Delhi Public School (DPS) R.K. Puram (New Delhi), one of the most prestigious schools in India founded on January 29, 1972 in New Delhi, will turn 50 in 2022. On October 2, 2021, DPS R. K. Puram organised a curtain raiser to the official launch of the six month long celebration of the golden jubilee of the institution. VK Shunglu, Chairman of the DPS Society and DPS RK Puram Managing Committee unveiled the logo of the 50th anniversary during the inaugural event. A cake baked by Aadishwar Singh, a student of class XII was cut to mark the occasion. It was followed by a splendid rendition of ‘Vaishnav Jana Toh’ through Indian and Western instrumental fusion. This was followed by a nostalgic presentation of DPS R.K. Puram through ages.
The event was attended by renowned alumni of the school. The school plans to organise a plethora of activities to commemorate the 50 years of excellence by organising alumni guest speaker programmes, alumni reunions in different parts of the world, cultural programmes involving the present and former students, collage of video messages of alumni from all over the world to inspire the current students and the culmination of all these events at the grand celebration in 2022.
A video showcasing the drone footage of Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, Vasant Vihar and East of Kailash was screened, magnifying the nostalgia of the alumni in the audience. A self-composed song by the alumni and the students helped reminisce the years gone by and rejoice in the celebrations. Shunglu, in his address reiterated the importance of focusing on what we do in the next fifty years so that we modernize at a fast pace and keep abreast with the challenges of a fast moving world and keep the banner of the school flying high.
Padma Srinivasan, principal, thanked the chairman, V.K. Shunglu for his guidance, constant unceasing support, his spirit of empathy in COVID times and for being a leader who thinks from the heart. She further emphasised on how 1972 and 2022 are connected by a belief that transcends time; that education can transform lives. She quoted Mahatma Gandhi, by saying that with the burning passion within each individual one can alter the course of history. She said, while we must reflect on the glories of the past, we must also look to the future and aim to transform lives with education as the school has done so ably in the past five decades. Former principals Dr. Shyama Chona and Dr. D.R. Saini were also present.
A graceful Kathak dance rendition on the song ‘Ghar More Pardesiya’ in conclusion made the event more remarkable. The school with the founders’ commitment to excellence in the all round development of the students, with emphasis on its motto, Service Before Self, has produced many illustrious alumni who continue to uphold the ideals of the school and have impacted the society greatly in every sphere of life. So, the golden jubilee celebration planned by the school for the New Year, coinciding with 75th Independence year of India, is significant as DPS RK Puram, is indeed a modern temple of national pride and excellence in schooling history of modern India.
