By Dr Surjeet Singh Khaira
Dehradun, 17 Sep: Fifty years after completing their school education, members of the 1975 batch of PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Southern Command (KVSC), Pune, returned to their alma mater on 6 and 7 September 2026, to mark their Golden Jubilee.
The two-day reunion, organised under the leadership of Jai Bhagwan Mansa of Pune and Dr Surjeet Singh Khaira of Dehradun, brought together former classmates for an emotional homecoming. Alumni revisited classrooms and familiar corners of the campus, sharing anecdotes and recalling memories of their schooldays.
The celebrations commenced with a warm welcome by Principal Gurmeet Singh, who invited the alumni to tour the campus. A felicitation ceremony was followed by the presentation of commemorative souvenirs and a group photograph. The former students subsequently spent nearly three hours visiting their old classrooms and other familiar locations, reliving memories from five decades ago.
The reunion continued over lunch at a restaurant on MG Road, where conversations and reminiscences continued through the afternoon.
A special highlight was the presence of Vimla Naidu (English Teacher) and Waryam Singh (Hindi Teacher) among the batch’s much-loved former teachers. Although several other teachers were unable to attend owing to ill health, the alumni expressed their gratitude to all their teachers for the guidance, values and encouragement that had shaped their lives. They recalled that their teachers had imparted lessons that went well beyond textbooks and inspired them to pursue their aspirations with confidence and determination.
The following day brought another memorable experience when the alumni returned to the school to participate in the morning assembly alongside present-day students. Singing the school prayer, “Daya Kar Daan vidya i Ka”, they experienced a poignant connection with their schooldays. The assembly concluded with the National Anthem.
The alumni then spent additional time on campus before proceeding for brunch on MG Road. The Golden Jubilee reunion was more than a gathering of former classmates. It celebrated lifelong friendships, shared values and an enduring bond with their alma mater. After five decades, the alumni returned as a closely connected community, carrying with them memories that had remained vivid across the years.
The alumni expressed their sincere appreciation to Principal Gurmeet Singh and coordinators Ajit Menon and Anand Kansal for their hospitality, cooperation and support in making the Golden Jubilee reunion a memorable occasion.
The following members of the 1975 batch were present at the reunion: Daljeet Singh Virdi, Jai Bhagwan Mansa, Jaswant Singh Gill, Laxman Patki, Mani Lal, Nandini Shrotri, Neeta Nandkarni, Nutan Neurgaonkar, Poonam Rehil, Purnima Dhar, Ram Botham, Ratna Upasani, Rekha Puri, Shankar Mukherji, Surinder Kaur Sabharwal, Surjeet Singh Khaira, Trilochan Singh Virdi, and Vijay Kumar Nair.
