Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College

The story of Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Ludhiana can be delineated in three distinct phases. The first phase and the foundation of the college fall within the ORBit of Sikh Renaissance of the early 20th century. Some far sighted people drawn from amongst the Sikh elite of Gujranwala endowed with a strong philanthropic impulse got together in 1889 AD and formed a Khalsa Committee (later Khalsa Educational Council) to establish a Khalsa High School in Gujranwala Town. This school started functioning four years ahead of The Famous Khalsa Collegiate School, Amritsar. The foundation stone of the huge palatial building of this school was laid on November 18, 1912 by Sir Luious Dane, Governor of the Punjab on the outskirts of habitation of Gujranwala. Before long, the school became the most popular, in the entire region beyond the river Ravi up to Peshawar. We find a mention of the Khalsa Educational Council, Gujranwala in high eulogistic terms in the Punjab University Calendar, Lahore (1918), when the council applied for affiliation to start an intermediate College. Mr M U Moore, an Irishman, was appointed as the first Principal of this college. He stayed for AbOUT two years and levelled the ground for sprouting healthy traditions for the college. By the year 1920, the college building was completed, thanks to the untiring efforts of the next Principal,Sant Teja Singh, M.A., LL.B. A.M. (Harvard) and blessings of Sant Attar Singh ji, a highly venerated patron of education amongst the Sikhs. In 1921 AD,Bhai Jodh Singh (later Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala) joined as a Principal. He was instrumental in starting the Medical and Non-Medical streams. His short but eventful stint at Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujranwala became memorable

However, this period also witnessed some tragic events – the Jalianwala Bagh massacre at Amritsar and riots in Gujranwala in reaction thereto, imposition of Martial Law and bombardment of Khalsa School Boarding House and the playgrounds. During this very period, Mahatma Gandhi and Lajpat Rai visited Gujranwala in June 1921 (because Section 144 had been clamped at Lahore and they could not arrange any public meeting there), addressed a responsive public gathering there and gave a call to the people to join the non-cooperation programme of the Congress. Both addressed the students of Guru Nanak Khalsa College as well. In such circumstances, the management was hard pressed to get the college disaffiliated from the Punjab University, Lahore and allow therein the launch of Basic Education programme based on vocational/skill training, as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi. But this programme met with success nowhere in the entire country. Still some students and teachers in our college (then named as Guru Nanak Khalsa National College) tried hard to pursue this ‘national’ programme. Prof. Sher Singh (Chemistry) was named as a Principal and subjects like commerce and industrial chemistry were introduced. But all this led the enthusiasts nowhere. However, after the return of normalcy, the college management lost no time to get the college re-affiliated to the Punjab University, Lahore. Sant Teja Singh was recalled to hold the reins of the college and total academic activity was resumed with remarkable alacrity. Mohd. Yusuf Abbasi, an accomplished historian of Pakistan and our college alumnus (1937–41) tells us that “it was during this period of ‘national upsurge’ that instruction in Urdu, Persian and Arabic was introduced in the college because numerous Muslim students flocked to the college due to the liberal atmosphere obtaining in the institution under the stewardship of Sant Teja Singh, Principal. It is unfortunate that this significant episode of the history of our college has so far not been found worthy of mention, by the so called ‘national historians’ anywhere in Mahatma Gandhi’s programme of Basic Education to form a part of history of Freedom Struggle.

Bawa Harkrishan Singh joined as a Principal sometime around 1926. He started his career as a Lecturer in English at Khalsa College, Amritsar. Brilliant teacher with multi-dimensional knowledge, as he was, he soon became the cynosure of both the students and his esteemed colleagues. He had been an epicentre of Sikh Gurdwara Reform movement. He was the one who negotiated the enactment of the Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1925 despite the fact that the faction-ridden Sikh leadership could never create a situation where bold decisions could be taken for the community. His brilliance and extra-ordinary intellectual acumen impressed S. Narain Singh MLC (he was also a negotiator on behalf of the Government), the then Honorary Secretary of Khalsa Educational Council, Gujranwala invited him to join the college as a Principal. Mohd. Yusuf Abbasi was a student in the college when Bawa Harkrishan Singh was a Principal. He narrates: ‘Bawa Ji never fined or suspended a student. His discipline rested on love, fairness and forgiveness. Under Bawa Harkrishan Singh, Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujranwala stood on a higher academic moral and spiritual plain. Indeed, it was the pride of Gujranwala. The Muslim residents of Gujranwala till today regard the college (now Govt. Islamic College) ‘as a gift from Bawa Harkrishan Singh and a befitting Sikh legacy’. Mohd. Rafiq Tarar, another alumnus (1945–47) rose to the position of the President of Pakistan (1998-2001). He continues to still have a sense of belonging to Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujranwala and he mentions the same with pride.

