With an aim to conserve more than 100-year-old historical Khalsa College campus here, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has conferred heritage status on it.
Khalsa College is among 19 colleges across the nation that has been conferred with heritage status by the UGC. The status not only adds to the historical value of the college, but the UGC will also be providing financial assistance for the upkeep of the heritage building.
Confirming the development, DS Rataul, deputy director, public relations, Khalsa College, said, “We had applied for the heritage status about six months back, while the heritage status was conferred on the college a few days back. We were informed over telephone about the development, and have been waiting for the formal letter in this regard. This in itself is a matter of pride for the institution, and we are also expecting a grant of Rs 1 crore under this.”
The Khalsa College authorities have already decided that the UGC grant will be spent on upkeep of the college building.
Founded in 1892, Khalsa College was designed created by Bhai Ram Singh, a famous architect. The construction was started in 1904 and it took seven years (1911) to complete the college building.
The college has Mughal style architecture and it is a major attraction for not only locals, but also tourists visiting Amritsar from various places.
The college also has a British era clock that was repaired recently after calling in experts from the British Company that had installed the clock in the college building.
The college has Mughal style architecture and it is a major attraction for not only locals, but also tourists visiting Amritsar from various places.
The college also has a British era clock that was repaired recently after calling in experts from the British Company that had installed the clock in the college building.
Besides the main building, the residential quarters are also dated back to the British era.
The cricket stadium on the campus is also one of the oldest in north India.
Notably, the college had recently formed a five-member committee to prepare a draft and apply for a heritage status with the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).
The college library is rich in its collection with over 6,000 books and new and old manuscripts. In addition, there are more than 115 artefacts depicting Sikh history, including ancient weapons, pictures of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and range of paintings, at the college.
Four from region make it to heritage status list
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has granted "heritage" status to 19 institutions across the country, including four from the region and has approved financial assistance for their improvement and upgradation.
The colleges from the region include Khalsa College, Amritsar; St Bede's College, Shimla; Gandhi Memorial Science College in Jammu and Kanya Mahavidyalya in Jalandhar.