A Living Legacy of Assam Rifles Public School, Laitkor
Time moves forward, as it always does. Classrooms empty, uniforms are folded away, and school days quietly turn into memories. Yet, some things do not fade. Beyond marks, ranks, and achievements, what endures is something far more powerful: the values that shape our character and guide our lives long after we leave school.
For those of us who grew up at Assam Rifles Public School (ARPS), Laitkor, Shillong, Meghalaya, these values were never abstract ideals. They were lived daily, practiced patiently, and built together over time.
When we first arrived at Laitkor, the land stood untouched, silent, and ready to be shaped by education. There were no proper roads, no trees, and little infrastructure. What existed instead was belief: belief in education as a force for transformation, and belief that something meaningful could rise from even the most unlikely terrain.
That belief was rooted in the vision of Gen. Sushil Kumar, the then Director General of the Assam Rifles. In his heart was a deep desire to establish an institution that would serve the children of Assam Rifles personnel by offering them an education of the highest standards. In its early years, this vision also embraced students supported by the North Eastern Council (NEC) and families from local communities across the North-Eastern States. It was a bold and generous idea to build excellence in a remote and challenging environment, driven by service to both the nation and society.
This vision found direction and life under the leadership of Shri M. N. Tankha, the school’s first Principal and a true educationist. When Shri Tankha was shown the barren hills of Laitkor from a helicopter while accompanied by Gen. Sushil Kumar, the sight was stark and unforgiving.
Anyone might have declined the offer, especially since Shri Tankha had the option of continuing in a comfortable and respected position at St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling. Yet, he chose the harder path. What others saw as isolation, he saw as opportunity. What looked like emptiness, he recognized as a canvas upon which discipline, values, and excellence could be patiently built.
This defining moment, later shared personally by Gen. Sushil Kumar, revealed the quiet courage and conviction that shaped the school’s foundation.
The spirit of care and commitment was evident from the very beginning. When the first batch of students arrived at Laitkor in the early hours of the morning, around 4:00 a.m., two tall figures stood waiting in the dim light: Shri M. N. Tankha and his wife, Mrs. Asha Tankha.
At the time, we barely noticed the significance of that moment. Looking back today, we understand how eager, anxious, and devoted they must have been, standing in the cold and silence to welcome us. Their presence was more than a greeting; it was a promise that we would be cared for, that this unfamiliar land would become our home, and that every challenge would be faced together.
Mrs. Asha Tankha herself was a remarkable presence—warm, gracious, and deeply involved in the life of the school. A highly learned intellectual, she possessed an exceptional command over both Hindi and English, moving effortlessly between the two with clarity and authority.
Her intellectual depth was matched by her empathy and grace. Her contributions were widely felt and deeply respected even then, and with time, their significance has only grown clearer. She played a vital role in creating an environment of belonging, discipline, and emotional security, ensuring that students felt not merely taught, but truly cared for. She was the quiet strength that sustained the institution, shaping not only minds but hearts as well.
Life at ARPS was shaped by values that were absorbed naturally through experience rather than instruction.
Service (Seva): This was the foundation. It was reflected in discipline, shared responsibility, and giving without expectation. We planted saplings with our own hands, alongside teachers and staff, without realizing their significance. Today, those saplings stand tall, transforming the campus into the green and welcoming space we remember. Service, like those trees, grows quietly and lasts for generations.
Courage: This was learned through perseverance. It took courage to build a school where none existed, to demand excellence amid scarcity, and to remain steady in difficult circumstances. Supported initially by the NEC and embraced by local communities of the North-East, the school fostered a resilience that was calm, principled, and enduring. Every time we choose what is right over what is easy, we honor that legacy.
Wisdom: At ARPS, this meant more than intelligence. We learned that knowledge without ethics is incomplete, and success without integrity is hollow. Under Shri M. N. Tankha’s guidance, wisdom meant thinking critically, acting responsibly, and respecting diversity, especially within the culturally rich fabric of the North-East. Intelligence may open doors, but wisdom ensures we walk through them with humility and purpose.
Gratitude: This anchored us to our roots. It reminds us of the founders who dreamed boldly, the teachers who shaped us patiently, the NEC that supported the school in its early years, and the warmth and goodwill of the local people of Meghalaya and the wider North-East. From untouched land to a thriving institution, the journey of ARPS mirrors our own as we move from uncertainty to purpose. Gratitude transforms memory into responsibility and success into service.
When we gathered to pay our respects on the passing of Gen. Sushil Kumar, we met his son, who shared a deeply moving insight. At the heart of Gen. Kumar’s life was a singular desire to establish an institution that would nurture and educate the children of Assam Rifles, shaping them to become the finest students the world could produce.
This desire became a firm and determined mission when he took charge as Director General. Rising from the rank of a jawan to a General, he stood as an example not merely of achievement, but of vision, humanity, and values lived with purpose.
Service, Courage, Wisdom, and Gratitude are not abstract ideals. They are living values, planted decades ago in the hills of Laitkor and nurtured by generations of students, teachers, and leaders.
As alumni of Assam Rifles Public School, we are more than former students. We are custodians of a legacy built by visionaries, strengthened by institutions, and sustained by a shared purpose.
May we carry these values into our homes, professions, and communities. May our actions honor the vision of Gen. Sushil Kumar and the leadership of Shri M. N. Tankha. And may future generations walk beneath the trees we planted and say:
They did not merely study here.
They built something that endured.
Once a student of ARPS, always a learner.
Once an alumnus, forever a bearer of values.