“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.