Bravery of ‘The Ace’ of Ravi House

Date: 22- 02- 21
This is the story of Pritpal (R-1), the ace of Ravi House during 1971 war.
In the picture above are seen guests Lady and Sir Paul Gore-Booth the High Commissioner of UK to India visiting the school. They are escorted by First Senior Master Dr. Surjit Singh, PhD and the First Head Boy of School, Pritpal Singh (R-1) in school uniform.

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ONE OF THE FIRST TO JOIN THE PUNJAB PUBLIC SCHOOL,  NABHA THEN SAINIK SCHOOL

On 7th April, 1960, The students gradually began to trickle in. B-4, Rajinder Singh Dhillon was the first student to report in school. However, Manjit Grewal R-4 says he was the first to pay the School fee.

Houses were allotted at random basis at the time of admission and the following students without realizing that they had booked their place in PPS history by officially being the first students in their respective houses.

B 1      Om Prakash Nandrajog

J 1       Surinder Gupta

R 1      Pritpal Singh             

S 1       Parminder Singh Nagra

Pritpal passed out in March, 1964 after Higher Srecondary.

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First Official Day of The Punjab Public School

On Baisakhi Day 14th April The School began with an address by the Lt Gen Kalwant Singh on behalf of the governor who could not make it that day.The boys put up a variety entertainment programme for the guests in the evening.

After the enthusaistic Bhangra , the other memorable item of the evening was an English play “A Fable of Baghdad”. Under the able direction of Mr S C Cowell, the participants comprising Deepak Kapoor (J-2), Provin Jaidka (B-5), Pradip Dhir (B-10), Pritpal Singh(R-1), Jagjit Bedi(J-3) and Surinder Gupta (J-1) came out with flying colours and a self-assured performance.

12th Feb: There was a cricket match between two teams comprising staff and students. The teams were Treman’s and Pritpal’s elven. The Treman’s eleven won by 7runs.

17th September :The second English debate postponed on account of rains and electricity failure was held in the Secretarial Building. The boys got and opportunity visiting the real alma mater which was in the process of being salvaged from effects of the floods. The debate too was held in proper formality. Mr. SC Cowell was in the chair. Subject was “In the opinion of the House, country life is better than city life”. Taninder was leader of the House and Pritipal leader of opposition.Many good points were raised.

28thApril, 1962 : ‘Hat Debate’ was held in the evening Mr Vodden was in the chair. Manjeet Singh was adjudged the best speaker followed by Pritpal and Madanjit Singh.

 School had three headboys in 1963. First was Pritpal, later Jagdev Chakkhal became Headboy followed By Sureshwar Tiwari.

18th August 1963: New Appointments:

Head Boy Jagdev Singh (Ravi) 

School Prefects Jagjit Bedi (J), Sureshwar Tiwar(J) Prithipal Singh(R), Om Prakash(B) and Narendernath Dogra(S).

Nov 1963:  Full and half Colours in Football were awarded to

Full: Sureshwar Tiwari, RPS Mann, Om Prakash, Hari Kishen, N. Dogra, Jagdev Singh

Half :Pritpal, Deepak Kapoor, Rajinder Dhillon, Bharat Kohli and Jagdish singh.

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Role in formation of ONA

 

FORMATION OF THE OLD NABHAITES ASSOCIATION

First Batch of Old Nabhaites met in Staff Common Room at 11.00am. The ONA was formed on this Day by the School under HM.

Minutes of the Meeting.

The following attended:

  • Pritpal Singh (R-1)
  • Parminder Nagra(S-1)
  • Anil Luthra (S-37)
  • Vinod Mehta (S-4)
  • Harbir Singh (J-35)
  • Suresh Kuthiala (S-30)
  • Harpreet Singh Sandhu (S-7)
  • Rajinder Dhillon (B-4)
  • Jagtar Singh (B-40)
  • Jeevan Kate (S-34)

Teachers

  • SC Cowell
  • YP Johri
  • YP Bhradwaj
  • OP Bhatnagar
  • IB Kakkar
  • KK Katyal
  • HM Mr JK Kate

    Minutes of the First Meeting of the Old Nabhaite Association held on the 14th March, 1965.

