India. Forming part of the larger Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, the state is bordered by the States and union territories of India, Indian states of Himachal ...
. Founded in 1892, the sprawling campus is located about eight kilometers from the city-center on the Amritsar-Lahore highway (part of the
Grand Trunk Road
The Grand Trunk Road (formerly known as Uttarapath, Sarak-e-Azam, Shah Rah-e-Azam, Badshahi Sarak, and Long Walk) is one of Asia's oldest and longest major roads. For at least 2,500 years it has linked Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent. ...
), adjoining
Guru Nanak Dev University
The university is Entitled by University Grants Commission to offer higher studies degree courses online. Guru Nanak Dev University's campus is spread over near village of Kot Khalsa, nearly west of the Amritsar, next to Khalsa College, A ...
campus, to which Khalsa College is academically affiliated.
Khalsa College was built as an educational institute during the
British Raj
The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent;
*
* it is also called Crown rule in India,
*
*
*
*
or Direct rule in India,
* Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...
in India when Sikh scholars thought about providing higher education to Sikhs and Punjabis within
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
. Amritsar was chosen for its establishment and
Singh Sabha Movement
The Singh Sabha Movement was a Sikh movement that began in Punjab in the 1870s in reaction to the proselytising activities of Christians, Hindu reform movements ( Brahmo Samajis, Arya Samaj) and Muslims (Aligarh movement and Ahmadiyah). The mov ...
and
Chief Khalsa Diwan
The Chief Khalsa Diwan is a 117-year-old Sikh organisation, which is the central Organization of various Singh Sabhas spread across Punjab, India. Unlike the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, the Diwan is an apolitical body and only conc ...
approached the then Sikh Maharajas and Sikh people of Punjab to raise funds and donate land to build this unique institute. People of Amritsar, Lahore and other cities of Punjab including rich Sikh families and Maharajas donated land and raised funds to build Khalsa College, Amritsar. Its architectural design was created by
Ram Singh, a famous architect who also designed one of the Places in England. Its building was completed in 1911–12. Its architectural features are mix of British, Mughal and Sikh architect.
Khalsa college's contribution towards the freedom history of India is significant as it has generated many famous freedom fighters, political leaders, armed forces generals, scientists, famous players-Olympians, actors, writers, journalists and scholars. More information about Khalsa college can be found in the book "History of Khalsa College Amritsar," written by Dr. Ganda Singh, former head of the dept. of Sikh History, Khalsa College Amritsar. In modern times, the only research work on Khalsa College's history, "The Temple of Study-Khalsa College Amritsar," was initiated by Jaspreet Singh Rajpoot, an alumnus of Khalsa, in the year 2002 with the collaboration of Khalsa College governing council and Dr. Mohinder Singh Dhillon (the then Principal of KCA), reveals the facts of Khalsa college which are still unknown to most of the people around the world.
History
Khalsa College Establishment Committee was set up in 1890 with Colonel W. R. M. Holroyd, Director of Public Instruction, Punjab, as president, and W. Bell, Principal of Government College, Lahore, as secretary. Among the native constituents of this 121-member committee were Sir Attar Singh, Gurdial Singh Maan of
Nabha
Nabha is a city and municipal council in the Patiala district in the south-west of the Indian state of Punjab. It was the capital of the former Nabha State. Nabha is also a sub-division city which comes under Patiala district.
Geography
Nabha ...
, Diwan Gurmukh Singh of
Patiala
Patiala () is a city in southeastern Punjab, India, Punjab, northwestern India. It is the fourth largest city in the state and is the administrative capital of Patiala district. Patiala is located around the ''Qila Mubarak, Patiala, Qila Mubarak ...
, Bhai Kahn Singh, Professor Gurmukh Singh and Sardar Jawahir Singh (1859–1910). Many princely states of British India and Sikh people of Punjab gave their financial help to the establishment of Khalsa College, including Maharaja Rajendra Singh of
Patiala
Patiala () is a city in southeastern Punjab, India, Punjab, northwestern India. It is the fourth largest city in the state and is the administrative capital of Patiala district. Patiala is located around the ''Qila Mubarak, Patiala, Qila Mubarak ...
, Maharaja Hira Singh of
Nabha
Nabha is a city and municipal council in the Patiala district in the south-west of the Indian state of Punjab. It was the capital of the former Nabha State. Nabha is also a sub-division city which comes under Patiala district.
Geography
Nabha ...
, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of
Kapurthala
Kapurthala is a city in Punjab state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Kapurthala District. It was the capital of the Kapurthala State, a princely state in British India. The aesthetic mix of the city with its prominent buil ...
and Sir Sunder Singh Majithia.
