YPS - Founder's Day 05On Founder's Day FEBRUARY, 1948We live in difficult times but difficulties perhaps come to test one's mettle. All of you who are studying are our future hopes. We want to lookup to you with pride because you have to shoulder the future responsibilities of our country. I am a great believer in the future greatness ofIndia and I wish you all to share this greatness happily.”H.H. MAHARAJADHIRAJ YADAVINDRA SINGHOur Founder :HIS HIGHNESSMAHARAJADHIRAJ YADAVINDRA SINGHMOHINDRA BAHADUR OF PATIALA(07.01.1913 - 17.06.1974)
06 YPS - The FoundationYPS - The Foundation 07<strong>Yadavindra</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>School</strong>The FoundationThe genesis of YPS, as a matter offact, lies in the Aitchison College,Lahore (the only <strong>Public</strong> <strong>School</strong> in Pre-Partition Punjab), and it plays a great rolein the making of our school.Aitchison was a college not for all, butonly for scions of princes, lords andaristocrats. His Highness the lateMaharajadhiraj <strong>Yadavindra</strong> Singh of<strong>Patiala</strong>, from whose august name thisschool derives its significance, was too astudent of this college and later a memberof its Board of Governors. He was againstrestrictions in admission of boys toAitchison College and had an idea ofopening a public school at <strong>Patiala</strong> whichwould be open to all, irrespective of caste,creed or colour. However, this ideasomehow could not be translated intoreality.August 1947 came, the time whichwitnessed the worst bloodshed of the era.The parents of the boys from <strong>Patiala</strong> andHis Highness' own contemporariesappealed to His Highness to give shape tohis old idea of starting a public school in<strong>Patiala</strong>. The generous, bountiful andbenign ruler of <strong>Patiala</strong>, who had alwaystaken keen interest in the education of theyouth of this country, promptly agreed.On 11th October, 1947, the late RaiBahadur Dhani Ram Kapila, one of the oldteachers of His Highness and theHeadmaster of Aitchison College, wasbrought to <strong>Patiala</strong> from Ludhiana undermilitary escort. On 12th October, a sixmember committee was appointed toexplore the possibilities of founding thepublic school in <strong>Patiala</strong>.On 30th October, 1947, the Maharaja of<strong>Patiala</strong>, members of the Committee anddepartmental heads visited the stadiumand Exhibition Grounds to select the sitefor the school and for a temporarybuilding for the boarding house. The<strong>Yadavindra</strong> Stadium was made availablefor classrooms and Bhupindra Kothi forthe boarding house.On 2nd February, 1948, the schoolstarted functioning with a meagrestrength of 21 students and 9 teachers,with Rai Bahadur Dhani Ram Kapila asthe Principal. The school was animprovement on Aitchison College inthat there was no social restriction onthe admission of students. Anyonewithout any prejudice to race, belief orfaith could join the school.In 1950, YPS attended the Indian <strong>Public</strong><strong>School</strong>s' Conference and was elected amember of the Conference. The sameyear some personal reasons led to RaiBahadur Dhani Ram Kapila relinquishinghis charge of the school Principal. On18th September, 1950, Lt. Col. Frank VonGoldstein took over as the secondPrincipal of the school. From a smallbeginning the school continued to growsteadily; and now it had more boys on therolls than there was room for, with stillmore clamouring for admission.In 1954, the school was made coeducational;with the number of studentsstill increasing, the school had to buildmore accommodation and increase thenumber of playing fields. The existingboarding house facilities were expandedand a third boarding house was opened in1953. In 1957, His Highness theMaharaja of <strong>Patiala</strong> placed Lal Bagh atour disposal. For playing fields, weleveled the areas between the boardinghouses and the stadium.Renovated, furbished and embellished,the school now presents an attractivelook. After facing difficulties with courageand confidence for over 60 years, YPShas now established itself as one of theleading public schools in the country.The school crest bears the motto,“VIDYA VINAY VEERTA”- Valour andHumility through Knowledge. The schoolpays a lot of attention to characterbuilding and sports activities as part ofeducation. Over the last 60 years, it hasgained a place for itself as one of thepremier schooling institutions in ourcountry.In 1973, the school celebrated its SilverJubilee. There were 550 students on rollwith 40 teachers on strength. At itsGolden Jubilee, in 1998, it had maintainedits growth, with over 1500 alumni and100 faculty members, while progressingtowards excellence in all fields ofeducation.
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