Founders day celebrations : Lawrence school sanawar enters into 175th year of foundation
Ten appointments and 84 cadets under the leadership of parade commander Nihal Singh Sidhu accompanied by 18-member band group led by Emaan Singh Bhullar, the students of The Lawrence School Sanawar presented a spectacular Trooping of School Flag parade celebrating its three days long 174th Founder’s Day today on its playground named Peacestead.
Before the parade started, the bugler Utkarsh Verma played the tune “The last post” to pay tribute to one of its own alumni, the bravest and the youngest Param Vir Chakra winner of the country second Lieutenant Arun Khetarapal for his supreme sacrifice in the Indo-Pak war of 1971.
After the parade, as soon as the headmaster, Himmat Singh Dhillon announced the school’s entry into its Dodransbicentennial year, over 150 students created a formation outlining “175” and released 175 red and white colour balloons up in the sky. This is a historic landmark and proud moment for Sanawar school as it is arguably the oldest coeducational institution in the world. The school has series of events planned for the year ahead including the release of stamp and commemorative coin.
Dhillon addressed a special assembly for the occasion and read out thanks giving prayers for the founder and the board of governors of the school. Later he also gave the detailed report of the school’s achievement for the year 2020. In his speech he said, “ Sanawar is gearing up for the Dodransbicentennial celebrations and the school will not leave any stone unturned to make it a memorable event.”
In the annual prize giving ceremony that followed the parade, over 150 awards and trophies were handed over to top performers of the school in various academic and co-curricular activities. Seerat Sandhu received the Yashpal Chaudhary Gold Medal and Late Capt. Zabar Singh cash award for standing first in class XII board exams 2020-21. Chief of the Air Staff’s Trophy for the academic excellence and the Catherine Longman Public Speaking Trophy went to Nilagiri House for the year 2020-21.
On the same day in the evening, the school staged a cultural concert dishing out an extravaganza of culturally diverse and creative activities that included Indian classical dance, musical symphony of orchestra and English play titled “Dilemma to Direction” showcasing the artistic abilities of the students despite the adversities and challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The school decorated its alumnus Lieutenant General Ajay Singh with “Old Sanawarian Achiever of the Year” award for his exemplary service to the nation. General Singh is currently the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command. In his guest of Honour Speech general extolled the performance of the students and said, “Education for nation” has been at the centre of educational ethos and training at Sanawar. Sanawar will be celebrating its 175 years (Dodransbicentennial) of foundation next year in 2022 and hundreds of its alumni are leading from the front in their respective walks of life. This itself is a testimony to the fact that the school has been marching on from strength to strength with all its glory intact.
