One of India’s most respected alumni communities, The Doon School Old Boys’ Society (The DSOBS) hosted the inaugural DOSCO Summit 2025 in New Delhi on Oct 14 bringing together distinguished alumni and thought leaders from business, education, governance, and public life to explore the evolving ideas of leadership, the enduring role of education, and the responsibility of privilege in shaping a more inclusive future.
Saying that The DSOBS continues to uphold The Doon School’s founding principles of integrity, purpose, and service, fostering reflection, dialogue, and collective action to ensure these values remain relevant in today’s world, Syed Junaid Altaf, President, The DSOBS, announced, “The inaugural DOSCO Summit marks a moment of reconnection for our community. It brings together Doscos from across generations to reflect on leadership, learning, and our shared role in public life. This platform allows us to carry forward the enduring values of integrity, purpose, and service into conversations that shape both our present and our future.”
Delivering the keynote address as Guest of Honour, Amitabh Kant, Former CEO of NITI Aayog, spoke about the importance of ethical and adaptive leadership in the contemporary landscape, mentioning that it was important to set a clear vision, using the power of data to drive governance. He also touched upon the importance of leveraging technology and information that enable even the most backward districts to transform and compete.
The day’s programme featured a series of engaging discussions among prominent figures from diverse fields. The first panel discussion included Tarun Sawhney (Managing Director, Triveni Engineering), Raghav Maliah (Chairman, Global Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs), Gaurav Bhushan (Global CEO, Accor Brands), and Rahul Malhotra (Regional Head, Julius Baer) reflecting upon ideas of multi-generational leadership, examining how adaptability, integrity, and purpose remain central to success in changing times.
A second discussion focused on the role of education in shaping character and conscience, with Vasvi Bharatram (Managing Trustee, The Shri Ram Schools), Nishad Das (Groton School, USA), Dr. Jagpreet Singh (Headmaster, The Doon School), and Arun Kapur (Director, Druk Gyalpo’s Institute, Bhutan; Chairman, Ritinjali; Executive Director, PLS). The speakers underlined the need to balance academic excellence with empathy, curiosity, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.
The concluding conversation brought together Amitav Virmani (CEO, The Education Alliance), Ashvin Dayal (Senior Vice President, Rockefeller Foundation), Lt. Gen. Vipul Shinghal (Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff), and Rajit Punhani (CEO, FSSAI), who spoke on the theme of service and societal impact. The panel reflected on how alumni networks can channel collective experience towards public good, reinforcing the idea that true leadership extends beyond professional success.
The Chief Guest, Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, commended DOSCOS for their virtues and principles. He reflected on how time spent at The Doon School instilled a habit of mind, fostering lifelong fraternity and friendships. Sharing his own experiences of running small enterprises and treasuring school memories, he said two lessons stayed with him, one, that change was constant, and the other, softest pillow was a clear conscience.
Closing the summit, Akash Puri, Vice President, The DSOBS, said, “The DOSCO Summit has been envisioned as a forum for dialogue where experience and aspiration come together. Our aim is to transform these exchanges into initiatives that connect Doscos and their capabilities with the needs of society.” He added that the summit sets the tone for a significant milestone in the Doon community’s calendar, as the School prepares to mark its 90th Founders’ Day later this month.
The DOSCO Summit 2025 marks a new chapter in the journey of the Doon School Old Boys’ Society, reinforcing its role as a collective of responsible citizens and engaged leaders. The Society remains committed to fostering dialogue and collaboration that uphold its enduring values of integrity, purpose, and service.
