Yadavindra Public School, Patiala

The genesis of Yadavindra Public School (YPS) in Patiala is closely tied to Aitchison College, Lahore, a prestigious institution for the aristocracy in pre-partition Punjab. Maharajadhiraj Yadavindra Singh of Patiala, an Aitchison alumnus and former Board of Governors member, envisioned a more inclusive public school. Despite his initial efforts, this idea wasn't realized until after the violent partition of 1947, when parents and contemporaries urged him to establish such a school in Patiala. Responding to this call, Maharajadhiraj Yadavindra Singh initiated the foundation of YPS. On October 11, 1947, Rai Bahadur Dhani Ram Kapila, an old teacher and then Headmaster of Aitchison College, was brought to Patiala to lead the project. A six-member committee was formed on October 12 to explore the possibilities. By October 30, the site was selected at the Stadium and Exhibition Grounds, with Yadavindra Stadium and Bhupindra Kothi designated for classrooms and boarding, respectively. The school officially began on February 2, 1948, with 21 students and 9 teachers, under Principal Kapila. YPS distinguished itself from Aitchison by having no social restrictions on student admissions, welcoming all regardless of race, creed, or color.