Students of Delhi school ‘Arise and Awaken’

The spirit, hard work and determination of the students, teachers, parents, grandparents and staff was manifest at Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park’s Annual Appreciation Day on December 09 and 10, 2022. Themed ‘Arise and Awaken’, the occasion was a passionate call for stringing the threads of sustainability on Earth. Over 700 students and parents came together to spread the powerful message for a greener India and to showcase their love for Mother Nature.

Commencing the event, the National Cadet Corps (NCC) of the school extended a warm welcome to the guests through a power-packed display of talent. This was followed by a band performance which was synchronised to perfection. The official ceremony then progressed to the school’s auditorium. Guests in attendance were Ms. Vidha Lal, Kathak Exponent, Mr. Abhay Rustum Sopori, Music Director and Santoor Player along with school alumnus, Mr. Kulpam Peshin, Business Head at PharmEasy. Education Advisor at Apeejay Education, Dr. V.S. Garg, Education officers Mr. N.N. Nayyar, Mr. Sharad Tiwari and Ms. Purnima Vohra were also present along with Principals of Apeejay’s other sister Delhi-NCR schools. All of them were accorded a green welcome by the school.

Amidst the melodious notes of the Raag Bhairavi performed by the school choir, the guests lit the ceremonial lamp. Next, to evoke the blessings of the Almighty, students prayed to the Hindu Goddess of Light through a graceful dance. Shortly, the school’s Principal, Mr. Sandeep Singh Kathuria addressed the gathering. He said, “I extend a warm welcome to all. Today, we are here to celebrate 47 glorious years of Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park. Guided by the vision of Late Dr. Stya Paul, Founder Chairman at Apeejay Education and Apeejay Stya and Svran Group, we aim to provide holistic education of global dimensions leading to man-making and nation-building. We aspire to learn from sir’s indomitable spirit and strive to follow the path of righteousness shown by him.”

He continued, “Today, sir’s legacy is carried forward by his only daughter, Chairperson Mrs. Sushma Paul Berlia, a leading woman entrepreneur and educationist. Apeejay enjoys over five decades of excellence in education. 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. I must add that all these three young and dynamic leaders from the Paul-Berlia family at Apeejay are alumni of Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park.”

Mr. Kathuria further highlighted the prestigious awards bestowed upon the school over the last year. Some of them were the Edu Excellence Award of 2021 and the Brain Feed Excellence Award 2022. The school was also listed top in the Leaders Category in South East Delhi region, according to the Times School Survey of 2021.

Amongst the other successes, the school bagged 142 prizes in zonal-level competitions in the past year. Students from the school actively participated in social campaigns, art-based activities, experiential learning programmes, dance competitions, sports events, etc. To nurture their growth and development, the school also conducted training workshops for teachers and other value-based assemblies over the past year.

A disciple of Smt. Geetanjali Lal of Jaipur Gharana, Ms. Lal, a multi-faceted Kathak Exponent then took the stage. She is an empanelled artist of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and an ‘A’ graded artist from Delhi Doordarshan. Further, Ms. Lal has created a Guinness World Record for taking the most number of Kathak spins (103) in one minute in 2011, amongst other notable achievements.

Sharing her pearls of wisdom with the audience she said, “Today’s programme is all about celebrating the creation and existence of planet Earth over the years. Earth is better known as the ‘Mother Earth.’ In Kathak too, we begin every performance by first touching our ‘bhoomi’ (soil) which is symbolic to stay true to one’s roots. So, while others may say that we should save our planet, I believe that one must love the planet for it makes us who we are.”

Mr. Sopori, a stellar contributor in the field of music, is one of the youngest recipients of awards such as ‘Bharat Shiromani Award’ and ‘Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’. At the school’s function, he further emphasised how an institution provides the necessary support for the overall development of an achiever. He also advised students to pursue their interests.  “You can contribute to the nation in a much more effective manner by doing what you love. So, participate and make use of every opportunity that comes your way,” he stated.   

Then, Ms. Lal, Mr. Sopori and other eminent guests distributed the prizes to the students for their achievements in academics, dance, oration, music and other fields.

To celebrate the creation of the world and the five elements of Nature such as Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth, students showcased dances right from the land of Arabia to Japan. Additionally, they narrated the story of the Kuru King of India, Raja Parikshit after whose demise, it is believed that Kali Yuga, the fourth and worst of the four yugas in a Yuga Cycle started. During this time, it is believed that sentiments such as desire, greed, jealousy, sadness, disappointment, etc. took over man’s psyche.

Further, in order to cater to the same, students urged citizens to follow the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to transform the world. These include: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequality, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, Peace and Justice Strong Institutions and Partnerships to achieve the Goal. The young learners advised that by following these, we can bring change to the world and make it a better place.  

Notably, during the event, school alumnus Mr. Peshin shared that renowned personalities such as Ms. Nidhi Razdan, Mr. Maniesh Paul and Mr. Nishant Berlia were his batch mates. He said, “Student life is golden. So, one must live it and enjoy it to the fullest. It is a time to try new things, make mistakes and learn from them. Make bonds that can last a lifetime and find your niche.”

To spread the message of keeping our Earth safe, the Western music choir of the school showcased a power-packed performance. The grand finale witnessed the coming together of different performances and themes into one as students, staff and teachers celebrated the victories of the past year.

Concluding the event, Ms. Jyotsna Madan, academic coordinator of the school thanked all the guests for their delightful presence. She expressed gratitude towards the school staff, teachers, students, parents and grandparents for their partnership. Last but not the least, she gave a special mention to the IT, backstage, hospitality, sports and arts team of the school for their immense contribution in making the event a grand success.