Harmohinder Singh Kathpalia

• I entered IIT Delhi to fulfill the wishes of my father, coupled with large numbers of fears and hope of prosperous future. Coming from Govt. school of a small town and competing with convent educated students was quite a challenge. I studied hard and won the merit scholarship in the first year and failed in second year.
• My stay in Shivalik and Vindhyachal hostels helped me shed certain inhibitions, made life long friends and enjoyed life.
• After graduation from IIT, I served in General Reserve Engineering Force for four years and thereafter worked with Haryana Public Works Department for the construction of Roads/Buildings. I retired as Executive Engineer in the year 2003.
• The plight of underprivileged children who are deprived of education, sanitation and healthy environment have always stirred my inner self. I along with my wife and friends decided to provide free education, computer training & skill development to economically weak students in Faridabad to improve their employability and to develop entrepreneurship in them. We formed and got registered a secular and nonpolitical Trust namely Jagriti Sewa Trust in Feb 2010.
• Presently 870 students are studying free of cost at 10 different locations. The activities are being managed by a team of 41 faculty members and 12 volunteers.
• The above activities keep me busy and give me lot of satisfaction and peace of mind.
• I am married to Manjit who stood by me through thick and thin. We were blessed with daughter Ramita, a very noble soul. She made us very happy and proud for 19 years and then left for her heavenly abode.