On Saturday, January 5, 2008, the Hacienda de Guru Ram Das community in Espanola, New Mexico USA welcomed the Akal Academy Jetha, a student musical group from Akal Academy,  Baru Sahib in Himachal Pradesh, India. Baru Sahib is the headquarters for The Kalgidhar Society, a spiritual non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting humanity through values- based education, healthcare, and social services. The President of The Kalgidhar Society, Baba Iqbal Singh accompanied the Jetha with the Vice President of the Society, Dr. Khem Singh Gill.

The Akal Academy Jetha dresses in full Sikh bana, with turbans and kirpans, and is comprised of young women ranging in age from 12 years to 28 years.  They performed kirtan on Guru Gobind Singh's birthday celebration for the Sangat, singing selections from the Siri Guru Granth Sahib and Dasm Granth in classical Raag, including Toon Meyra Pitaa, Toon Meyra Maataa and Khalsa Meyra SatGur Poora while playing traditional classical Sikh instruments, including the sarangi, the rabab and the taus.

The community at Hacienda de Guru Ram Das deeply appreciated the beauty and artistry of their kirtan.

The Akal Academy Jetha's visit to Espanola, New Mexico was a short stop in a very rigorous tour across the U.S. and Canada that the Jetha takes under Baba Iqbal Singh's guidance and leadership every year. The student group, during their winter break at the Academy, travels to share kirtan and the story of the Kalgidhar Society's commitment to education and seva with the Sikh community.

During the past 21 years, The Kalgidhar Society guided by Baba Iqbal Singh has established 23 K-12 Academies in northern India - Akal Academy at Baru Sahib being the first school established, in 1987.  Currently 25,000 students are enrolled in schools administered by the Kalgidhar Trust, across northern India.  Some additional services include drug de-addiction centers, free medical camps and hospitals, orphanages, old age and widow homes, and disaster relief.

During their tour, Baba Iqbal Singh is educating the Sikh American community about the work being undertaken by The Kalgidhar Society. Part of that vision is to open 150 schools in Northern India to help renew the spiritual roots of the Sikhs community in India in the next 5 years, as well as a University system at Baru Sahib which is already underway.

For more information about The Kalgidhar Society, please visit http://www.kalgidharsociety.org/.