History
About 50–60 km from Solan, there was a village Baru spread over 400 Acres owned by one
Thakur Joginder Singh. It was densely forested & had several springs. Under a huge
walnut tree near a spring, sadhus would come & meditate from time to time. The Thakur
would welcome them & offer them food.
One day, a wise old ascetic came and sat under the walnut tree and was soon lost in deep
meditation (samādhi). When he opened his eyes, the Thakur offered him food. But the
sadhu looked at him and said, “Joginder Singh, you will not stay here for long. This is
Guru Nanak’s land. From the time of “Satya Yuga”, saints and sages have performed
penance here. Even Guru Gobind Singh Ji visited this place & blessed it. A time shall
come when Guru Nanak’s Sikhs gather here, meditate on the Divine Name, recite Gurbani;
and spread the Divine Message throughout the world.”
The Thakur, thinking that the holy man had put a curse on him; took away the food in
anger. After a few hours, when his anger had abated, he returned with the food at the
prompting of his wife but found that the sadhu had disappeared.
Meanwhile, Sant Teja Singh ji had flourished a keen desire to discover the sacred spot.
Around the same time, it so happened that the Thakur fell out with the village folk and
decided to sell off his estate. News of this turn of events got through to Sant Ji by
supernatural sources and he promptly sent a message to Bhai Iqbal Singh at Dhaula Kuan
that a village Baru in Tehsil Sarahan of district. Nahan had been put up for sale. Bhai
Iqbal Singh set off on foot for Baru 35 km away. On reaching the spot, he discovered
that it had all the features prophesied earlier by Sant Ji.
Baba Iqbal Singh sent a letter to Sant Ji saying that the village Baru seemed to be
exactly the place he had envisioned for setting up a spiritual center.
Sant Ji came down to Nahan from the village Cheema in Punjab and without visiting or
negotiating the price, bought the entire 400 Acres of land at Baru in the year 1956
Kalgidhar Trust’s Timeline
1866
Sant Attar Singh Ji
Baru Sahib, the land of meditation (tapobhoomi), is the realization of the vision of Sant Attar Singh Ji, Mastuane Wale (1866-1927). In the early twentieth century, he envisaged a place in the Himalayas to equip young men and women with spiritual and modern scientific education to spread the message of universal brotherhood throughout the world.
1956
Sant Teja Singh Ji
Baru Sahib was revealed to mankind by his devout disciple Sant Teja Singh (1877-1965) with the help of Bhai Iqbal Singh and Bhai Khem Singh in 1956. In order to fulfil the vision of his mentor Sant Attar Singh ji, Sant Teja Singh directed Bhai Iqbal Singh and Bhai Khem Singh to search, locate and reveal to mankind the hitherto hidden sacred site. He told them that the sacred site was located in the lower Himalayas somewhere near the town of Nahan in Himachal Pradesh.
1959
Akhand Paath
In 1959, 82 years old Sant Teja Singh accompanied by about 20 devotees reached Baru Sahib. He set up a camp, built a mud-hut and performed the first Akhand Path (nonstop reading of Guru Granth Sahib). He then performed the poignant Ardas and spoke to his disciples addressing their concerns about the lack of facilities at Baru Sahib.
1977
Two storey house was constructed for the stay of visiting pilgrims.
1981
Laying of foundation stone of Akal Academy building is laid by Panj Pyare i.e., the five Beloved Ones in Sadh Sangats presence.
1984
Four storey building of Akal Academy completed. The Kalgidhar Trust and The Kalgidhar Society were registered.
1988
Additional wing of Akal Academy being constructed.
The first school started with only 5 students, the student strength grew to 75+. Alongside a home for widows, destitute & elderly was started.
1990
The playground of Akal Academy was carved out. Welfare center for girls to impart training of spiritual music & teaching started. Child Welfare Foundation and Akal Charitable Hospital also came into being.
1996
Construction of main Gurdwara building started in Baru Sahib. Meanwhile 13 Schools were started including those in Muktsar, Cheema, Mander in Punjab etc
2004
Few more storeys of Gurdwara were constructed. Proper construction of Akal Charitable Hospital started in Baru Sahib.
First Medical Camp for hilly areas was held and Medical Campsn were now declared as a regular event to be conducted thrice, annually at Baru Sahib.
First Drug De-Addiction center setup started at Cheema.
First international youth camp for USA & CANADA students was held at Baru Sahib.
2014
IB school building construction completedin 2014-15.
Inauguration of Foundation stone of Eternal University administration camps.
Power Finance Corporation (Govt. PSU) installs 5 KW Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants under their CSR initiative.
Akal University, Talwandi sabo- Construction of First Phase completed and inspected by Government.
1,25,000 trees planted by akal academy students.
2017
Solar projects started: 2 Academies, 60 KW, 3 solar cooking projects for 6000 persons, 1 solar heater for 2000 persons started.
Eternal Global university (online university)- 3rd university started.
World’s first Sikh IB school PYP’s building completed and admission started.
Students of Akal Academies participate in 116 Drug Rallies.