Delhi Public School

The Golden Saga

The hands of the clock move on, every living moment adds on to the richness of the part. ‘Time and tide wait for no man’ – yet, it is in man to make the ‘moments’ that comprise life as meaningful as he desires. It is this power which enthused and spurred the many visionaries who made Delhi Public School Mathura Road, the parent body which gave birth to virtual fleet of schools. One must remember that it is not merely a question of numbers. In its long trail DPS Mathura Road (the only DPS till 1972) has nurtured and contributed in the growth of what then were merely children, into luminaries in their own right today. Dipsites are everywhere be it in the field of academics, politics, sports, the creative arts or the file pushers in the corridors of power.

From a small beginning in the President’s Estate in 1941 as Church High School to Naveen Bharat School in 1947, and finally in 1949 in its present location on Mathura Road, DPS has traversed a long journey. The birth of a new nation in 1947, was in a way the beginning of DPS (called Naveen Bharat then). A momentous time in the history of our nation, when many a beginning was made to fulfill a social, national need. DPS was not a silent witness to the trials and tribulations of the growing metropolis, but contributed richly to the growth of the capital, specially academically.

By the 70’s the parent DPS was ready to spread its wings. The many off- spring that followed from R.K. Puram 1972 to the most recent at Mumbai are simple assertions of the strength that is DPS. Today at the turn of the century, with more than fifty years behind us and sixty branches, both in India and abroad we are filled with pride. 1999 is ‘a milestone’ which needs to be celebrated and remembered with pride. A pride that stems from a tenacity to over come problems, survive and prosper. Every member of the DPS family must share this joy today.

This book is a collection of contributions by our ex-students, the Dipsites and the teaching faculty – pillars on which rest the growth of any social order. It is an effort to capture time in a few pages. We do not attempt to recount the history of this great exercise in growth and learning. Through these little trips down memory lane, we hope to capture the very essence of life at DPS in the last six decades (from the 40’s to the 90’s). It is a celebration of times gone by – a romance, recalling many precious moments.

Deeply grateful and indebted are we to each and every Dispsite and member of the staff who spared their valuable time to look back, reminisce and reflect on their days in school. As the reader goes through the coming pages – the name of many Dipsites and members of the staff will bring back the past. Each incident certainly adds on to the richness of living.

In a short period of two months, we have attempted to contact as many Dipsites and ex – staff members as possible, by post and telephone. The eagerness of the early batches was suitably matched by the enthusiasm of the 90’s. Some promised to respond and never did; others lived up to unspoken promises.
The book carries all the contributions received by us; except those which reached us a little too late. We apologize for our inability to include them in the book. A sincere effort has been made to present the contributions in their original form. Each contribution is an individual’s perception of the past and must be read in that spirit. Keeping the length and focus of the book in mind, occasionally we were forced to edit the writings of our contributors. The contributions have been interspersed with photographs which tell own tale.

We thank the authorities, specially our Principal Mr. M.I Hussain, for giving us his support and encouragement. We are beholden to the Principal for placing his trust and faith in us.

Our thanks also goes to every member of the staff at Mathura Road. Deeply grateful are we to Mrs. M. Jalil (Senior School Librarian) a great resource person, for her involvement. Our special thanks to Rajni Dhingra (English Department) and Ritu Khurana (Social Science Department) for helping us in more ways than one. Deeksha Khera’s (Physics Department) accessing of the internet was an invaluable help. The Souvenir brings together Dipsites from various walks of life. Their writing recreates the years gone by in a rich nostalgic tone.

Dwelling in the past, we are full of hope for the future – for in the words of Robert Browning –

‘Grow old along with me’
The best is yet to be.............’

Our Contributors

Dr. Prem Kripal, our esteemed Patron is a prolific writer. He has taken an active interest in the School’s progress.

R. D. Banerjee – taught at DPS in it’s infancy from 1945 to 1976. He was the Head of the Hindi and Sanskrit Department and also the Editor of the school Magazine.

Prem Gupta – batch of ’49 was Head Girl and Games Captain.

D. Kapilash – a revered staff member who joined the school in 1951. She was the founder Headmistress of DPS East of Kailash.

Cynthia Bowles – a Dipsite from the late 40’s daughter of the then American Ambassador to India Chester Bowles authored the book ‘Back in India’. We carry an extract from the same.

Ranjit Malkani – of the 1957 batch an Industrial Consultant today. An active Dipsite.

Sampuran Jeet – taught at DPS from 1952 to 1979 in the Department of Social Science; to date working for the cause of meaningful education.

Rajendra Singh – of the 1959 batch joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1968. Presently Principal Secretary (Labour) Govt. of Maharashtra.

Shobha Agnihotri – a present staff member completed schooling from DPS in ’58 and has been teaching in the Senior School for the past seventeen years.

Ravinder Sachar – from the early sixties Joined the Armed Forces and is today actively involved in promoting the ‘Green Revolution’ in the Nainital District of Uttar Pradesh.

Sneh Lata Sanyal – Former Head of the Engligh Department Encouraged dramatics, and organized theatre workshops in her time.

Suman Goyal – Head Girl batch of ’65 studied medicine at AIIMS. N. Delhi Worked in the United States of America for 14 years, now in India.

Ranjan Chatterjee – a student of DPS from ’59 to ’65. Joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1976. Presently Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Nirmala Kapoor – teacher at DPS Mathura Road from ’67 to ’88. She was also the Principal from ’85-‘88

Kirti Pradeep Jain – from the batch of ’64. Joined the Indian Police Service in 1971. Presently Joint Director with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Anil Shorey – from the batch of ’66. Commissioned into the Punjab Regiment in 1974. Presently posted in the Doda District Jammu and Kashmir as Colonel (G.S) Counter Insurgency Force Delta.

Atul Bahl – from the batch of ’69, an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur Presently he is running his own customs clearance business.

D.P.S. Toor – from the batch of ’69, and MBBS and M.S. (Surgery) from Aligarh a practicing surgeon in Delhi – deeply involved in providing medical help to the under privileged.

Ajeet Mathur – Head Boy batch of ’72. A Professor and author at the University of Tampere, Finland.

Sangita Yadav – from the batch of ’72, studied medicine at Lady Hardinge Medical College. Presently Professor of Pediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College.

Shuchi Krishnan – from the batch to ’76. A graduate from the Delhi College of Fine Arts. Later obtained a Diploma in French Literature from Alliance Francaise of Paris.

Meera Kak – from the batch of ’75. Today a Physiotherapist who runs her clinic at Shankar Market.

Vimal Shanker – from the batch of ’78.

Sanjay Chugh – Head Boy batch of ’79. Today an eminent Psychiatrist.

Mita Mazumdar – Presently Head of the Department of Biology, at DPS Mathura Road. Has authored science text books at the middle and senior level. She had the honour of establishing a satellite DPS, up to +2, at Dharan, Nepal.

Anuradha Kalia – an active Dipsite from the class of ’79.

Deeksha Khera – from the batch of ’77 , presently a senior staff member in the Physics faculty.

Abdul Jamil Urfi – from the batch of ’77 An ecological scientist and an environmental educator now, working with the Centre for Environment Education in Ahmedabad.

Lakshmy Iyer – from the batch of ’79. Student Editor for the DIPSCOL in her time.

Bilal Munir Sheikh – son of a Pakistani diplomat, studied at DPS from ’79 to ’82. Presently working as a Senior Manager in ‘Paktel” at Islamabad.

Mukul Jain – from the batch of ’80. Today an established Dental Surgeon in Delhi. Also the youngest surgeon to receive Fellowship of the International College of Dentists, U.S.A.

Pawanindra Lal – form the batch of ’84. A brilliant student at school and medical college (Maulana Azad, New Delhi). Presently Assistant Professor , Department of Surgery Maulana Azad. Medical College and Associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi.

Pallavi Roy Mukerjee – from the 80’s, who moved from student to teacher in the 90’s. Is presently married and settled in the U.S.A.

Prashant Jain – from the batch of ’80.

Shalini S. Surie – from the batch of ’85, presently teaching English in the Senior School.

Tabinda Jalil – from the class of ’85, pursued medicine at lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. Presently working as a Respiratory Physician at Apollo Hospital, Delhi.

Nitesh Dogra – from the class of ’92, studied medicine at the Maulana Azand Medical College New Delhi. Presently Senior Resident in the Department of Physiology at the same.

Godhuli Sen and V.Venkatesh – from the batch of ‘92.Today Godhuli is an H.R Consultant, Price Water House Coopers and V. Venkatesh is a Relationship Manager ABN. Amro Bank . A couple that has done the school proud.

Manavendra Singh Sial – from the ’93 batch, a Chartered Accountant, presently working with Arthur Anderson.

Srimanto Bhattacharya – from the batch of ’91.

Ulka Kelkar – Head Girl, batch of ’94. Completed her graduation in Economics from I.P. College. Delhi University and her. M.A. from JNU. Currently a research associate at the Tata Energy Research Institute.

Avedis Seferian – Head Boy, batch of ’95. A keen debator and writer. After his graduation in Economics from St. Stephen’s College recently completed his MBA from the American University at Armenia.

Mohit Mathur – from the ’96 batch. Presently studying engineering at I.I.T. Delhi.

Shalini Unnikrishnan – Head Girl batch of ’96. Presently studying at Davidson University, USA.

Anjali Bansal – batch of ’96. Completed her graduation in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University Presently studying Advertising and Public Relations from Jawahar Lal Nehru University.

Bhawana Kapoor – batch of ’96. Has just completed B.Com [Hons]. From Delhi University. Now pursing a course in Chartered Accountancy.

Ashutosh Rastogi – of the ’97 batch Currently completing his graduation from Sri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University.

Kunal Soni – Head boy, ’97 batch Currently completing his graduation from Sri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University.

Misha Kumar – from the batch of ’97. a sensitive writer even as a student completing his graduation in Journalism from Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University.

Tavishi Paitandy – Head Girl’97 batch, currently completing her gradation History (Hons) III year from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University.

Akshara Pradhan – Head Girl ’98 batch. Presently at Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University , History (Hons) II Year.

Nazareth Seferian – Head Boy ’98 batch studying medicine at the Yerevan State Medical University at Armenia.

Ashim Malhotra – from the batch of ’94. Director Dramatics. Now in his Final Year of B. Pharm. at Jamia Hamdard Delhi.

Shilpi Burman – batch of ’95 was Art Director School Publications. Now into 4th year of Visual Graphics at NID Ahmedabad. Shilpi has designed the cover for the Souvenir, the logo for the Golden Jubilee and all other Souvenir items.

Edited by: Lalit Mathur
Kunjan R. Kacker
Sudha Acharya

Delhi Public School Mathura Road extends its deep gratitude to all the following Members of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations Committee and the Members of the Delhi Public School Society without whose patronage the celebrations could not have been a success:

Golden Jubilee Celebrations Committee
Shri Salman Khurshid President DPS Society	President
Mrs. Kamla Chowdhry Vice President DPS Society	Member
Justice N. N. Goswamy Chairman DPS Society	Member
Shri Ashok Chandra Vice Chairman DPS Society	Member
Shri I. Seth Member Finance DPS Society	Member
Shri Narendra Kumar Member Education DPS Society	Member
Rear Admiral M. M. Chopra Hony. Treasurer DPS Society	Member
Shri Pramod Grover Co-ordinator DPS Mathura Road & DPS Rohini	Member
Shri S. L. Dhawan Member Secretary DPS Society	Member
Dr. (Miss) A. Nanda Member DPS Society Member Smt. Shovana Narayan Member D P S Society	Member
Shri M. I. Hussain Principal DPS Mathura Road	Member
Dr. (Mrs.) S. Chona Principal DPS R. K. Puram	Member
Mrs. Nina Sehgal Principal DPS Noida	Member
Shri Vinay Kumar Principal DPS Vasant Kunj	Member
Mr. U. S. Verma Principal DPS Faridabad	Member
Mrs. June Fernandez Principal DPS Rohini	Secretary
Shri R. Taneja Principal DPS Greater Noida	Member
Mrs. A. Ummat Principal DPS Dwarka	Member
Mrs. S. Mattu Headmistress DPS Mathura Road	Co-ordinator
Prof. Sydney Rebeiro Dean Alumni Affairs University of Delhi	Member
Shri Rajiv Soni President Dipsites Accociation	Member
Shri Atul Malhotra Member DPS MAthura Road Managing Committee	Member

Members Delhi Public School Society
Shri Dharma Vira	Patron
Dr. P N. Kirpal	Patron Trustee
Dr. A. R. Kidwai	Patron Trustee
Shri V. K. Shanglu	Trustee
Shri Salman Khurshid	President
Dr. (Mrs.) Kamla Chowdhry	Vice President
Justice N. N. Goswamy	Chairman
Shri Ashok Chandra	Vice Chairman
Shri Indrajit Seth	Member Finance
Rear Admiral M. M. Chopra	Hony.Treasurer
Shri Narendra Kumar	Member Education
Lt. Gen. P.S.Roy AVSM	Member Engineer
Shri Y. K. Alagh	Member Working Committee
Ms. Sharda Nayak	Member Working Committee
Shri Pramod Grover	Member
Shri V. R. Vaish	Member
Justice B. N. Kirpal	Member
Dr. (Mrs.) Usha Luthra	Member
Lt. Gen. J. S. Bawa	Member
Shri R. C. Mehrotra Member	Member
Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia	Member
Shri Khushwant Singh	Member
Shri V. M. Thapar	Member
Dr. (Miss) A. Nanda	Member
Smt.. Shovana Narayan	Member
Prof. B. P Khandelwal	Member
Shri. Ravi Gupta	Member
Shri S. L. Dhawan	Member Secretary

To DPS, on Your Fiftieth Birthday

Dear DPS,
As I write this , I am seated for away, in a different country. I will, of course, try my best to be able to attend your Birthday Party. But in any case , please accept my heartfelt congratulations on you fiftieth birthday and my wishes for many happy returns. However large the physical distance between us may be, you are nonetheless very close to my heart, and I have no doubt you hold me dear in your memories, just as you do all who have walked your hallowed hall.

You are only a building ( or maybe several buildings); yet I am writing to you as a person. Some may ask if a building can have a life of its own, if it is possible for an organized pile of bricks to take on the characteristics of a living entity ? To many, the answer (outside of a Stephen King novel) is – No. However, I continue to think of you as a motherly figure, living and breathing (onto us) the fresh air of learning and knowledge. I believe it is possible for a building to become such an integral part of one’s life, with so many memories to be associated with it, that it would seem like the building is a record of that life – a photo- album, a diary. When I walk down your corridors and recall the time I raced across it with my friends; when I turn a corner and remember the trepidation with which I used to do that in the days when it meant I was to take an exam in the second room of that corridor; when I walk down some stairs and recall the time a classmate slipped and fell on them and how we all laughed……. I am merely reliving an event that you have stored in your immense walls of memory. It’s been a few years since I left your care, and some faces and names have changed. Yet your walls, though they be painted a different colour are still the same, and the records they silently keep are forever embedded within.

