CKD calls for revival of its image

AMRITSAR: In the wake of the controversies that erupted with the ouster of Chief Khalsa Diwan’s (CKD) former president Charanjit Singh Chadha, following a sexual harrasment scandal and suicide of Chadha’s son and former vice president of CKD, Inderjit Singh, the intelligentsia and educators associated with the 115-year old charitable society have called for a revival of its image.

Chief Khalsa Diwan office is located in Sri Guru Harkrishan Sr Sec Public School . Photo: Sunil kumar

Neha Saini

Tribune news service

Amritsar, March 23

In the wake of the controversies that erupted with the ouster of Chief Khalsa Diwan’s (CKD) former president Charanjit Singh Chadha, following a sexual harrasment scandal and suicide of Chadha’s son and former vice president of CKD, Inderjit Singh, the intelligentsia and educators associated with the 115-year old charitable society have called for a revival of its image.

Sharing the purpose for the same, Dr Santokh Singh, noted surgeon and philanthropist, who has been former vice president of the CKD, said the upcoming elections for the general governing body will bring about a desired change in its functioning.

“The genesis of the need to non-politicise the century old institution happened due to the fact that CKD had been either governed by people having a radical or political background. To keep intact its reputation of a socio-religious organisation, CKD needs to revive its image by shunning the politics that somehow seeped into its structure,” said Singh, who is also in fray for the top post of CKD’s president.

Backed by the Sikh intelligentsia and educators, Dr Santokh Singh’s group comprises of Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjer, Dr Kulwant Singh and late MP Kirpal Singh’s son Sarabjeet Singh, who will be contesting for the post of vice president, and Santokh Singh Sethi, former secretary of the CKD.

Taking on the acting president Dhanraj Singh’s group and former Akali MP Rajmohinder Singh Majithia, Dr Santokh Singh said his efforts will be directed towards improving the quality of education provided by the over 50 schools and colleges under the CKD. “As educators, we have worked on projects to provide low cost textbooks and study material to students and we plan to provide textbooks free of cost at schools run by the organisation. Also, the salaries of teachers need an appraisal to improve the quality of teaching and getting the best teaching faculty at CKD run institutions,” he said.

“As an administrator, there is need to revive the defunct branches of the organisation in areas like Taran Tarn. There are eight branches across the district, which lie defunct due to various reasons. We need to revive them to reach out to more people with our services,” he added.

Dhanraj Singh, acting president, had recently released a vision document promising transparency in the governance structure and low cost study material for students.

While Dr Santokh Singh doesn’t sound like a ‘typical opponent’, having an experience of over 40 years in teaching, the former professor of surgery at Government Medical College and Hospital, stressed that the values with which CKD was established need to be brought to the fore again. “We were always an apolitical organisation that is only concerned with cultural, religious and social philanthropy work. We need to bring back the same ethos by building a good communication network between the educators of our institution and students to compete with other top educational institutions,” he said.