founding fathers
Sant Attar Singh Ji
(1866-1927)
Sant Attar Singh Ji, the most widely known and respected Sant in modern times, was a renowned philanthropist who not only advocated value based education blended with spirituality but was a messenger of universal brotherhood, always striving to create good human beings. He firmly stood for raising the moral standards of society and eradication of all social evils like discrimination with women and use of all types of intoxicants. He has been instrumental in guiding millions of people on the path of Gurmat as preached by the revered Sikh Gurus and the holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib. He believed that spiritual orientation has a great bearing on the health and well-being of a person, and meditation prayer and other religious practices play a great therapeutic role in the management of several ailments.
To take forward his noble mission, the Akal Drug De-Addiction Centres set up by The Kalgidhar Trust are successfully treating the cases of drug addiction holistically by blending traditional medical treatment with spiritual practices.
Sant Teja Singh Ji
(1877-1965)
Sant Teja Singh Ji, born as Niranjan Singh Mehta, founded The Kalgidhar Trust at Baru Sahib in Himachal Pradesh in 1963 to propagate the message of universal brotherhood and peace. A devout follower of Sant Attar Singh Ji, he wanted to further his mentor’s mission of blending science with spirituality to make the world a better place to live in.
Sant Teja Singh Ji holds a degree in law and having been educated from esteemed Harvard University in the United States of America. Over the years, The Kalgidhar Trust established by him has set up two Akal De-Addiction Centres, one each at Baru Sahib in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh and the other in Punjab at Cheema Sahib in district Sangrur. Besides this, The Kalgidhar Trust also has set up a Gurmat Vidyalaya, Akal Gurmat Sangeet Kala, Orphanage, Virdh Ashram(Old Age Home), Widows and Disadvantaged women and social transformation Ashram, Akal Charitable Hospital, two Universities and 129 schools for the welfare and social transformation of society.
Padam Shri Shiromani Panth Rattan Baba Iqbal Singh Ji
(1926-2022)
Padam Shri Shiromani Panth Rattan Baba Iqbal Singh ji was a most respected and widely known philanthropist who always believed in development of high moral standards, social values and promotion of universal brotherhood. He squarely strived to end discrimination prevalent in the society in any form.
He believed drug addiction to be a social evil that causes degeneration of a healthy society. Baba ji who also firmly believed in educating a girl child to bring socio-economic growth for a nation and make aware of her rights, initiated an all-women university Eternal University and women empowerment programmes, Akal Institute of Rural Women Empowerment (AIRWE) where over 4300 have been educated and gained employment so far.
Baba ji was pained to see people using intoxicants and becoming drug addicts. To take forward the mission envisaged by Baba Iqbal Singh Ji “Envisioning a Drug Free Society”, for remedying this self-suffering, The Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib has set-up two Akal Drug De-Addiction Centres, one at village Cheema in Sangrur district of Punjab and another at Baru Sahib in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh for the treatment of patients afflicted with this disorder.
