Khalsa College, Amritsar (Punjab)

Khalsa College (Punjabi: ਖਾਲਸਾ ਕਾਲਜ khālasā kālaja) is a historic educational institution in the northern Indian city of Amritsar in the state of Punjab, India. Founded in 1892, the sprawling 300-acre (1.2 km2) campus is located about eight km outside of the city center on the Amritsar-Lahore highway (part of the Grand Trunk Road), adjoining Guru Nanak Dev University campus, to which Khalsa College is academically affiliated.



Khalsa College Establishment Committee was set up in 1890 with Colonel W. R. M. Holroyd, Director of Public Instruction, Punjab, as president, and W. Bell, Principal of Government College, Lahore, as secretary. Among the native constituents of this 121-member committee were Sir Attar Singh, Gurdial Singh Maan of Nabha, Diwan Gurmukh Singh of Patiala, Bhai Kahn Singh, Professor Gurmukh Singh and Sardar Jawahir Singh (1859–1910). Many princely states of British India gave their financial help to the establishment of Khalsa College, including Maharaja Rajendra Singh of Patiala, Maharaja Hira Singh of Nabha, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala and Sir Sunder Singh Majithia.

After a prolonged discussion about the site of Khalsa College, it was decided that one college would be established in Amritsar, followed by a second in Lahore. The 300-acre (1.2 km2) campus was sited just outside the village of Kot Sayyad Mehmood, which was later renamed Kot Khalsa.

To usher-in an era of Engineering and Technology, the Khalsa College Society in 2009, started the most sought-after Institution, Khalsa College of Engg. & Technology(KCET), to realize the educational requirements of the society / area and also to impart quality education (Affiliated to PTU)

The institutions under Khalsa College Governing Council:

Colleges:
Khalsa College, Amritsar-India (Estb.1892)
Khalsa College of Education, Amritsar (Estb.1954)
Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar (Estb.1968)
Khalsa College of Education, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar (Estb.2006)
Khalsa College of Nursing, Amritsar (Estb.2006)
Khalsa College of Pharmacy, Amritsar (Estb.2009)
Khalsa College of Engineering & Tech., Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar (Estb.2009)
Khalsa College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Amritsar (Estb.2009)
Khalsa College of Management & Technology, Mohali (Estb.2009)
Khalsa College of Physical Education, VPO Heir, Distt. Amritsar (Estb.2009)

Schools:
Khalsa College Sr. Sec. School (Boys), Amritsar (Estb. 1892)
Khalsa College Sr. Sec. School (Girls), Amritsar (Estb. 1942)
Khalsa College Public School, Amritsar Amritsar (Estb. 1984)
Khalsa College International Public School, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar (Estb. 2001)
Khalsa College Public School, Raja Sansi, Amritsar (Estb. 2008)



The main building is considered a gem of the Indo-Sarcenic style, which is strongly influenced by traditional Indian and Mughal schools of architecture. The foundation stone was laid on March 5, 1892, with the first classes starting in 1893.
The college was designed by Bhai Ram Singh, principal of the Mayo School of Arts, Lahore, with the help of engineer Dharam Singh Gharjakhia. Bhai Ram Singh was decorated for his services with the Member of the Victorian Order (MVO), the highest civilian award of British India.


Colonel W.R.M. Holroyd was the Founder-President of the Governing Council of the Khalsa College Amritsar, while Dr William H. Ratigan succeeded him.
Dr Johan Campbell Oman (1898 to 1899),
S. Kishen Singh Kapoor (1899–1900) First Sikh Principal
Mr. M.G.V. Cole (1900 to 1910),
Mr. Richard Cane Wright (1910 to 1915),
Mr. G.A.Wathen (1915 to 1924),
Rai Bahadur Manmohan (1924 to 1928),
Mr. Gopala Rao (Jan. 1928 to May 1928),
Sardar Bahadur Bishan Singh (1928–1936),
Sardar Bahadur Bhai Jodh Singh (1936–1952)

Other principals of Khalsa College Amritsar include:
S. Inder Singh (1952–1957)
Dr. Harbant Singh (1958–1961)
S. Balwant Singh Anand (1962–1963)
S. Bishan Singh Samundri (1964–1969)
S. Sham Singh Kapur (1970–1971)
S. Harbans Singh (1971–1975)
S. Gurbax Singh Shergill (1975–1989)
Dr. Harbhajan Singh Soch (1989–1995)
Dr. Mohinder Singh Dosanjh (1996–2003)
Dr. Daljeet Singh (2003-Present)

Director Principal of Khalsa College of Engineering and Technology include:
Prof. (Dr.) R P S Suker-Chakia (2009-Present)



Khalsa College is very popular in Movies & the Entertainment Industry.
The outside court scenes featuring Shah Rukh Khan's character Veer in the film Veer-Zaara were filmed at the college. Being a favourite place of directors/producers, it has attracted many Punjabi as well as Hindi film-makers who have shot videos here.


(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalsa_College,_Amritsar)