Sikh Girls Sen. Sec. School, Sidhwan Khurd

HISTORY

The small village of Sidhwan Khurd in District Ludhiana is well-known for its premier institutions of higher learning for females and finds prominent place in the Educational Map of Rural India.In 1908 Kaka Ujagar Singh, the only son of Bhai Sahib Bhai Narain Singh ji and Mata Ram Kaur Ji was suddenly snatched away from them by the cruel hands of destiny. The grievous and unexpected loss of the sole heir of their property dealt a stunning to the unfortunate parents who felt completely shattered and dismayed by this almost unbearable loss. In this sad hour of their terrible grief, they found some solace in their only daughter Bibi Harparkash Kaur, upon whom, hereafter they concentrated all their attention and decided to bring her up like a son by imparting her good education. Since education for girls in those days, was something unheard of particularly in rural areas, there was no institution in the area where the daughter could be educated. So, in 1909 Bhai Sahib Bhai Narain Singh ji a great visionary, started in his own Haveli the first class of a Primary Girls School to which Bibi Harparkash Kaur was enrolled as its first student. In course of time, this was raised to a Girls Middle School in 1916 and later to a recognized High School in 1934.

The development of this institution into a great rural Centre of Education for girls, became thereafter, the main concern and sole aim of the dedicated and self sacrificing family. To achieve that purpose and to ensure that the tiny seedling of education planted by him in 1909, continued to grow and flourish without suffering any setback, when he was no longer on the scene, Bhai Sahib Bhai Narain Singh ji created a Trust in 1943 known as “Sri Guru Hargobind Ujagar Hari Trust” and dedicated his entire property to this Trust for the sacred cause of education and he became the First President of the Trust. After his death Mata Ram Kaur ji took over his responsibilities and later on Padam shri Bibi Harparkash Kaur Ji worked as life Long President.

Her patronage, missionary zeal and strenuous efforts in promoting the cause of female education in this remote village, paid handsome dividends and resulted in the birth of the Degree College known as Khalsa College for Women in 1950 and Basic Training College in 1955, which eventually progressed to a full fledged Teacher Training College. This was later named as G.H.G. Harparkash College of Education.

After the sad demise of Padam Shri Bibi Harparkash Kaur in 1965, the S.G.H.G.U.Hari Trust was consisted of :

» S. Mohinder Singh Sidhwan (President)

» Babu Anokh Singh

» Bhai Guljar Singh

» S. Ujagar Singh

» S. Guljar Singh Sidhu

» S. Swaran Singh (Defence Minister of India)

» Mr. W.K.S S. Natha Singh

Later on other Trustees who joined to Continue the chain of growth & Development were:

» Gen. Gubaksh Singh (President)

» Mrs. Jaginder Kaur Grewal

» Capt. Dalbara Singh (Secretary)

» S.Gurnam Singh (Manager)

» S. Jagdev Singh Sidhwan (I.F.S) (President)

» S. Harcharan Singh Brar (Former C.M of Punjab)

» S. Tarlochan Singh (Manager)

» Mrs. Shivinder Kaur Sidhu

» Mr. Kirpal Singh Bhattal (Secretary)

» Dr. Khem Singh Gill (Former V.C of P.A.U. Ludhiana)

» S. Baljit Singh Sidhu

Their dedicated and Strenuous efforts resulted in to five Educational Institutions in a Small Village as Under :

» Sikh Girls Sen. Sec. School, Sidhwan Khurd

» Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd

» G.H.G.Harparkash College of Education for Women, Sidhwan Khurd

» Guru Hargobind Public Sr.Sec School, Sidhwan Khurd

» G.H.G.Institute of Law Sidhwan Khurd

Name & Address of the Present Trustees

S.B.S.Sidhu(President)
Retd. DGP, 19 F Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana

Dr. G.S. Grewal- Manager
S.G.H.G.U. Hari Trust, V.P.O. Sidhwan Khurd, Teh. Jagraon (Ludhiana)

S. Pritam Singh Johal, (Secretary)
Additional Dy. Commissioner (D), Sangrur

S.Davinder Singh Mann(Member)
S.G.H.G.U. Hari Trust, V.P.O. Sidhwan Khurd, Teh. Jagraon (Ludhiana)

S.Harmail Singh Sidhu (Member)
S.G.H.G.U. Hari Trust, V.P.O. Sidhwan Khurd, Teh. Jagraon (Ludhiana)

S. Jarnail Singh Dhillon(Member)

S.G.H.G.U. Hari Trust, V.P.O. Sidhwan Khurd, Teh. Jagraon (Ludhiana)

S. Kirpal Singh Bhattal, C.E. (Retd.)-Member

"The Captain's Sojourn", V.P.O. Bhanohar, Distt:-Ludhiana

INTRODUCTION

The untimely and tragic death of Bhai Ujagar Singh’s only son on May 9, 1908 was like a thunderbolt to his father Bhai Sahib Bhai Narain Singh. It took Bhai Sahib about a year to recover from the stunning shock and make up his mind to devote the rest of his life to the service of humanity and thus perpetrate the memory of his dear son. With this object in view, he started a Girls Primary School and a female Dispensary. In this noble mission he received the willing support of his village fellows and other sympathizers of female education. The village appreciated his services and encouraged him by sending their daughters to his school. The school was started on 29th May, 1909, on the site of present Gurudwara under a mulberry tree in the compound of Bhai Sahib’s house. It was recognized by the Education Department in 1912 as a Primary School. In 1916 it was raised to the Middle Standard and recognized as such in 1917. Optional English classes were started in 1930 and were recognized a year after. The school was raised to High Standard in 1934. School was adopted in Delhi pattern Grant in aid in 1967. The Senior Secondary classes were moved from Khalsa College for Women to the school in the year 2004-2005. To approve female education in the surrounding, Bhai Sahib started several branch schools in the neighboring villages. Some of those have been taken over by the district board Ludhiana.