You are fifty now. You will become sixty, seventy, hundred and more. Years down the line, none of the faces and names I associate with you today will remain. All will change.

Yet, like the river, you will stay the same – for though men may come and men may go, you go on forever. So someday in the future, when we are celebration another milestone in your life, I hope to walk your corridors again, and although the faces that stare at me may be different, I know in my heart that nothing has really changed – for you are still you, my motherly school.

So here’s to your first fifty years. May many more fifties come and go, and may your walls be strengthened by the layers and layers of memories stored in them.

Happy Birthday once more,

Yours affectionately

Avedis H. Seferian

A DPS Resolve

From flesh, bones, blood and brain
of the helpless dependent child
towards the making of some being
on the road to fast becoming
through stages of life – cycle,
growth of body, mind and spirit
man experiences education.

The foundations of Education
in the first stage of life
from childhood to early youth
are crucial to all life.
In this time of growing awareness
of self and outer world
life’s basics are learned and lived.

Such basics are tools and skills
of work and communication,
curiosity of explore,
glorious feel of imagination,
the wonder of the senses,
awareness of space and time,
and joy of living together.

From the wondrous state of childhood
through adolescence to youth
the foundations of personality,
drives and aptitudes for work,
pride and discipline of the citizen
are learnt and cultivated
for the making of the man,

For the making of the man
to take charge of his life
in this fast-changing world
the foundations of education
should offer attractive contents
both appropriate and relevant
to body, mind and spirit.

For integrated man and education
at the basics of foundation
the best possible schooling
related to home and society
by effective methods and modalities,
teachers, mentors, friends, and parents
must be offered to the young!

The following lines have been especially composed by Dr. Prem Kirpal on the School’s Fiftieth Anniversary.

The DPS flag- ship at Mathura Road
Would no doubt sail with flying colours.
Better than marks, divisions and distinctions
Is the DPS Spirit, Behaviour and Culture
Which the School imparts to the youth
For selfless service and creative sparks
To take charge to their lives
In life – long learning
For times of change and perils ahead.

Dr. Prem Kirpal
Patron
DPS Society

The Birth

DPS is the realization of his dream
and vision: Mr. J.D. Tytler, on the
left, the founder Principal of
DPS Mathura Road.

During the last fifty years DPS has produced a great galaxy of eminent men and women, who have brought glory to it not just in India but abroad too.

Being involved with the school since its inception, I derive great Pleasure and happiness when I see personalities like Salman Khurshid, Subramanyam Swami and many others on television. Seeing them I recall with pride that I too had laboured along with others in shaping these individuals during their formative years.

How was it born and how did it grow? Very few of those who were closely associated with the school in the early stages are yet around to tell the story. Many of them, both teachers and the taught are no more.

1940 – I was a teacher at Presentation Convent in old Delhi. Rev. J.D. Tytler was the Chaplain of the Church of Redemption, Popularly known as the Viceregal Church. His residence was close to the Church.

The compound of his bungalow was the camping ground for the scouts. My friendship with J.D. Tytler which began in Calcutta remained fresh and alive, as I visited the camp very often to help the young scouts.

December 1940 – The annual Scouts’ Masters’ Training Camp was held near Humayun’s Tomb, under the leadership of Late Mr. H. C. Saini – Secretary of the all India Boy Scouts’ Association. Rev. Tytler and myself were called upon to help the trainees.

J.D and myself were camp mates. It was bitterly cold. Sipping whiskey to beat the cold, we talked late into the night. J.D. confided, “Banerjee, I shell be retiring soon, but I will not go back to Europe I will stay in India. To keep myself busy in some useful and pleasurable activity, I have planned to start a school. Yet there is a ‘BUT’ in it. I do not have enough funds to invest. Could you suggest a way out?”

At first I suggested the collection of funds from J.D.’s friends in government. J.D. rejected the idea completely. But the pitching of a few tents inside the Church compound and starting classes in them appealed to J.D.

J.D. embarked upon his scheme with enthusiasm and vigour. His organizing abilities and sharp intellect made the task at hand easy. With a small number of students he started the school under the name New Delhi Church High School. Thus was born Delhi Public School.

An auspicious birth, blessed by the benevolence of heavenly powers – saw the baby (Church High School) grow into a mighty educational institution.

In 1945 Rev. Mother Gabriel, the Mother Superior at Presentation Convent returned to England. I resigned and joined J.D’s school in January 1946. One day when I visited Presentation Convent to return some borrowed books from the library Mrs. Rodric asked me about my new place of work. She wanted to know if Miss Fleming and she could be accommodated in it. I told J.D. about their eagerness to join his school. He immediately offered to take them. They did so along with Miss Simpson, an excellent Maths teacher. All three being excellent teachers, many senior students of Presentation joined J.D’s school enmasse. Overnight J.D’s school shot into limelight and established a place for itself.

Names may change but the motivating spirit remains the same. Church High School changed to Naveen Bharat High School and finally on acquiring land moving to Mathura Road became Delhi Public School. Yet what has remained unchanged it the zest and spirit to achieve and excel.

R.D. Banerjee

The Early Years

Resemblances by Mickey Patel

Pankaj Vohra in his article ‘Between Us’ in The Hindustan Times dated 11 July, 1999, states 1949 as the year DPS came into existence, which makes me a legitimate Dipsite. I was the Head Girl and Games Captain (Girls) in 1949. It was also my last year of school. I took my Senior Cambridge Examination in December, 1949 and left school. Ironically 1999 also means I left School half a century ago – a Golden Jubilee year for me.

But the fact is that this school then called Christ Church School Started around 1937 by Rev. J.D. Tytler, the Vicar of the Church of Redemption, situated just behind the Viceregal Lodge, now the Rashtrapati Bhawan. It was the Church where the Viceroy and his family prayed. At that time the Government moved to Shimla for the summer and came down in the winter. Since the students-around 17 of them – had parents in Government service, it was very convenient.

My two younger sisters, Chandra and Anita, and I were studying in another small private school called St. Michael’s Manor being run by two British ladies, the Misses Connollys. We had gone out of Delhi for the summer holidays in 1942, and on our return were informed by our father that these ladies had sold the school and transferred the names of all the students to Christ Church School run by the Rev. J.D. Tytler – so we joined Christ Church.

I did not feel for a day that I had joined a new school or needed to make new friends because most of us had automatically just moved – only the venue had changed.

Except for the Church itself, classes were held in every nook and corner. Tents were put up as and when they were needed, all inside the Church grounds – all very environmentally pure and clean. But in spite of this our Maths teacher Miss Simpson insisted we move out of the tents and sit under the trees for our Maths lessons.

Games like hockey, football and volley ball were played on the well maintained grass fields outside the boundary wall of the Viceregal Lodge tennis at the tennis courts at the Vicarage. There was not must inter-school interaction and we were quite happy to be on our own. We did not develop any complex or feel like poor country cousins because we were studying it tents and did not have a school building.

The Church was never out of bounds. I loved singing so would attend Sunday mass to sing with the Church Choir.

Then suddenly things changed in 1946- the school now known as Naveen Bharat High School moved lock, stock and barrel outside the Church compound on to North Avenue. Rev. Tytler was not associated with the Church any more but school went on as usual. 1947, India became independent and the American Ambassador Chester Bowles deemed it fit to admit his children to DPS.

It was a good life. In 1948 – I was House Captain of Chenab House and it was presumed that I would become Head Girl in 1949, and Jonathan Kolet, Head Boy. But Rev. Tytler in his wisdom suddenly announced the names of two Johnny Come Latelys for these two positions. I was made Games Captain (Girls) it was a case of “Ek Din Ka Raja”. The whole school struck. This had never happened earlier and never since. Mr. Tytler had to accept the general consensus. To this day I wonder why he did this. So in 1949 I became Head Girl and Games Captain – but with responsibility it was also my final year. So it meant serious study. I sat for my Senior Cambridge in 1949 December and left DPS.

The following year, in 1950, the school shifted to its present grounds at Mathura Raod. Again the tents were put up. That year my sister, Chandra became Head Girl, and she sat for her finals in December 1950.

I have to add that though I left DPS fifty years ago and never did become a member of the Delhi Public School Society, I am still very close to students who joined school with me in 1942. Some of them are the Pai sisters- Kanika, Sharda and Shanti, Nimmi Mehra , Suman Narain, Anjali Shastri, Kamal Marwah, K.K. Sharma, Jonathan Kolet, Harry Mamak, Manju Khaneka – and so many more. It still feels like we left school yesterday. We have such lovely memories of those times. I am glad the school has gone strength to strength and that there are about 60 Delhi Public schools. Like a chameleon though it didn’t change colours, it changed names, it began as Christ Church School but changed first to New Delhi Church High School then to Naveen Bharat High School and finally Delhi Public School.

I feel really proud that I belonged to an institution with such humble beginnings and which has now become a premier educational institution of the country.

Prem Gupta

The Human Touch

Principal, Dr. K.C. Khanna at his desk

I joined DPS Mathura Road on 1 January 1951. It was quite a challenge for me to work in a school in tents. Having studied in the Jesus and Mary Convent in Murree and then having worked in the Lawrence Royal Military School it was not easy. However I fitted into the pattern and soon become a member of the DPS family. At that time Rev. J. D. Tytler was the Principal of the school. We had about 500 boys and girls on the rolls. He knew each and every child. Children really loved him and he in turn got their undivided love. The little ones ran after him. He picked them up and gave them a piggy ride. You could see the kids holding his hands, clinging on his legs or sitting on his shoulders and holding each finger of his hand. His face would turn red. So they called him “Lal Murgi” perhaps identifying him with the little Red Hen from their story book.

It was a real pleasure working with Mr. Tytler. He not only loved the children but also cared for and respected the teachers. Since I was living close by, my son – then nine moths old would accompany me to school. Mr. Tytler would play with him and he in return would give him a beaming smile. So he called him “Smiler” when I went to take a class, he would play with other teachers before returning home.

I worked with Mr. Tytler only for two years. I can say with pride and pleasure that it was a wonderful experience. Soon Mr. Tytler resigned and opened Summer Fields School in Kailash Colony. Many of the teachers also went with him, I too might have gone but I was away in Bihar with my mother. Dr. K.C. Khanna had become the new Principal and sent me a letter to join school, so I returned with my little girl just a few weeks old then.

We looked up to Dr. K.C. Khanna as a father for indeed he treated us like his children. It didn’t take long for him to know the staff. More and more children were being admitted. Consequently the number of staff members also grew. Every month he held a staff meeting, which brought us, closer. He introduced co-curricular activities and took a keen interest in dance and drama. He directed and staged Balwant Gargi’s play ‘Kanak Di Balli’. It was a real hit and brought in a lot of money for the school building. He also arranged a dance recital at Sapru Hall. That also brought in money for the building fund. School fetes and picnics became a regular feature. Senior children went House wise while the younger ones went class wise. Children of class III had a whale of a time visiting historical monuments. Outings are not complete unless food is served. A few of us would personally go to Chandini Chowk to order delicious food. Children had their fill of puris, fruits, sweet and peanuts, all for Re. 1-/ per head! Dr. Khanna was fond of picnics and took the staff to places like Okala or Tughlakabad. Food was cooked there and everyone had to help. It was great fun. Years rolled by and the time had come for Dr. K.C. Khanna to retire. We gave him a befitting send off. Children lined up with flowers to say good-bye to him. We worked with him for nine long years and enjoyed our work.

Mr. Din Dayal joined DPS in 1962. Since he had a public school background he was keen to see DPS run on public school lines. He struggled and strived till he was able to put DPS on the map. During his regime the hostel was started and a swimming pool built. House warden quarters came up on the premises and Class IV staff – quarters too. The school area was expanded and plays fields increased.

With all these facilities and strict discipline, staff and students put their best foot forward to show good results. Mr. Din Dayal had a keen eye and recognized the talent of teachers. He encouraged them and sent many of us abroad. He also promoted many staff members as Principals of Schools in Delhi and elsewhere.

In his desire to extend DPS education to more children, he got DPS R.K. Puram going in 1972 and its junior wing at East of Kailash in 1974. In the beginning we worked in tents in East of Kailash but after a few years a beautiful building came up. I was the founder Headmistress and worked day and night to see that children got the maximum attention.

My heart fills with pride and joy when I reflect and realize that for a large part of my life I was deeply involved with a dream, which has surely and slowly turned to reality.

D. Kapilash

Back to School

Principal, Dr. K.C. Khanna addressing the
School at the Independence Day 1957

Soon after we arrived in New Delhi, the question of school came up. Sally, Sam and I felt very much like fish out of water and homesick in our new surroundings. We thought that school and its new friendships might bring us that understanding which would make us feel happier and less out of place.
With this thought in mind we began to inquire about the schools in and near Delhi. Most of the Americans whom we suggested Woodstock, an excellent boarding school located in the beautiful foothills of the Himalayan mountains, about three hundred miles north of Delhi.

At Woodstock we would be able to continue our formal high school education and thereby have no difficulty in entering a college in America when the time came. But we would be learning little of India.

The school, which we finally selected, was called the Delhi Public School. It was really not a public school in the American sense, since there was a charge of twenty-five rupees (about five dollars) a month. It was co-educational and conveniently located, about two miles away from our home. The classes were conducted in tents, which would be put up and taken down as the enrollment of the students fluctuated.

At the time we entered Delhi Public, the teachers and all of the thirteen hundred students were Indians, with the exception of a wonderful family of Indonesian children who later became our close friends. There were students of many religions: Hindus, Moslems, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Christains. The Principal was an Englishman who was alternately pleasant and impressively stern. He ran the school as he might have run a private school in Great Britain.

Apparently the word had already gone that three Americans were joining the school. I had been admitted to the senior-most class, which was equivalent to the sophomore or junior class of an American high school. There were about fourteen boys and six girls in the class and the girls were already there when I arrived. We had a minute before the teacher came, in which we said shy hellos and introduced ourselves briefly.

I found it hard to make myself understood. The English of most of the girls was perfect. But mine was anything but perfect and was well punctuated with the incomprehensible American slang. To all appearances we were talking two very different dialects. However, within a month or so I had learned to speak Indian English and my friends had become more accustomed to my American English.

