Sainik School Kapurthala's 1969–76 Batch Returns for Golden Jubilee Reunion — and Gives Rs 5 Lakh Back to the School
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📅 Nov 2, 2026
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⏱️ 5 min read
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📅 Nov 2, 2026
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⏱️ 5 min read
Last verified: 2 November 2026. The reunion, the delegation led by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh (retd), the wreath-laying at Saikap Smriti Sthal, the inauguration of the renovated conference hall and Patel House, and the Rs 5 lakh contribution (Rs 3.5 lakh scholarship endowment + Rs 1.5 lakh motivational boards) are CONFIRMED by The Tribune’s report published 2 November 2026. Where this article adds context about what the reunion means for parents, it is clearly presented as interpretation, not as reported fact.
Photo: Pexels
There is a question every Sainik School parent asks sooner or later: does this school actually stay with a child for life? On Saturday, Sainik School Kapurthala answered it in the most convincing way possible. Its 1969–1976 batch — men who joined the school half a century ago — returned to campus for a golden jubilee reunion, spending a day with the present generation of cadets and leaving the school measurably better than they found it.
The visiting delegation was led by Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh (retd), PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, one of the school’s most distinguished alumni. He served as Director General of Military Operations during the 2016 surgical strikes and later commanded the Northern Command as its General Officer Commanding-in-Chief. For cadets in Classes XI and XII — the ones now preparing for the NDA — that is not a distant name from a textbook. It is a former cadet of their own school, standing in front of them.
The programme began at the Saikap Smriti Sthal, where the alumni laid wreaths in tribute to the nation’s martyrs. It is a fitting place to start a reunion: before celebrating their own batch, the veterans honoured those who did not come home. The day also marked tangible progress on campus — the newly renovated conference hall and Patel House were formally inaugurated by Lt Gen Ranbir Singh and Major General Anup Krishan Dhar (retd).
Group Captain I. Manoj Menon, the school’s Principal, briefed the visiting alumni on the developmental and infrastructure projects underway on campus, along with initiatives for the overall personality development of cadets and focused academic strategies. Reunions like this are not only nostalgia; they are also how a school’s leadership stays connected to the alumni who can guide, fund and open doors for the next generation.
Addressing the gathering, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh and Maj Gen Dhar encouraged cadets to uphold the highest standards of integrity, moral courage and selfless commitment. Drawing on decades of military leadership, they motivated Class XI and XII students to prepare wholeheartedly for entry into the National Defence Academy and to pursue careers in the armed forces.
That message lands differently coming from alumni than from a brochure. The NDA path is demanding — a written exam, then the SSB interview, then training — and cadets who hear about it from officers who walked the same corridors, ate in the same mess and stood in the same assembly ground tend to believe it is achievable. Kapurthala’s own record supports that belief: like Kunjpura, whose 45 cadets cleared the NDA written exam this year, and Nalanda, with 23 qualifiers, Kapurthala continues to send its senior cadets toward the same goal.
The batch did not only bring memories. Its members contributed a total of Rs 5 lakh to the school: Rs 3.5 lakh towards a scholarship endowment to support and reward academically meritorious and deserving cadets, and Rs 1.5 lakh for installing motivational display boards across the campus to inspire cadets to consider careers in the defence services.
For parents weighing admission, that gift is worth more than its amount. A scholarship endowment helps deserving cadets directly, and a batch that gives back fifty years on is evidence of the bond the school builds. Alumni networks matter in practical ways too — mentoring, guidance for SSB preparation, and a community a young officer can call on years later. When you visit a school, asking about its alumni association and what its old batches actually do for current cadets is one of the most revealing questions you can ask.
A golden jubilee reunion is, by definition, a story about the past. But for families deciding about admission in 2027, it answers a present-day question: what kind of institution keeps its former students connected, grateful and generous for fifty years? Kapurthala’s answer this weekend was a day of remembrance, a renovated hall and house, a scholarship fund, and a room full of cadets hearing from officers who once sat where they sit. That is the long arc of a Sainik School education — and it is worth remembering when the entrance exam feels like the whole story.
Which batch celebrated its golden jubilee at Sainik School Kapurthala?
The 1969–1976 batch of Sainik School Kapurthala returned to campus for its golden jubilee reunion, marking five decades of association with the school.
Who led the Kapurthala golden jubilee reunion delegation?
The visiting alumni delegation was led by Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh (retd), PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, a distinguished alumnus who served as Director General of Military Operations during the 2016 surgical strikes and later as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command.
What did the 1969–76 batch donate to Sainik School Kapurthala?
The batch contributed Rs 5 lakh in total: Rs 3.5 lakh towards a scholarship endowment for academically meritorious and deserving cadets, and Rs 1.5 lakh for installing motivational display boards across the campus to inspire cadets to consider defence careers.
What message did the alumni give to present-day cadets?
Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh and Major General Anup Krishan Dhar (retd) urged cadets to uphold integrity, moral courage and selfless commitment, and motivated Class XI and XII students to prepare wholeheartedly for entry into the National Defence Academy.
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