AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—University Grants Commission (UGC) has conferred heritage status on reputed Sikh educational institution Khalsa College Amritsar. The UGC has done so with the motive to conserve Khalsa College’s more than 100-year-old historical campus which contains rare Sikh architecture.
Khalsa College Public Relation Officer Dharminder Singh Rataul told that the college had applied for the heritage status about six months ago. “We were informed over telephone about the development and various media sources have also disclosed it. However, the formal letter in this regard is yet to be received by us,” he said, adding, “The institution is expected to be issued a grant of Rs 1 crore under this status.”
As many as 19 colleges across the Indian sub-continent have got the status by the supreme regulatory body of higher study. The UGC has also announced to provide financial aid for maintaining the heritage buildings.
This College was founded in 1892 by Singh Sabha movement to spread Sikh religion. Its building was designed by Bhai Ram Singh, a famous architect of that era. The building started to be constructed in 1904 and was completed in 1911.
The college library contains over 6,000 books and new and old manuscripts. Besides, there are more than 115 artefacts depicting Sikh history, including ancient weapons, pictures of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and range of paintings, at the college.
It is worth mentioning that the college had recently constituted a five-member committee to work out how to get similar status from the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).