When our classes were finished for the day, the girls took me on a tour of the school grounds. All the school activities, except the small clinic, were conducted in tents. The tents in which classes were held were big enough to seat thirty comfortably. They were without lighting, fans or windows but were completely open on one side.

The Principal and Vice-Principal’s tent was smaller and well equipped with electric lighting and a fan, as was the administrative office. In another small tent was a store where books, paper, pencils, pens, etc., could be brought. Next to this was the tent in which the sports equipment was kept. Another tent was the library and another a store where you could buy candy, fruit and ice cream and delicious fried food. The clinic was a small, dome-shaped stone building; wonderfully cool, built by the Moslems in the fifteenth century, probably as a tomb. Perhaps it is hard to imagine a school in tents. I came to like it very much. Although we were often too hot in summer and too could in winter we always had fresh air and I liked the closeness to nature.

All sorts of wildlife visited us. Little chipmunk-like squirrels loved to scamper up the tent ropes and patter across the roof of the tent. Birds of all kinds were constantly fitting in and out, and big black and white hawks circled above the school, casting huge shadows on the ground. One day I saw a mongoose, a weasel-like snake-killer, peer around the corner of the tent and then slink quickly away.

On the edge of the school grounds there were two big fields, one for soccer, hockey and cricket and the other for netball, a game like basketball. Nearby were two smaller fields for volleyball and badminton. Two of the younger classes were playing hockey when we went by.

The school was on the way edge of the city, and that first day when we climbed a small hill to get to the clinic, the surrounding countryside was almost deserted. It was mostly flat but dotted here and there with rocky hillocks, a few stunted trees, and many small green bushes. Before I left India, new houses and apartment buildings had been built up all around the school.

It was almost 4.00 p.m. before my new friends walked me over to the bicycle park (they went home by school bus) and I said a still shy but much happier goodbye. When we reached home, Sally, Sam, and I agreed that life in India was really not so grim after all. Although we had dreaded venturing out into our new surroundings and meeting people our own age, we were glad that we had. We were sure that studying at Delhi Public School would be a happy experience for us.

Delhi Public School was not a typical high school. The fact that it was co-educational set it apart from the great majority of high schools in India…

Sam, Sally and I each felt differently about Delhi Public School. But we agree now that the friendships that we made there were the happiest and most valuable part of our experience in the school.
Although she was unlike me in every way, I came to know and like best a pretty, outgoing girl named Suman. I remember that the first day I went to school she was the most outspoken and curious of all my classmates.

Suman and I had many good times together. Yet at first she was merely someone who was nice to me, who provide me with good times when they were much needed, and who somewhat awed me by her boldness in what I had soon discovered to be a modest country. Within a couple of months she was more than that. She was a real friend and I could talk with her as I talked with my friends at home.

Suman was the best of my Delhi Public school friends, but there were others. These friendship have proved to me, as similar friendships have proved to others, that the East and West need not to stranger to each other.

Cynthia Bowles

Trophied Memories

Prize worthy: A unique trophy, in the shape of a tent,
presented by Mr. R. Malkani, Mr. M.S. Muddar and
Mr. K.K Jain for the Cricket Festival Match at DPS

In 1948, along with my brothers Ajit, Rattan, Bhagwan and Chander. I joined Church High School, which was located in North Avenue in the garden area surrounding the church. The Principal Rev J.D Tytler (nick named Lal Murgi) had taken an unbeaten path to run this unique institution. I remember, everyday, after Assembly we sang his inspiring song, “itsy Bitsy Spider climbing up the spout…” This may draw a smile today but at that time it was a very meaning ritual for us.

The school name soon changed to Naveen Bharat High School and later when it shifted to Mathura Road it was renamed as “Delhi Public School”, the name it proudly bears even today.

General K.S. Thimayya Giving Away Prizes
on Speech Day

The Matura Road premises at that time stood in isolation. There was no sunder Nagar, Oberoi Hotel, Kaka Nagar or Bapa Nagar around it. However snakes, scorpions and wild dogs did bound in plenty. In spite of all this DPS had the magnetism to draw the elite of the city. Many children from the diplomatic mission, for instance the children of Mr. Chester Bowles, ambassador of USA chose to join DPS. I recall Yarne Wilfer whose father was the Ambassador of Yugoslavia. He was a very mischievous lad for every now and then he would disrupt the class by shouting “snake, Snake”, causing the children to run out in panic. He once a lit a fire with his cigarette lighter in the class tent and we all got a holiday.

My best year in DPS was the third Standard, when I received the first prize for topping the class from Mr. Chester Bowles, Ambassador of USA. Another memorable experience was when I was chosen to represent DPS at the Ramakrishna Mission inter-School Debate Competition. The school gave us many such opportunities to build our confidence.

With Mr. Din Dayal’s enthusiasm and relentless efforts we got eminent Generals Gen. Maneckshaw, Gen. Thorat, Gen. Thimayya, Gen Rajinder Singh and others to donate trophies to DPS.

I too chipped in my bit. I presented a trophy called, ‘the Beginning’ which was in the shape of a tent for the ‘Annual Cricket Match’ and another one as a farewell gift for Mr. Din Dayal. The latter was called ‘The Builder’ and it showed the school’s progress from tents to the building.

The Navy gave donations for the swimming pools and the Army for the hostel. There after the DPS Society surged ahead and grew from strength to over 50 schools.

Ranjit Malkani

A look into the Past

An Honourable, visitor: President Mr. Fakhruddin Ali
Ahmed with Principal Mr. Din Dayal and Mrs. S. Jeet

Mrs. S. Jeet, with the DPS employees

One of the best incidents during the very first year of my joining Delhi Public School in 1952 left a lasting impression on me and guided me through my entire career as a schoolteacher. I took a student to the Principal to report about his continuous misbehavior in the class. The Principal reprimanded the student but also advise me that in order to maintain one’s dignity, such matters should be sorted out more amicably in the class itself. From that day, I realized that I could maintain discipline in my class by respecting the dignity of each student. Sometimes students misbehave to draw the attention of the teacher and get some importance.

I started my career in school as a teacher of geography and retired as the Head of the Department of Geography and Social Studies. During this period I found it necessary, time and again, to include other related activities in the curriculum of the students to enhance their interest in the subject. We started by celebrating the U.N. day, which later became an Annual feature. In the morning assembly, a parade by the students holding banners of various U.N. agencies was held. A dignitary from one of the foreign embassies was invited to speak to the students. Posters, banners and other informative material were displayed in the school library. This celebration gave the entire school a festive look and also exposed the students to a feeling of “internationalism”.

Another activity, which I recollect with great pride, is the workshop we organized in August 1963 on “Our Himalayas”. Seventy students around twelve years old participated in the workshop, which continued for a period of three weeks. Apart from formal lessons, the workshop constituted film shows, talks, a visit to the national institute of audiovisual education and an exhibition on the Himalayan region. Here the material was displayed in the form of charts; models, maps, folders, books and photographs. Each student was presented with a set of assignments for his/her independent study. The response by the students was extremely encouraging and it was indeed hearting to hear them recite their original poems and interesting write-ups. A comment by Dravid Pillai, a student of VIII–A saying that ‘he would perform his duty as a true citizen to protect this crown of India’ is an indication of how such activities inculcate a sense of duty in the students and helps develop their personalities.

My association with the Ganges House as in charge also brings back some pleasant memories of the sheer fun and excitement in organizing house functions. In one function a presentation entitled “The flow of the Ganges” saw Dipsites intermingle with the younger students to produce a breathtaking spectacle. It was a pleasure to work with Mr. Sydney Reberio, an ex-student, who initiated this idea and saw it through till the end. However, the most memorable events of my life in Delhi Public School are the educational trips that we organized as member of the youth hostel association of India. A trip to Nepal for ten days with 137 students and six teachers, to kulu and manali for fifteen days, to Ajanta, Ellora and Bombay for fifteen days and a one month trip to Europe and the USSR provided a rich experience of community living which inculcated in the students a sense of responsibility, caring, consideration and cooperation. These trips developed a spirit of adventure in the students and teachers alike and brought us closer.

Finally my memories lead me back to the encouragement and cooperation I received all along fron Dr. K.C khanna under whose tenure I took my first shaky steps and developed into a confident teacher Mr. Din Dayal overwhelmed me with his unflinching trust and faith gave me more and more opportunities to enhance myself professionally Dr. G.P.S Waraich valued my experience as a senior teacher and gave me professional freedom and respect.

After retirement I worked in a public school in noida, Zambia, with an international community of students. I am presently working with ‘Aradhana’ a support group for mentally challenged children. The rich and varied experience that I gathered at DPS has equipped me to handles such tasks in life.

Sampuran Jeet

Learning to Walk

Dr. Radhakrishan, Vice-President of India, laying the
Foundation Stone of the School Building

When I joined DPS, the school was near the President’s Estate and in tents. It later shifted to the present site Mathura Road. The conditions were hard and dusty but we had a dedicated band of teachers, who, despite the handicap of not having a proper school building gave us the best education and taught us leadership and survival skills so that we could complete with the rest of the world and achieve success.

I remember Mr. Kochhar who was the Physics teacher and the Scout Master, teaching us how to walk on a road where there was no footpath, teaching us the Scouts code. My memory of the Principal Dr. K.C.Khanna is one of a lovable person who was a strict disciplinarian. He used to cane us for misbehavior, using only his left hand , so that we would not repeat it in future.

I recall the Geography and lower Mathematics lessons (in both of which I got distinctions) where the teacher would try to arouse the interest of the students rather than make the subject drudgery. I recollect how the teacher asked us to paste and cut stamps and make diagrams of Australia, America, etc. and this developed a life long interest in philately and improved my general knowledge about places, personalities and later helped me to get into the Indian Administrative Service. The base which was built then helped me in my future studies. We were taught how to study and answer questions to the point, and not just general theory. This is what is required to make students competitive, in a world, which is progressing very fast. This important lesson was what I learnt in school and it has helped me become what I am today.

Rajendra Singh

An Imaginary Visit to an Inhabited Planet

Dipsite Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, an economist of international repute is presenting with the planning commission. His brilliance and creative spark showed early in life, evident in this captivating science fiction story written by him in class IX (Taken from School Annual 1958)

The lust for adventure is innate in the sense that it can seldom be acquired over-night, and even more rarely cultivated. It requires a nonchalantly gamble the proverbial bird in hand for the two in the bush intense imagination, dauntless courage, a flamboyant devil- may- care exterior and an unbelievably light hearted attitude towards life aptly described my character. My literary interests confirmed as they were to science fiction, sowed in my fertile brain the seed of adventure so what happed is no great wonder.

I noticed, on my way to the factory, that the news stand was plying an unusually brisk trade. Bobbing heads and flying arms was all I could discern in the melee of enthusiastic citizens. It was only a quarter of an hour later that I could acquaint myself with the recent developments and it was not more than on hour after, that I was speeding over crowded highways towards a large building in the western sector of the metropolis.

“Mr. Jenson, I presume” came the could voice of the official. I answered in the positive. At five o-clocks, one and a half hour after entering, I emerged, as yet oblivious to the full import of what I had done, but nevertheless with a sparkle in my eyes and an unprecedented amount of spring in my step. I would be the first visitor to Mars.

I can give no clear account of the following month. I singed a number of forms, was interviewed not once but hundreds of times, was given bone jolting resistance tests and a horde of blood tests to say nothing of subjection for varying intervals to different types of radiations. D-day drawned bright and clear. It was a fine summer’s day; the birds twittered their greeting outside my windows while the sunbeams, frolicking over my check cast weird shadows on the counterpane. The hours slipped by with unaccountable speed and before I knew what was happening I was lowered into a pressurized cabin, the alloy door closed behind me, and the cabin was hermetically sealed.

The announcer’s droning voice came over the inter-communication system with a crackle: there were last minute instructions; the seconds ticked off and suddenly I felt a jerk and then nothing more. I counted upto ten seconds and then following instructions, fitted on a gadget over my ears which had begun to drum, after which I ventured to look through the port hole. Fully prepared as I should have been, I inadvertently recoiled a little, for there, framed in the frame was only a spherical ball of rapidly decreasing diameter set in a back ground of black. I was left wit nothing but an empty feeling in my throat.

It was now that the absence of society hit me full in the face. The silence was oppressive and numerous gadgets stared down at me mercilessly as I clutched at my hair and sank down. I do not know how long it was before I became conscious of the intense cold but once conscious I remedied it by turning on the ‘thermolator’ and the faint hum told me that the cabin would soon be warn. With the heat came the circulation of blood which brought with it confidence.

I soon began to take note of my surroundings. All around me stretched the empty void, impenetrable darkness through which shone the stars, some red, others blue but now white. An occasional meteor provided a diversion, for its fiery parabolic course elicited both admiration and awe. Onwards, ever onwards, I hurtled yet no change of surroundings did I notice until, full seven weeks after take off there appeared far away but diametrically opposite me a tiny point of diffused light, which, three hours later assumed the shape of an orange. Contrary to common opinion, Mars was not red but yellowish in colour and over the yellow surface I could clearly see dark lines crossing at various angles-the famous canals of Mars.

Larger and larger it loomed in the port hole until all of a sudden it shot out of space towards me and occupied the whole screen and then the rockets blasted out in full, the space-ship turned and settled on the surface.

A level pulled here, a button pressed there and readings taken every where was I was supposed to do before the cabin door would fling open for me. The ground was necessarily sandy, so much as that I sank down six inches at each step but below that was firm metallic rock, a ghastly blue in colour. All around me stretched s sandy waste, the monotony of which was broken only by stunted unearthly shrubs. Having been supplied with a small helicopter, I was soon able to survey the land. I had hardly gone a dozen miles when I spotted what appeared to be a vast marsh overgrown with weeds and strange plants which were possessed of long tendrils perpetually fluttering about in the air, off and on catching a living creature which all tendrils would then cover and fixing suction cups onto its body, would drain out of its life-blood.

I stood petrified, and I am not afraid to admit, terrified. A chill crept down my spine draining all my energy and sapping from me every ounce of energy.

Deeming discretion the better part of valour I fled. As I did so I looked back but once to see a bluish vapour arise from the Martians, diffuse all over the air and then float gently towards me as if propelled by a wind. It comes to me now that speed was alien to this land for I noticed that objects here moved with an unaccountable lethargy.

