Khalsa College is a historic educational institution in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. The college's foundation stone was laid on March 5, 1892, with the first class starting in 1893. It is located on the Amritsar-Lahore highway (Grand Truck Road) eight kilometres from the city centre of Amritsar. It has generated many freedom fighters, political leaders, administrators, scientists, armed forces generals, famous players (Olympians), scholars, actors, writers, and journalists.
The 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. In the committee, there were 121 Members like Sir Attar Singh, Gurdial Singh Mann of Nabha, Diwan Gurmukh Singh Patiala, Bhai Khan Singh, Professor Gurmukh Singh, and Sardar Jawahir Singh. Many princely states of British India and Sikh people of Punjab provided financial help for the establishment of Khalsa College, including Maharaja Rajinder Singh of Patiala, Maharaja Hera Singh of Nabha, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala, and Sir Sunder Singh Majithia.
The college was designed by Bhai Ram Singh, Principal of the Mayo School of Arts, Lahore, with the help of engineer Dharm Singh Gharjakhia. The main building is considered a gem of the Indo-Saracenic style, which was strongly influenced by traditional Sikh, Mugal, and British schools of architecture. Bhai Ram Singh was decorated for his service with the member of the Victorian Order, the highest civilian award of British India. The building was completed in 1911.
The campus of this institution is spread over 300 acres. It has 86 classrooms, 10 tutorial rooms, 28 laboratories, a double-storey library, a spacious conference hall, and a seminar room equipped with audio-visual facilities. The campus also has a gurdwara, gymnasium, dairy farm, 220 acres student farm, botanical garden, swimming pool, nursery, fruit farm, cricket stadium, and well-maintained playgrounds.
I completed Pre-University Agriculture and B.Sc. Agriculture from Khalsa College Amritsar in 1968 in the annual system. During that period, Sardar Sham Singh, Dr. Anand, and Sardar Bishan Singh Samundri served as Principals in the college. I lived in Nabha Hostel, Faridkot Hostel and Zindh Hostel during the study period. I feel proud to be a student of the prestigious Khalsa College Amritsar. Administrators of the college were very liberal and they promoted students to develop their personalities. We had experienced, intelligent and helpful professors who always guided us properly and in the right direction.
A Few Notable Alumni:
Political Leaders, Administrators
Partap Singh Kairon, Chief Minister Punjab.
Darbara Singh, Chief Minister Punjab.
Teja Singh Samundri, founder of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee.
Gurdial Singh Dhillon, Speaker Indian Parliament.
Hukam Singh, Speaker Indian Parliament.
Hans Raj Khanna, Judge of Supreme Court.
Manohar Singh Gill, I.A.S. Chief Election Commissioner.
Bishan Singh Bedi, Captain of Indian Cricket team.
Arjan Singh, Air Marshal, Indian Airforces.
Sukhpal Singh Gill, I.A.S.
Arjan Singh, I.A.S.
Dr. Jagir Singh Samra, Director General Agriculture India.
Dr. Bhai Jodh Singh.
Achhar Singh Cheema, M.L.A.
Naranjan Singh Talib, a freedom fighter.
Professor Gurcharan Singh Talib.
Bishan Singh Samundri, Vice-Chancellor of G.N.D.University Amritsar.
Vice - Chancellors
Dr. Lakshmi Singh Negi, Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University Jabalpur.
Dr. Kham Singh Gill, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana.
Dr. D. R. Thakur, Pro Vice - Chancellor Himachal Agricultural University Palampur.
Dr. Sukhdev Singh, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana.
Dr. G.S. Kalkat, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana.
Dr. Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana.
Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana.
Dr. Harcharn Singh Dhaliwal, Eternal University Sirmaur, H.P.
Dr. Milkha Singh Aulakh, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology U. P.
Agricultural Scientists
Dr. Avtar Singh Randhawa, Plant Breeder Wheat.
Dr. Harjinder Singh, Plant Breeder Wheat.
Dr. Malkiat Singh Duhra, Entomologist Sugarcane.
Dr. Bhopinder Singh Basra, Economist crops.
Dr. Karnail Singh Warich, Pathologist Sugarcane.
Dr. Krishan Kumar Sharma, Agronomist Sugarcane.
Dr. Sirjit Singh, Agronomist Sugarcane.
Dr. Piara Singh Gill, Agronomist Rice.
Dr. Mohinder Singh Aulakh, Breeder Sugarcane.
Dr. Baldev Singh Boparei, Agronomist.
