On 19 January 2019, DPS R.K. Puram conducted its Commencement Ceremony to felicitate the outgoing batch of Class 12 students of 2019.
The Chief Guest for the occasion was Mr. V.K. Shunglu, Chairman DPS Society and DPS R.K.Puram Managing Committee. The Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker was Mr. Deepak Kapoor, Former Chairman and CEO, PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Limited. Other dignitaries present at the event included Vice Principals, Dr. Renu Nayar, Ms. Padma Srinivasan, and Ms. Anita Singh,and the Headmistress, Ms. Rashmi Malhotra.
Parents and guests were extended a cordial welcome by a specially constructed gateway which led them into the splendidly decorated football ground. Resplendent drapes, grandiose roman pillars adorned with flowers and rows of flags in a hue of colours created an enchanting atmosphere. Jaunty melodies, courtesy the school choir and the school band interspersed throughout the programme, lightened the atmosphere.
The ceremony started with a network of harmonious voices singing a melodious song to invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
The Principal, Ms. Vanita Sehgal, felicitated the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour with a token of regard and welcomed the guests and all present. She proceeded to tell the students about the importance of having the courage to be themselves for, “while it is difficult to be yourself, it is even more difficult to be someone else”; that though there will always be people who criticise or are annoyed by you, those who truly matter will always accept you. She then quoted Friedrich Nietzsche , “Any price is not too high to pay for being the owner of yourself.” She talked to the students about their future, narrating a story about how they would get many opportunities in life, but many-a-times would find it difficult to recognise them. Further, she spoke of a successful visually impaired alumnus of the school , as an example of how students of the school had gone on to do great things in life despite facing many obstacles. Towards the end, she reflected on how by staying in the school, the students had made it their world and used the walls of the school as a metaphor to say that the same walls that protect also limit. She hoped that when the students leave the school, they would try to conquer the walls of discrimination, hatred, prejudice, and ignorance in their minds. Finally, emotionally, she asked the students to keep in touch with their teachers and with the school, reminding them that this was their family, and their graduation made the teachers feel like their children were going away. She inspired the students by saying, “What you think, you make, what you see, you attract and what you imagine you create.” She concluded her speech by requesting all the students to give a standing ovation to the teachers and parents who had helped build the foundation for their future.
The Principal’s speech was followed by the release of the Yearbook of the Class 2019 by the dignitaries present.
This paved the way for the toppers from each stream to be felicitated and invited on stage to deliver the valedictory speeches. Shreyansh Goyal from the Science stream, Radhika Mittal from the Commerce stream and Sahana Simran from Humanities were the Valedictorians of 2019. This was followed by awards being presented to the subject toppers of the Class 12 Pre-board examinations.
In his keynote address, Mr. Deepak Kapoor expressed his joy at the youthful energy and the exuberance that he had been greeted with. Addressing the audience, he listed ten points that would sum up what he had learned throughout his journey of life. He emphasised the importance of remaining focused and believing in a purpose; acquiring knowledge for no other reason, but to gain wisdom; giving respect to all one meets, be it an adult, junior or even one’s domestic help; believing in and living with the right values; preparing oneself for all difficulties and challenges that life is likely to throw in one’s way; taking care of one’s health by de-stressing, especially relevant to students preparing for their board exams. Ending on a positive note, he counselled the students to always be pleasant and kind, as well as have fun in whatever they did.
In his speech, the Chairman, Mr Shunglu, reiterated the Principal’s thoughts on the importance of being true to oneself. Guided by the wisdom of William Shakespeare in his search for an answer , he was reminded of the words of Polonius in the play Hamlet, “To thine own self be true.” He then reflected upon Mr. Kapoor’s address on knowledge and wisdom, demonstrating his high regard for the Guest of Honour.
The Valedictory ceremony reached its crescendo as the felicitation of the students began. With tremulous smiles on their faces and warmth in their hearts, both from fond memories of the institution that had moulded them to become accomplished individuals as well as copious amounts of sunshine which provided a respite from the bitter cold, the Class of 2019 was invited to ascend onto the platform created for the occasion. The students were then bestowed with a scroll while decked in the customary scarves and pins, specially designed for them , an eternal reminder of their joyous and enlightening years spent in the school. The teachers presented the students with a lamp signifying knowledge and learning, which was passed amongst the students and finally placed on a “Wall of Lamps”.
The Vote of Thanks was delivered by the Student Council representing the Class of 2019. After the Vote of Thanks, the Student Council along with the Principal, Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, unveiled the Grandfather Clock presented by the Class of 2019 to the school. The Principal thanked them for the presentation and for continuing the tradition. The programme ended with the Indian National Anthem.
