Delhi Public School R.K. Puram hosted the Annual Dr. Prem Kirpal Memorial Inter-school Art and Poetry Competitions – Art Poetica on 12 April 2025 in fond memory of Dr. Prem Kirpal, the former Chairman of the Delhi Public School Society. This annual event brought together students from 20 schools who participated in six diverse competitions, each providing a platform to showcase their creativity, experiment with new forms of artistic expression and delve into the fascinating world of art and poetry.”
The various competitions included the following-
Blend Art (Classes IX and XI) had students recite and dramatise an English poem based on various social issues and themes, as well as create paintings or sketches that captured the soul of the poem. The event was judged by Ms Sabah Bari, Ms Manisha Manocha and Mr VC Pramod.
Artistic Poesy (Classes IX and XI) challenged the students to promptly compose a ballad that connected a series of pictures, which were presented to them, in a random order. The event was judged by Dr Shwetanshu Bhushan, Ms Anupama Singh and Ms Shivangi Chakraborty.
Lyrical Canvas (Classes IX & XI) was an on-the-spot drawing competition which required participants to portray the predominant emotion evoked by a unique line in a poem. The judges included Mr Pankaj Guru, Mr Shashi Paul and Ms Hena.
Inverse Rhapsody (Classes VI-VIII) was an imaginative competition where participants were given an excerpt from a poem and the participants from the same team were given the task to recite the given poem in contrasting emotions . The judges for the event were Ms Saroj Chawla, Ms Esha Bakshi and Ms Nishtha Singhal.
Stage-a-Verse (Classes IX and XI) involved a unique performance by the students of class IX and XI, where they staged an original play based on a visual prompt provided to them. The event was judged by Mr Manish Guptaa Guru, Ms Garima Arya and Mr Brij Bhardwaj.
Poetic Silhouette (Classes VI-VIII)
This onstage competition involved writing a script offstage, in verse which must rhyme, on the given visual prompt. It was followed by the enactment of the script onstage.The event was judged by Ms. Alka Mahajan, Ms. Juhi and Ms. Sugandha Bhandari.
Valedictory Ceremony:
The grand Valedictory Ceremony was hosted on 28 September 2025 with great enthusiasm. The school was honoured by the presence of eminent dignitaries. Shri B.K. Chaturvedi, Chairman, The Delhi Public School Society, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Guest of Honour was Shri V.K. Shunglu, Chairman of the Managing Committee of DPS R.K. Puram and Vice Chairman of DPS Society, accompanied by Mrs. Shunglu. The event was presided over by Hon’ble Shri B.N. Kirpal, former Chief Justice of India and Member, DPS Society, along with his daughter, Ms. Nandini Arora. Other distinguished guests included Ms. Namita Pradhan, Honorary Treasurer, DPS Society and Ms. Vrinda Swarup, Member, DPS Society. The guests were welcomed by the Principal, Mr. Anil Kumar,the Vice Principals: Mr Naresh Miglani, Mr Anil Kathuria and Mr Mukesh Kumar; the Headmistresses: Ms Rashmi Malhotra , Dr Anubha Gopal, Ms Vinita Gupta and Ms Usha Diptivilasa , the Heads of the English and Art Department, Dr. Atika Dayal and Mr. Amit Rajput.
The event began with the auspicious lamp lighting ceremony in the presence of the esteemed guests: Shri B.K. Chaturvedi, Hon’ble Shri B.N. Kirpal, Shri V.K. Shunglu, Smt. Madhu Shunglu, Ms. Namita Pradhan, Ms. Vrinda Swarup, The Principal Mr. Anil Kumar, Vice Principals : Mr. Naresh Miglani and Mr. Anil Kathuria and Mr Mukesh Kumar; the Headmistresses: Ms. Rashmi Malhotra, Ms. Anubha Gopal, Ms. Usha Diptivilas and Ms Vinita Gupta.This was followed by the felicitation of the guests by our esteemed Principal Mr. Anil Kumar.
The Principal, Mr. Anil Kumar, during his address paid a befitting tribute to the vision of Dr. Prem Kirpal and underscored the importance of pursuing art and poetry alongside academics to nurture deeper perspectives on life.
A short film showcased the year-round activities of the English Department, reflecting the vibrant literary culture of the school. This was followed by a riveting theatrical presentation of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. The students’ powerful acting, evocative dialogues, and authentic stagecraft transported the audience into Christie’s world of suspense and mystery, keeping them captivated till the very last moment.
The award ceremony recognised the outstanding achievements of participants, with DPS Noida, Sector 30 lifting the prestigious Rolling Trophy. The occasion also saw the release of the school’s annual literary magazine, The Bubbling Cauldron, a collection of students’ poems and creative writings.
In their inspiring addresses, the dignitaries praised the school’s commitment to nurturing creativity. Shri B.K. Chaturvedi, the Chairman of DPS Society, lauded the grandeur of the ceremony and the remarkable theatrical performance. Shri V.K. Shunglu, Chairman of the Managing Committee of DPS R.K. Puram & Vice Chairman of DPS Society, reflected on the school’s legacy in science and technology and applauded its growing emphasis on the liberal arts. Ms. Vrinda Swarup, Member, DPS Society, who had previously witnessed The Mousetrap in London, commended the students for an equally, if not more, compelling adaptation.
The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Dr. Atika Dayal, Head of the English Department, followed by the National Anthem.