Khalsa College and Sarbat Da Bhalla to tie up for Preservation, Promotion of Gatka

Amritsar, Feb.  23 (Dharmender Singh Ratalul) – Historic Khalsa College and the international NGO, Sarbat Da Bhalla (SDB), are all set to join hands for the promotion of Sikh martial art-Gatka through academic and sports faculties. The College will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the SDB for starting a post graduate level Diploma Course in Gatka, to preserve and promote the traditional art form, which is gradually diminishing.

The patron of SDB, Mr.SP Singh Oberio visited the college campus and met Khalsa College Governing Council honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina in later’s office where two parties discussed the modalities for the proposal. “We will shortly form the Committee to study the introduction of diploma for Gatka. This is aimed to make Gatka part of the curriculum apart from its promotion as a sport and course will be opened for all graduate students’’, said Chhina.

Khalsa College Principal Dr.Mehal Singh said the new course will commence from the next academic session and they being an autonomous college can start the diploma, which will benefit students eager to learn the traditional martial art. Mr.Chhina earlier said that there had been a very few attempts at world level to study Gatka, which is presently preserved by the `Nihangs’ (baptized martial Sikhs) only.

Mr. Oberio who is a known Dubai based philanthropist said that aim of the course is to give academic base to the martial art. “The traditional martial art form is fast becoming extinct which is a matter of grave concern. We will join with the historic Khalsa College to save this great tradition and we are thankful to KCGC and the college itself for initiating the new course in the College’’, said Oberio.

He said once the course starts the Sarbat Da Bhalla will bear the major portion of the fee to be charged from students for the course and provide infrastructure. He said it was an initial meeting and the SDB’s association with KCGC would be long-lasting and they would work more in various other fields to preserve and promote the Sikh history and Culture in future too.