‘My dream of serving country was nurtured in Apeejay’

For a boy growing up in what was then not even a full district — just a tehsil — becoming a Class 1 officer in the Indian Army wasn’t just a difficult goal, it was barely considered a dream at all. Captain Vipul Khatri, an alumnus of Apeejay School, Charkhi Dadri, who joined the school in nursery and passed out in 2016, changed that for himself. 

Today, as he serves in the Regiment of Artillery, having risen from Lieutenant to Captain in just two years, he reflects on his journey at Apeejay. In this conversation, he traces his path back to a Class 10 social science lesson that first planted the idea of serving the nation and what school gave him that no textbook ever could.

What are some of your fondest memories of your time at the school?

Since joining the school, all of my school memories and childhood memories are tied to Apeejay. But the most important memory, and the one that still shapes my current career, goes back to Class 10 in 2014. My social science teacher was also my inspiration. He used to tell us a lot about the importance of the armed forces in our nation’s security, and how the forces stay away from the pressures and politics that civil bureaucrats deal with day to day. 

That really inspired me to follow this path. I was eventually able to achieve it. I’ll always be thankful to my school for that.

If you had to describe your school life in three words, what would they be?

Confidence, discipline and inspiration. That’s what those years gave me. I still draw on all three today. 

What did you enjoy most about being a student here?

Sports, without a doubt. I developed a strong interest from Class 5-6 onwards in volleyball and football. I was sports prefect of the school in Class 8, and house marshal of Kabir House in Class 10. Beyond that, the school gave us exposure to dramatics and other extracurricular activities that helped build stage confidence. 

How would you describe the teachers who taught you, and how has their contribution played out in your professional journey?

The entire staff was outstanding — not just professionally, but personally as well. They didn’t just teach us; they paid attention to us as individuals. Most of my teachers knew I was working toward joining the defence forces. They would regularly check in and guide me. One of our science teachers had himself given NDA and SSB interviews, so he specifically guided me on what I needed to work on. And of course, lessons on the armed forces stayed with me the most. 

Apart from academics, what important lessons did the school teach you?

The importance of physical fitness and discipline. In the region I come from, physical fitness has always been a positively regarded, motivational thing, and the school backed that up with real infrastructure and professional teachers. Physical Training wasn’t a side activity for me — it was actually a core subject in my Class 11 and 12 boards. This helped me both in developing the physical foundation the Army demands and in scoring well enough to get into Aurobindo College, University of Delhi, afterward.

How did the school encourage you to explore your interests and talents?

Through consistent exposure — to sports, dramatics, games and PT — and through teachers who constantly encouraged us to be outgoing and active during PT periods. The school gave due importance to physical training as a subject, both on the ground and in the classroom, which was rare for a school in that setting at the time. 

Due to these very reasons, I will send my daughter to Apeejay only, when she grows up. She is now eight months old. 

In what ways do you think the school shaped the person you are today?

Coming from Charkhi Dadri, which was a tehsil at the time and now becoming a Class 1 officer in the Indian Army wasn’t an easy thing to dream of. I was fortunate to be part of a school that gave me a strong enough foundation and enough confidence to have a wider view of life. Looking back now, I can really appreciate the decision my parents made in sending me there.

Where are you working currently, and what is your job role?

I joined the Indian Army in 2021 as a Lieutenant and was promoted to Captain after two years of service. I’m currently with the Regiment of Artillery, which handles field guns — in both operational and administrative and maintenance capacities. My first posting was a field assignment looking after operational aspects in the Northeast sector under the Eastern Command. I’ve since moved to Rajasthan. I’m currently on an administrative tenure overseeing training and the day-to-day functioning of my regiment.