This school paid rich tribute on the 105th birth anniversary of Dr Stya Paul

To commemorate the 105th birth anniversary of Founder-Chairman, Dr Stya Paul, on October 4, Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, paid a special tribute to this true karamyogi. It was an all-inclusive ethereal homage while the principles continue to inspire and guide the school community at large in keeping with Dr Stya Paul’s inspiring motto: Soaring High is My Nature.

The day was very special as the Principal, Vice-principal, teachers, and students gathered in the school auditorium to celebrate the momentous occasion — Founder’s Day. Dr Stya Paul was a distinguished industrialist, educationalist, visionary, philanthropist, and freedom fighter who dedicated his life to nation-building and the betterment of society through his pioneering contributions. His efforts in establishing institutes grounded in the principles of resilience and excellence have paved the way for providing quality education and fostering a spirit of nationalism.

The programme, held for juniors (classes I-V) and seniors (classes VI-XII), began with a rich floral tribute to the divine soul by the Principal, faculty members, and student representatives amidst chanting of Chhod de raag dvesh ko… The flowers offered symbolised the profound respect and gratitude for his inspiring journey.

This was followed by a presentation on the life of Dr Stya Paul. The Principal, Mrs Surabhi Joshi then took the stage to read out a message by Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia, Chairman, Apeejay Stya & Svran Group, Chancellor Apeejay Stya University, and Chairman, Apeejay Education:

“Today is the 105th Birth Anniversary of Dr Stya Paul, Founder-Chairman of Apeejay Stya Group & Apeejay Education – a day that we celebrate each year as Founder’s Day. An eminent industrialist, educationist, freedom fighter and philanthropist of the highest order, his life is a shining example of how we can overcome all odds to achieve our dreams and become a beacon of inspiration for all around us.

Commemorating his birthday is our way of paying tribute to his determination, hard work and spirit of excellence that helped him rise from humble beginnings and overcome physical disabilities to become one of the most successful and respected men of this nation.

Your Principal/Director must have shared some details of his life and work with all of you, but merely words cannot depict or reflect the illustrious achievements of his life, or the depths of his multidimensional personality. I would like to, however, take advantage of the occasion to mention a few things which stand out in my mind – some feelings which I would like to share with all of you.

The eldest of seven children, Dr Stya Paul lost his mother at a very young age and father a few years later. As the eldest son, business and family responsibilities came to rest on his shoulders, very early in life. They were shouldered with lots of love and affection, and from then onwards, he developed the trait of putting others before himself. He was, if anything, a living example of modesty and humility, and preferred to let his work speak for him.

He had the valuable qualities of hard work, fearlessness and love for truth and these stood him in good stead as he pioneered the Apeejay Stya Group into an industrial conglomerate, and Apeejay Education (which is a Social Commitment of the Group) into one of the most respected and successful educational organisations of India.

Today Apeejay Education has 26 Educational Institutions – Schools and Higher Education Institutes – all symbols of excellence in their various disciplines, moulding the life and careers of all future generations. Year 2010 also saw the realisation of his dream of setting up the Apeejay Stya University – a world-class university that is not only a seat of global learning but also one that brings about transformation of society through value-based, man-making and nation-building education.

 Once, I had asked him as to how, from humble beginnings, he had been able to turn Apeejay Stya into one of the biggest success stories of the nation. He had replied that he had only concentrated on working hard with dedication and commitment as he believed that “Work is Worship”. He said that along the way, he met talented and committed people who joined him in his quest for excellence, and good things kept happening.

Over the years, he has been actively associated with several causes – in the field of industry, education and social uplift. Kind, benevolent, and ever-ready to help all, he left a lasting impact on all those he came into contact with. All this was done quietly; he never took any credit, only liked to pass it around. He desired no monuments or awards for himself, though over the years, innumerable awards and honours have been conferred on him by governments, universities and organisations for his contribution to the development of the nation, in both education and industry.

Dr Stya Paul was always a positive thinker, who faced all of life’s vicissitudes with a smiling countenance, never-say-die attitude and an unflinching faith in the Almighty. Though he was a hard task-master, his punctuality, sense of discipline, dedication and focus made him an ideal role model of excellence for all those who worked with him. For him, work was passion, and he hated to miss office even when he was ill. He had a sharp memory for people, was an excellent listener, apart from being a good orator and writer.

  He was a lover of Urdu poetry and had a deep interest in spiritualism, philosophy, culture and Arts. He had a keen insight into events and people, and loved the company of children. He always remembered those who helped him, and was a friend of friends. He had kind words for even those who opposed him.

Once, many years ago, Swami Ranganathananda of the Ramakrishna Mission, said three words to him: “Be a Man”. This, my father told me, changed the entire perspective of his life. Today, I would like to convey to everyone that this is what he had always been, in life and deed – a man, in the true sense of the word – Purushottam.

 So, as we remember and honour him on his 105th Birth Anniversary, let us celebrate both what our Founder Chairman Dr. Stya Paul was, and what he stood for. Let us take a pledge to uphold the legacy of excellence that he leaves behind, and strive to achieve the goals to which he devoted his life.

 I would like to end with one of the favourite Urdu couplets of my father, the inspiration behind his life and the motto of Apeejay Education – “Soaring High is My Nature”.  Tu shaheen hai parvaaz hai kaam tera Tere samne aasman aur bhi hai. (You are a falcon. Soaring high is your nature. There are skies yet for you to conquer).

Next was a musical shradhanjali where the students took centrestage and serenaded everyone with songs, bhajans, and dohas like Suraj ki garmi se, Allah tero naam, Ishwar tero naam, O paalan hare, Payoji maine ram ratan dhan payo, and Maati kahe kumhar se.

The highlight of the day was a skit with the theme – soaring high. It was truly a mesmerising and inspiring act. This was followed by a dance performance with the same central idea. The stage was then taken by the Head Girl, Ashini Sameer, who shared her thoughts: “Human values reveal the true character. This perspective emphasises how values and foundation serve as the foundation for personal growth. The Founder-Chairman’s life was a testament to this belief, as he was deeply committed to these values.”

The Head Boy, Mehul Jain shared that as we reflect on Founder-Chairman Dr Stya Paul’s life, we honour not only his remarkable achievements but also the deep human values and strength of spirit he embodied. “His life was a beacon of hope. His belief in the transformative power of education and his commitment to human values inspire us all. Let his legacy continue to shine brightly for generations to come,” he said.

The Principal once again took the stage to announce the recipients of the Dr Stya Paul Award for Human Values. These included: Saanvi Singh (class VIII), Armaan Ali (class X), Anvi Gupta (class X), and Yash Kumar (class XI).

 The students of pre-primary school then took the podium to charm everyone with Raghupati raghav raja ram. The Founder’s Day at Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park culminated with the National Anthem!