“Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” – Malcolm Forbes
The Class VIII Scholar Badge Ceremony for the academic year 2024-2025 was hosted by Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, on August 26, 2025, in the Audio-Visual Hall (AVH) to felicitate students for their academic and co-curricular achievements. The ceremony began with the auspicious lighting of the lamp by the distinguished Chief Guest, Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, Secretary, Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India along with the Principal, Mr. Anil Kumar; the Vice Principals, Mr. Naresh Miglani, Mr. Anil Kathuria, and Mr. Mukesh Kumar; and the Headmistresses, Ms. Rashmi Malhotra and Dr. Anubha Gopal.
The students and parents extended a warm welcome to the esteemed dignitaries, accompanied by resounding applause, as they entered the AVH. The Indian Choir then presented a soul-stirring rendition of Ganesh Vandana, filling the atmosphere with serenity and spirituality. This was followed by a short film showcasing the school’s remarkable achievements, international admissions, major events and accolades earned over the year. The cultural segment continued with a vibrant folk dance, beautifully synchronised by the students, which captivated the audience by artistically embodying the essence of the Panch Mahabhootas.
The Principal, Mr. Anil Kumar, warmly welcomed the Chief Guest, Dr Pallavi Jain Govil, an alumna of DPS R.K. Puram (1988 batch), to a standing ovation. He thanked the audience for their presence and commended the students for their outstanding achievements. Concluding his address, he highlighted the importance of mastering one’s heart, mind and ego as the key to Peace, Progress and Prosperity.
With this, the much-awaited Scholar Badge Ceremony commenced, conducted by the Class Representatives of Class VIII, Ms. Ekta Arora and Ms. Nalini Gautam. Students were honoured with awards, medals and certificates in recognition of their excellence in both scholastic and co-scholastic fields. A total of 137 Blue Blazers, 45 Green Badges (1st and 2nd), 13 Sports Pins, 3 Co-curricular Pins, 12 Gold Medals for 100% attendance and 10 Certificates were presented. The awardees walked up the stage with pride, their smiles reflecting dedication and hard work, while parents in the audience beamed with joy at their children’s accomplishments.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, congratulated all awardees, parents and grandparents in her address. As an alumna, she expressed gratitude to her alma mater and commended DPS R.K. Puram for guiding students towards self-discovery and inspiring them to script their own journeys. She emphasised the importance of allowing children to pursue their passions, linking it to their mental well-being, and lauded the Indian Choir’s Ganesh Vandana, which resonated with the upcoming festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. Concluding her speech, she reflected on how her life had come full circle from the school motto ‘Service Before Self’ to ‘Not Me But You’, the motto of her present organisation.
Dr. Anubha Gopal, Headmistress of Classes VI–VIII, proposed the Vote of Thanks. She expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, for her gracious presence and inspiring words; to the Principal, Mr. Anil Kumar, for his visionary leadership; and to the Vice Principals for their constant guidance. She also acknowledged the efforts of the teachers, parents, support staff and especially the students, whose dedication made the event a memorable success.
The ceremony concluded with the rendition of the National Anthem.