A legend/myth is current among the present day educated middle/upper middle class of Gujranwala that some Sikh young men were so emotionally charged in 1947, when the college had got converted into a refugee camp that they proposed to the management and the Principal that the campus be set ablaze. Bawa Harkrishan Singh, the man at the helm, ‘did not let them pursue such a senseless frustrating proposal further’. We had to leave Gujranwala and the college with a heavy heart along with the fond memories and wishing the residents of Gujranwala well - Sarbat da bhala - as Guru Nanak had taught us to do. Thanks to Bawa Harkrishan Singh - a true Sikh of the Guru who led the exodus from the college camp.

Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College after Partition in 1947: The migratory caravans of the Sikhs stepped out of the college camp; bidding good bye to their ancestral homes, the idea of resurrection of the college at a suitable place on the Indian side of Punjab caught the minds of Sikh leaders who had been associated with the Guru Nanak Khalsa College at Gujranwala as the nerve-centre of Sikh activities. S. Jeet Singh Chawla, Honorary Secretary (1941–61), Khalsa Educational Council, Gujranwala hurriedly managed to collect the land documents as also the FDRs from the bank lockers. As soon as they could arrange shelters for their families in various towns of present Punjab/Delhi after reaching India, they started search for collaborators/suitable site to rehabilitate the college. It was an uphill task; indeed. Still sometime around May 1953, S. Jeet Singh Chawla and his close associates; the Giani trio, Lal Singh, Raghbir Singh and Harjit Singh, made up their mind to establish the college at Ludhiana. Happily, the Malwa Khalsa Diwan people suggested to them that they could hire the building then in the process of being vacated by the Govt. College for Women in the Civil Lines (they had been provided by the Punjab Government with a newly constructed vast campus). Thereafter, the things started moving fast in our favour. A new story of hope and envy began to unveil. This marks the start of third phase of history of this great institution. Somehow the idea of the peculiarity of the land of Gujranwala, which gave the only Sikh royal family and the only genuine Sikh general, Hari Singh Nalwa, to the Punjab – nay to India, surfaced as a strong sentiment for those engaged in the task of resurrection and the institution rose like a phoenix; with a new name Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College at Ludhiana.

With enormous difficulties looming large before them, our elders imbued with a mission, did not look back. A retired DPI, Punjab: Professor Mahan Singh, was appointed as a Principal. He started all the academic programmes being pursued at Gujranwala in 1947 in one go. A retired Deputy D.P.I. from PEPSU cadre, Prof. Ujagar Singh, readily agreed to join the faculty. A modest but swift start paid off. The members of the Khalsa Educational Council (Gujranwala), Ludhiana were enthusiastic to proceed with determination to concretise their dreams. The enviable results are before us. The resurrection of our college at Ludhiana could not boast of a vast campus with cosy hostels and playgrounds as at Gujranwala because the piece of land that we got was far too less. We have had to content ourselves with the emerging multi-storey metropolitan trends right from the time; our college breathed a second/third life. Those guiding its destinies have remained responsive to the changing complexion of higher education in the country and the state. This policy has enabled us to develop/grow steadily with confidence, despite the heavy odds. Though the present inter-state character of the Panjab University, Chandigarh creates problems for us quite often, still we feel proud to continue our historic BOND with this great historic institution.

Significantly, it needs to be mentioned here that we filed a claim for the property left at Gujranwala, which was admitted for Rs.35,91,000/- but we got only a paltry sum of Rs.2,44,000/- as rehabilitation grant to start afresh. That is why; we had to raise this institution at Ludhiana, brick by brick. Each unit of our buildings, incongruous as it might appear, has a story to tell. A huge bungalow with ten rooms and two big grassy lawns (no longer visible) was purchased to house offices/class rooms in the first instance. A make-shift hostel was constructed in one corner of this mansion. The neighbouring small pieces of land around it were added in fragments. Now they all have acquired distinct identities as Science Block, Commerce Block, Administrative Block, the Guru Nanak Auditorium, Principal (Sant) Teja Singh Library. The college Gurdwara is appropriately centrally placed. We have smart class rooms and big halls in a three storey building for ever-expanding Computer Science laboratories to cater to especially the BCA and the PGDCA programmes and for the students enrolled in conventional courses. All the postgraduate programmes are backed by a well-stocked tidy library containing a rich collection of rare books and the continuing in-flow of latest publications. The reading hall of the library has been provided with Air Conditioners to create ambient as well as congenial conditions for study. The recently carved out research corners for faculty members have lent grace to the lay-out of our library.

