biodata : Dr kharak singh
Name Dr Kharak Singh
Place Of Birth November 12, 1922
Father Sardar Saudagar Singh – self-educated,a scholar of Guru Granth Sahib, committed sikh, freedom fighter, leader of Akali Jatha Beas (Baba Bakala) in 1920s. Joined morchas of Guru Ka Bagh, Jaito, etc. (14th Jatha with Sardar Darshan Singh Pheruman), in the Gurdwara Movement. Suffered imprisonment for several years in the freedom-struggle and the panthic morchas. Died in 1971.
Mother Bibi Achhar Kaur.
Education
  • Matric :Khalsa High School, Baba Bakala, created a new record (1938)
  • B Sc (Agri.) :Khalsa College, Amritsar (1942)
  • M Sc (Agri) :Punjab University, Solan (1954)
  • M Sc (Agr Eco) :Ohio State University, USA (1961)
  • Ph D (Agr Eco) :Ohio State University, USA (1967). A Topper And Scholarship Holder Throughout.
Service Career
  • Punjab Agriculture College, Lyallpur :Teaching And Research: 1942-1947
  • Agri College / Punjab Agri Univ, Ludhiana :Teaching, Research And Agri Development As Asstt. Professor And Professor: 1948-1962
  • Punjab Government :Agriculture Development, As Deputy / Joint Director Agri. Introduced High Yielding Varieties And Green Revolution: 1963-1967
  • Govt. Of India, Ministry Of Agriculture :Jt. Director, Desert Development Board: 1967 -1968 Managing Director, State Farms Corporation Of India: 1975-1977. Leader Of Farm Delegation To USSR: 1977
  • United Nations’ Food And Agriculture Organisation, Rome :Agriculture Economic Advisor To Governments In Ghana, Yemen, Iran, Libya, Zambia, Etc.: 1968-1975  Missions To Several Countries In Africa, Middle-East  With Headquarters In Rome: 1977-1984
Panthic Service
  • Organised Sikh Studies Circles abroad, during service career. Delivered lectures on Sikh Religion.
  • Member of the Dharam Parchar Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara .Parbandhak Committee, Amritsat, from January 1997 to May 2004. In addition, Member of almost every Committee that was formed by the SGPC to attend to various issues during this period, and even later. For instance, Member of Committees, such as, Advisory Committee of All India Gurdwaras Committee; Nanakshahi Calendar Committee; Interviews (neyuktian) Committees, Member, Monitoring Committee, Sikh Holy Centenaries (shatabdis) Programmes, etc., from time-to-time.
  • Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh :Founded the Institute of Sikh Studies and got it registered in 1989, persuading leading Sikh Scholars to join it and, as its Secretary, continued to discharge its responsibilities. The objectives of the Institute are:
    1. To bring the latest advances in Sikh Studies to the notice of scholars and general readers.
    2. To project a correct image of Sikhism and the Sikh Community in India as well as abroad.
    3. To watch, report and rebut any distortions or misrepresentations of Sikh Religion and its History.
    4. To serve as a living link, and provide coordination among organisations engaged in promotion of Sikh Studies.
    5. To highlight problems of Sikh Diaspora, and suggest solutions.
    6. To arrange reviews of important publications relating to Sikhism.
    7. To assist readers in framing an informed opinion on matters relating to Sikhism and Sikh Studies.
    8. To give publicity to activities of various Sikh Societies around the world.
    9. To act as a forum for expression of readers’ views
    10. To advertise appropriate literature on Sikhism.
Achievements
  • Edited/authored and published over two dozen books on Sikhism through the Institute. Sikhism: Its Philosophy and History (1997) is a unique contribution.
  • Repulsed academic challenges to Sikh religion, attacks on its identity and distortion of Sikh history through publications.
  • Organised public opinion on vital issues affecting the Panth.
  • Organised several international conferences (including one in UK, two in Canada and four in USA) on Sikh religion, besides seminars on specific subjects like Sikh Personal Law, Gurdwara Legislation, Role of Khalsa in the 21st Century, State of Education in Punjab, Need for an Apex Body of the Sikhs, Need for Standard English Translation of Guru Granth Sahib, The Changing Demography of Punjab, etc.
  • Editing a top class quarterly journal, Abstracts of Sikh Studies, in English with global circulation.
  • Setting up a World Institute of Sikh Education and Research (WISER) at Chandigarh, to take up research and training programmes on Gurbani, Sikh Philosophy, and History. (pending for want of funds)
  • Set up Trust Fund for uplift of Vanjaras, Lobanas, Sikligars and other weaker sections of Sikhs, besides Sikh Parchar.
  • Formulated and coordinating Sikh History Project for the SGPC. Authentic Sikh History to be published in five volumes.
  • Arranged telecast of Kirtan from Darbar Sahib on TV and Internet.
  • Honoured by SGPC, Amritsar and Guru Nanak Mission, Patiala with special awards (vishesh sanman). Also honoured by many other prestigious Sikh Organisations, such as, Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib; Education Committee, Chief Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar; Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, Ludhiana; Sikh Educational Society, Chandigarh; Gurmat College, Patiala; Kes Sambhal Parchar Sanstha, Amritsar; Kendriya Singh Sabha, Bhopal; Sirjandhara, Ludhiana; Guru Angad Dev Lok Bhalayee ate Vidyak Council; Selangor Sikh Union, Kelab Aman, Kuala Lumpur; etc.; and esteemed universities, such as, University of Faisalabad, Pakistan; Guru Nanak Dev ji Chair, Kamraj University, Madurai; Govt Agriculture College, Ludhiana.
  • Closely associated with Khalsa Tercentenary celebrations.
  • Piloted Reforms in Nanakshahi calendar, based on solar year with fixed dates for gurpurbs.
  • Promoted electronic media, TV films, etc., in gurmat parchar.
  • Organised various seminars through the Institute of Sikh Studies and International Sikh Confederation to highlight issues of concern to the integrity of the Panth and the state of Punjab that need urgent attention, and find the ways and means to achieve the same.
  • Founded the International Sikh Confederation and got it registered in 2004. Persuaded leading Sikh Scholars and Organisations to join it and, as its Founder Convener, continued to discharge its responsibilities.(Till Dr Sahib breathed his last on the 6th of August, 2008)

    (Detailed information on International Sikh Confederation, its Constitution, Membership, etc., in the INSTITUTES Section.)