“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”  ― Aesop  

Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram organised the much-awaited scholar badge ceremony for class VII on 29 January 2021, via the virtual platform Zoom. The theme for this year’s event was – ‘Little things make big days.’ 

The honourable Chief Guest for the day was Shri Balbir Singh, the Add’l Solicitor General of India, Supreme Court. Dr. Ambuj Roy, Professor of Cardiac Surgery, AIIMS, and an alumnus of R.K. Puram, kindly consented to be the Guest of Honour. 

The event commenced with the symbolic lighting of the lamp. This was followed by an upbeat and welcoming orchestral performance by the budding instrumentalists of DPS R.K. Puram’s Western Music Society.  A video highlighting the exceptional accomplishments of the students in numerous fields under the dynamic leadership of the Principal, Ms. Padma Srinivasan, was presented.

The Principal, Ms. Padma Srinivasan, welcomed the various attendees and thanked the esteemed guests for sparing time from their busy schedules to attend the coveted Scholar Badge ceremony.  She recognised and appreciated the spectrum of extraordinary results her pupils’ produced in academics, co-curriculars and extracurriculars, and remarked that DPS R.K. Puram prides itself on providing all-round development. Speaking upon the event’s theme, Ms. Srinivasan encouraged students to pay extra attention to the seemingly trivial things in their day-to-day lives. According to her, these minute details and gestures define one’s existence, and have the most significant long-term impact. She concluded her address by imploring the young scholars to always look for opportunities to practice tiny acts of kindness and generosity, and leave an indelible mark in this world to be remembered till posterity. 

The Chief Guest, Mr. Balbir Singh, marvelled at the young scholars’ vibrancy and brilliance and commended the school for aptly nurturing them. He also applauded DPS R.K. Puram’s faculty for executing the transition from physical to online classes seamlessly whilst also ensuring the continuation of extra-curricular activities. Mr. Singh urged the parents to inculcate certain useful hobbies and interests in their children, such as reading, music, puzzles, etc. to keep them stimulated, and stressed on the significance of prioritising ‘little things’ such as one’s sleep schedule, diet and physical health in these tumultuous times. 

Dr. Ambuj Roy, the Guest of Honour, congratulated the numerous prize recipients and their parents. He urged the young scholars to pursue their passions and consistently expand their knowledge through reading. As a medical professional, Dr. Roy also advised the young students to maintain a strict vigil on their health in their formative years. He elaborated on this by sharing that the seeds of most heart diseases are sown at a young age; these can manifest themselves in the form of bad food habits, lack of physical activity, or experiments with substance abuse. To combat this, Dr. Roy encouraged students to adopt a healthy lifestyle and diet, and exercise regularly. His core message was simple – work hard, and play harder. He concluded by reminding everyone that the coronavirus was far from eradicated and requested that they continue to follow the appropriate safety measures. 

The prestigious award ceremony was conducted by the Representatives of Class VII. Ms. Ritu Raj felicitated the Second Green Badge awardees, while the First Green Badge awardees were felicitated by Ms. Nalini Gautam. In addition to this, numerous students also received Red Ties, Pins and certificates. 

The Headmistress, Ms. Niva Chhonkar , addressed the audience and proposed the final vote of thanks. She extended her gratitude towards the distinguished guests for taking out time from their busy schedules to encourage the students, and also to the Principal, Ms Padma Srinivasan for giving the meritorious students this platform to be recognised for the relentless effort in reaching this height of success. Ms. Chonnkar acknowledged the constant support of the parents in meeting the demands of these unprecedented times and helping children adjust to the new normal. She also expressed her gratitude towards the event incharges, Ms. Binu Channan and Ms. Kaveri Dhar, the technical team, the music department, as well as the various coordinators for their invaluable efforts, and commended the students on their exemplary performances.

The event concluded with the National Anthem and a short message on Covid-19.