Men may dub me a coward, as I have no doubt they will, but I still content that to fully understand my plight they would have to be placed in similar surrounding, to have felt similar horrors and to have seen similar sight after which I have little doubt that their judgment of me, their feeling toward me would be, if not of approbation and complete acquittal, at least of understanding and sympathy.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia

Sharing your Dream

Excerpts from the speech of Shri Jagdish Khattar,
Despite, now Managing Director Maruti Udyog Ltd.
as Chief Guest on 27 Oct. '99

I consider it an honour to spend some time with you this morning. Standing here transports me back to a back to a time, which is etched vividly and beautifully in my memory. Those wonderful days in school which I got to appreciate, when during my career, many times, I involuntarily came across situations which I could successfully overcome because of the values and abilities which this school had so painstakingly inculcated in me. I can say without any hesitation that if I had a chance to relive school life, I would start all over again from this very Delhi Public School.

I consider it a privilege to share some thoughts with you this morning, which during our stay in school are far removed from us. These relate to the emerging shape of the future.

The world has changed dramatically ever since I was here last. Geography has slowly been relegated to history. The world is experiencing a unique phenomenon. It is outpacing itself while shrinking. Here are some examples of this changing world order.

Today computers have changed the face of the worlds, advancement in science has increased human life expectancy and the Internet has changed the way of human relationships and thinking. But there is one constant in all the above areas of human growth. One spring that binds all the events of the most revolutionary century ever. And that is the human sprit to excel, to find new frontiers which challenge him to cross successfully. Humans have defied the fear of the unknown in the 20th century more than at any other time in history.

But where does this spirit of adventure come from. It is born in every home and nurtured during the years at school and finds the cutting edge of excellence as we grow. So according to me you are at a very fortunate cross road in history where the achievements of 5000 years lie scattered at your feet, to choose from and plan your future.

I am not here to give you any advice or to guide your future as I sincerely believe that if there is any learning to be done then it is we who should learn from you because life was designed to go forward and not backwards. I do not know what future has in store for all of us I can only share my experience in life with you and hope that you will draw your own conclusions from them.

As I turn around and look at this glorious institutions I cannot relate to it in its present form. Because I remember my studying here at a time when this school was housed in tents. My formative years were steeled here by the change in environment ,year after year, with the appropriate accompaniment of summer heat, monsoon rain and cold winters. The options to change this school and to go to one housed in a concrete building was rejected; as it was felt that this experience of education in these circumstances would be invaluable to life.

Years later in 1970 after having joined the government, there were floods in Chamoli village in UP and I was a district official, my experience at school became my biggest strength. I looked upon that assignment created in the midst of havoc creating floods as a challenge and as an opportunity. Under those trying conditions I traveled from village to village galvansing people to overcome natural calamities, based on the education of team spirit that I had discovered during my stay in school. I had learnt that no task was impossible and this teaching bore fruit at Chamoli. Efforts made by all of us at Charmoli jointly not only mitigated the suffering but were also recognized by the government.

Even earlier in the mid 60’s just after joining the Indian Administrative Service I was given the task to spread the message of green revolution to the most backward parts of east UP. There were no roads, no infrastructure; living conditions were far poorer than they are even today. My job was to distribute seeds and fertilizer and to convince the farmers and to persuade the use of local irrigation facilities. I had no prior experience in communication with villagers in UP. For this job I traveled from village to village on cycle everyday spreading information and distributing seeds and fertilizers persuading each village that a greater future beckoned them if they used borewells to irrigate their lands. During those and tiring rides I used to thank my school and the fact that I had studied in tents in trying weather conditions became my biggest education here. Another thing that DPS taught me through my years in schools was to never be daunted under trying circumstances.

Similarly during my stint in UP Roadways and Cement Corporation, I was told that these organizations were beyond repair and yet supported by the same people who everyone thought was useless. We, as a collective team managed to turn the organizations around. The value of team spirit learnt on the cricket fields of this school came to my aid. DPS had taught me that individually you can fly only so high, but the moment you share your dream with all around you and invite them to participate no task is impossible.

The greatest dilemma faced me after 28 years of life as a civil servant. I was then over 50 years old when the challenge of joining Maruti beckoned me. I was totally inexperienced in the culture of running business.

I decided to change my career steeled with the belief that it is never too late to restart life from scratch provided you believe in yourself, you work for the pursuit of the common good. Then your journey is paved without fear or doubt. I was advised against this by some. Had I not decided to change from the comforts of civil services, a senior government position was clearly visible in the future. And yet the challenge was too good to miss and I felt that I could contribute more to India in Maruti. And here I am before you sharing my experiences. My biggest support through theses tough assignments were the staunch values given to me by family and the learning principles inculcated in me by this very institution where I stand today.

My experience teaches me that success is a function of commitment, tenacity of purpose and is function of an individual’s belief in him. Each one of us should try to have a short-term objective and a long-term goal. And these should be strengthened by a value system that allows for competition without comprising the basic values. I know that youth is the period of being unconventional. I also agree that only the unconventional have shaped the world. But in order to pick up gigantic task, you have to have the basic support of your own beliefs and as you go along in life you will understand just as I understood. It is those whom you take for granted like your family, the educational institution and your teacher in the educational institution that turn out to be the biggest strengths of your future.

The world is waiting for you. Each action of yours will form the history of tomorrow but wherever you go whatever you do my best wishes are with you.

Down Memory Lane

The Vice-President Dr. Radha Krishnan being accorded
a traditional welcome by the tiny tots.

Going fifty years down memory lane, I see lots of changes around. As a baby, I remember our escape from Pakistan. The pathetic way, the migrants reached Indian posts and the misery in their eyes, still haunts me. I still wonder whether I really saw all this or was it told by my parents or other relatives or was it a dream. On reaching Delhi, my father, admitted my sister and I to Church High School in January 1949.

I clearly remember walking down to school through the India Gate lawns. Secretariat, Parliament House, and then to school.

The school considered of a few rooms and a couple of tents in the church campus. Mr. Tytler was the principal. He was very fair and red, so we used to fondly call him ’Lal Murgi’.

It soon shifted to its present site. We too shifted to Suzan Singh Park and then Lodhi Estate. I used to come to school walking along with other children of the area. There were no school buses, children used to either walk it or ride their own bicycles.

Everything was in tents, right from classrooms, science laboratories, art room, domestic science lab, office to toilets.

The most interesting part was, that the school would close down, when it rained heavily. The classrooms used to get flooded. Students would pray for heavy rain, just to have a holiday.

In those days, more stress was laid on games and atheletics. I remember being the captain of the throwball and basketball team. We used to play matches with other schools and like today were always victorious. I have many cups and certificates which tell the story of my school days.

In winters, the school timings were from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. with a one hour break. Lunch for most of the children used to come from their homes. We used to sit in the now football court with sheets spread and lunch laid down by the servant who used to be busy shooting away the eagles and crows. The eagles were very daring, they used to dive down with great speed and pick the food and fly off with equal velocity.

Now-a-days physical punishment is forbidden, but in our days the staying” Spare the rod and spoil/the child”, was followed strictly in the true sense.

I remember our Principal carrying a cane on his rounds. The sight of the cane in his hand, scared the wits out of us.

The best part then were the picnics. Once a fortnight, two houses would be sent off for a picnic.

We used to be happy-go-lucky and playful. Parents too did not bother how we were doing in academics. I suppose we were doing well that’s why.

Soon after we had a new principal, Dr. K.C.Khanna. He was very strict. When any child did any mischief, he would not hesitate to use the cane.

The House System eas just like nowadays with one difference. The colour of Jhelum House was black. Even Ganga House used to be the best all rounder house followed closely by Chenab. I was in Ravi House.

Needle work and laundry (domestic science) was compulsory for all girls. The uniform was just the same. We wore bottle green ribbons in decorative designs. I recalled some of the teachers who taught me. In the second standard my a very strict teacher, we were very scared of her.

Mrs. Dara and Mr. Vohara were our domestic Science and Chemistry teachers respectively. Miss Sen Gupta and Mr.Kashyap were our English teachers’Mr.Sinha Our-History teacher.

N.C.C.was compulsory from seventh standard onwards. The celebration of independence was on important event. We used to sing patriotic songs and have skits on the independence struggle. each of us used to get four ladoos in brass plate with the national emblem engraved on it. We let a very simple life, as compared to the children of today. Children these days are exposed to a variety of things, as a result they are very smart. I don’t ever remember using unfair means in examinations. Today, spite of in strict invigilator the children manage to cheat. We were very playful but at the same time good in studies.

A British nurse used to look after our health. We used to call her a Ghost, as she wore white. She was very strict regarding personal cleanliness. The school clinic was located on a hillock near the present nursery block.

The only other popular schools that existed then were the convent of Jesus & Mary, St.Columbia’s School and the Modern School. There used to be tough competition between these school and our school.

I clearly remember the fund raising spress. we were often given cards with bricks dawn on them. We had to sell the bricks raising funds for the construction of the building.

It was compulsory foe all to know and respect the National Anthem. We were made to sing individually and the best singer was awarded a prize.

Attendance played an important role. A child who never absented himself throughout the academic yar was given a prize(mostly a book).

Morning assembly was held in the present football court. The Principal used to stand on a raised platform, near present nursery block.

Life was fun. School days was great.

Shobha Agnihotri

The Funfilled 50's

'Dr. K.C Khanna, Principal welcoming Ustad Vilayat Khan,
who gave a performance in aid of the school Building fund,
at Vigyan Bhawan on 7th November, 1959

It was great fun joining the school in 1958 in class five. Great fun in sense of the freedom I enjoyed after being a boarder for six years at St. Joseph’s College, Nainital.

To my astonishment, I found that most of the class3es were held in tents. In fact the whole school looked like a huge camping ground.. The school building was being constructed on one side and gradually we shifted into it.

I’ll always remember when Dr.K C.Khanna( oour Principal then) had invited the Mount Everest hero Mr. Tenzing Norgay to the school. He was delayed for a while, so the Principal requested the students waiting in the assembly hall to come up and sing a few songs for Mr.Tenzing Norgay’s arrival.

My class fellow Vinod Khanna (actor/ politician now) quickly walked up to the stage and sang “Dil-Dee-Ke-Dekho-Dil-Dee-Ke-Dekho”, The famous song of those days that Shammi Kapoor sang in the movie of that name. Soon Mr.Tenzing Norgay arrived. He was a modest, slightly built, young man hardly 5 ½ feet tall. One wondered then how he could have climbed up 8848 meters. Anyway he spoke to us of his mountaineering experiences. We were thrilled.

On Qualifying for NDA, I let DPS. The freedom and unbridles laughter we enjoyed at school are cherished memories.

Ravinder Sachar

Reminiscences

Mrs. S. Sanyal, Beloved teacher from the English Department

I must be one pf the oldest members of what should be called the DPS ‘Parivar’, Now a respectable word in Indian English. I joined it when it was still housed in tents in Mathura Road, where the big building now stands. Dr.K.C.Khanna was the Principal.

There is a warm family feeling at the beginning of a modest project, Pregnant with a vision, excitement in seeding it grow into a vast building then an institution and finally a movement….. You experience a complex feeling of awe and confusion. How did it all happen even while you were busy with your multifarious daily chores?

Some visionaries were busy structuring the coming times and among these pride of place goes to Mr.Din Dayal with whom I had the good fortune to work for more ten a decade in the school.

He was a dreamer with a human touch and I consider that human touch the secret of this actualization of a dream. He had the gift and drive that created a team which saw this one Mathura Road School spawn nearly forty DPS schools I am told, not only in the whole breadth of India but even in Nepal and Kuwait as well. I cannot think of any other private venture of that scale in education in India.

I have personal experience of the beginning when the R.K.Purqam DPS was first established. I was the Head of English Department and my senior most teacher Mrs.P.Loomba was chosen to head and structure the school which was later headed by Mr.Lugani. Quality was to be the keynote in all this Endeavour amd Mrs.Loomba with Mr.Din Dayal behind her spared no effort to design and choose the best possible from the existing resources of children, personnel and material. I almost felt robbed but Mr. Din Dayal put it all the right respectively gently.

The fast vanishing quality of the personal touch in education, this feeling of togetherness which makes you feel you can talk out your problems and find forward looking solutions is as important in administration as it surely is among teachers and pupils. It implies a respect in the other and faith in yourself and the other and that makes a movement.

I never had any problem with my students and their love, respect and affection is my most cherished memory. So many of them are significant personalities in our public life today. Some vivid images come to my mind.

I remember montek Singh Ahluwaliaa arguing fiercely with me about the character of Hamlet (It was Shakespere play of the year in SeniorCambridge). I had to bring a around a pile of references to attempt to satisfy him v(I wonder if I did!)

Young Salman Khurshid with the political dream even then in his eyes, Honing his skills in debating, theatre, and-yes ! cricket.

Sensivtively handsome Sanjeev Langar memorizing the audience in his role as Mark Antony in Julius Ceaser and many others.

I must not open the Pandora’s Box of memories.

To all my colleagues, scattered all over the world, I do not know where, I send my love and good wishes and relive our wonderful days in the old staff room where we talked and argued endlessly over cups od tea and snacks.

To the school ‘Parivar’ you will not mind me I hope, if I take advantage of my ripe old eighty years and send my ‘aashivaad’ on this auspicious Jubilee celebration.

May we all proper and grow outwardly and inwardly……..

Snehlata Sanyal

The Best of Times

A gracious visit: Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi

If this was being written in the late50’s , I would not have to say DPS Mathura Road. There was only one DPS then everyone knew which school was being discussed.AKA, the school in tents.

In 1960, then I joined DPS, it was a very low rise spread of khaki with only the eleventh class in the main building. Rows of spacious, very airy dusty and in the monsoons, very leaky housed all the classes from 5th to 10th. Predictably, we has a few days off every rainy season.

The most wonderful thing about the school was the presence of peach blossoms around the smaller fields and the NCC meets and evening games, religiously attended by a large section of the senior students. Carrying the gun around and marching was pretty tiring and those boot! Have you ever thought how Armed Forces manage to live in them for days on end.

Classes had sections, A to E 30 students per class. If you has 32, it was a big class. The side adjacent to Sunder Nagar was the field area-football, Cricket, Basketball on one side and Netball, Volleyball etc.

On the other side of a central dais used for assemblies. Each morning witnessed the arrival of this 1200 plus corpus to the football field, facing the dais for assembly with Principal Dr.K.C.Khanna along with the choir, the teachers and perfects, a daily event that gave everyone news of the happenings in and around DPS, Delhi and the world.

Mr.Din Dayal took over in 1963, bringing a sweeping change in the school, with new building and more floors to the existing complexes and for a while everything appeared to be ‘construction and confusion’. Eventually however, all the classes moved and we were the all new well equipped modern school with labs, music, rooms and activity centers.

Our class graduated in December 1965, the last batch for ISC, BY June 1966 we were all into separate careers and looking ahead, but the legacy of DPS has always stayed within this us and primed us for the years to come. Along with Medical School at AIIMS, this rates as one of the best times of my life.