The playgrounds could be developed on the land provided to us on lease with great reticence, near the famous Nehru Rose Garden by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation. We have developed thereon an athletic track of standard measurements along with Cricket, Volley Ball grounds and facilities for other minor games. A modern gymnasium on the main campus is another attraction for our students to inspire them to maintain physical fitness. To provide the best of facilities to the students is a continuing programme with us. To ensure supply of filtered water and first aid on the campus has always been our anxiety as the water available in the city of Ludhiana is highly contaminated and likewise, the air remains polluted.

Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujranwala (1917–47) and Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Ludhiana since 1953, has always welcomed youth of all castes and creeds to the realm of knowledge through its portals. It shall not be out of place to mention here a few names of the alumni of our college at Gujranwala who made a mark in life.

Mukhtar Siddiqui became famous as a Urdu poet, Altaf Gauhar rose to the position of Secretary (Ministry of Information) during the regime of Field Marshal Ayub Khan and Gondal became a Judge of Lahore High Court. It will be in the fitness of things to mention here that eminent Sikh historian Dr Kirpal Singh and an outstanding scholar on Partition of the Punjab comes from amongst our alumni (1941–45) while at Gujranwala. Our alumnus has occupied distinguished positions in the entire Indian sub-continent both in Pakistan and India. Interestingly, many a time, the student strength in our college belonging to the Muslim community had an edge over the Sikhs and Hindus. Muhammad Rafiq Tarar rose to be the Judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan and after retirement was elected as President of Pakistan. A pious soul, he takes pride to mention his association with our college. Late Professor Mohd. Yusuf Albasi of first batch of graduates (1937–41), an eminent historian of Pakistan, served as Pro Vice-Chancellor of prestigious Qaid-i-Azam Jinnah University, Islamabad.

Jasbir Singh Bawa passed intermediate in 1938 to enter R.I.M.S. (now N.D.A.) to rise to the position of Lt. Genl. and receive decorations AVSM and PVSM. B. L. Kalra graduated and earned appreciation from the Principal as ‘our scholar, sportsman, counsel and musician’. He became a leading lawyer of Supreme Court of India. K.S. Narang, a distinguished civil servant made a name in Indian Punjab. His contribution to the establishment of P. A. U. Ludhiana and green revolution is remembered with gratitude. Since 1953 onward, our alumni have managed to make their presence felt in every sphere of life. Among the men of letters, Gurbhajan Gill (poet), Shamsher Sandhu (Lyrcist), Paras (English novelist) names continue to echo. On the field of sports, Nirmal Singh Grewal, a silver medallist of ASIAD and Raminder Singh (Olympian Hockey Captain) brought us fame. In public life, our contribution has remained more than discernible, Charanjit Singh Atwal rose to be Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha for two terms and Vice-Chairman of Commonwealth Legislatures Association, Avtar Singh Makkar (President, SGPC), Maheshinder Singh Grewal struggled on to become a Cabinet Minister in the state and is now Adviser to the Chief Minister Punjab.

Our students have also made forays in DeFence services and Journalism (Vetran K S Chawla (Tribune) and serving Mohit Khanna) and such other areas as film production & singing industries. Surinder Shinda, Prabhdeep Gill, Yudhvir Manak and Ravinder Grewal are too well known and we feel proud of them, whenever and wherever their mention appears. It is noteworthy that our alumni have occupied quite a large space in educational operational area in the local colleges. Ms. Sumedha Bhandari has opted for a career in the Department of Foreign Languages in the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.

In academics, some of our students could make it to the prestigious IAS (Late Surjit Singh, Labh Singh and Swarn Singh of Tamil Nadu cadre) and the central services (G.S. Narang). This appeared to be a modest achievement but also a modest achievement but also a fair competition with the local Government College then. We have provided hordes of entrepreneurs to this hub of small-scale industry (Ludhiana) mostly from amongst the people from West Punjab. In the public life, our students have done too well. Twice our students occupied the Local Mayorial pedestal (Nahar Singh & Apinder Singh). The highest position in the Sikh religious hierarchy is presently held by our illustrious alumnus, Avtar Singh Makkar.

In the Punjabi Literary domain, we have nursed two prominent lyrcists Gurbhajan Singh Gill (who also occupied the prestigious office of President of Sahit Academy and has recently been honoured by the Punjab Govt. as a poet), Shamsher Singh Sandhu and a famous Dhadi;Charan Singh. Gurbhajan Singh Gill writes about the college with a sense of pride, “Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College is not an institution only in the traditional sense. It is in fact a place where dreams come into your mind and you begin to nurse a feeling that you have wings to fly high”. Paras Bandha, is now too well-known as an English novelist of whom we must feel proud whenever we think of our alumni.