Saturday, 9 September 2017

Cambrian Hall’s pride General Bipin Rawat


It’s nostalgic writing about your school. I have many fond memories of Cambrian Hall where I studied over three decades back. Engaged in selfless service, this institution has contributed much to the lives of countless with alumni in all walks of life doing the school proud.

Cambrian Hall has stood the test of time and maintained its place as numero Uno education institution of the Doon Valley since its establishment in 1954. What distinguishes it from others in its class is in its low profile that it has always maintained since inception yet creating an unequaled mark in education and extra co-curricula’s for children. The school has truly lived-up to its motto “To Greater Heights”.

Amazing one will be to read, the school has never unduly hyped its profile to sieve off money from the parents on the pretext of education. Unfortunately this is a sly practice and tactic of many establishments these days that have cropped up bearing fancy names with no ethics. Cambrian Hall has always treaded the ethical path; the reason of its strength and the cause of its standing tall on no false pretext.

In its journey over the years the school has performed exceptionally well on all the fronts with many of its alumni touching heights that inspires all. One such alumnus is General Bipin Rawat, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM the present Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. General Rawat studied here in the early nineteen seventies many years senior to me.

A man of his stature shouldering enormous responsibilities of defense of the country coming to Cambrian Hall on its Founder’s Day September 9, 2017 reflects his love and respect for the school's founder and the institution where foundation of his early education laid. Today every Cambrianite seems excited to meet him while he comes to the school this weekend. I hope to recount with him some old memories.

In making of personalities as General Rawat, besides the teachers of those days (none of whom are present now) the founder of the school Late Col. Shashi Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana needs obeisance and reverence for such breed of educationists and human beings are getting rare now.

Every alumni and present day students of Cambrian Hall stands indebted to the visionary founder. The present school management has taken on the path shown by late Col.Shashi to give selflessly for the cause of education.

The Rana family needs salutation for their contribution to education and establishing an educational institution par excellence.

What makes me especially proud, as an ex-Cambrinate is the fact that besides the good education I received at this school in the seventies and early eighties this great institution has always been a ‘school of choice’ for my entire family. For the simple reason that education being imparted here with no pomp and shows my family’s affiliation with this school stretches from back 1970 to date. 

It is a matter of delight that Cambrian Hall has always led other schools of the town when it came to its illustrious alumni and specially those in the defense forces doing the country proud. Needless to say, Cambrianites have also reached commanding positions in other defense wings be it Navy, Air Force or allied forces besides Army over the years while some are on their way up the ladder. The list of alumni in other fields and walks of life both nationally and internationally is equally impressive.

Cambrian Hall prides itself of the ethics imbibed in every child over the years. General Rawat with many honors, awards of gallantry and distinguished services to the nation is an example.

Besides his exemplary valor, I feel connected to General Rawat on the intellectual front especially as regards his interest for writing. It is possibly in the genes of the children of the seventies and eighties (before the internet era) and because of the encouragement by the schools at that time that they developed an interest for reading and writing.

General Rawat, I learnt is an avid writer and has authored many articles on National Security and Leadership published in various journals and publications. He also has completed his research on military media strategic studies and awarded the Doctorate of Philosophy few years’ back.

Born in Pauri Garhwal district in a Rajput family that has served army since generations, General Rawat got commissioned in the Indian Army in 1978 from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun where he passed out with the Sword of Honour presented to the most meritorious cadet. “Like father, like son”, General Rawat treaded on the path of his father who too served the Indian Army and held the rank of Lieutenant General.

General Rawat’s coming and addressing Cambrian Hall will undoubtedly raise a self-pride among the present staff and teachers as also ignite a spark among the students to take on the path of serving the nation as done by him over the years. I am sure his lessons of life will be worth emulating. Cambrian Hall is proud of its alumni General Bipin Rawat and looks forward to welcoming him on September 9, 2017 at the school.

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