Sanawar: In a motivational address on the concluding day of the two day long Sanawar Military Literature Festival held at The Lawrence School, Sanawar, Lt Gen Mohit Wadhwa (Sena Medal), Chief of Staff, HQ, Western Command urged students to embrace discipline, courage and a sense of purpose in their lives. Addressing a packed Barne Hall of students, educators, authors, military veterans and literary enthusiasts, the Lt Gen Wadhwa while appreciating the smooth conduct of two day long event said a literature festival is not merely about stories and narration of wars or battles but the soul of a nation which reflects the courage of our soldiers.
“Sanawar has a proud legacy of producing leaders and patriots. Today, more than ever our nation needs young minds who are not only academically strong but also driven by values, integrity and service,” he stated.
Drawing parallels between military life and student life, Lt Gen Wadhwa highlighted how qualities like perseverance, leadership and resilience are essential in both arenas. He encouraged students to rise above challenges, dream big and work relentlessly toward their goals to fulfil the Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
At the sidelines of the Military Literature Festival, a special book fair is also being organised showcasing a diverse collection of literature centered around military themes. The fair featured books authored by veterans, war historians and defense experts, offering deep insights into the lives, sacrifices, and experiences of armed forces personnel.
Simultaneously, War Veteran Col Bobby Grewal delivered an engaging talk on the Battle of Basantar, one of the biggest tanks confrontations of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. His vivid recounting of the bravery, strategy and sacrifices of th brave hearts, including many alumnis of Sanawar, during the battle captivated the audience, particularly the students who listened with keen interest and gained valuable insights into India’s military history.
The lecture was followed by the Basantar Memorial Inter-School English Declamation Contest and a Poetry Composition Contests which was well participated by top schools of across the country. Siya Shukla of The Lawrence School, Sanawar won first prize in the Poetry Composition Contest, followed by Tanisha Ravi Choudhary of Welham Girls College and Shrishti Joshi of Rajmata Krishna Kumari Girls Public School. Mauleen Pangal from RIMC also participated. In the Declamation Contest, Hiten Ahuja of Springdale School, Amritsar secured first place, Ahana Gupta of Welham Girls College came second, and Tvisha Dave of Army Public School, Dagshai stood third.
Earlier, Lt Gen Wadhwa in the presence of school’s headmaster Himmat Singh Dhillon attended a solemn wreath-laying ceremony marked by the notes of the bugle’s Last Post held in honor of the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
He also reviewed the coffee table book The Lawrence School, Sanawar – Military Heritage 1847–2024 compiled by Gen Abdo Sandhu, a tribute to the school’s illustrious military heritage. The book captures the institution’s journey through archival photographs, historical records, and inspiring stories of its distinguished alumni who served in the armed forces, reflecting Sanawar’s long standing contribution to nation-building and military excellence.
Amongst many dignitaries present on the occasion included Col Parry Grewal, Major General Kulpreet Singh, Mukesh Khetrapal, brother of Param Vir Chakra Second Lt. Arun Khetrapal, Lt Gen Tejinder Shergill, Brigadier Pardeep Sharma, Col AP Randhawa, Commodore Rohit Kaushik, Col Amresh Sharma, Col Jasper Sandhu, Brigadier AS Bal and others.