Suman Goyal

The Lasting Bond

Service that won a smile: DPS students with Prime
Minister Shri Jawahar Lal Nehru, Presenting money
collected for the national Defence Fund

Forty years ago on a cold December morning my late father took me across tentatively to D.P.S., Mathura Road. We had just landed in Delhi from Kamptee, A sleepy cantonment town beyond Nagpur. Every thing in Delhi was rather rude and difficult, from public transport to the behaviour of people, except Delhi Public School. Dr. K.C.Khanna, the then Principal, glanced at my progress reports and decided to take me in.

Mrs. Kapilash was my first class teacher and thus started a lasting bond. I recall being hauled up for ineptitude in Hindi. My mother took the job of bringing up a recalcitrant child your truly, rather seriously. She learnt Hindi, only to teach me. Even the progress was only marginal. I was quite bemused when I picked up a couple of stars for writing poetry and good handwriting kind courtesy Miss Sen. Gupta , Our Vice Principal. Alas, those qualities withered away like the morning dew as the years rolled by.

In Kamptee we had had no exposure to aviation. In Delhi my classmates who were one up, taught me to distinguish Dakotas from Boeings. To be able to decipher which is a turbo prop and which is a jet, was a great leap forward for a guy who was essaying to get a foothold in the capital city. Thirty five years later, when I was handling civil aviation as Chairman of the Airports Authority of India . I didn’t forget that my initiation to aero planes was in DPS.

We had a galaxy of bright students and delightful sportsmen and women in our times. Ashok Ganotra was an emerging star and we were all so proud of him. There were many others who were equally promising in the world of sports and academics.

I always ended up as a runner up in school. The sackrace, the three legged race, the obstacle race or flat race; all had the same story to tell. Even in football, there was Junichi Sasaki, my Japanese classmate who could successfully dribble past me with his nimble feet. Beyond the football field also, Junichi had an edge over me.

We both had a crush on the same girl. Junichi proclaimed his love for her loud and clear. Not to he outdone, one fine day I mustered up courage to walk up to the young lady and register myself in the queue, In case the Japanese and second thoughts. that in due course neither lady luck nor the young lady ever smiled on me, confirms that I am destined to be a runner up all through, never breasting it first. I learnt the hard way that in today’s world, there in no place for the second best.

Shastri ji was our Sanskrit teacher for many years. It easy to be his buddy if you could recite his favourite “Shlokas”. Inadvertence coupled with mischief drove me once to recite those shlokas in the staircase, when I accidentally bumped into him recess. In order to prevent missing my steps , I kept looking at the steps through the corner of my eyes. My class mates, on seeing this, burst out laughing. I found it hard to maintain a straight face and joined the laughter. Shastri ji was beside himself with rage. He threatened to call my parents and issue a yellow card which was mercifully not executed.

Tents were a wonderful place to study in. swinging by the ropes was prohibited and hence a forbidden pleasure. There used to be a sandy quadrangle which during recess was converted to freestyle wrestling ring. during monsoons, it was common for our classrooms to get marooned and we had quite a few “rainy days” which were declared holydays. when holidays. when we moved into the building in 1964, we missed out on all that fun the luxury of unannounced holidays.

Much to my discomfiture, I was thrown into public speaking as an activity under Mr.Banati. I dreaded speaking before my group, let alone publicity. We mischievously regaled ourselves looking at the nervous knees of the speakers. that prompted me to go in for my first pair pf trousers to hide my quivering knees from public gaze while public speaking. Years later, in my district an Assam when I had to address the public on Republic day, my mind went back to the public speaking classes in DPS. where the training had all begun.

In afternoon of my life, I look back upon days in DPS with pride and satisfaction. Pride, because the school has grown geometrically into a very renowned educational society, all over the country and abroad. satisfaction, because the schooling imparted by DPS has stood the test of time.

I salute all my teachers and the alma mater which has helped shape so many characters in all walks of life.

Ranjan Chatterjee

My Memories

Parting moments: DPS staff members bidding farewell
to Shri Din Dayal, the outgoing Principal

I consider it a real privilege to have had the opportunity of serving the parent school of the Delhi Public School Society for almost twenty two years .

I joined the school on 9 January 1967 as Head of the Biology Faculty, under our dynamic Principal, Mr.Din Dayal. My first task was to set up the Biology Laboratory. I was given full freedom and funds to establish my lab and I thoroughly enjoyed doing so.

It was a very relaxed and enjoyable period. There were leading Public Schools those days. Delhi public School, Mathura Road and the Air Force Central School, Subroto Park. Full Freedom was given to us by the Delhi Government to have our own working hours and academic as well as co-curricular and sports programmes.

We worked from 8.00 a.m. to 3.15 p.m. with a short break in the morning and lunch break from 1.25 p.m. to 1.55 p.m. We all had lunch together in the ground floor staff room and ours was the “hight table” along the wall just under the clock and the notice boards. Dr. Vidya Topa, Mrs. M.Basliga, Mrs. S.L.Sanyal, Mrs. S.Jeet, Myself and a few others sat at that table, and lunch together sharing each other’s joy’s and troubles along with school matters.

The work culture was excellent and no one looked at their watches those days. Rain, or sun shine the work that had to be done was done cheerfully. We had both ISC and All India Secondary streams those days, and we taught both groups of students. The Indian School Certificate stream was gradually phased out by 1971.

Mr.Din Dayal asked me to take charge of science education of the whole school and liaise with the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination , The NCERT and the CBSE.

During that period, our games and sports facilities were developed in a big way under the able charge of Mr.Rajender Singh, Director of Physical Education and full use was made of our spacious play grounds. There were a number of Inter-School matches with earthier DPS or Modern winning the trophies. The competition was very keen indeed.

The school hostel was established at that time with a grant from the Indian Army. The first wing of the hostel was inaugurated on 16 October 1970 by Lt.Gen.Prashad, the then Adjutant General. The other wings were constructed subsequently and the number of boarders increased to almost 270.

Once the school hostel and had been set up, our school was approved for membership of the prestigious organization-Indian Public Schools’ Conference.

During those years. Mr.Din Dayal arranges to send one or two staff members every year to the United Kingdom or the United States of America to teach in the schools there and gain experience under the various teacher exchange programmes and fellowships. I got an opportunity to go to Australia in 1974 under Unesco’s Associated schools Project. I was based in Perth and gained valuable experience there. I was sent by the college as delegate to attend the Australian National Science Teachers’ Conference held in Melbourne in May 1974.

On my return to DPS in early January 1975, I found that a number of changes had taken place during the course of the year that I had been away. The Delhi School Education Act had come into force and this necessitated changes. I continued to look after my department and was also made Rep of class XI to look after the needs of the examinee class. In 1976, I was appointed as Supervisor along with Mrs. Jeet and Mrs. Sanyal and my duties included the supervision of academic as well as financial matters. It was at that time that Mr.Din Dayal asked me to from the Parent-Teacher Association in the school. Later, I was appointed the Secretary of the national PTA by Mrs. Shanti Kabir, The President of that Association and I worked in that capacity for many years.

Amongst the other significant things that come to my mind are the introduction of the 10+2 system in 1977. It. involved a lot of changes and separate floor was added to the main school building for classes Xi and XII. I was selected for the National Teacher’s Award for the year 1978 which was given in May 1979 by then President Shri Sankeeva Reddy.

Mr.Din Dayal retired in 1979 and handed over charge of the school to Dr.G.P.S. Waraich. The School continued to make very progress in all spheres of its activities.

I was appointed Vice Principal in May 1985. We introduced the Computer Literacy in the early eighties and also established a Computer Centre. The Work Experience Block was also constructed and well equipped in the late seventies. Our Annual Function and Sports Days were always of a very high standard and also with excellent Board results, Kept the banner of DPS Mathura Road flying high.

In DPS Mathura Road, our quest for excellence in education laid stress on the all round development of the personality of our students, giving equal importance to academics, sports and co-curricular activities. The human qualities were not left far behind, and we fostered the development of good fellowship, of caring and sharing rather than cut-throat competition.

Our inspiration came from our enlightened Management. Shri Dharma Vira and Dr. Prem Kirpal who held the torch for us. Under our able leader, Shri Din Dayal we marched ahead with full confidence, our able leader, Shri Din Dayal we marched ahead with full confidence, our heads high. Despites made their mark in all walks of life and brought glory to their alma mater. The talented faculty put in their best and all staff members were deeply committed to the ideals of the school motto “Service before Self”. I also put my best efforts and tried to be a good role model for my colleagues and students.

The years I spent in DPS were the golden years of life. I got a lot of recognition, respect and affection from my students, Colleagues and parents and was over welcomed by the warmth of the farewell I received in October’8. I could not have asked for anything mire !

Nirmala Kapur

In Quest of the Silver Tongue

Eminent presence: President Shri Zakir Hussain
with Mr. Din Dayal, the Principal and DPS students

My association with DPS dates back to those happy tines when it was not necessary to suffix ‘DPS’ then. There was a lot of competition but one did not have to for long hours after school in order to come out successful in the rat race. DPS was known more for its excellence in Sports and extra curricular activities than academics.

I wrote the Indian School Certificate Examination in December 1964. In fact, I studied in DPS in two spells. In first spell, I was in class six and we studied in tents. The early part of the second spell was also in tents but in the tenth and eleventh classes, we had ‘pucca’ class rooms and it was a matter of some satisfaction that we were the first to use the new class rooms.

I was quite mediocre in studies but had a great desire to participate in the extra curricular activities in the school, particularly public speaking. The Inter-House debate was an important annual event and I wanted to represent my house (Satluj). The House Captain, Pravin Nischol, was himself and outstanding speaker and since the house was represented by only two speakers. I had to try for the second slot. A girl, who had represented our Hose the previous year, was my main rival and Mrs. Sanyal, who was our English teacher, advised that it would be better to have an experienced speaker representing the House rather than a novice like myself. I protested to the House Captain and requested him to arrange a competition between the girl and I in the presence of the House Warden, Mr.Mittal. This was arranged and one afternoon while I was dozing in the Hindi class, the House Captain called me out and told me that I was immediately required to speak in the presence of the House Warden for the selection of the House team. The girl spoke first and I followed. I spoke with a lot of gusto but was so nervous that I could feel my legs shaking. However, to my great delight, I was selected and the House Warden remarked that there was lot of ‘josh’ in my speech.

In the Inter-House debate, which used to be held in the K.G..Hall, I repeated my performance, albeit with a little less shaking of legs and our House stood first. Mrs.Sanyal, who turned down my candidature for representing the house, was kind enough to come up and congratulate me with some very encouraging words. That was my great moment of trimph in school.

In retrospect, I feel that DPS was a great institution then and although it has many branches now, all its branches continue to inspire awe and remain the most sought after schools.

Kriti Pradeep Jain

A Tryst with Shakespeare

'Queen' and Mr. Shakespeare' - 1967: DPS students reliving
Shakespeare with Salman Khurshid and Miss Kaplash
in the lesd roles

It was way back in August 1966. Our school was to stage the “Merchant of Venice” in about an hour’s time at the IIPA Auditorium, ITO Complex, Delhi. The hall was packed to capacity. The members of the cast were all ready in their splendid costumes, giving themselves some finishing touches . Atop a tall ladder, I stretched on tip toe, whispering to one of the helpers that our Directors, Miss Prem Singh, wanted the mid –stage curtains to be drawn in advance for the second Act. Just then my toes felt the top-most rung give way. I teetered, lost balance and crashed to the ground. There was a blinding flash and then came oblivion.

Anon I found myself ascending, enveloped in an airy mist to the accompanying strains of celestial music. The mist soon cleared. Above me I beheld a deep azure sky studded with “patterns of bright gold”. Billowing around me was a fleecy cloud upon which I found myself walking. People passed me now and then…. men and women of bygone ages….. smiling and nodding their heads in greeting. Made famous by history, with a shock I recognized some of them. Others were only hazily familiar, while some others were complete strangers. And then saw the well known face of the immortal bard-William Shakespeare. There was no mistaking him. His portrait had confronted me everything I opened” The Merchant Venice”.

“Why, my lad?” he said softly. I was so overcome with excitement that I became tongue-tied. He took my hand, bade me be seated and sat beside me, his gay Elizabethan costume bearing a tinge of similarity with my present dress. His friendly manner soon put me at ease, and I showered him with a barrage of questions about my strange environment, all of which he answered patiently, smiling kindly all the while. My initial surprise at learning I was ‘dead’ and in a heavenly paradise soon passed and began chattering gaily with him.

The conversation turned to his . “May I ask you some questions about certain things about your plays that have always perplexed me?” said.

“In sooth, ‘twill be a great pleasure to answer them,” he replied.

“Well,” I said, “Or elders and teachers find your plays highly interested and praise them to the skies, but we students find most of them very boring. Why is ? How is it we are not able to easily appreciate their greatness?”

“My lad,” tis because ye regard it task to read one of my plays.” he replied sadly. “Were ye read solely for the pleasure of doing, ye would never find them dull. As for not being able to appreciate their greatness……”

Seeing that he was somewhat pained, I interrupted, “perhaps it’s not your fault. Perhaps we’d have been able to appreciate their greatness if some modern Charles Lamb had re-written them in every day English. But frankly, Mr. Shakespeare, as things are at the moment, we find it practically impossible to cope with the number of words, phrases and sometimes whole sentences that are antiquated and even obsolete. The classical allusions are a real headache!” At this I pressed my own aching head.

A sigh escaped him.”Tis unfortunate, my lady. My plays were written for the people of my age….. the golden Age of Elizabeth”. He gazed wistfully into the distance and then continued. Perhaps someone ought to re-write them as thou so wisely say’st. Yet my plays have endured centuries of change with little change in themselves; and this maketh me wonder whether they might’st not become lost in the welter of cheap, mass-produced literature that surfeits the world today, were that re-written in every-day English of your century. Dost thou desire that?”

“No, no,” I hastened to assure him.” I’d rather strive understand them than be deprived of them altogether. You’ve no idea how few are the really good writers in the world of today. But honestly, Mr. Shakespeare, we could never mange to read your plays without the help of a teacher or explanatory notes. Apart from everything else, there’s so much deep meaning hidden in the lines, or ‘between the lines’, as our literature teacher, Mrs.Sanyal, once said”.

