Achievements
Student Achievers: ‘The winning moment will stay with us’
Young voices from Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park shine; win Duet Lok Geet at Ikigai 2026
It was a proud moment for Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, as students brought laurels at Ikigai 2026, hosted by Apeejay School, Saket. Rachika Chaudhary of Class 5D and Navika Narula of Class 5B secured first position in the Duet Lok Geet category, impressing the audience with a soulful and expressive performance.
In a candid interview, the duo share their preparatory journey that led to their win, among other things.
Rachika truly loves singing, and music keeps her grounded. She started singing when she was in Class I. That was the time she realised she really liked it, and over time, it became something very close to her.
“For the duet, working with my partner was very important. The song from Assam was a little difficult at first, especially because of the language. So I practised a lot with her, and slowly we matched our voices and got the coordination right,” she recounted.
At first, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to sing it because it was in a different language. “But with practice, it became easier, and our teachers encouraged and motivated us. The song was chosen because we wanted to do something unique, and this song has a very beautiful meaning. The song is related to summer in Assam and is based on a white flower. Learning about its meaning made it even more special for me,” she shared and added that winning the contest felt really good.
“I felt proud that I could win for my school, and I want to keep doing my best and always keep my school’s name high,” she said.
Navika, too, was thrilled when they won first place. “It was a pure moment of joy for me, and it was a proud moment for my parents too. We practised for a few weeks, including Saturdays. It took effort, but it was also very exciting,” she shared, who, apart from singing, enjoys playing badminton and taking part in sports activities.
During the performance, everything felt special, she added. “It was a fantastic experience, and I still remember how it felt on stage. I believe everyone should learn music because it creates awareness and connects us to many things. This experience has made me more interested in folk singing. This win has only made that interest stronger,” she said in conclusion.
