Badal Sahib: As I Knew Him – OpEd

Sardar Prakash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, India as I knew through the lens of the former principal of Meritorious School, Amritsar. The Chief Minister was known for his contributions to education, particularly through the noble concept of Meritorious Schools. These schools were established with the aim of providing high-quality education to economically weaker yet academically bright students in Punjab. Concept of Meritorious Schools under Badal Sahib’s Leadership was to offer free, quality education to students from underprivileged backgrounds who excelled in academics and prepare students for competitive exams like NEET, JEE, and other professional courses. The Punjab government was also to bear the entire expenditure for higher education of students graduating from meritorious schools. 

Students scoring 80% or above in Class 10 were eligible after having cleared the Entrance exam for Meritorious Schools followed by an interview. Meritorious Schools to the students were allotted based on the choice and final merit. These schools are fully Co-Ed residential schools with hostels, mess, and other amenities. The Schools have well-equipped, laboratories, smart classrooms and Sports facilities. Every Meritorious School in the state catered for 600 girls and 400 boys other than Talwara which was only for girls.

The Impact was that these Schools helped many underprivileged students secure admissions in top medical and engineering colleges with the help of the dedicated young faculty. The noble concept promoted educational equality and uplifted rural,poor students and strengthened Punjab’s focus on merit-based education both for students, faculty and management .

Meritorious School, Amritsar somehow happened to be Badal Sahib’s favorite school which was located on the land of the GNDU adjacent to the popular ‘Sadda Pind’, heritage village resort on the highway to Attari border. His visits to the school were frequent and unannounced. The District administration and the DEO after his first visit enquired why I did not inform them and why did I raise certain issues without having informed them earlier! Later visits CM’s security would inform them, and they would then come rushing. His unannounced short flying visits were always welcomed by us as no frills were attached but not for the District administration. No seating, water, tea or soft drinks he would just stand around, interact while giving away immediate executive instructions.

He generally visited around 5 pm in the evening when all the students were on the  playgrounds. His staff would look for the principal and the CM in his first visit asked me of any problems in his theth (pure) Punjabi, I kept quiet for some time then he repeated “Bolo-Bolo” (Speak -Speak). I told him “Sir, we have only one football ground and that too has a powerline pilon in the centre.” He interjected; “Ki mangde ho?”(what do you want?).I said to be shifted outside the boundary wall then he asked if we have taken up a case I confirmed but said the department wanted us to deposit Rs 3 lac in advance! He asked his accompanying OSD to connect him to the concerned officer and on spot the CM gave the orders to shift and said that in his next visit he would not like to see the powerline inside the school. I informed the Director, and he asked me should he believe, it will be removed. I said I’m certain and in his next visit the powerline had been removed with also a transformer sanctioned for the school separately. From that day my respect for Badal Sahib knew no bounds and he became our true mentor. He had a way of getting what he wanted with his courtesy and politeness with no questions asked. 

Badal Sahib’s next visit was on a peak summer evening and he wanted to speak to the girls. As the games were in progress the girls quickly gathered in the open Assembly Place, and he stood on the stage. No sofas or chairs! He asked the girls if there are any problems, or do they want anything? There was pin drop silence with the girls looking at their Principal. Badal Sahib observing this told the girls “Principal Sahib to Na Daro !”(Do not be scared of your Principal).Finally the girls opened up and said the dormitories are too hot and requested for desert coolers. Badal Sahib on the spot asked the PUDA Chief who had arrived by then to provide the desired number. The cheerful smiling faces thanked the CM. Within a week the school was delivered 210 desert coolers. 

While leaving that evening, he asked me which place I belong to? I told him originally; we belonged to Punjab but were shunted out being from Kangra which merged into Himachal. I also told him that I am the product of PPS,Nabha. He remarked that then make this school like PPS,Nabha and I replied “Sir, If you continue to shower your blessings then within 20 years we will reach that level. Every visit of Badal Sahib to the school made the school richer. To name a few; additional Basketball Court, Volleyball Court, curtains for all dormitories etc. My direct interaction with the CM was not liked by the  administration and especially the Education Department.

Our heart bleeds to learn the way these  Meritorious Schools, the brainchild of the Badal Sahib, have been neglected by the subsequent governments. All of us, including the Project Director, had left en-masse.  These schools are getting a step motherly treatment possibly being the successful education model of the Badal regime. Repeated promises of regularising the teachers, who had been selected after stringent competitive procedures, are yet to be regularised. Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students. The present government, instead of building and improving the successful model of the Meritorious Schools, converted some existing schools into Schools of Eminence!

Badal Sahib’s Legacy, the five-time stalwart Chief Minister of Punjab in the field of Education and his vision for Meritorious Schools reflected his broader goal of educational empowerment in Punjab. His policies laid the foundation for equitable access to education, helping thousands of students achieve their dreams despite financial constraints.