Trooping of the school flag: Sanawar cadets march to beat of excellence

The Lawrence School, Sanawar, concluded its three-day 178th Founders’ Day celebrations with grandeur, emotion and a deep sense of pride as alumni, students, parents and distinguished guests gathered on the historic hill campus.

The chief guest, Amitabh Kant — former G20 Sherpa of the Government of India and former CEO of NITI Aayog — delivered an inspiring address that beautifully interwove Sanawar’s rich legacy with India’s vision for the future. Drawing from personal experiences, he offered four life lessons to the young Sanawarians:

He urged them to stay resilient in the face of failure, recounting how what seemed like a “punishment posting” in Kerala became the launchpad for the globally acclaimed “God’s Own Country” tourism campaign. He advised them to think long-term, building institutions that endure rather than chasing short-term success.

Reflecting on his G20 negotiations, Kant highlighted that bold and informed risks — grounded in preparation and collaboration — can lead to transformational outcomes. He also underlined the importance of empathetic communication, sharing how learning Malayalam early in his career helped him connect with people and drive real change.

Encouraging students to embrace the future with optimism, Kant said today’s youth live in an era of extraordinary possibility. “Technology can amplify your reach,” he reminded, “but it can never replace judgment, integrity or hard work.”

Earlier, Headmaster Himmat Singh Dhillon presented the school report, celebrating the institution’s remarkable achievements in academics, sports and co-curricular pursuits and lauding the dedication of the faculty in upholding Sanawar’s tradition of excellence.

The celebrations featured the “Trooping of the School Flag” Parade, where cadet students marched smartly, earning thunderous applause. The Chief of the Army Staff’s Trophy was awarded to Gayatri Sud and Harsh Kumar for their outstanding performance.

An emotional alumni parade followed, with Old Sanawarians from across generations marching past in a stirring display of unity and pride. The Lawrence School and the Old Sanawarian Society (OSS) also honoured distinguished alumni for their exceptional contributions. The OSS Lifetime Achievement Award-2025 was conferred upon Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat and Lt Gen Tejinder Singh Shergill (retd), PVSM, while the Distinguished Old Sanawarian Award-2025 went to Brig TPS Chowdhury, AVSM, Lalit Varma, Vivek Mehra and Manavendra Singh Pathania.

The grand ceremony concluded with Amitabh Kant presenting prizes to students and houses excelling in academics, sports, leadership and service — culminating in a proud celebration of Sanawar’s enduring spirit of excellence and service.