“Tis so, my lad. But not so deeply hidden that thou can’st find it. Thou hast but to use the brains under that puff of hair,” he pulled my puff, which was the best in DPS,” and the meaning will dawn on thee. For instance, thou should’st have been able to note that in ”The Merchant of Venice’ my sole purpose was to dramatically plead with my people to show more tolerance to the Jews. I wished to bring home to them that the blind intolerance of their age could deprive a human being and change him into the inhuman wretch, Shylock, they saw in the play….. a ravening wolf, savagely seeking the life of a man who had but wronged him. I could’st never have stated such views openly views openly for fear of finding disfavour in the eyes of the great Lords and Ladies …. even the Queen. But I could’st not refrain from making the plea” between the lines”. as thy literature teacher say's. ‘Tis the same with all my plays. They contain my philosophy. Through the tragic ending of ‘ Romeo and Juliet’, I tried to bring home to people that they must understand young love and not let hate and malice destroy it and themselves. In ‘Julius Caesar’ I tried to show that ambition could kill all the finest instincts in man and turn friend into foe. Yes, my laddy, there’s philosophy in ‘Macbeth’, ‘Othello’, ‘Hamlet’ and all the others not excluding the comedies. Thou hast but to search to find it’’.

He was getting rather excited so I struck a more sedate note in my next question. “How is it that you were able to portray each and every character with such life-like truth and fullness, Mr. Shakespeare?” I asked.

“Tis because I know poverty as well as wealth and fame. I was able to characterize great ladies like Portia and kings like Henry cause I was welcome in the royal houses of England. I was able to portray the lower order because I lived with them before I was acclaimed by society. Besides, when I wrote, I merged myself with my characters. I became one of them. They lived in me and I in them”.

“Tell me, Mr. Shakespeare,” I said, “did you write your plays on your own or did someone help you?” There are scholars who say that whole scenes of some plays were written by someone other than you. They base their case on the comparative inferiority of these scenes and on mistakes that would be obvious to a single writer. Some even go so far as to say that your plays were writhen by some nobleman who arranged with you that they be marketed in your name because he did not wish it know that he was engaged in so plebeian a pastime!”

“The villains!” he shouted, springing to his feet in anger. “Someone helped me, indeed! A nobleman wrote them! They’re mine own work!”. After a while he cooled down, seated himself again and said, “Certainly there are mistakes, laddy, but they’re mine own. Though I’ m a genius, I am human. The demand for my plays was so great that I could hardly keep up with it. There was never any time to look over what I’d written besides, not only did’st I have to write the plays, I had to be producer, actor and stage manager all rolled into one!”

“ I’ m sorry I upset you, Mr. Shakespeare, “I said. “I didn’t know you felt so strongly about this. You have been very kind to clear up so much that has puzzled me. Do you know that before I was fortunate enough to meet you I was about to appear in a school production of The Merchant of Venice’? It’s one of your plays that I love”. Shakespeare gave me an encouraging smile, and after a pause, said, “Who is doing the part of Portia, which is a very difficult one?” “Bubli Ray,” I replied, “a girl from my class and a real good friend” …….. but I stopped dead as I saw a deep look of surprise on his face. “Don’t look so surprised, Mr. Shakespeare” I said, “ I know that in your days such roles were entrusted to handsome, even pretty youth, but nowadays ladies play them. Oh! That reminds me of something. Tell me Mr. Shakespeare, why in heaven did you ladies masquerade as men in so many plays?”

A mischievous smile appeared on his face. “This because…….”

“He’s coming around now. He’ll soon be alright,’ I heard Miss Prem Singh say. I opened my eyes and looked up at the anxious faces gazing down at me, and I recognized some of my friends and members of the cast to include D. Raghunandan, Bubli Ray, Ayesha Heble, Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Rajiv Talwar, Amala Chatterjee and so on. Behind them I saw the tall, bespectacled figure of Mr. Din Dayal, our Principal. I soon realized that I was lying on the stage, my soaking wet head spinning like the spiral nebula. Where was I ? Ah! about to appear, within five minutes, on stage.

Col. Anil Shorey

Treasure Trove

Lt. Gen. Har Prasad inaugurating the Himalaya Hall

Happy memories of life at school are still fresh in the mind today, even after leaving it thirty years ago. Having studied throughout at DPS, I saw the school grow from one building and several tents that housed classed and the clinic, to a huge complex and no tents!

In the junior classes at school, one really looked forward to the monsoon. Whenever it rained heavily the previous night, water would flood the tents. School buses, then run by a private contractor, would go around the next morning to declare that school would be closed, much to our delight. Some friends I made in Junior School remain friends even today. Through one does not meet some of them so often, it is still like old times when we meet. We remember the times we skipped classes and went for a plate of ‘chaat’ to Sweet Corner at Sunder Nagar. I remember in the junior classes the school used to serve flavoured Keventer’s milk. More often than not, we would exchange it for a Coke and a Samosa in the Canteen.

One cannot talk about DPS without mention of Mr. Din Dayal who contributed significantly to the development of the school. I still recall him doing the rounds of the corridors, cane in hand. The unfortunate ones who were caught loitering would be smacked on their palms and believe me it could be painful! In spite of stern exterior, he was an extremely warm human being. I remember his presence at Modern School, rooting for our team during the Inter School Cricket match which was played at their grounds. The school has a lot to thank him for.

Mrs. S. Sanyal was our class teacher from class nine through to the eleventh. She was a wonderful teacher and treated us more like friends. She even permitted a dance party at her home after out ISC exams!

DPS was more than a place where we went to study. It taught us team spirit, inculcated a sense of camaraderie and helped us grow as individuals during the crucial formative years.

I am truly proud to be a Dipsite.

Atul Bahl
Batch of 1969

A Lesson Well Learnt

The six most important words: “I admit I made a mistake”.

The five most important words: “You did a good job”.

The four most important words: “What is your opinion”.

The three most important words: “If you please”.

The two most important words: “Thank you”.

The one most important words: “He”.

The least important words: “I”.

This is what we have been taught at DPS Mathura Road. This is truly reflected in the motto of our school.. “Service Before Self” which is the best motto any school can have.

If each one of us at DPS is able to follow this motto that is, if we are less concerned about ourselves and are more considerate towards others, there is no reason why we cannot make the world a better place to live for the coming generation as well as ourselves.

Dr. D.P.S Toor

Greetings from the Land of the Midnight Sun

Silver Spurs: Satish Seemar with peer riders

The mammoth spread of Dipsites seems for away and scattered while school memories gurgle up afresh as I write these greetings to the present school community and all Dispsites, particularly the batch of 1972 to which I belong.

Two lasting images of my early school days in Classes III G and IVA (also V A for a day because I got a double promotion from which I happily came back to IVA because I was just 8 years old and the school wisely advised that it was better for me to be closer to my age group) in 1962-63 are of the stairway-slope in the Prep School and the mass of tents. The tents made the School premises look like what I imagine Kingsway Camp would have been in 1947. The only person I remember from this stint is the pan-chewing Dr. Topa who always had time and patience for us.

My second stint at DPS began in class VIII in 1968 after meandering through five other schools elsewhere in India due to my father’s transfers in government service. By now the school had a building complex and had grown in size with about seven sections per class. A large playfield where tents stood was now available. This time I remained enrolled uninterruptedly until I completed school in 1972. My batchmates were a remarkably talented lot-Anil Cariappa, Maina Chawla, Rajiv Jaiswal, Renu Suri,Kanwaljit Siddhu, Gurminder Madan, Sanjay Kapoor, Neeru Mohan, Sanjiv Singh Ahluwalla, Ashok Jain, Binoo Sarin to mention a few I particularly admired. I developed deep friendships with some of them that have lasted to this day and there are others who I am sorry not to be in touch with. During my school years, Rakesh Sharma and Indira Lakhani (both became Games Captains) excelled in Hockey and Athletics, Suil Gujral in Cricket, Ashok Jain in Badminton, Dinesh Madan in Baskeball; Harsh Mander, Ania Loomba, Sujata Lamba, Radhika Nanda, Ajanta Sanyal, M.Murali Krishan were my debating partners and we put up quite a formidable team at All India Inter-School Debates and literary events, winning practically every trophy during the years 1969 to 1972.

Inter-house competition and the mentoring of juniors by seniors remained an enduring feature of school life in the late sixties and early seventies. Mukund Ekbote, Rina Sen, Pankaj Vohra, Salman Khurshid, Vikram Dutt, Sydney Rebeiro, Murali Krishna were among my seniors who influenced me much during my school years.

NCC and the summer camps were another feature that enabled us to develop pride in national defence, besides character building. Through participation in these, I was struck by the multifaceted expertise that Mr. Indrajit kansal and Mr. Hadi Hussain brought to us. The Indrajit Kansal wading the waters of the Ravi with us en route to Palampur, was a for cry from the one explaining valency in a Chemistry class and the Hadi Hussain who could draw the map of any part of the world in as much detail as one wished, was also discovered to be a poet at Kandaghat.

We had a remarkably talented and motivated staff in various subjects during my school years. In such a situation, to single out a few for mention is disgraceful but I would still like to mention those who made the most impression on me: Mrs. N. Kapur (Biology, also my class teacher in classes X and XI and who later become the School Principal), Mrs. Prem Krishnan (English, who also taught me the important of being able to laugh at myself), Mr. V. K. Varma (who turned Mathematics, a customary bugbear into a delight), Mr. A.V.R.Rao (who was forever finding new ways to explain forces of gravity and magnestism and who introduced me to Russell and Whitehead and to the purpose of education). Mr. R. S. Srivastava (the best Hindi teacher the school had ) Mr. Rajinder Singh (the much feared D.O.P.E., more responsible than anyone else for organizing the school’s excellence in sports and encouraging me at cricket and Hockey), Mrs. Mohan (my trainer in public speaking to whom I remain indebted for whatever gift of the gab I possess), Mrs. Fee Grade (my class teacher in Class IX, who left school for a career in modelling much to the dismay of her pupils) and many more, all led by the legendary Mr. Din Dayal who had a long stint as the school Principal. An enduring feature of school life was the personal attention and interest that teachers took to understand us, and help develop extra-curricular interests which enabled us develop many different kinds of skills and to have experience which we would otherwise miss, I was invited to join the editorial board of DIPSCOL in class IX by Mr. Qureshi when I least expected it. His successor, Mr. K.K.Katyal retained me on the editorial board until I left school and he and Mr. P. L. Vij encouraged me to write. Today, as an author, I look back with gratitude on those who helped me hone my writing skills.

Himalaya Hall was built in our time. Here, D.O.PE. came to be rivalled in fear by Mrs. Martin, who was exceptionally strict. Having to get an adverse remark countersigned by her in the almanac invariably meant a caning. Day scholars were hesitant to visit their friends in Himalaya Hall because Mrs. Martin would treat them just the same for the tiniest of breaches of discipline. The discovery of a packet of Binoo Sarin’s cigarettes lying on his table in his room, while I was only waiting there for him to return, turned into a calamity for me on one occasion.

The prefectorial system of self governance by school appointments inculcated an abiding sense of responsibility among the senior students. As School Head Boy, I had unlimited and unrestricted access to the School Principal and was encourage to participate in almost every policy decision being made in the school-which speaks volumes for the trust and confidence that Mr. Din Dayal inculcated and which helped me immeasurably in later years after school in making complex decisions on problems of many dimensions and scale in many other positions of managerial responsibility which I held in later life.

Mr. C. B. Mathur and Ms. Walia in the Principal’s Office were the two administrative pillars in our time, who between themselves somehow managed to keep the entire information flow organized and retrievable in seconds and this was before computers! Sugan Chand Nautyal kept the Catering and Tailoring Departments going, meeting the needs of thousands, every day. Mr. Bhasin, besides teaching, kept the large transport fleet organized with attention to routes and traffic snarls.

The school’s secular tradition was maintained by introducing readings from the scriptures of different faiths on different days of the week (I wander if this excellent tradition has remained) and at least once a week there would be guest speakers from different walks of life-these included ministers, philosophers, saints, admirals, generals, social workers, sportspersons and dipsites excelling in different walks of life. For instance, I still recall Group Captain Cheshire (founder of the Cheshire Homes) who spoke to us of his experience of flying the aircraft that dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima.

When I look back, I believe the DPS education provided me strong foundations to continue my journey towards higher learning and beyond.

Ajeet Mathur

A Well Nurtured Garden

I joined DPS Mathura Road in Class I. A part of me has never left it ever since. It is this part which is the foundation that I stand on, be it when I am education my children or dealing with the nitty gritty of every day life. The motto of “Service Before Self” has been ingrained into me. It is because of this service to my art and society that today I have the privilege to write for you. My teachers at DPS Mathura Road, especially our Principal Mr. Din Dayal showed me the right path. No other school would have nurtured and encouraged my art like DPS Mathura Road. We were all like a well nurtured garden where an invisible gardener knew every leaf, every new bud and every blossom. We had the shade of the strongest oaks and the foundation of the richest soils.

The school has always brought out rounded and multi-faceted personalities. Each individual was given his space. Education at DPS Mathura Road made us positive individuals. I want to take this opportunity to thank all my teachers especially our Principal Mr. Din Dayal, Mrs. Sanyal, Mr. Rao, Mr. Sharma, Mr. Sinha and Mr. Singh who were always encouraging us in sports and Mr. Hadi Hussain, who was like a father to us.

Ten years back, when I visited the school, I saw an old batik painting of mine hanging in the corridor. It was like when you leave your home your parents always keeps your things around and today its been twenty three years and its still hanging well cared for in the Art room. And I know that no other place in the world honour me more.

Thank you, Delhi Public School

Shuchi Krishan

Nostalgia

Awareness par excellence: Meera Dhar receiving a
prize for General knowledge on the U.N. Day 1972

As I realize our school, is in its 50th year of existence, a sense of pride, fulfillment and nostalgia sweeps through my inner self. I feel happy that despite all trials and tribulations, DPS, has survived and came to occupy a place of high esteem in the educational institutions of India. Students consider it a great honour to study and pass from this illustrious institution which developed from the makeshift tents of the 50’s close to the zoo.

As I look back I remember the classes we used to have in the makeshift tents, where playing with rabbits and pigeons was a big activity for the nursery tiny tots. We used to look forward to boarding the old model buses, No. 12 and No. 13 was always under repair). The school even then boasted of great discipline, a will to do good and make the children responsible and mature citizens of a free. India which had but recently thrown away the foreign shackles. The teachers were good and knew our names, our parents vocation, our addresses and our each and every idiosyncrasy. A loving but tight discipline was enforced which developed an Ego state to fruition making us what we are today.

Today we are respected in our professions and have come to occupy a pride of place in society. DPS is a magic name that spells instant attention, be it us or local gatherings. I feel the school has imbibed a sense of purpose in an entire and the school has imbibed a sense of purpose in an entire and the morals and lessons have helped us not only to become good individuals ourselves but shaped the destiny of all those whom we have come in contact with. Especially our children who are following the same strict path as there in no choice if you want to excel and achieve the pinnacles of distinction and glory.

