Time to cherish memories at YPS, Patiala

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 1

Nostalgia mingled with clouds to create a mist of memories at Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, as old students, young and not-so-young gathered to celebrate its 70th founder’s day in their traditional royal, sporty and aristocratic style here today. The day ended with a cricket match between the present and elderly bunch who came together for the platinum jubilee celebrations. Royalty from across the country witnessed a sequence of events, which will conclude tomorrow.

Billows of soft breeze took them back to their good old school days as they meandered through old friendships and associations. As they came together to pay obeisance at this altar of learning, it was that time of the year when memories, which they had cherished and enshrined in some far recesses of their heart, came flooding back as the Old Yadavandrians (OYs) found familiar faces in the crowd.

Tomorrow, YPS Patiala, named after erstwhile Maharaja of Patiala Yadavinder Singh, will complete 70 years of existence. To celebrate the occasion, the school, in association with the Aitchisonian Yadavandrian Old Students Association (AYOSA), is holding a two-day function to which the who's who of the country has been invited. The esteemed invitees include Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh and his Cabinet colleague and former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Besides, former student and school patron Capt Amarinder Singh, royal scions, including chairperson of the YPS Board of Governors Raja Malvinder Singh, Capt Amarinder's son Raninder Singh, Raja Randhir Singh, Brigadier Sukhjit Singh (retd) from the royal family of Kapurthala and a recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra, Dr Karan Singh, former Cabinet minister and descendant of the Kashmir royal family, are in Patiala for the event. They visited the school and interacted with old and present students.

"It seems as if it was yesterday that we were here and everything seems the same," claimed honorary secretary, AYOSA, Rupinder Garg, an old student and the man behind the event. "I am not too old and still feel young when I come here on these lush green fields of the school. Holding and hosting the event for bringing so many old students together for the dinner gives a proud feeling," says Garg, who worked with a team of dedicated old students, including Devana Mangla, Somana Mangla and Sumit Sahni, to make this event a success.

The day began with the "Pagal Gymkhana Games" with students enthusiastically participating in games such as newspaper race, blindfold race, tug-of-war and various other enthralling activities. The annual fate was inaugurated by Rani Harpriya Kaur.

Earlier, riding high on a superb batting performance by Amaan Khan, present Yadavindrians defeated the old Yadavandrians in the traditional annual fixture played on the eve of Founder's Day. Raja Malvinder Singh, Raja Randhir Singh and Raninder Singh gave away the prizes.

In the evening, the School English Play 'Sound of Music' was staged at the Harpal Tiwana Centre for Performing Arts. "The play was about a yesteryear poor girl from Austria who wants to be a nun. She picks up job of a governess and later falls in love," says Manpal Tiwana, another old Yadavandiran of 1989 batch.

"Comedian Kapil Sharma will host a show for the present and former students and school staff tomorrow. Later, official dinner will be hosted," said Major General Sanjiv Varma (retd), Director, YPS Patiala. "It has been a wonderful event so far, and with the active support from the Board of Governors, we have been able to see a participation of over 500 old students," said Varma.