The 1962 Indo-China war was a wake-up call for India. Among its many lessons was the need to build a pipeline of future military leaders. Defence Minister V.K. Krishna Menon responded by establishing Sainik Schools across the country to identify talent early and prepare young Indians for entry into the National Defence Academy. One of those institutions was Sainik School Bijapur in Karnataka, spread across more than 430 acres and built with the support of the state and Union