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, 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.
War Veteran Col Bobby Grewal delivered an engaging talk on the Battle of Basantar, one of the biggest tank confrontations of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. His vivid recounting of the bravery, strategy and sacrifices of the 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.
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.
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.