I feel young and happy reminiscing about my school days as I can still hear the sounds of my class fellows, the constant chatter and questions put upto the teacher who answered them with confidence, pride and conviction.

I feel I had the opportunity to study in the best school in Delhi and feel lucky I could do so. If I am told to relive my life all over again I would ask for DPS as my stepping stone in life, for it would take me to laurels, I richly deserve.

Meera Kak

My First Lesson…..

Union Education minister Mr. Chagla with
the Principal at the Annual Speech Day, 1965

I joined school as a little boy of four and half years, way back in 1965-66 and spent my fifteen most formative and memorable years at DPS, Mathura Road.

It is difficult to pen down my most vivid memory of school life, since there are innumerable, unforgettable moments, which are still close to my heart.

I remember my first day at school. Since we used to live in Nizamuddin, (and we still do) I used to walk down to school with my father. On the first day of school, he tenderly held my little hand and led me through the picturesque Humayun’s tomb, to our school.

The huge school gate bewildered me. I was nervous and held my father’s hand tightly. As we neared the gate, I could see an ocean of children – big and small and felt lost for a few seconds. I was still clinging on to my father’s kurta ! a small tear trickled down my cheek as he cajoled me to go in.

Suddenly a big lady appeared right in front of me. Seeing me cry, she immediately remarked – ITNI ZOR SE KYON RO RAHE HO? BHALLA ITNE BADE SCHOOL MAIN AA KAR KOI ROTA HAI? ROROGE TO AAGE KAISE BADOGE?. Saying this, she caught hold of my hand, sent my father away and took me to the class.

Ever since, I was led from one class to another under the able guidance and tender care of so many teachers-such as Junior School Principal – Mrs. Topa, Senior School Principal – Dr. Din Dayal, English Teachers-Ms. Mathur and Mrs. Krishnan, Physics Teacher-Mr. K.L. Sharma, Music Teacher-Mr. B. R. Verma and many others.

Shri Krishna Menon on U.N. Day celebrations

Today, at the age of thirty-eight, the entire scenario has changed. I am no longer a student, not affiliated to school anymore. I recall the time when we felt like caged birds wanting to ‘grow’ and fly out into the ‘big’ world away from the disciplined school atmosphere. The time came and we passed out of school. And then came the realization! we had outgrown the most wonderful years of our life – wish I could relive them………

………. The words of that teacher still ring in my ears. They have still not lost their potency. Whenever I find myself in a tough situation, her words come back to me and pump a new enthusiasm into me, a new power and a new determination. My first lesson continues to be my most cherished lesson something which I still continue to learn and practice.

I am grateful to all those who have helped me in numerous ways to grow up and become what I am today. I have no words to express my heart felt gratitude to all my teachers and colleagues. I do not know where they are today – but I am sure they would join me in attributing whatever they are today, to a great school life ! Each one of us, I am sure, has passed out with a lesson which will guide us through out our lives and helps us grow further. I am proud to be a Dipsite !

Vimal Shanker

Thoughts……………………. To Share

Honourable President Shri V.V Girl giving away a prize

Delhi Public School with its many branches reminds me of the great ‘Banyan Tree’ of the Calcutta Botanical garden.

When I was approached to give a write up for the souvenir, a lot of thoughts crossed my mind as to what should be the subject matter. It is but natural to go down memory lane and pen it down.

I shall begin with my regards to my revered teachers who chiselled us, gave shape and guide us for our future role in society. We were in the school when Mr. Din Dayal was the Principal, who is well known, in the history of the school, as an able administrator. Some of our teachers were Mrs. P. Loomba, Mrs. Topa, Mr. Lugani, Mrs. N. Kapur, Mr. Dubey, Mr. Rao, Mr. Kansal, Mrs. V. Tiwari, Mrs. Nelson and Mr. Hadi Hussain. They were responsible for our education in different subject matters. Of course, Mr. Rajinder Singh took a keen interest in our physical fitness programme while we were drilling and polishing our grey matter.

Presently, I am in the faculty of Maulana Azad Medical College in the Department of Pediatrics serving not only the sick children but also training the students who are being groomed to provide service to the ailing people in the community.

Times have changed, values of life have changed but the basic facts of life never change.

Finally a message from a parent and a pediatrician – we should be ‘CHILD FRIENDLY” so as to develop a fruitful future generation with a positive and healthy attitude.

Sangita Yadav

Golden Days

Our School Building - A view of the Nursery
and the ramp leading to the first floor

The winter of 1979 was nearly over. I remember one morning at the school assembly that there was this guy crying away unabashedly on stage with a couple of weepy girls flanking him on either side. And in the entire assembly, there were more than a few hundred hands wiping away the tears from their respective eyes along with them. Can you believe this ? As a part of this tear jerker scene, just a few moments back, he had said, “I don’t have one or two or three regrets about leaving school. I have four thousand regrets”. Four thousand incidentally, was the total number of kids in DPS then. The scene did not end there. It continued on the steps leading onto the hostel where a long, serpentine queue waited patiently for several hours to get an “autograph” from this same guy. The day was the last day in school for me before we went off to prepare for our class twelve exams. And the guy howling away to glory was yours truly. It was, needless to say, my most lasting memory of school.

Lasting not because it gave me a high. Lasting not because I felt that I was especially popular or an efficient Head Boy. But lasting because it was the kind of thing that I had heard of before, nor thereafter. Lasting because I vividly remember that day, as can so many others, both peers and juniors and teachers whom one meets even twenty years and more down the road. Lasting because it puts into focus the kind of interactions and relationships that one had then, with what one has had or seen ever since. Lasting because such love and warmth gave one such tremendous reservoir of self-confidence and self- image and self – esteem that one was ready to step out and take whatever the big, world had to offer and throw at oneself.

Don’t take me literally there. The world has been fairly kind. One has had to struggle a bit, but no more than the average bloke out there. The road took one through medical college, which was Maulana Azad Medical college, for graduation. This was followed by a stint at Banaras Hindu University for my Post – Graduation in Psychiatry. And immediately thereafter came private practice in Delhi. Now, one is punching away furiously at the key board trying to put in order all the memories of those heady, glorious days of school. So you will excuse me if they appear muddled and not in chronological sequence.

I was there for ten years. From the third till the end of schooling. Started the process of evolution with Mrs. Duggal who was also my class teacher the next year, though she and I differ on the years!! She insists that it was much later. Ma’am, not only I but my entire family remember running up and down the ramp in junior school and have to restrain myself from doing so even now whenever I go to school.

Then, somewhere in the fifth class came the merit scholars to join the school. And they went on to become some of my closest pals over the years for they were all boarders and I was more than want to spend a fair amount of time in school after school hours also. Did our share of ‘badmaashi’ together, I can tell you. Of course, one did it with everyone else also.

The trips organized by the school were delightful. They gave one the first opportunity to be close to students of the opposite sex. Many a dream was made and destroyed in terms of liaison present and future. There is nothing quite like being alone with some very pretty girls what Has Mattered Most?

On moonlit nights on the banks of rivers or lakes or even roadsides, holding hands and gazing wistfully into each other’s eyes. And then waking up the next morning wondering whether it was real or not. Wonder how many of you have had similar dreams and experiences? This thing of being with girls continued right through school, being a normal part of growing up and adolescence. Now one does not know where even one of them is . Pity.

Another memory that stands out is that of quizzing in school. Along with PK Reddy and Vishwabandhu Marwaha, we made DPS a force to contend with in the quizzing circles of the capital. The glory remained for several years and one remembers Mr. Rampal Singh very fondly for this. My association with him continued for several year after I passed out, still does in fact, though not as much as one would want.

The some holds true for Mrs. Majumdar. Since I was never much of a class goer, I was usually left behind in a lot of academic related matters in the pre – exam days and had to work furiously to make up. This included going to her house with empty dissection trays and rats to fill them up and sitting on her carpet trying to make up for lost time. I finally did make up, and she remained one of my fondest teachers of the school.

Other dons one was very close to were Mr. Verma, Mr. Goel, Mr. Arya, Mr. K.L. Sharma and Dr. Tiwari. They had reconciled themselves to the fact that here was one lost cause and not much good would happen by getting after him. So they were perfectly happy to let me be. Mr. Goel would give me his residence keys so that I can’t even enumerate here. Thanks a lot all of you. I owe you a helluva lot.

More ‘gadbads’. The bunks usually led to a neighbouring state across the border that had wonderful watering holes. Thankfully, we were never caught. I am not writing all this with the intention of becoming a negative role model but this is only a faithful rendition of what one remembers.

Another memory is of running with Mukul Adarkar and Baljit Singh, mile after mile on the roads surrounding the school in a bid to become a leading long distance runner. Didn’t manage to do so but our stamina did go through the roof. Kusum Chatwal, now Kathuria, was our coach and a fun one at that. We had some good moments with her around.

There is probably so much more to write but you wouldn’t be interested anyway. And the editors are going to chop off a lot of it anyway for exceeding limits. Maybe at the diamond jubilee souvenir. Ciao.

Sanjay Chugh

What has Mattered Most?

"Career Steps" by C.K Jain, ex-student

In a few more months, I shall be completing twenty five years at DPS Mathura Road. More than twenty batches of class XII Biology students have faced their Board Exams. Eight Principals have come and gone. Among senior colleagues and friends, some are no more, others have retired. Class teachership for more than a decade, various responsibilities at the academic and administrative level, including that of establishing a satellite school in a neighbouring country, having been a member of the NCERT team of authors for + 2 level texts – a rather impressive list. But when I ask myself – ‘what has mattered most?’. The answer has always being ‘student’. I have never had to think twice on that.

Why have my students mattered I ask myself. Now, on the other side o fifty years I think I know why. Students have given me my identity, because they loved me and sometimes hated me. They tested me for various values (without planning). Strings have been pulled, tricks played to draw my attention either for a bit of love or by those loveable devils who enjoyed stretching my nerves. For good or for bad, we have always interacted, but have never been indifferent towards each other. They unknowingly let me know what I was good at or not good at, what I could give and things that I could not.

As I watched them grow, the ‘child’ in the adult was always there – demanding, commanding without pretensions. Also the ‘adult’ in the child made appearance when least expected, teaching me lessons I have not forgotten. “Ma’am stop talking to yourself all the time, switch off” – I was ordered one day, or “what is there to get so exited over a good dissection?” My young teacher – philosophers often made me ponder – why do we make such an issue of “Generation Gap” and use it like a ‘well’ to dump all the problems related to youngsters. For me, there is no ‘gap’ but only the challenge and adventure of discovering what is new or relevant for every generation. At this point, I am not ashamed to confess that my need for my students has often been grater than that of my students for me.

All is not well always. Over the years, certain helplessness has also crept in. I am not able to communicate in the same complete manner like I used to a few years ago. Something snaps somewhere all the time. In today’s “PUSH BUTTON” life style, the humane aspect is being systematically consumed by consumerism. We are making progress without much concern about the problems linked. Western life style is being plagirised without discretion. A child’s life today gets governed by shoes, blinking lights, musical watches set with diamonds, pagers, cell phones, five star coaching classes, cards for valentine’s Day and so on. Youngsters hardly read for pleasure any more, they can hear music only when decibels are far above permissible limits. What kind of ‘hijacking’ is this? And why are we allowing it? The result – the harder I try to communicate, the less I know. Yes, all this hurts.

But I shall be an optimist, for only then can I survive. Maybe we shall turn a full circle. The personal contact will manner, in spite of all the mechanization and fragmentation of thought. There will still be children who will hold a flower to a teacher and say “Good Morning Ma’am. Why didn’t you come yesterday? I missed you.” OR “Teacher I am angry, you did not give me good marks”.

So, at the end of my twenty five years. I stand exactly where I began. Let us not lose hope, have faith in our children, in spite of the burden of an era of shortcuts and self centredness. I end with –

To see without vision
To hear and not listen?
To go on talking
Yet convey nothing
A touch – but no contact
Are these real facts?
The ‘holes’ in the whole
Will they remain?
No. We shall wait
Till the rainbow shows the way
Splitting all its colours again..

Mita Mazumdar

Spectrum of Reminiscences

‘1964’ for child Anuradha Kalia, in DPS, was a great sensation, Years passed in DPS, gifting me unique-prudent reflection.
As a proud student of the first batch of 10+2 in 1979, I saw many joyful phases,
Mixed up with gaiety with old, young and new faces.
How can I forget late Mr. Din Dayal?
How can I forget the many springs, I relished in this centre?
How can I forget loving teachers and sweet friends from DPS?

Time passes, but memories flash ever,
Blooms, tears and miseries come, reminiscences go never.
I played a great many roles in this old Minerva Centre.
“Tom Boy” and “Horlicks baby” were the titles given to me,
An amusing, zealous and brisk nature was gifted to me.
50 paisa ‘bun’, 25 paisa ‘samosa’ and ‘fruit chaat’ fascinated me a lot,
Picnic trips to ‘Humayun’s Tomb’ and ‘Zoo’ gladdened me a lot.
This budding center has blossomed and now has 50 schools in India and abroad,
Progress, prosperity and renown have been showered by God.
‘Annual Functions’, ‘Fetes’ were fountains of profound merriment,

Playing on the big drum awoke my innermost sentiment.
Achieved expertise in ‘Horse Riding’!
Crowned with glory with Green belt in ‘judo’!
Played glorious national and states many a time!
Wanted to learn swimming, but never went on the diving board!
My great mother ‘Mrs. P. Kalia’ spent thirty seven years in this Sarswati’s abode,
She enjoyed teaching and working in the tents those days,

I remember those days with emotion indeed!
When I am forlon and melancholy in this machine age,
Those sweet days soothe and console.
I pray to him to lead this reputed school to glorious apex,

Anuradha Sharma (Kalia)

Joyous Childhood

Crafting happiness: Dr. Karan Singh appreciating
the craftwork done by DPS Junior School students

The joy of recalling memories of a carefree childhood can only be experienced, not expressed.

My happiest memories of D.P.S. are the ones of junior school days. There a lush green garden, a pond full of lotus with a wooden barricade which has now been replaced by the work experience block and hostel.

The valuable contribution to the culture and education in junior school were provided by Mrs. Kapadia, Mrs Chopra, Mrs. Topa, Mrs. Messey, Miss Mukerjee, Mr. Kovalker. The plays, put up by D.P.S. Mathura Road were quite popular all over Delhi and helped to enhance the school’s prestige.

