The Art of Man-making: ‘I loved Dr Stya Paul’s humbleness’

To be knowledgeable and learning is not good enough for Gen Z today. To excel in one’s chosen profession may be a priority but even more important for these kids today is to be good human beings. And for this, they are willing to go the extra mile and imbibe the values that make them stand out in the crowd.

Gavyam Gupta of Apeejay School, Pitampura class IX is no different. Not only is he good academically, but he is also the recipient of the prestigious Dr Stya Paul Award for Human Values. In a candid interview, he talks about how he learnt that he had made the cut and the reaction that followed.

Excerpts:

How were you selected for the Dr Stya Paul Award for Human Values?

The first step involved selecting a couple of students from each class. My class teacher nominated my name and one more from my section. We were told that we had to take a written test; if we cleared that, we would be called in for a face-to-face interview with the senior teachers.

The day I went for the test, I was not enthused; there were so many students and I was not sure and confident whether I would even clear the test. When I was called for the face-to-face interview I was very nervous, I saw a glimmer of hope. Even during the interview, I was extremely edgy but I thought I gave good answers.  

How and when did you hear that you had been nominated and won?

To be honest, I was very surprised that I was nominated and won this prestigious award. The announcement came out of the blue during the assembly one fine morning a couple of months back. We were standing for assembly when it was announced that the names of the winners of Dr Stya Paul Award of Human Values. I was under the impression that maybe our class teacher would tell us. So, when my name was announced it was unexpected.

What was your reaction?

Two students from class IX had been shortlisted. Each assumed that the other would let us know who had won. But the names were read out during the assembly, it was such a mixed bag of emotions. My elder brother, who was also there during the assembly, joked and said that the school had made a huge mistake. The fact that I had won took time to sink in.

What was the test about?

The written test had five to seven questions. Some were related to real-time situations and asked how you would react/take action. There was also a question on Dr Stya Paul: What value of his do you like the most? The other rest of the questions followed the same pattern.

So what did you write?

What I love about Dr Stya Paul was his humbleness. Despite being such a renowned industrialist and an educationist, he was so grounded. Each one of us should be humble in our dealings with people.

What do human values mean to you?

These are the basic things that guide you throughout your life. You may be knowledgeable, but it is the human values that tell you where and how to use these values. Besides, being humble, one should be committed to whatever one does – give your best – whatever task you pick up, do it with your heart, spirit, and mind and you will succeed.

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“Human values are the basic things that guide you throughout your life. You may be knowledgeable, but it is the human values that tell you where and how to use these values”  

Gavyam Gupta, Apeejay School Pitampura, Student of class IX

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What role have your parents and brother played?

They were thrilled. I had not told anyone at home about the award. I thought I would tell them once I had won. My winning came as a surprise for all of us. My parents, since childhood, told me to be a good human being. They said that I must give my best in everything and not bother about the result. They said if a task is done with dedication, one is bound to be victorious.

What I love about my brother, who is in class XI in the same school, is his dedication to detail even for the slightest of things – be it a project or a drawing – he does all this to perfection.

How have your teachers mentored you to become the person you are today?

They have been my pillar of strength. They have guided and mentored me whenever I would get stuck or slipped in my studies. They would tell me not to bother with what has happened in the past but to be prepared not to make the same mistakes in the future.

Is it important to be perfect all the time?

There is a saying by Albert Einstein: Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. One can’t be perfect all the time. What matters is that you give it your best shot. No one should be able to turn around and say, ‘You didn’t give your best’.

How do you motivate your classmates?

If it is related to marks, I tell them this is not the final exam. There would be other tests where they can improve; after all, that is what periodicals and mid-term exams are for. If you have not done well in one test, it is a wake-up call to sit up and prepare for the finals.