‘Global citizenship is the need of the hour,’ says IPS officer

It is rightly said, “Talent is like a flower. It needs constant watering.” These lines hold true for students of Apeejay School, Noida, who have nourished their skills year-long to come up with stimulating academic and co-curricular results. To applaud their achievements, the school recently held its Annual Appreciation Day.

Themed, “SDG16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions,” the event was a grand success as it witnessed the coming together of students, teachers, parents, grandparents and staff in huge numbers to celebrate their joint labour of love. The Chief Guest of the Day was Shri. Ravi Shankar Chabbi, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order). The Guests of Honour were Padma Shri awardees and sister-duo Ms. Kamalini Asthana and Ms. Nalini Asthana, renowned Kathak exponents of the Varanasi Gharana. Colonel AK Singh, Officer on Special Duty, Passport Seva Project and Project Director, Passport Seva Project Division, Ministry of External Affairs also graced the occasion. Shri Dinesh Rai, Member Board of Governors, Dr. V.S. Garg, Education Advisor at Apeejay Education and other prominent members of the Apeejay management were present.

The special invitees of the day were school alumni Dr. Anirudh Lochan, Medical Superintendent and Head of Respiratory Medicine at Jeevan Jyoti Hospital and Mr. Puneet Mittal, Partnership Officer at UNICEF India Country Office.

The extraordinary evening commenced with a band performance followed by a melodious symphony by the school’s choir. The talented students extended a heartfelt welcome to the guests. Shortly, the eminent invitees lit the ceremonial lamp amidst soulful rendition of shlokas to mark the beginning of the Annual Day.

An Invocation Dance on the melody of ‘Shanti Om’ was performed by students. Their graceful movements and cheerful smiles enthralled the audience. Shortly, Shri. Rai spoke about the iconic achievements of Apeejay School, Noida and the vision of Dr Stya Paul, the Late Founder-Chairman of Apeejay Education.

Shri Rai further highlighted that sir’s legacy is now carried forward by his only daughter, Madam Sushma Paul Berlia, Chairperson at Apeejay Education and Apeejay Stya and Svran Group. She is a leading educationist and woman entrepreneur. “Apeejay aims to provide holistic and value-based education of global dimensions leading to man-making and nation-building,” he emphasised.

He added, “On this momentous occasion, I would also like to thank Mr. Nishant Berlia, Co-Promoter Apeejay Stya and Svran Group and Pro-Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University, Mr. Aditya Berlia, Co-Promoter of Apeejay Stya and Svran Group, Co-Founder and Pro-Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University and Dr. Neha Berlia, Co-Promoter, Apeejay Stya and Svran Group, for providing us the necessary infrastructure and facilities to put up this show.”

After his address, the school’s Principal, Mr. AK Sharma presented the annual report of the school. As part of it, he commended the efforts of the student achievers in a range of fields such as sports, academics, co-curriculars, national and international championships.

“After Covid-19, the school has returned to normalcy with renewed promise, hope and vigour. The pandemic did not deter the spirits of our students, teachers and staff as they continued to strive for excellence across domains. Our school has been ranked 1 in the ‘Leaders’ category of the Noida region according to Times School Survey, 2022. Education World India School ranking of 2022-2023 has also declared Apeejay School, Noida top in the region for the category of ‘Day cum Boarding’ Schools,” Mr. Sharma said. Based on the theme of the day, he stated that global partnerships is an emerging need and educators at Apeejay continue to strive for the best for the students borrowing from their rich legacy and experience.

At the event, Shri Chabbi much-admired the students’ skills at showcasing the graceful dance and musical performances. Addressing the gathering, he said, “India is reaching new heights and making its mark globally. Therefore, it is clear that global citizenship is our next goal. There have been many changes in the paradigm of education since Covid-19 and as a country we have adapted to it beautifully. However, in the face of global competition, we must come prepared.”

He further stated that the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been laid out to make this world a better place. “As per the SDG16, we need to ensure that justice is delivered socially, financially and politically in the society. To enable this, the government and other associated bodies are doing their bit, but we must think about further strengthening these systems and make them more accessible to people. With this, empowerment of women is the most crucial because they define our today and tomorrow. Not only that, our students too must know how to deal with stress and attain overall development for a brighter future,” he said.   

The school then held the prize distribution ceremony for its student achievers. One of the key highlights of the day were parents and grandparents in attendance who came to the stage to receive honours which were bestowed upon their wards.

Following this, Ms. Nalini Asthana shared her thoughts. She said, “Apeejay is a renowned entity for knowledge gathering and knowledge sharing. The students must feel proud to be associated with such a prestigious name. It feels nostalgic to be here today. I remember my school days when I was a top athlete and dancer. Decades ago, I too won many accolades for my school in both these fields. Not only that, my sister and I were academic achievers as well. We kept on pursuing our passions and interests without compromising on any. However, ‘kala’ (Kathak dance form) took center stage in our lives thanks to our Guru who showed us the right path. Since that time, ‘kala’ has rewarded us in the best possible ways.”

She continued, “Therefore, my advice to students is to respect their gurus and elders. Any path you may take, must have their blessings. You are free to gather knowledge from the world but remember to contribute towards your nation. The country needs talent like yours and it is your responsibility to take good care of your motherland. I would also suggest that children must learn some form of art in their lives because it opens doors for self-growth and contentment. ‘Kala’ nourishes mind and body. So, it must be an integral part of our lives.”

School Principal along with Colonel Singh then awarded the school’s primary and secondary achievers. In his address, Colonel said, “The school’s report of 2022-23 shows how the institution is taking immense care of its children and supporting their endeavours. These achievements are never complete without the support of parents, teachers and staff. Therefore, to all the parents, I would like to say that you should have confidence in your child. A good child is not one who wins all the medals or stands first in the class. In my eyes, a good child completes tasks on time, is dutiful, obedient and disciplined, among other things.”

Students of Apeejay, Noida showcased eclectic performances at the Annual Day. They narrated the story of justice through the ages and how strong institutions must prevail to ensure peace in the society. The Grand Finale of the event saw the culmination of all performances into one. Further, students urged citizens to pray for peace and join hands to meet the SGDs.

Concluding the day, Ms. Hajela delivered the Vote of Thanks. She conveyed gratitude to the guests, teachers, parents and staff for their presence. “Our educators and supporting teams have donned many hats to make this event a resounding success. I would like to commend their efforts,” she said.