Bhupinder Pal Singh an essential Sanawarian. 

Out of the blue, I received a call from my son that a young gentleman wanted to speak to me about Bhupinder Pal Singh. I was extremely sad to learn of Bhupi‘s passing from his son Samir on 2nd October 2022.

 My heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Bhupendra Pal Singh – Bhupi as he was fondly called in school. 

I got to know Bhupi very well when we joined school in 1952. Bhupi was an unassuming, confident and sincere boy who took part in all the school activities and in the true spirit of Sanawar he was great all-rounder, which was in keeping with the ‘Spirit of Sanawar’. 

As fate would have it we graduated to the Sixth Form in 1956 and Bhupi was appointed as the Head Boy of Sanawar and I the Head Girl. 

The staff, boys and of course the girls all were very fond of him. He was charming and would always be there to help when anyone needed him. We had a great relationship specially due to our positions in school and he was always proving his leadership and spirit of being a head boy. Bhupi applied for NDA and passed with merit and had to leave school early in the session to join the JSW at Khadakwasla . 

The next year I joined college in Lucknow. 

One day in 1957 I was informed in college that there was a very handsome boy who had come to visit me in. The girls were all excited and wondering who had come to meet me. 

Here in the waiting room was Bhupi. He had unfortunately injured his eye during the Academy training he was down graded, medically. He decided to move on and was now on his way to Assam to join the tea gardens. We had coffee together and he was very excited to take up his next assignment. 

Bhupi was not at all disappointed about his misfortune but was looking forward to the next stage of his life, the challenge of which he commendably took up. He was well respected as a tea estate manager and was extremely dedicated and exemplary in his duties. He proudly embodied our motto - ‘Never Give In’. 

We lost touch with each other for a long while and our next meeting was when we were graciously invited during our 50th founders celebrations to visit Lawrence School, Muriee in Pakistan. We of the ‘56 were specially invited by Mr Kiani who was the headmaster of our sister school. 

A small group of 10 of us travelled to Pakistan, during which I got a chance to meet his lovely wife Shanu. We had a lovely time together and this opportunity gave us time to catch up with our lives and share our experiences. 

Time seemed to have melted away and we were the same as we were with each other in school. 

We got back to India we made promises to each other to keep in touch, as life happens we were not able to do so. 

Now looking back, I feel we should all make an effort to keep in touch with our oldest school friends as the joy of this friendship is incomparable. 

I wish Shanu, Samir and Radhika, his daughter all the best in their lives and they may always be proud to have such a wonderful husband and father. ~ 

Yogendra Dhillon OS ‘56 (Head Girl) 

Bhupi and I had boxed each other, he gave me such a hiding I still remember…. He was very good human being, good with his hands. Handsome and wonderful friend. All the best and regards from Kamaljit. ~ 

Lt General Kamaljeet Singh ( KJ) HBD ‘56

 Bhupi was in Himalaya house, then shifted to Vindhya house. 

He was good sportsman and good in studies. Very lovable and had very cordial relations with everyone. We were great friends nostalgic memories of tea estate. He will be remembered as very simple, humble honest & straigh forward person, His demise is personal loss to me He was the one who did not get punishment in school !! ~ Col Harinder Mankotia HBD ‘56

 Remembering Bhupinder, Bhupi as we fondly called him. I have wonderful memories of times spent with him right from school days to meeting him at Dibrugarh and later at Jalandhar, whenever I went there. 

Came to know from Binny Shergill about he being admitted in Fortis Mohali...contacted Ashish Bhatia who told me all was under control. Bhupi's sudden passing due to heart attack was a complete surprise. 

Whereever Bhupi went people took to him ..school mates, friends including girls (Hoshiarpur).. Finally, to me and many others, BHUPI was the most gentle,soft spoken, lovable Pal. Will truly miss him…. ~ Col Dhami , NBD ‘56 

Bhupinder is survived by his wife Shanu, son Samirpal Singh VBD '88 and daughter Radhika Singh Dhall VGD '92.