    1. The Old Boys of the School- will be known as NABHAITES. This was proposed by – Pritpal Singh (R-1,1963) and seconded by Harbir Singh (J-35,1963). The Old Boys’ Association will be known as the ‘THE OLD NABHAITE ASSOCIATION’, or, in short, ONA.
    2. The Headmaster will be the ex‘ officio President of the ONA.
    3. Y. P. Johri (Maths) ,proposed- the name of Mr. O. P. Bhatnagar (Hindi) for the post of General Secretary (Staff) and Mr. Y. P. Bharadwaj (History) seconded it. Mr. 0. P Bhatnagar was elected unanimously.
    4. The name of Vinod Mehta (S-4,1964) was pro­posed by Harpreet Singh Sandhu (S-7,1964) and second­ed by Suresh Chandra Kuthalia (S-30,1963) for the post of Old Boys’ Secretary. The name of Rajinder Singh Dhillon (B-4,1964) was proposed by Jagtar Singh Bhatia (B-47,1965) and seconded by Anil Kumar Luthra (S-37,1964). Before the proposal was put to the vote’, Vinod Mehta withdrew his candidature and Rajinder Dhillon was unanimously elected.
    5. Mr. I. B. Kakar (Physics) proposed that branches of the ONA be started at Chan­digarh, Patiala and Kharakvasla. The motion was seconded by Harbir Singh and was carried unanimously.
    6. Mr. Y. P. Bharadwaj proposed that a branch of the ONA be started at Jullun­dur also. The motion was seconded by Harbir Singh and the general body gave its consent unanimously.
    7. The following Old Nabhaites were elected Branch Secretaries:  Parminder Singh Nagra (S-1,1964) for the Patiala Branch;Harbir Singh for the Jullundur Branch;Anil Kumar Luthra for the Chandi­garh Branch and

            Madanjit Singh (S-32,1963) for the Kharakvasla Branch.

    1. It was proposed by Mr. O. P. Bhat­nagar that the cost of the Old Boys’ dinner be borne by those members of the teaching staff who attend the dinner and that the school authorities be requested to subsidize the cost. The Bursar very kindly promised to consider the matter sympathetically. Mr. K. K. Katyal (Biology) seconded the proposal.

    9. Jeevan Kate (S-34,1964) proposed that there should an ONA tie. The motion was sec­onded. by Pritpal Singh and was unan­imously passed.

    1.  Harpreet Singh Sandhu proposed that there be a special meeting of the ONA to introduce old Nabhaites to new members of staff. This would enable all the members of the ONA to get to know each other before they met at the general meeting. The motion was left open for further consideration.

    11. Mr. Y. P. Johri suggested that members of the teaching staff who have left the school should be eligible for mem­bership of the ONA.

    12.Mr. S. C. Cowell (Senior Master and English) proposed that they be asked to pay a subscrip­tion of Rs 2/- per annum for the Chronicle.

    This was generally accepted.

    (The House nos. of Old Nabhaites  and subjects of teachers have been added by me to the meeting records in the chronicle for better identification of individuals involved. -Jashanjot, S-52,1967)

Kharakvasla Branch Secretary Madanjit Singh did not attend but name was given by Harbir as confirmed later in 2019.

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Extracts of The Chronicle related to first ONA Meeting

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The Bravery of ‘The Ace ‘of Ravi House


From the School Chronicle (issue of July 1972 , P-4)

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Recogonition of the Bravery

Mention in despatch

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Pritpal Singh (R-1) extreme left, on the first ever school hiking trip to Rohtang pass in 1961. SEcond from right is J-1, Surinder Gupta.

The whole group with Mr MN Tankha, Geography Teacher (tallest) and Mr OP Bhatnagar on left, Hindi and Arts Teacher. Pritpal is in front of Mr Tankha. with handkerchief on head.

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Some pictures in Uniform