Canada-based Sikh scholar to start online schools

Updated on: Saturday, November 12, 2011

After setting up robotic touch screen technology museums on Sikhism and authoring a unique multimedia encyclopedia on the subject, a Canada-based scholar is now set to launch online schools that provides opportunity for study of the Sikh religion among other subjects.

Raghbir Singh Bains, who is in his 70s and a recipient of several awards, including the Order of British Columbia, says he has already obtained registration for these on-line schools in Canada.

Claiming it to be the first concept of its kind, Bains says a worldwide faculty of experts in subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Sikh religion would be recruited for providing free services in the online schools.

"Retired experts ready to work for free will be taken on board of experts in various countries to answer in twenty four hours any question related to the four subjects," says Bains.

"The courses will be put on the site of the school for the benefit of students who want to excel in studies and competitive examinations and other youths," adds Bains.

He claimed that the concept would also render invaluable help in preparing youths, especially Punjabis, for premier competetive examinations in India.

The scholar says the concept could also be converted into tutorial schools on internet under which
nominal fee could be charged from the cyber students.

Bains says for developing the 2.5 US dollar million Sikh encyclopedia he had to sell his business and properties of his sons, but is satisfied.

"But it was a moment of great honour for me when Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretian released the Encyclopaedia in Canadian Parliament in 1997" says Bains.

"Today, anyone can find anything about Sikh religion, be it music, architecture, martial traditions, gurdwaras, scriptures, festivals or it's history, in it," says Bains.

Armed with a PhD from US in World religions and World cultures, Bains set up first multimedia touch screen museum on Sikhism in Khadur Sahib in Amritsar in 2004 under the patronage of environmentalist Baba Seva Singh. It has been modelled on the robotic and liquid crystal display technology employed by NASA.

The museum has a 400-hour programme on 3600 subjects, including Sikh history, the life of Gurus, sikh culture, heritage, music and scriptures from gurdwaras across the world.

Bains later set up similar museums in Toronto as well as in Gwalior and Jalandhar and is also planning two more such museums in London and Ludhiana.

Canada-based Sikh scholar to start online schools

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