Saints’ teachings key to state’s revival, says Manmohan Singh

Ravi S Singh

Tribune news Service

New Delhi, April 8

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here today that though Punjab was convulsed by drug addiction and liquor consumption, the teachings of its saints and social reformers offered a silver lining for it to reclaim its glorious past.

Speaking at a function after releasing a book, ‘Baba Iqbal Singh - Mission to Reboot Punjab through Value-based Education’, Manmohan Singh said the Gurus had contributed towards the transformation of India through their teachings.

Stressing the need for the state’s holistic development, he highlighted the importance of spiritual and value-based education.

The former PM praised educationist Baba Iqbal Singh and his NGO, the Kalgidhar Society, which runs a chain of schools under the aegis of Akal academies. The society has its headquarters at Baru Sahib in Himachal Pradesh. It manages 130 schools in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. 

Baba Iqbal Singh said Akal academies provided education on the lines of traditional Gurukuls.

Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan and former MP Tarlochan Singh were among the others who addressed the gathering.

Manpreet said: “I am sad to see today’s Punjab and am deeply concerned about its future. Our ‘mother’ has become weak and its sons have turned into addicts.”

Supreme Court Bar Association president Rupinder Singh Suri, Padma Bhushan awardee Isher Judge Ahluwalia and corporate honcho Sunil Kant Munjal also attended the event.