Chandigarh: It’s not very often that Prime Minister Narendra Modi goes on the social media platform X to shower praises on and congratulate someone for getting nominated to the Rajya Sabha. But, when President Droupadi Murmu nominated Mohali-based educationist Satnam Singh Sandhu Tuesday, the PM posted to express his delight, and to praise the Chancellor of Chandigarh University.
“I am delighted that Rashtrapati Ji has nominated Shri Satnam Singh Sandhu Ji to the Rajya Sabha. Satnam Ji has distinguished himself as a noted educationist and social worker, who has been serving people at the grassroots in different ways. He has always worked extensively to further national integration and has also worked with the Indian diaspora. I wish him the very best for his Parliamentary journey and am confident the Rajya Sabha proceedings will be enriched by his views,” posted the PM.
Sandhu then thanked the PM for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation. “There can be no bigger testament to the new India you are building than the fact that someone like me, from a humble family of farmers, has been given such an opportunity to voice the aspirations of the people,” he posted on X the same day.
Thank you PM @narendramodi Ji for the faith you have placed in me and the opportunity you have given me to become a small part of your monumental mission. There can be no bigger testament to the new India you are building than the fact that someone like me, from a humble family… https://t.co/5etoQQZjBR
— Satnam Singh Sandhu (@satnamsandhuchd) January 30, 2024
From Rasulpur village in the border district of Firozpur, Sandhu (54), an agriculturist-turned-edupreneur (education entrepreneur), took oath as Rajya Sabha MP Wednesday.
His first venture, Chandigarh Group of Colleges (CGC), at Landran in Mohali, was started in 2001 followed by the Chandigarh University in 2012, which found a place in the QS World Rankings 2023 — first among private universities in Asia.
Over the past two decades, Sandhu has charmed his way through the corridors of political powers in Punjab. Whether it was the Akalis or the Congress — the top leaders of all parties flocked to his college as chief guests at various events.
His college at Landran, barely a stone’s throw away from Chandigarh, remained a cultural hub for years with top Punjabi singers holding music nights and open-air shows.
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An admirer of Modi
Once considered close to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Sandhu became an ardent admirer of PM Modi and went all out to make his presence noticed. He started singing paeans of the PM, designing initiatives to fulfil his vision.
He started the Indian Minorities Foundation, an NGO created by him on PM’s vision for ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, to bring people from different minority communities together on a common platform.
As part of the minorities foundation, Sandhu worked closely with the Indian diaspora. The aim was to spread the PM’s message among Indians abroad.
A fortnight ago, the edupreneur was in New Zealand for the Shudhikaran and Vastra Grahan ceremony of the Hindu deity Ram’s idol at Bharatiya Mandir, Auckland, ahead of the pran pratishtha event in Ayodhya on 22 January.
“The glory of Prabhu Ram has made the world come together to celebrate — New Zealand ministers are in awe of PM Narendra Modiji’s decisive leadership! Trade Minister Todd McClay, Minister of Regulations, David Seymour & Minister of Ethnic Communities, Melissa Lee MP congratulated people of Bharat wishing that Prabhu Ram keeps showering his blessings on the two countries!” he posted on his Facebook page.
Sandhu’s foundation organised a gathering at the PM’s residence on Christmas last year.
“Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas resonates in every gesture of PM Shri Narendra Modiji. His inclusive spirit shines as he extends warm Christmas wishes to all, hosting celebrations at his residence. Modiji’s acceptance of the IMF’s request reflects his commitment to unity, exemplifying in actions what he ardently speaks. Grateful for a leader who brings Indians together, transcending faith,” wrote Sandhu on his Facebook page.
Force behind Sikh outreach
Sandhu is also considered to be the guiding force behind the PM’s Sikh outreach.
In April 2022, he led a delegation of 100 most influential Sikhs to the PM’s residence for a meeting. He even journaled the efforts put in by the PM for the Sikhs in a coffee table book Heartfelt: The Legacy of Faith, underscoring Modi’s “profound connection with the Sikh community”.
Sandhu’s closeness to the BJP leaders began with his setting up an education quality and monitoring cell that started working with the Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat governments.
The cell did handholding of several educational institutions in these states in procuring improved national and international rankings. In UP, the programme was called UP Ranking, Accreditation & Mentorship (UPCRAM), while in Gujarat it was called “Garima”.
Sandhu organised the ‘Namaste London: Resurgence of a New India’ event at the House of Commons in London last year where Indian diaspora and London’s leaders commemorated India’s growing prowess led by PM Modi.
Last year, he published and distributed another coffee table book on the PM’s Mann ki Baat called Igniting Collective Goodness: Mann Ki Baat @100.
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Philanthropy and controversies
Sandhu turned to philanthropy some years ago. He started the Chandigarh Welfare Trust (CWT) and New India Development (NID) Foundation to undertake community welfare projects. CWT organises mega health camps, sewa pakhwadas and blood donation camps to mark the PM’s birthdays.
On the eve of Independence Day in 2022, almost 6,000 students of Chandigarh University, in association with the NID foundation, set a new Guinness World Record for the world’s largest human formation of a waving national flag at Chandigarh cricket stadium.
Sandhu also has had a fair share of controversies — largely related to his university.
In September 2022, his university in Landran hit national headlines when student protests broke out on the campus following allegations that a girl student had been filming objectionable videos of other girl students and sharing them with her boyfriend. The controversy continued for almost a month and ended with the arrest of the student and her accomplices.
In May 2022, after a student allegedly committed suicide on the university campus, the victim’s family reportedly levelled allegations of harassment of their son by the hostel warden, who was later arrested.
In 2018, a warden of the hostel was arrested after a student complained that he had tried to sodomise him.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)