The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

SCHOOL BUZZ
Students reaffirm need for love and peace
Smriti Kak

DPS, R K Puram, observed the, ‘International Peace Day’ on September 23. The chief guest on the occasion was the Director, United Nations Information Centre, Mr Feodor Starcevic.

The programme began with the traditional lamp lighting ceremony, followed by the welcome address by the Principal, Dr S. Chona who said that it is at the school that children should be taught to stay in harmony and accept the differences. The head boy and head girl of the school also presented their views on the peace on the occasion. The students of the Shiksha Kendra also staged a dance performance on the occasion.

A mock General Assembly of the UN was also staged on the occasion, in which representatives of various member states through various dialects and expressions expressed the need for universal peace and brotherhood.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Starcevic said that peace must be cultivated and practised by simply respecting all rejecting violence, sharing with others, listening to understand, preserving the planet and redefining solidarity.

Congress representative of the Legislative Assembly of UP, Ms Louis Khurseed, was also present on the occasion and also addressed the students. The Vice-Principal, Dr D. R. Saini, gave the vote of thanks.

International Peace Day was also observed at GHPS, Vasant Vihar. The students and the staff while reiterating the need for peace also reflected that terrorism, which has emerged a global phenomenon needs to be dealt with by all countries.

Speaking on the occasion the Principal, Mr S. S. Minhas said that students are the best ambassadors to spread the message of love and peace. Nearly 150 students also took out a peace march on the occasion. A poster-making competition was also organised.

Personality camp

A two-day personality enhancement camp was organised by GHPS, Shahdara, for the students of class seven. Children were involved in various activities that focussed on bringing out their latent talents.

The students participated creative activities like pot-making, kite-making, musical programmes and dramatics. They were also provided an insight into the functioning of the Delhi Traffic Police, the Fire brigade and the NCC.

The event was organised as part of the Antodaya 2K3-PEC, under which the students are involved in personality enhancing activities in a phased manner.

Painting Competition

An on-the-spot painting competition based on the theme ‘Health in Colour’ was organised by Pushpanjali Medical centres in association with the Tri-Star Colman.

Over 1,500 students from various schools participated in the event. The Expert Group on Adolescent Health will also organise an inter-school debate and role-play competition in East Delhi schools in the coming months. The group has already conducted over 200 workshops on adolescent health and plans to create awareness to parents and children.

Education programme

EMC, DPS Society, has organised an in-service teacher’s education programme for a delegation of teachers from Afghanistan under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs from September 4 to October 16.

A special assemble was organised on the September 4, which was attended by Mohd Yunis Mumtaz, Deputy Chief of Mission of Afghanistan, Embassy of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan. Mr Arun Singh, Joint Secretary, MEA, was the guest of honour.

The assembly was marked by the traditional lamp lighting ceremony and a welcome note by the Principal, Mr. M. I. Hussain. Speaking on the occasion the chief guest expressed his gratitude to the Government of India and the DPS Society and said that education system in Afghanistan was in dire need of reconstruction like many other areas.

Soy health quiz

In the ongoing series of Soy Health Quiz contest being held in the city jointly by the American Soyabean Association and Association for the Advancement of the Deprived, the final contest was held here last week.

Springdales, Dhaula Kuan, walked away with the first prize while the second and the third prizes went to Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Vasant Vihar and Cambridge School, Noida.

The contest, which was divided into three rounds included visual, grid and rapid-fire rounds and sought to make the contestants aware of the health concerns in the country.

Stress solution

Noted career counsellor, Ms Pervin Malhotra, discussed solutions for the increasing amount of stress amongst youngsters at the ‘Counsellor’s Meet-Gateway to Opportunities’ organised by the Amity Institute of Education, Saket.

Faculty members and principals of more than 50 schools of the city participated in the event. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Malhotra warned teachers and said: “We have to be cautious from class nine itself, this is the time when the students get attracted to temporary money making options like call centres, we have to ensure that students choose options, which are beneficial to them in the long run.”

Four students from Amity, Noida, went on a student exchange programme to Germany accompanied by the Principal. The 20-day trip proved to be an experience of a lifetime, as students came back armed with more knowledge. The four students were full of anecdotes about the place and its people.

National Language Day

Learner’s Castle observed the National language Day with a view to encourage and instil in students the importance of the National Language.

Students sang songs danced with glee. The school had also invited grandparents to reiterate the need to preserve language, culture and family ties.

Foundation Day

Birla Vidya Niketan celebrated their 20th Foundation Day. The occasion was commemorated by an exhibition that was inaugurated by Prof Santosh Satya, Head of Centre for Rural Development and Application Technology, IIT Delhi, and Dr Deepti Gupta, Textile Technology, IITD.
A cultural programme and a prize distribution ceremony were part of the celebrations. The Pro Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU, Mr M. M. Pant, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Head girl Divya Bhojwani receiving the All-Round Best Award from Prof M. M. Pant.

PRINCIPALSPEAK
Violence is the weapon of the weak

THE strong have the strength of conviction, only the weak use violence as their weapon. ‘Inqualab zindabad’ – the whole nation rose in one voice to win their independence from the oppressive British, armed not with weapons but a firm belief in their cause. They faced the guns of the British with their moral strength, convincing the foreigners to beat the retreat. Gandhiji, the greatest champion of non-violence had shown his people the path approved by God.

Jesus had said unto his disciples if a man slaps you on one cheek, do not hit back, and instead turn your other cheek towards him. This will disarm your enemy. The greatest weapon a man can posses is the power of truth and the virtue of his correctness. Violence only begets more violence, brings about death, destruction, ill will and provides no permanent solution.

To a war torn world, which believes in the culture of violence India has demonstrated that non-violence is not sterile passivity, but a powerful moral force, which makes for social transformation. In fact, non-violence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our times for it rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussain and Bush are representatives of leaders who are only upholders of inflated egos and thus unscrupulously play with innocent lives. The cult of violence has brought in paranoia, suspicion and hatred of a brother for his brothers.

On an individual level too, it is the weak who assert their power through violence. The cowardly bully is iconic of using brute force to intimidate and crush others. Most criminals who kill or extract through violence are weak individuals who are frustrated and make up for their disabilities through guns and knives. Take away their lethal weapons and they will grovel for their lives.

Integrity is the weapon of the strong, who can boldly assert their righteousness. A violent punishment only gives rise to further resentment and often makes the wrong doers into hardened criminals. A punishment is a must to reform the wrong, but it should be one that makes them realise that love and humanity are their true weapons in life. Strong moral individuals would make strong nations and a morally powerful world order. Martin Luther King had expressed his conviction, “Sooner or later, all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood… I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and non-violent redemptive good will proclaim the rule of the land.”

There is so much hope, truth and beauty in his words. Our true weapons indeed are our moral beliefs, which will arm us with courage to face the uncertainties of future.

Madhu Chandra, Principal, Birla Vidya Niketan