Synthetic handball courts, women hostel on priority list

In 1961, under the leadership of then Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon, the foundation was laid for what would become Asia’s first-ever sports college—later renamed the Government Arts and Sports College. Its alumni include legendary hockey players such as Surjit Singh and Harcharan Singh (Flying Eagle), along with champion athletes like Ishar Singh Deol and Jagdeep Singh, to name just a few. Today, Dr Ranbir Singh leads the institution, continuing its legacy of excellence. In a conversation with Aakanksha N Bhardwaj, Dr Singh shares his vision for further strengthening this historic institution, while preserving its renowned heritage.

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n Tell us about your journey. Where were you posted before joining the Government Arts and Sports College as the principal?

I am originally from Haryana, where there was a strong sports culture in my village, which inspired me to take up sports. As I entered the 6th class, I began playing hockey actively. I participated in several national-level tournaments. Alongside my sporting pursuits, I completed my graduation, a Diploma in Physical Education, a Masters in Physical Education, and an M Phil in Physical Education. My first job was as a lecturer in Physical Education at Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Yamuna Nagar. I later joined as an Assistant Professor in a private college under Punjabi University, Patiala, where I was eventually promoted to Associate Professor. Before joining as the principal here in 2022, I was working as a Physical Education teacher in a government school under the Haryana Government.

n When you joined the college, there was no staff and students, as both were shifted to a newly constructed college in Jalandhar. What challenges did you face?

The biggest challenge was rebuilding the college from scratch, which meant recruiting both staff and students. I worked towards re-establishing the college, hiring staff step by step, and introducing courses like BA, Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports (BPES), PG Diploma in Yoga Education, and MSc Yoga. To boost student enrollment, we conducted an admission drive and reached out to government schools, informing them about the college's legacy and the opportunity to access facilities free of cost. As a result, we now have over 300 students in the college.

n What steps were taken by you to ensure that the sports culture of the college was retained?

Despite having a ground for years, the college did not have a football wing. The ground, which was once considered unsuitable, is now being upgraded with a grant from the Central Government under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) programme for 2013-14. Over Rs 11 lakh has been spent on the project. In the last three years, we have hosted several championships, including the North Zone Inter-University Women's Volleyball Championship, the North Zone Inter-University Hockey Championship, and the Inter-College Athletics Championship. Our students have also excelled in national-level championships.

n What projects are you currently working on?

With the ongoing work on the football ground nearing completion, my next goal is to build two synthetic handball courts in the college, for which Rs 98 lakhs will be allocated. I am also working towards establishing a women hostel. On the academic front, my aim is to introduce professional courses, such as a Bachelor’s in Physical Education and a Master’s in Physical Education.