Lakshmi Chand Khalsa High School: Haripur's Rich History From Sikh Philanthropy to Educational Excellence

 

Haripur has held significant strategic importance throughout history, having been a focal point for various invading forces such as the Mughals, Turks, Afghans, and Sikhs. Prior to British rule, the Sikhs governed the region from 1818 until the fall of the Khalsa Raj in 1849. Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, who was the governor of Kashmir at the time, played a key role in conquering the area and quelling the unrest orchestrated by local tribal leaders. In 1822, he constructed the Harkishan Garh Fort, and as a token of appreciation for his bravery and achievements, Raja Ranjeet Singh renamed the town Haripur after Hari Singh Nalwa. During their rule, the Sikhs established several temples and an irrigation system in Haripur, although they did not make significant advancements in education.

After the Khalsa Raj fell, a substantial Sikh population remained in Haripur and recognized the need for a separate education system for Sikh children. Their aspirations were realized after six and a half decades when the Sikh philanthropist Bhai Lakshmi Das, also known as Lakshmi Chand, founded Khalsa High School in 1913. This grand institution continues to be a symbol of educational enlightenment, thanks to the financial contributions of the Sikh community. Not only did he construct the school, but he also provided furnishings and contributed to its ongoing operational expenses. In recognition of his valuable contributions, the school's management board bestowed upon the institution the name "Lakshmi Das Khalsa High School.

The foundation stone of the school was laid by J.S. Donald, the Chief Commissioner of the former North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), on November 6, 1913. Its first headmaster was Sardar Mohan Singh. After the creation of Pakistan on September 22, 1947, the school was renamed New Government High School, and Allama Abul Khair became its headmaster. On May 27, 1952, it was elevated to the status of a teachers training school and rebranded as the Regional Professional Development Centre (RPDC) Haripur. It has continued to cater to the educational needs of trainee teachers from various backgrounds.

Between 1951 and 2022, Khalsa School has provided training to a minimum of 5,000 teachers, whose students, based on a rough estimate, number in the hundreds of thousands. This remarkable achievement has been made possible through the generous philanthropic contributions of the Sikh community. A spacious area within the school premises had been allocated for use as a gurdwara. Each day, half an hour prior to the commencement of classes, all students and staff were expected to gather at the school for a prayer session.The RPDC building, still referred to as Khalsa High School, stands prominently along GT Road in the city. The academic block of the school spans 9.14 kanals (4,624 sq metres) of land and features two welcoming verandas adorned with three large arches and two smaller ones at the main gate. Inside these opening verandas, three rooms serve as offices.

The rear veranda, boasting at least 18 arches, leads to a grassy courtyard and houses five classrooms along with a spacious hall, once used as a Gurdwara. This part of the building reflects a typical British colonial architectural style, characterized by columns, segmental arches with parapets, and a series of merlons in the shape of bars and geometrical designs adorning the top. The roof of the academic block contains two rooms originally intended for the headmaster's residence, which are now repurposed as an art gallery. On the roof, watershoots are shaped like lion heads with open mouths. Next to it, the Shibli Hostel, spanning 4.8 kanals (2,428 sq metres) of land, comprises 10 rooms and two halls. Its doors and window ventilators feature segmental and cusped arches typical of the British era. The hostel has two entrance gates, one wooden and the other iron.

The design of the building, with its tall roofs, thick walls, wooden-cum-glass ventilators, and wide doors, allows ample sunlight and ventilation throughout the day. This thoughtful planning takes into account the local weather conditions and rainfall patterns during winter and summer, ensuring that the rooms remain cool in summer and warm in winter. Remarkably, the building has withstood earthquakes, including the devastating 2005 quake, with hardly a single crack due to its engineers' adherence to geometric principles. 

The Sir Syed Hostel, belonging to Khalsa School, consists of 50 rooms capable of accommodating 200 teachers. In 2003, the provincial government transferred ownership of the building to the Frontier Education Foundation, which subsequently established a women's college before relocating it to Khanpur. In 2018, the provincial government reclaimed the hostel building, designating it as Government Girls Degree College No 2.

In front of the two hostels lies a playground spanning 14.1 kanals (7,133 sq metres), acquired by the then headmaster, Sardar Mohan Singh, in 1927 from the District Board Hazara for Rs 2,775, which accounted for 25 percent of the total land cost. 

Thanks to the Sikh community's endeavors, the Muslim community gained access to the Khalsa High School. However, instead of preserving these structures in their original form and design, we regrettably marred their buildings, seized them through forceful occupation, and encroached upon them.