After a prolonged discussion about the site of Khalsa College, it was decided that one college would be established in Amritsar, followed by a second in Lahore. The campus was sited just outside the village of Kot Sayyad Mehmood, which was later renamed Kot Khalsa.
Campus
The main building is of the
Indo-Sarcenic
Indo-Saracenic architecture (also known as Indo-Gothic, Mughal-Gothic, Neo-Mughal, or Hindoo style) was a revivalist architectural style mostly used by British architects in India in the later 19th century, especially in public and government ...
style, which is strongly influenced by traditional Indian and
Mughal schools of architecture. The foundation stone was laid on 5 March 1892, with the first classes starting in 1893.
The college was designed by
Bhai Ram Singh
Bhai Ram Singh (1858–1916) was one of pre-partition Punjab's foremost architects, dominating the scene for nearly two decades from the 1890s. Amongst his works is the Durbar Room, Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, England; Lahore Museum an ...
, principal of the Mayo School of Arts, Lahore, with the help of engineer Dharam Singh Gharjakhia. Bhai Ram Singh was decorated for his services with the Member of the Victorian Order (
MVO), the highest civilian award of British India.
Faculties
Khalsa College has following faculties:
*Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
*Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration
*Faculty of Sciences
*College of Agriculture
*Institute of Computer Science
Institutes
The institutions under Khalsa College Charitable Society, which is running the century-old Khalsa College:
Colleges-
* Khalsa College, Amritsar-India (established.1892)
* Khalsa College of Education, Amritsar (established.1954)
* Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar (established.1968)
* Khalsa College of Education, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar (established.2006)
* Khalsa College of Nursing, Amritsar (established.2006)
* Khalsa College of Pharmacy, Amritsar (established.2009)
* Khalsa College of Engineering & Tech., Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar (established.2009)
* Khalsa College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Amritsar (established.2009)
* Khalsa College (Amritsar) of Technology & Business Studies, Mohali (established.2009)
* Khalsa College of Physical Education, VPO Heir, District. Amritsar (established.2009)
* Khalsa College Chawinda Devi, Amritsar
*
Khalsa College of Law, Amritsar
* Khalsa College of Management & Technology, Amritsar
Schools-
* Khalsa College Sr. Sec. School (Boys), Amritsar (established. 1892)
* Khalsa College Sr. Sec. School (Girls), Amritsar (established. 1942)
* Khalsa College Public School, Amritsar Amritsar (established. 1984)
* Khalsa College International Public School, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar (established. 2001)
* Khalsa College Public School, Heir, Amritsar (established. 2008)
Notable alumni
*
Rajkavi Inderjeet Singh Tulsi
Rajkavi Inderjeet Singh Tulsi (2 April 1926 – 11 May 1984), was an Indian patriotic poet, Bollywood lyricist, and author. His writings in Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu covered every aspect of life, including religion, romance, labor's life, country' ...
, Poet, Author, and Bollywood Lyricist
*
Hans Raj Khanna
Hans Raj Khanna (3 July 1912 – 25 February 2008) was an Indian judge, jurist and advocate who propounded the basic structure doctrine in 1973 and attempted to uphold civil liberties during the time of Emergency in India in a lone dissenting ...
, former Judge of Supreme Court of India who authored the
basic structure doctrine
The basic structure doctrine is a common law legal doctrine that the constitution of a sovereign state has certain characteristics that cannot be erased by its legislature. The doctrine is recognised in India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, and ...
*
Harcharan Singh, Punjabi playwright
*
Harpreet Sandhu (actor)
Harpreet Sandhu (born 8 January 1979) is an Indian actor, director, writer, music director, editor, cinematographer and poet. His debut Punjabi film '' Work Weather Wife'' was the first ever Punjabi and only Canadian film to get shortlisted at 87 ...
, actor
*
Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, athlete
*
Pratap Singh Kairon, former Chief Minister of Punjab
*
Darbara Singh
Darbara Singh (10 February 1916 — 10 March 1990) was the Chief Minister of Punjab from 1980 to 1983.
Freedom struggle and provincial politics
Sardar Darbara Singh (1916–1990), born into the prosperous Jatt zamindar family of Sardar D ...
, former Chief Minister of Punjab and national level leader of the Congress
*
Teja Singh Samundri (1882–1926), founder of
SGPC
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee ( SGPC; "Supreme Gurdwara Management Committee") is an organization in India responsible for the management of Gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship in states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and the union ...
- Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee
*
Rajinder Singh "Sparrow" Shergill
*
Sohan Singh Josh
Sohan Singh Josh (1898–1982) was an Indian communist activist and freedom fighter.
Life
Josh was born on 12 November 1898 at village Chetanpura in Amritsar district, Punjab Province, British India. His father, Lal Singh, wished for his son t ...
(1898-–1970?), socialist leader of Punjab
*
Gurdial Singh Dhillon
Dr. Gurdial Singh Dhillon (6 August 1915 – 23 March 1992) was an Indian politician from the Indian National Congress party. He served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha twice, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (1973–76) and Indian H ...
, former Speaker of the
Indian Parliament
The Parliament of India ( IAST: ) is the supreme legislative body of the Republic of India. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the president of India and two houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the ...
*
Hukam Singh, former Speaker of the
Indian Parliament
The Parliament of India ( IAST: ) is the supreme legislative body of the Republic of India. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the president of India and two houses: the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the ...
*
Mulk Raj Anand
Mulk Raj Anand (12 December 1905 – 28 September 2004) was an Indian writer in English, recognised for his depiction of the lives of the poorer castes in traditional Indian society. One of the pioneers of Indo-Anglian fiction, he, togethe ...
, novelist
*
Kidar Sharma
Kidar Nath Sharma, also Kedar Sharma (12 April 1910 – 29 April 1999), was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, and Lyricist of Hindi films. While he had great success as a director of such movies as '' Neel Kamal'' (1947), ''Bawre ...
, film director and screenwriter
*
Bhisham Sahni
Bhisham Sahni (8 August 1915 – 11 July 2003) was an Indian writer, playwright in Hindi and an actor, most famous for his novel and television screenplay '' Tamas'' ("Darkness, Ignorance"), a powerful and passionate account of the Partition of ...
, filmmaker and writer
*
Manohar Singh Gill, former Chief Election Commissioner of India
*
Maninder Singh, Captain of the
Pro Kabaddi League franchise
Bengal Warriors
*
Hardeep Tauo Toganwalia, Captain of Canadian Kabaddi Team
*
Bishen Singh Bedi
Bishan Singh Bedi (; born 25 September 1946) is a former Indian cricketer who was primarily a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. He played Test cricket for India from 1966 to 1979 and formed part of the famous Indian spin quartet. He played a tota ...
, former captain of the Indian cricket team
*
Gurshabad
Gurshabad Singh Kular (born 24 August 1989) is an Indian film actor and playback singer known for his work predominantly in Punjabi cinema and music industry. After completing his junior high school from a local school, he attended Khalsa Coll ...
, Playback singer, actor, and performer
*
Ranjit Bawa
Ranjit Singh Bajwa (born 14 March 1989) known professionally as Ranjit Bawa is an Indian singer and actor associated with Punjabi language music and films. He rose to fame from his single "Jatt Di Akal" which broke many Punjabi records. He made ...
, Punjabi singer
*
Amrinder Gill
Amrinder Singh Gill () is an Indian actor, singer, songwriter, and film producer who makes Punjabi-language films and music. He has been nominated for twenty-four PTC Punjabi Film Awards, winning seven including three for Best Actor, and two ...
, actor and singer
*
Karaj Gill
Karaj Gill is an Indian film producer who makes Punjabi-language films and music. He owns a production house and distribution company Rhythm Boyz Entertainment. Gill began producing films in 2015, with a historical romance film ''Angrej''. He ...
, film producer
*
Khem Singh Gill, geneticist and former vice chancellor of
Punjab Agricultural University
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is a public funded agricultural university located in Ludhiana district of Punjab. It is a state agricultural university in India. It was established in 1962 and is the nation's third-oldest agricultur ...
Hockey players
*
Balbir Singh Sr.
*
Dharam Singh
Dharam Narayan Singh (25 December 1936 – 27 July 2017) was an Indian senior congress politician who served as the 17th Chief Minister of Karnataka from
28 May 2004 to 28 January 2006 and Member of the Lok Sabha from Bidar Lok Sabha constitu ...
*
Harbinder Singh
Harbinder Singh (born 8 July 1943 in Quetta) is a former field hockey player from India. He started his international career in 1961 at the age of 18 years oungest member of the teamwith a tour to New Zealand and Australia with Indian hockey ...
References
External links
Khalsa College Amritsar website
{{Authority control
Monuments and memorials in Punjab, India
Khalsa College, Amritsar
Education in Amritsar
Palaces in Punjab, India
Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture