Amritsar: Khalsa College remembers its creator, Bhai Ram Singh

The historic Khalsa College, known for its architectural excellence, today paid rich tributes to Bhai Ram Singh, the man behind the iconic design of the college. A seminar was organised on the college campus to celebrate his life, legacy and unmatched contribution to Indian and Sikh architecture. Eminent speakers and college faculty remembered the service of the legendary architect, who was one of the most prominent architects in colonial India and played a key role in blending traditional Indian, particularly Sikh and Mughal architectural styles, with British colonial architecture.

“Ram Singh’s name is deeply etched in the heritage of Punjab and he is known as an architect par excellence, visionary who blended Sikh artistry with Indo-European styles to craft what stands today as one of the most iconic educational campuses in the country,” said Principal Dr Atam Singh Randhawa.

Dr Mehal Singh, Khalsa University Vice-Chancellor, highlighted how the architecture of Khalsa College is not just aesthetically pleasing, but educational with each structure teaching values of symmetry, strength and cultural pride. “The stairway in front of the main entrance to the building is over 120 years old and is carved out in Victorian style of architecture. Several areas and spaces in the main building are reminiscent of a bygone era with Italian marble pillars inspired by Mughal architecture, huge French glass frames and rosewood work on the windows,” he shared.

The seminar also featured a guest lecture by Prof Rawal Singh Aulakh, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Guru Nanak Dev University, who presented an insightful walkthrough into Ram Singh’s design ideology and his unique ability to create timeless spaces that represent both heritage and innovation.

Adding a public communication perspective, Inderjeet Singh Harpura, DPRO, Gurdaspur, who belongs to Rasulpur, the native village of Bhai Ram Singh, stressed on the importance of celebrating such figures through public dialogue and collective memory. His presence brought valuable insights into how architectural heritage connects with people’s identity and civic consciousness.