“Real genius is nothing else but the supernatural virtue of humility in the domain of thought”
                                                                                                                      – Simone Weil 

Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram conducted its Annual Scholar Badge Ceremony for class XI on 8th of November, 2019. This glorious celebration of the curricular and co-curricular achievements of students in the year 2018-19 was held with great zeal and enthusiasm. 

The theme of the event ‘Feet firmly on the ground, head held high’ was woven around speeches and Poetry Recitation while being anchored by actors playing Aladdin and his wife, lovable characters of Arabian Nights adored widely by children. They took the gathering into a mystical fantasy land yet kept it well grounded. 

The event commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp by the Chief Guest, Shri B.K. Chaturvedi alongwith the Principal, Ms. Vanita Sehgal, Vice Principals, Dr. Renu Nayar and Ms. Padma Srinivasan and the Headmistresses, Ms. Rashmi Malhotra and Ms. Niva Chhonkar.

The scintillating beats of the orchestra welcomed the audience to this illustrious assembly. The soulful rendition brimming with music and rhythm created a lively atmosphere. A video presentation showcasing various milestones achieved by these proficient scholars was screened. 

The Principal along with the Vice Principals felicitated the Chief Guest, Mr. B.K. Chaturvedi.Shri B.K. Chaturvedi is a member of the Delhi Public School Society and the Managing Committee of D.P.S. R.K. Puram. In 2004, he was appointed as the Cabinet Secretary and in this capacity, he advised the Prime Minister on important policy issues. He is also a former member of the Planning Commission of the government of India and he has authored two books and several papers in the field of public administration and governance.He has been conferred with the Padma Bhushan for his valuable contribution to the Civil Services.

The Principal was welcomed on the stage to address the gathering. She commented upon the theme of the event by narrating multiple stories, like that of a vain Butterfly and sensible Cockroach, and deriving from them that humility and modesty are necessary virtues to be possessed by an individual. She reminded the students that “being grounded does not mean you do not have a vision” and urged them to have ambitions and make perpetual efforts to achieve them. On this prestigious occasion, she commemorated Prantik Roy, an able student with extraordinary compassion in whose honour an award was dedicated later in the ceremony. 

She cited an example of Mahatma Gandhi in order to advocate the importance of being practical and down-to-earth while reliving his vision for the nation. She pointed out how there was always scope for improvement, no matter how much we may have conquered. To further elaborate upon the theme, she quoted Martin Luther King by saying, ““If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do ,you have to keep moving forward.” Ms. Vanita Sehgal appreciated the diligent efforts of the Vice Principals, Class Representatives, Activity Incharges Ms. Sudeepta Chatterjee and Ms. Shelly Malhotra and the Music and Dance Departments. 

The Cultural Programme commenced with the melodious voices of the choir in harmony, enlivening the spirit of the theme. The characters of Arabian Nights, Alaadin and his wife, presented a drama to emphasise on how following one’s dreams dreams passionately leads to their fulfillment . Following this brilliant piece of enactment, a thought-provoking  Poem Recitation on achieving a vision that consists of curing social illnesses was showcased while many examples of successful leaders were given through speeches to further highlight the importance of having a telescopic eye while keeping your feet firmly on the ground. A spectacular dance-drama performance was staged to portray the Gandhian vision and its relevance in the present society. 

The Chief Guest congratulated the students, parents and teachers on this joyous occasion. He appreciated the theme of the event and Gandhian message of peace delivered by the students. He emphasised on how academics play a crucial role in a student’s life and took this opportunity to also mention the importance of “good values” like integrity and perseverance. According to him, hard work is essential to achieve success and “there’s no going away from it”. In the end, he urged the students to thrive persistently and wished them the best of luck. 

The Chief Guest, the Principal, the Vice Principals and the Class Representatives felicitated the scholars by presenting badges, blazers, pins, ties and certificates of merit. The Prantik Roy Memorial Gold Medal, for an all-round performance, was awarded to Priyanshi Ahuja. 

The Vote of Thanks was delivered by the Vice Principals, Dr. Renu Nayar and Ms. Padma Srinivasan.The event concluded with the National Anthem. 

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.
~ William Arthur Ward

The Scholar Badge Ceremony of Class IX, was hosted by DPS R.K. Puram on 25 October 2019 for the academic session 2019-20. This prestigious annual celebration recognizes the sincere dedication and focused hard work of the meritorious students and their achievements in the previous academic year.

The event was graced by the presence of the Principal, Ms Vanita Sehgal, the Vice Principal, Ms Padma Srinivasan and the Head Mistresses, Mrs Rashmi Malhotra and Ms Niva Chhonkar. Dr and Mrs Dogra, parents of Armaan Dogra and initiators of the all-rounder Student of the Year award for class VIII, were also present. The Chief Guest for the day, Ms. Shovana Narayan, a member of the DPS Society since 1998, was felicitated by the Principal. She currently serves in the Indian Audit and Accounts Services, and is a Deputy Director General at Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Department of Telecommunication. 

The programme began with the scintillating beats of the school orchestra. This was followed by a presentation on the school’s academic results, and a plethora of eminent co-curricular and extracurricular achievements,and  concluded with the school’s mission statement. 

The Principal  addressed the gathering  by welcoming the Chief Guest and the parents of Armaan Dogra. Emphasizing on the theme of the ceremony, “At the precipice, we change”, she highlighted the importance of change and evolution. Using anecdotes, she accentuated the importance of diligence, persistence and positive feedback. Quoting the poem “Leisure” by William Henry Davies, she said that instead of waiting to reach the precipice, one should change before it’s too late. She concluded by thanking the various departments for their dedication, and expressed her pride in the school. 

The cultural programme started with a monologue on the exigencies of life, followed by an enigmatic fusion dance. The event proceeded in the format of a game show, which exemplified the theme through examples of King Ashoka, Srikanth Bolla, Laxmi Agarwal and Dashrath Manjhi. The students presented these through captivating, eloquent poems in Hindi about ‘antarman’ or ‘the inner heart’. The struggles of Laxmi Agarwal, an acid attack survivor and an Indian campaigner with Stop Sale Acid, were asseverated through a speech and a mirror mime. A spry, vigorous ‘josh dance’ preceded the presentation of Dashrath Manjhi, a labourer in Gehlaur village. A charismatic dance embodying the phoenix rising from the ashes wrapped up the cultural programme. 

The Chief Guest then spoke to the audience, expressing her admiration for the innovative and well-presented performances. Emphasizing on the fact that “change is the only constant factor”, she brought out the contrast between the constancy of values and the evolution of tradition. She went on to speak about society’s concentration on external appearances, and the compartmentalization of individuality, leading to a prominent lack of creativity. She stated that teachings can come from the most unexpected of places, and one will constantly be faced with challenges. She elaborated upon the significance of analytic reasoning and the spirit of curiosity. She ended her speech by congratulating the awardees, but said that everyone is a winner as long as they pursue their passion with perseverance and courage. 

The Award Ceremony commenced with Dr and Mrs Dogra presenting the Armaan Dogra Memorial Trophy to Parth Kumar, IX-K. She addressed the students, urging them to appreciate each moment of their life.The award ceremony was conducted by the Class IX Representatives Ms Surbhi Gaur and Ms Shruti Vijyan.

The Headmistress, Mrs Rashmi Malhotra, delivered the vote of thanks, and  the ceremony concluded with the National Anthem.