Yours patriotically

RAISING HEROES This 93yrold institution prides itself on providing cadets with a futuristic, secular and disciplined education so that they bring glory to India irrespective of the field they choose

CHAIL: Ensconced in the emerald embrace of pines and firs, the Rashtriya Military School, Chail, holds the distinction of being the oldest residential military public school in Asia. It is one of five schools that are administered by the directorate general of military training.

Spread over 130 acres at Chail — a quiet hill station built by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala after he was banned from entering Shimla as he had eloped with the Viceroy’s daughter — the school also has on display a cannon from his weaponry. Students perform their early morning drills at the world’s highest cricket ground, which is also the school’s playground.

President of Georgian Association (north) and former resident editor of Indian Express Vipin Pubby, who had passed out in 1973, says, “I think, the school has contributed the largest number of army personnel as it has been training cadets for close to a hundred years now. The qualities of discipline and integrity that are inculcated in the students hold them a good stead in life whether they choose to join the army or not. Its secular nature is the highlight of the school.”

Some prominent alumni of the institute include, hero of the 1971 Indo-pak war Brig Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, northern army commander Lt Gen DRS Sahni, Maha Vir Chakra and Param Vishisht Seva Medal awardee Ranjit Singh Dayal, who later became Lt Governor of Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar islands; Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) awardee Lt Gen Iqbal Singh Singha, who has the distinction of being both head of the mission and force commander of a UN peacekeeping mission at Golan Heights between Israel and Syria.

GEORGIAN BEGINNINGS

The school with its sister institution at Jhelum (Pakistan) came into existence after the First World War with a generous donation of ₹2.5 lakh from King George -V’s Patriotic Fund. The foundation stone of the school was laid by the then Prince of Wales Edward VIII in February 1922 and the school started functioning at Jalandhar Cantt on 15 September 1925. It was christened as King George’s Royal Indian Military College (KGRIMC).

The institution was founded with the aim of imparting free education to the sons of junior commissioned officers (JCOS), non-commissioned officers (NCOS), and other ranks to prepare them for different army examinations, including the Indian Special Certificate of Education. Alumni Lt Gen Iqbal Singh Singha (retd) says, “The sons of army officers would go to The Lawrence School, Sanawar, or The Lawrence School, Lovedale.”

The entire curriculum was based on military requirements with English as the medium of instruction. The strength of the school was 250 and the staff consisted mostly of military personnel. During the World WAR-II, the school was designated as College. A hundred more

A PERIPATETIC INSTITUTION

The college was renamed as King George’s School and shifted to Nowgong (Bundel Khand) in August 1952 where it was housed in Old Kitchener College buildings. Later, it was felt that the military school should continue to be a part of Punjab, therefore, the school was shifted to Chail that was a part of the state in 1960. The school was renamed again. It was called the Chail Military School in January 1966, Military School Chail from 1996 and is currently called the Rashtriya Military School Chail (June 2007).

Maj Amarjit Singh Thind, 82, has who studied both at Jalandhar and Nowgong, says, “At Jalandhar, students were not allowed to pursue any hobby, given plain Indian food and punishment was just extra drills. In Nowgong, we were given British food such as eggs and bacon, they allowed us to pursue hobbies such as photography; naughty students or those poor in studies were issued cards, each colour represented the degree of misconduct. A student could be ousted after receiving a black card.”

APPLE RAIDS

Lt Gen Singha, who is also the father of Ranvijay Singha of Roadies fame, says, “Apple raids are an integral part of the Georgian tradition. There are a lot of apple trees around Chail and cadets year-upon-year plan apple raids. The raids are planned exactly like a military operation. The raids are conducted under the cover of darkness. Cadets sneak middle of the night, pluck the apples, store them in pillowcases and hide the loot in the hollow of trees.”

“On one memorable occasion, we hid the apples in the roof of the classroom. The teacher could smell the apples but could not figure out where we had hidden our contraband. It was only after he promised that we will not be punished that we revealed our hiding spot,” he laughs.

Principal Lt Col SPS Chauhan says, “Mischievousness and creativity go hand-in-hand while cadets are growing up. Though discipline is the backbone of RMS, Chail, yet, we do our best to not stifle the creativity of students. We are aware that the apple raids are conducted and even though it is forbidden on paper, we are always aware of what the students are doing. I make sure the orchardists face no losses due to the cadets’ mischief. The raids are conducted by different houses, the date and strategy are a closely guarded secret.”

“It has at times happened that the different houses have planned the raids on the same day and scared each other. If the cadets get hurt, they administer first aid on their own and tell authorities that they slipped on the staircase or in the bathroom,” he says.

“The most daunting part of the apple raid is crossing the Thandi Sadak in the middle of the night. The road is believed to be haunted. Many a traveller, has reported that a jewel-bedecked lady has asked late-night commuters, for a lift,” says Shaurya Sharma, a Class 11 student.

DEALING WITH GRIEF

Tasked with the important job of preparing cadets to serve their country, the faculty often have to grapple with the martyrdom of a former student. Speaking of former alumnus Lt Cdr Shwet Gupta who died while rescuing navy personnel aboard INS Jalashwa, his former science teacher, Shanta Nayar, says, “He had dinner at my house before leaving for what was to be his last assignment. He had forgotten his white naval cap at home and so I provided him with one. A week later we heard of his demise.”

“He was a bright student who won the sword of honour, the highest award from the school. I remember, in a declamation contest, he had emulated Hitler, everybody had goosebumps at the end of his speech.”