Mr Pyare Lal Uppal was born in India in 1911. His was educated at KRSDB High School and Mohindra College, Patiala where he took his degree in Mathematics in 1932. He migrated to Kenya in 1937 and joined Dr Ribeiro Goan School, Nairobi where he taught Maths.

He took up a Mathematics teacher post at the then Government Indian (now Jamhuri High) School in January 1940. He later became the Head of Department and then Vice Principal at the same school.

In January 1960, he took up the headship of Eastleigh Secondary School and retired in December 1963. Both as a teacher and as a Principal, Mr Uppal contributed a great deal to the advancement of Asian Education. His unobtrusive manner, kindness and firmness of purpose endeared him to pupils and staff alike.

Mr Uppal died in Dehra Doon in India in 2009.