Nonagenarian Baba Iqbal Singh, who was conferred Padma Shri award passes away in Baru Sahib

AMBALA: Padma Shri Baba Iqbal Singh, who was 96-year-old passed away at Baru Sahib in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh (HP) on Saturday.
Recently, the name of Baba Iqbal Singh was listed for receiving the Padma Shri award under the Padma Awards 2022 by the government of India, for his social work.
Baba Iqbal Singh was president of Kalgidhar Society/Trust and Chancellor of Eternal University, run under the Baru Sahib Organisation headquartered at Baru Sahib.
Jaspreet Singh from Baru Sahib media team said, "Baba (Iqbal Singh) Ji was ill for the past some time and he was hospitalised at a private hospital for the last one month. He was discharged from the hospital and had reached Baru Sahib on Friday and passed away on Saturday. The cremation of Baba Ji would be conducted at Baru Sahib between 1 pm to 2 pm on Sunday."
Baba Iqbal Singh took birth on May 1, 1926, at the house of father Sanwal Singh and mother Gulab Kaur at Bharyal Lahri village in Pathankot, Punjab and he never married. He was MSc Agriculture and retired at the post of director agriculture in Himachal Pradesh. Following retirement from service, he took up the work of social work to empower the rural people particularly women in education.
As per the information obtained from the Kalgidhar Society, Baba Iqbal Singh took over the charge of the organisation in 1965 after his mentor Sant Teja Singh (MA, LLB, AM Harvard) passed away.
After retiring in 1987, Baba Iqbal Singh operationalised the mission of "combining modern education with faith to produce good global citizens".
In 1986, he started with a one-room school with only five students and today, the chain of Kalgidhar Trust is running 129 Akal Academies (Sikh schools), two universities in North India, one charitable hospital, and three drug de-addiction centers.
After a meeting with Baba Iqbal Singh, vice president of India M Venkaiah Naidu tweeted from his official Twitter handle @VPSecretariat on December 17, 2019, "The Vice President received a copy of the book “Sikh Faith- an Epitome of Inter-Faith for Divine Realization” written by Sant Iqbal Singh at Upa-Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi today. Vice President appreciated the 94-year-old Sant Iqbal Singh for his yeoman service and Kalgidhar trust, for empowering rural people, particularly women by setting up a chain of educational institutions including two private Universities."

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted on Saturday, "Deeply saddened by the demise of social worker & philanthropist Shiromani Panth Rattan, Sardar Baba Iqbal Singh Ji. Conferred with Padma Shri this year, Babaji was admired & respected for his efforts towards sewa of humanity."

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal tweeted on Saturday, "Deeply saddened to know about the demise of Shiromani Panth Rattan Baba Iqbal Singh Ji. The spiritual leader was recently honoured with Padma Shri for his exemplary social work. May Guru Sahib grant peace to the departed soul. My condolences & concerns for his family & followers."

Earlier in 2018, Baba Iqbal Singh was also awarded with 'Shiromani Panth Ratan' by Takht Sri Harmandar Ji Patna Sahib (one of five Takhts of Sikhs in Bihar), a title of honour and distinction for the excellent services to the Sikh community.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his "pain", over the demise of Baba Iqbal Singh. PM Modi tweeted, "Pained by the passing away of Baba Iqbal Singh Ji. He will be remembered for his efforts to increase education among youngsters. He tirelessly worked towards furthering social empowerment. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour. May Waheguru bless his soul."