On 16 November 2016, Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram hosted the annual Dr. Prem Kirpal Memorial Inter School Art and Poetry Competitions – ‘Art Poetica’ in fond memory of the former Chairman of DPS Society, Dr. P.N. Kirpal.
The Chief Guest at the Prize Distribution Ceremony was Mr. V.K. Shunglu, Chairman of the DPS Society and DPS R.K.Puram Managing Committee. Member of the DPS Society and former Chief Justice of India, Honorable Justice B.N.Kirpal presided over the event and was accompanied by his wife, Mrs.Aruna Kirpal. Other prominent dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Vice Chairman of the DPS Society and Member of the DPS R.K. Puram Managing Committee, Rear Admiral M.M. Chopra; Honorary Treasurer, DPS Society and Vice Chairman of the Managing Committee of DPS R.K Puram, Mr. Pramod Grover; Members of the DPS Society, Dr. (Mrs). Usha Luthra, Mr. Ashok Chandra, Mrs. Namita Pradhan; and Members of the DPS Society and of the Managing Committee of DPS R.K Puram, Prof.B.P. Khandelwal and Mr.V.M.Thapar. The guests were welcomed by the Principal, Ms. Vanita Sehgal; the Vice Principals, Ms. Padma Srinivasan, Dr. Renu Nayar, Ms. Anita Singh, and the Head of the English Department, Ms. Savita Vasesi.
Students from 25 schools took part in the competitive events, ‘Blend Art’, ‘Artistic Poesy’, ‘Lyrical Canvas’, ‘Lime in Rhyme’, ‘Double Harness’, and ‘Stage-A-Verse’. The events were held at various venues simultaneously. Blend Art involved recitation, dramatization, and painting the essence of a poem selected by the participants. In Artistic Poesy, participants were required to compose a ballad based on five paintings. Lyrical Canvas had participants capturing the dominant emotion from a line of a poem. Double Harness required the participants to form couplets based on two prompts, a word, and an emotion given to each student in two rounds. In Stage-A-Verse, participants wrote and enacted a skit in verse on the basis of a given prompt. Lime in Rhyme required the participants to create limericks within a time limit. All of the events were assessed by a team of eminent judges.
The Valedictory function commenced with the lighting of the lamp and the felicitation of the guests. The Principal, Ms. Vanita Sehgal, expressed her gratitude to the Kirpal family. She commended the creativity of the participants and congratulated them. The cultural programme consisted of a beautiful musical and theatrical performance by the students of DPS R.K. Puram, illustrating the importance of being original. The Chief Guest, Mr. V.K. Shunglu, addressed the gathering saying that this annual momentous occasion brings together various schools and inculcates in the students a desire to compete and excel. Mr. V.K Shunglu, Justice B.N.Kirpal, and his wife, Mrs. Kirpal, released the English Literary Magazine, ‘The Bubbling Cauldron’,
Blend Art was won by DPS Rohini; the second position was shared by Birla Vidya Niketan and Mother’s International; DPS Vasant Kunj held the third position. The first position in Artistic Poesy was bagged by DPS International; DPS Rohini and G.D. Goenka, Vasant Kunj came second and third respectively. Birla Vidya Niketan won Lyrical Canvas; DPS Vasant Kunj held the second position and DPS Indirapuram came third. In Double Harness, DPS International, DPS Gurgaon, and Tagore International School, East of Kailash came first, second, and third respectively. Modern School, Barakhamba Road bagged the first position in Stage-A-Verse, and were followed by DPS Mathura Road; the third position was shared by Mother’s International and Tagore International School, East of Kailash. The first, second, and third positions in Lime in Rhyme were secured by DPS Indirapuram, DPS Greater Noida, and DPS Gurgaon respectively. The overall winner was DPS Indirapuram .
Ms. Savita Vasesi, Head of the English Department, delivered the vote of thanks and commended all the students and teachers for efforts to make the event a success. The programme concluded with the National Anthem.