Dr. Diljit Singh, Vegetables Breeder.
Dr. Sohan Singh, Horticulturist.
Dr. Karaj Singh Gill, Soil Scientist.
Dr. Najar Singh Saini, Agronomist Sugarcane.
Dr. Santok Singh Sokhi, Pathologist.
Dr. Dhatt, Horticulturist.
Dr. Bridge Bihari Sharma, Horticulturist Solan.
Dr. Chohan, Horticulturist Simla.
Dr. Charn Singh Khind, Soil Scientist.
Dr. Kabal Singh, Soil Scientist
Dr. Raina, Pathologist, Rice.
Dr. Daljit Singh Bajra, Breeder.
Dr. Amrik Singh Sandhu, Horticulturist.
Dr. Joginder Singh, Soil Scientist.
Dr. Narinder Singh, Breeder Australia.
Dr. Terlochan Singh Aujla, Agronomist.
Dr. ArjanSingh Joshan, Soil Scientist.
Dr Sajan Singh, Horticulturist America.
Dr. Paramjit Singh Randawa, Pathologist America.
Dr. Paramjit Singh Sandhu, Agronomist. America.
Dr. Sardul Singh Gill, Breeder.
Dr. K. K. Sharma, Agronomist.
Dr. Karnail Singh Wraich Pathologist.
Dr. Jalali Kashmiri, Horticulturist.
Army Generals
Rajinder Singh Sparrow, Mohinder Singh Sandhu, Mohinder Singh Ball.
Prem Singh Giani, Satnam Singh, Mohinder Singh Chopra.
Officers in Different Departments
Director Agriculture Punjab: Pritam Singh Hoshiarpur, Avtar Singh Randhawa, Dr. Sarwan Singh Bains, Ram Pal
Chief Agriculture Officer: Hardev Singh Athwal, Gurdial Singh Full, Bikar Singh Gill, Avtar Singh Bhor, Malkiat Singh
Bank manager: Harvinder Singh Kahlon, Jagir Singh Randhawa, Piara Singh, Bhagwant Singh Dhillon, Rajinder Singh
Professor: Dr. Mohinder Singh Gill, Principal Khalsa College Amritsar, Dr.Parduman Singh Kahlon, Head Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture Amritsar.
Officers: Jasjit Singh Samundri I.F.S., Sucha Singh Bajwa D.E.S., Balvir Singh Athwal D.E.S. Jagir Singh Sra D.E.S., Muktiar Singh Axion, Daljit Singh Bholla Axion, Kulwant Singh Agriculture, Dasundah Singh Agriculture, Ajit Singh Agriculture, Sajan Singh Sandhu Agriculture, Gurcharan Singh Agriculture, Gurbachan Singh Agriculture, Ajib Singh Agriculture, Dildar Singh Agriculture, Kirpal Singh Agriculture Daler Singh, Narinder Singh Kalsi, Agriculture. Deep Singh Agriculture, Dr. Sarjit Singh Sara M.D, Sugar Mills, Dr. Tehal Singh Thabal Agriculture Canada, Dr. (Col) Sukjinder Singh Randhawa Army., Parkash Singh Gill Axion, Sohan Singh Agriculture, Warpal Singh Minhas Agriculture Canada, Paramjit Singh Sandhu Agriculture Canada, Santokh Singh Chahal Agriculture, Ajit Singh Dhillon Seed producer, Avtar Singh Bhall Agriculture America, Kulwant Singh Lawyer America. Daljit Singh Agriculture America, Baldev Singh Dhabia Agriculture America, Satnam Singh Agriculture. Pargat Singh M D Sugar Mills. Sangat Singh Cooperative Department, Ram Singh Cooperative Department.
Doctors, Engineers: Dr. Pathak Director P.G.I.Chandigarh, Dr. Pritam Singh Safir Director P.G.I. Chandigarh, Dr. Daljit Singh Eye Specialist, Dr. K. S. Chugh P.G.I., Dr. P. S. Gill Director P.S.I.R., Harsimran Singh Saini Software engineer.
Hockey Player, Olympian: Balver Singh, Dharm Singh, Harvinder Singh,
Actors, Writers: Mulk Raj Anand novelist, Bhisham Sahni filmmaker, Gurshabad singer, Ranjit Bawa singer, Karaj Gill film producer, Ajit Singh Khunda writer, Harcharn Singh play writer, Harpreet Sandhu actor, Kidar Sharma film director, Amrinder Gill actor, singer.
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