The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

SCHOOL BUZZ
They came, spread message of peace and bid ‘sayonara’
Smriti Kak

JAPANESE delegation belonging to the World Peace Prayer Society visited the GHPS, India Gate. The students were addressed by member of the delegation Ms Kazuko Miyagawa, who informed that the 11-hour journey from Japan to India, was a pilgrimage undertaken to spread the message of peace in the world. A pillar was also erected in the school premises with the message ‘May Peace Prevail On Earth’ inscribed on it in Hindi, English and Japanese. Mr Inderjeet Singh Narang, Principal of the school, gave the welcome address.

The students of GHPS brought laurels to the school in various sports events. In the Delhi State Gymnastics Championship, Arpita Saini won a bonze for vaulting horse, Divya Sharma won two gold and two silvers becoming the first allrounder, while R. N. Sandhya won two gold and one bronze to become the third allrounder. Nikhil Thakur won one gold and five silver and was declared the second allround best athlete.

In swimming, the students participated in the Darbari Lal memorial swimming championship. Jayant Mehlawat won four gold, one silver and two bronze medals and Nishant Mehlawat bagged three bronze and two silver medals. He also won one bronze and one silver at the 38th Delhi State Annual sub junior and junior aquatic championship.

Azad Mirza bagged two gold and three silver medals at the Talent Search meet and stood third at the Zonal Inter-school swimming championship. Harmeet Singh stood first in the Independence Cup Karate championship 2002 and Apsara Singh and Amanpreet Kaur stood first in the zone 26th District Championship for Table Tennis. At the 18th Ghaziabad District Table Tennis Championship, Nandit Passey, bagged the second position in doubles as well as singles categories.

Debate competition

The regional round of the fifth Dr Mahbub Ul Haq Memorial Inter-School Debate was held in the Capital at the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

The debate was organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies in association with UNDP and the British Council. The topic of the debate was, ‘The media plays a critical role in strengthening democracy’. The winners were Prakriti Bhasin from Blue Bells speaking for the motion and Dipti Chawla of St. Thomas for speaking against the motion.

The prizes were given away by Ms Rita Rahman Minister, Plenipotentiary, Royal Netherlands Embassy.

Fancy dress

Tiny-tots participate in a Fancy Dress Competition, organised by Mother's Pride.

Mother’s Pride organised a Fancy Dress competition for two-year-olds. While there were the usual vegetables and beauty queens, there was a refreshing change as Aviraj Singh enacted his part as Aamir Khan in the Coca-Cola commercial. The others included a globe and a fruit girl.

The school sees it as a concept that infuses confidence in the children to play characters on the stage.

Shantanu is all set to participate in International Yoga meet.

Yoga meet

Shantanu Chaudhary of GHPS, Loni Road, has been selected to participate in the International Yoga Championship to be held at Brazil from the 5th of October.

Shantanu has won awards at the state and national level championships held earlier. Here’s wishing him luck for the two-day meet.

Artists’ contest

Buena Vista Television India and Kores in association with Laughing Cow are organising a Little Artists Contest across 400 schools in the country. The show wills allow budding artists to showcase their sketching skills.

The event, which is going to be held in Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai and Pune, will be judged by eminent artists and eight shortlisted candidates will be featured in the Disney’s Good Morning Show.

The sketches will be adapted by Kores as a commercial pack for its art products.

Nature trail

The eco club at Bal Bharti Public school, have taken upon themselves the responsibility of creating more awareness about environmental awareness. 10 students school, were taken to the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary on a nature trial programme organised by the department of environment.

The students were shown a documentary, ‘The Hunter and the Hunted’ filmed by David Attenborough and this was followed by a talk on how to achieve good health by Dr Joshi.

The students were also shown an informative slide show by Dr Manoj Dabbas. They also participated in a poster making competition.

Open day exhibition

Union Minister of Labour Sahib Singh Verma at the inauguration of open day-cum exhibition at GHPS, Vasant Vihar.

An open day-cum-exhibition of Models and projects made by the students was held in the premises of GHPS, Vasant Vihar. Union Minister for Labour, Mr Sahib Singh Verma inaugurated the function while President DSGMC, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna presided over the function.

In his address Mr Verma said, “This is for the first time in public schools in Delhi than an exhibition at such a large scale involving all departments teaching as well as SUPW has been held. It was marvellous. The entire school staff and the principal deserve appreciation.”

Mr Verma also planted trees on the school premises and tied a Rakhi around them as a symbol of protection. The exhibition involved models based on the Delhi Metro, the World Trade Centre, Spinning yarn and on various subjects of science and technology.

The Punjabi department enthralled the gathering with a splendid performance of the Bhangra and the music department also put up a good show. DSGMC secretary Bhajan Singh Walia was the guest of honour.

Foundation day

Birla Vidya Niketan celebrated its 19th Foundation Day on September 20 of.

The Chief Guest was Prof Syed Shahid Mahdi, Vice-Chancellor Jamia Millia Islamia. The Principal, Ms Madhu Chandra read out the school’s report and mentioned the achievements of the students in all domains whether academic or extra-curricular.

The high-level of intellectual competitive spirit exhibited by the students impressed Prof Mahdi. He also asked the parents and teachers to ponder over what kind of India are we going to give to the children.

Former Minister, Mr Yoganand Shastri inaugurated an exhibition of projects made by the students. These projects spanned subjects like Science, Maths and Social Sciences.

PRINCIPALSPEAK
Let the ray of hope light up your life

THERE is always a silver lining in any gloomy situation provided you starve the problem and feed the opportunities. All you need is a positive attitude and the moral courage to put your dreams together to move on.

Remember every cloud has a silver lining that promises joys. The clouds that block the sunshine from your life are transient but they are needed because together with the rain and the sunshine they go on to make a rainbow.

Clouds are compared to pain, sorrow, obstacles and bad experiences. These trials in life should not let negative emotions of pain and self-pity overcomes us. Only to the weak, problems are stumbling blocks, to the brave they are stepping-stones to success. And success does not come without effort.

A caterpillar has to struggle to find its way out of the cocoon. This struggle helps develop and strengthen its wings to become a butterfly.

Abraham Lincoln’s life serves as a lighthouse. At the age of 22, he failed in business, at 23, he was defeated in legislative elections, at 24, he again failed in business, at 25, he was elected as legislator, at 26 his sweetheart died, at 27 he had a nervous breakdown, at 29, he lost elections for the speaker’s post, then at 31, lost in the elections, at 34, lost elections for the Congress, at 37 elected to Senate, at 46, land 49 lost the elections to senate. However he became the President at 51.

Never lose hope. The earth revolves on it ray of hope, which reflects spiritual joy and holy light.

Let this ray of hope enlighten your life and fill it with joy. Count your blessings and you will lack nothing. You may have done badly at the exams, but have a home, a loving family who will stand by you always. Remember tough times don’t last tough people do.

The aim of life is to realise that we are immortal spirits and not the bodies that wear out. We are not transient like clouds. We carry within us the eternal light that shines beyond the clouds.

MADHU CHANDRA, Principal, Birla Vidya Niketan