Investiture Ceremony - 2013

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then you are a leader. John Quincy Adams.

On the fine morning of 4 May, 2013, deserving young talents of our School were bestowed with the responsibility of leading their School from the front with their commitment, confidence and competence. The Investiture Ceremony thus marked the inaugural of the junior and senior student council for the academic session 2013-14.

An energetic and message- filled song by the School choir appointed the ambience, as it were for the significant ceremony. "Saathi haath badhhana" was the song chosen, appropriately motivational and marking also the commemoration of 100 years of Indian Cinema.

This was followed by a touching enactment of a short story, Rupa and the Sparrow by students of class V. This sensitive story, both handwritten and painstakingly illustrated by the late Mrs. Savitri Daftary, mother of our Vice Chairperson, Dr. Nayana Goradia . The story originally written in Gujarati has been translated into English by Dr. Goradia so that what she learned and enjoyed can be shared by our dear junior schoolmates.

Ms. Madhavi Divan, member of the governing body, then addressed the gathering. She was delighted to see her grandmothers story come alive on the stage. She reminisced Mrs. Daftary's life and times and her grit to ' spot a space for herself, albeit small' when women of her times rarely dared to dream.

Ms. Divan explained how the simple story of Rupa who is tempted by a sparrow to fly to the land of the fairies and fantasy, cannot help eventually remembering to return to her humble parents who she worried would be anxiously awaiting her return. The story gently made for message, that we must all freely and fearlessly follow our hearts and fantasies, whilst remaining continuously cautious of our responsibilities. What better a lesson for leadership on the occasion of Investiture Day?

Ms. Divan also recounted an episode related by Mahatma Gandhi when as a young lawyer, he desperately prepared his first brief. In his eagerness to prove himself, he left nothing to chance, as it were, when he stood in court. Alas, despite all that intense preparation, Gandhiji was left totally tongue- tied when he stood up to plead. He could say simply nothing. No words, no visions and no recall of anything to his rescue. Despite this disastrous debut, Ms. Divan pointed out, that the same Mohandas became the Mahatma in the years to come. One who quietly and yet completely decimated the British domination of India. One did not always need demonstrative or larger- than- life qualities to become a good leader, she said. One can motivate and lead as effectively in restrain and fortitude.

Ms. Divan reinforced that she hoped the new council will dig in their heels to carry the Citizenship programme to a new and novel height.

With the vigorous beats of the drums and a march playing, the new council marched in procession up the aisle and on to the stage. They stood upright with their heads held high and their hearts in humility as each picked up their precious flags.

The school Head Girl, Head Boy, the Sports Captains and the House Captains carried the school flag, sports flag and the house flags respectively. Thereafter, the guests of the august gathering, Director, Mr. Lal Raisinghani; Principal, Mrs. Rashi Narula; Deputy Director Finance, Mrs. Brinda Goradia Shroff; Ms. Madhavi Divan, member of the governing body; Vice Principal, Mrs.Tania Joshi; Head Teacher, Primary,Mrs. Neena Maini; Head Teacher, Pre-primary, Mrs. V. Roy; President PTA, Ms. S. Aswani; and Secretary PTA, Ms. Anju Manchandani pinned up the sashes and offered badges to each council member.

Principal, Mrs. Narula, administered the oath of office and the members of the council pledged to adhere to the values and principles upheld by School. Apart from their duty towards School, these reps also pledged their service to the nations larger environment. The School Citizenship anthem' followed by the school- song concluded the ceremony.

The entire program was competantly compered by Kyraa Manchandani and Arsh Agrawal of class 12.

Report by Kriti Dang, 12C.

SENIOR STUDENT COUNCIL(2013-14)