I still recall the long flowing black gowns that were given to the scholars which they wore during school hours making them look very distinguished. There was a great emphasis on over all personality development. Sports and activities were stressed on. I still remember the times when the classes were allowed to go to the field to watch a match between DPS and Modern School. The whole school would go into frenzy whenever ever a match took place.

It was because of the able administration of Mr. Din Dayal with valuable contributions from his staff members like, Mrs. Nakra, Mrs. P. Madam, Mrs. Subbarayan, Mrs. Jeet, Mrs. Sanyal, Mr. I.D.Mathur, Mrs. Wadhwa, Mr. Lobo, Mrs. V. Chauhan, that made DPS a name to reckon with.

It us DPS Mathura Road that set up DPS R.K.Puram contributing the best of staff, like Mr. Lugani, Mrs. Loomba, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Wadhwani. DPS Mathura Road is the Mother School. It has come a long way and will go a long way.

Deeksha Khera

Where the head is held high

Scaling heights: Our adventurous Himalayan expedition
team (1982)

I considered myself very privileged to belong to the glorious period of Mr. Din Dayal’s Principalship. One of the memories I can recollect immediately is that of the morning assemblies and particularly the prayer by Tagore, “ Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high…….” I belong to the first 10+2 batch having done my 10th class in 1977 and have some very pleasant memories of my school days.

Some of my pleasantest memories are those of the two N.C.C. camps I attended at Alhilal, near Palampur in Himachal Pradesh. I was a cadet in the air-wing and Mr. Baweja was our incharge. I suspect that these camps did much to instill love for the outdoors and it is partly due to these experiences in my school days that I decided to choose a profession which has much to do with outdoors. I am an ecological scientist and an environmental educator now, working with the centre for Environment Education in Ahmedabad and incharge of the Sundarvan Nature Discovery Centre.

Of my teachers I have the fontest memories of Mr.P.L.Vij, Mr. Jindal, Mr. Avtar Singh, Late Mr. K.L.Sharma, Mr. Lobo, Mrs. Subbarayam, Mrs. Duggal, Mrs. Krishnan and of course our Urdu teacher Mrs. Sharma. In Urdu class were Kamal Giroti, Mohsin Delehvi, Nandita Puri, Salma Aftab, Nasrin Nikhat, Ashok Kukreja and some others. I wish I could meet them and also many others among my batch mates. Two of my earliest school mates were S. Sumant and Atul Govil and I hope I will be able to meet them someday.

Abdul Jamil Urfi

A Proud Dipsite

Proud moments: Vishal Pandit, the Delhi State Player
receiving the 'Best Basket Baller' award from Field
Marshal Maneckshaw)

I joined the school (rather I was out into it by my parents) in 1968. Few faint memories are there of the next two years, but 1971 onwards, things are quite clear. 1971 – the year Sunil Gavaskar exploded on the cricketing scene, the Indo-Pak war, to be followed by ASIAD in ’72. There was a sudden change in Delhi. The era of pocket transistors had begun. Unlike the present times, the cricket commentary on radio was the only way of knowing the latest. For the fun of it, in response to “What’s the score?” we used to reply – “All out for no loss”.

In the early Seventies, the top schools in Delhi were DPS Mathura Road and Modern School. There was such a strong competition between the two schools that both of them reached dazzling heights in academics, sports and co-curricular activities. Such a great sense of competition was inculcated in each student that every Modernite was the ENEMY. This is true for me even now, so much so, that I did not apply or admission of my son to Modern School!

After completing school in 1981, I joined Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi and was there till 1994(MBBS, MD, Residency). If asked to pinpoint any academic achievement, well it was clearing the PMT exam. I never got a scholar badge in my entire school career. I really logged in the twelfth and was very well guided by Dr. (Mrs.) Bhasin, my class teacher. She later became Head of the Department of Biology. The most important thing she taught me was how to answer a question (written). That helped me till completed my MD.

In my Pre-Board exam in the twelfth, I got just 45% marks in English. I approached Mrs. Sehgal – my English teacher, quite worried that my percentage in the Board would be spoilt just because of English. She went through my paper and said, “If this was a paper answered by a Class VI student, I would give 60% marks and not more than that, reason being that you write very scientific English that is simple and to the point. That helps in science exams but in a language test, the quality of English has to improve’. How correct was her assessment. I did not (read – could not) change my quality as subsequently my scientific English helped in my MBBS, MD. Well, I got 60% marks in English in the Boards. I believe the examiner was very lenient because, along with my getting 60% there were 67 distinctions in English that year!

Another interesting event comes to mind. When the first swimming pool of the school was under construction, a huge pile of earth had been dug up. SHRAM-DAN was held on weekends – during which we worked like labourers transferring sand to the playground.

I thank my schooling, for putting in me a sense of competitiveness, a desire to perform better than others and take pride in the success that follows hard work. I am Proud DIPSITE and a Proud Maulanian and above all a proud father of a potential A Proud DIPSITE.

Dr.Sandeep Chopra

In Fondness and Gratitude

Jr. Basket Ball team alongwith Governor of Bihar
Dr. A.R. Kidwai (1982)

Tucked away in an inner page of the newspaper was an advertisement that opened a veritable treasure house of memories: “DPS Mathura Road celebrates its Golden Jubilee”. For me, as doubtless for many others who have had the privilege of doing their entire schooling from this venerable institution, the very word “School” is almost synonymous with the one and only DPS.

As one who entered its portals way backs in ’67, all of four years old, very lost and very ‘wet behind the ears’ and finished school in ’80, a much more than just the three R’s. Schooling in DPS was about a lot else besides studies. It was about building your individuality, about giving you the courage to face the world, about teaching you to think for yourself and speak-up for yourself; about the joy and heartbreak of competing with the best; about honing your sensibilities and about developing a mind that is ready to assimilate the best in every aspect of human thought and Endeavour – from fine arts to literature, religion and even philosophy.

In this whole process, the school became part of your very being; the experiences gleaned there became part of the fabric of your imagination, your thought process and your outlook on life. When the word “School” conjures up only one vision: a white façade, four storey high, flanked by two towers, with the words “Delhi Public School”, banner like, across the top, that’s when you know that the “DPS experience” has become an inseparable part of you in every imaginable way. The readings from the scriptures at morning assembly, that gave you your first introduction to “comparative religions,” the visits by eminent personalities from various fields-listening to them and interacting with them, these were the things which took “education” to a plane beyond mere text books.

Of course memories of the school are incomplete without a mention of the people who made it what it was – above all the towering (in more ways than one) personality of Shri Din Dayal, the then Principal; all the teachers who, introduced us to the glorious world of “learning” in al its forms, the world of Charles Dickens and of Mehdi Hassan; our seniors (as preppies how awe-struck we were by them!) who taught us a lot about how to conduct ourselves; and of course the friends and classmates with whom one learnt all about growing up.

And if only one could go back………..; speaking for myself I can most certainly say that if I were given my childhood again, and asked to choose my school, it surely would be ----DPS.

Lakshmy Iyer

Remembering Amit

Amit Kumar - Head Boy, Madhvi Pawa -
Head Girl taking their oath (1988-89)

Years have passed since I first met Amit Kumar. His brother was my classmate for a while in Middle School. Amit was Head Boy – which would normally mean he would be as far removed from an ordinary junior like me as possible. And yet, the distance was bridged from our very first meeting.

I cannot recall the details of the occasion, but I remember thinking, “This guy is so tall!” (you have to remember I was looking at him from my 10-year old height). Over time, that feeling of ‘tallness’ saw a few more feelings added to it – those of respect, admiration and a genuine fondness. And these feelings grew.

I wish I had gotten to know him better, to be able to claim him as a friend, but I am still grateful for those few meetings, for they may not have given me the right to say I knew him, but they have given me the right to say ( and perhaps with more authority than those nearer to him, for my view is slightly more objectives )that Amit was a very impressive young man, and that he left an indelible mark on me.

I have no doubts that he would be very actively involved in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the school he loved so much and served so well. But God moves in mysterious ways, and He chose to take Amit from our midst. But I believe Amit is watching us, and I hope he can hear us all call out to him – “DPS misses you”.

Avedis Seferian

From Across the Border

Fond memories: Bilal Sheikh, a proud DIPSITE from
across the border who became one of us.

Imagine being the only Pakistani in an Indian school with thousands of students…. Sounds overwhelming, given the tension and relationship between our countries.

Let me rewind a little. You see my father was posted at the Pakistani High Commission in India from 1979 to 1982. Delhi Public School was where I was enrolled (in Class 6 A), and thus started my interaction with India and Indians.

Initially, I felt like a museum piece, as other students would come by my class, just to have a look at this Pakistani studying amongst them. Gradually the shyness melted, and we got down to discussing the most pressing issue fir Indians and Pakistanis in sixth grade-cricket!

I was a shy boy, but one day, our principal, Mr. G.P.S. Waraich just called me prior to morning assembly to make a speech in front of the whole school about being a Pakistani in an Indian school. That was an experience I would never forget; but I suppose I managed well. There was a lot of clapping at the end of it all. This gave me a lot of confidence.

I still remember giving trails for the athletics team and (surprise) making it as a sprinter. Given the competition, I was and still am very proud of that achievement. Although my stay was short, I made a lot of friends. However, sadly I have lost contact with all of them. I still remember my farewell party, arranged with the contributions of my classmates, and how each one of them gave me gifts to remember them by.

In October 1999, I had the chance to visit Delhi and DPS again, after nearly seventeen years. It felt wonderful going down memory lane and revisiting the same places. The Principal, teachers and students were as friendly now as they were then.

As a young boy in DPS, it wasn’t always very easy defending my views on political issues (I was far outnumbered!) but with time we learnt to respect each other’s difference of opinions. Perhaps we should do the same at the national level too. I hope that India and Pakistan would be able to live peacefully and independently as good neighbours.

Bilal Munir Sheikh

The Basic Foundation

Deep involvement: Our Patron Shri Dharma Vira
interacting with the students.

I recollect my long association with Delhi Public School with nostalgia and pride as I think of those thirteen years from Nursery to Class XII as one of the best times of my life. I am a firm believer that just like the strength of every structure depends on it’s foundation, in schooling lies the foundation of every individual. It provides and plays a vital role in the development of one’s career and personality.

I joined this school in the summer of 1972 when this institution had little competition in the city in terms of quality education. Mr. Din Dayal’s tall, elegant figure, dressed in immaculate white, taking daily school rounds was both reversed and feared. Ms Vidya Topa was the Headmistress of the Junior School and the school was at pinnacle of success. The school has been lucky to have had a team of highly qualified and dedicated teachers and I distinctly remember most, if not all of them. My parents have proudly preserved and passed on to me, the report cards of those wonderful years and whenever I flip through them, tears of happiness fill my eyes. As I look back, the remarks of some of my teachers….. “will do well in future”….. “ a well behaved child”…. “shoulders responsibility willingly”, are like visions of saints prophesizing the future. I pay my respects and thank each one of them for making me what I am today! I distinctly remember the day when I disappointed Principal Mr. GPS Waraich and Mrs. N.Kapur by turning down the post of Head Boy to accept that of President Students’ Council in 1984-85.

Discipline, hard work, dedication, truthfulness and a desire to be the best were inculcated in my early years by my parents at home only to be reinforced at school. Fierce but fair competitiveness were the hall marks of my school career and I sure it will be remembered by my batch mates and my teachers alike. I was a gold medalist in school and won both the Junior Science Talent and the National Talent Scholarships. I stood 29th in the All India Merit list in Class X Examinations with Hindi as my subject! Mathematics remains till date my favourite subject. Persistent hard work in the subsequent two year helped me to get selected in five prestigious medical colleges of the country. After my graduation from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, I did my post graduation in surgery from University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and I am indeed lucky to have been able to join MAMC’s Faculty of Surgery.

Today, I am proud to be a part of the galaxy of Dipsites who have stormed into each and every part of the world and risen to high positions in various professions. I am proud of the rich heritage of Delhi Public School and I pay my respects to all teachers of our school, some of whom have reached the top in their respective fields.

Long live Delhi Public School!

Pawanindra Lal

From Student……………….. To Teacher

I have had the good fortune of being both a student and a teacher in DPS. I joined studied school in Prep and there till class twelve. I would have willingly stayed on further-unfortunately, there was no class higher than twelfth. One had to leave the protective atmosphere of the school and go on to face the real world.

My association of thirteen years with the school has instilled in me a special attachment for the school-the values it stands for and some of the teachers who made us what we are today. As I close my eyes and wander down the galleries of cherished memories, the first image that comes to my mind is that of the majestic building standing tall, lovely and proud with its vast parking areas for school buses and fields. The building has always looked wonderful to me from the highway across the school and last summer, when I came back to India after three years; nothing had dimmed its glory in any discernible way.

I have very few memories of Junior School, I remember that we had loving teachers- Mrs. Dev and Mrs. Singh are two people I remember very well. I loved our PT periods, as got a chance to play with our classmates in the junior playground. I also remember that birthdays were a ‘big’ affair in Junior School. We stood up and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to the birthday boy or girl, and got treats and goodies in return. The only thing that upset my friends and I was the lack of enough swings in the playground.

As a middle and senior school student, I loved the walk from the place our buses dropped us off to the fields for our morning assembly. Not that I had any particular interest in the assembly itself. Like all other students, I considered it to be a complete ‘waste of perfectly good time’. However, it did offer a wonderfully good opportunity to socialize (When no one was looking). I loved our classrooms, as they seemed to be a sanctuary, a place that offered us shelter, peace and comfort from the ‘bullies of the school’. I was lucky to have a good rapport with most of my teachers, so I enjoyed the classes as well, especially History, English and Political Science.

Apart from imparting to us academic learning, some teachers like the late Mrs. Ganzu, Mrs. Krishnan also taught us important values in life, which initially, overwhelmed us. However, these influences stayed with us and contributed to making us humane and responsible persons in the long run. The co-curricular activities class was useful and much loved by me as it gave me an opportunity to develop different kinds of skills-playing chess, paper crafts, doll making and so on. School life was wonderful as long as it lasted. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and one day we found ourselves, bidding farewell to our second home, getting ready to graduate from school, getting ready to join the harsh unprotected world outside.

The last few days in school were heartbreaking. The boys bravely fought back tears, the girls cried unashamedly. On the last day, as I walked out – I said “Goodbye, dearest school, I will be back some day’. Seven years after leaving school. I came back to get a couple of recommendation letters from my teachers. I was amazed when I was offered a temporary position as a history teacher instead! DPS was a part of my life – how could I refuse the offer?

In the September of 1994, I walked down the corridors of DPS again – this time as a teacher. Nothing had changed – the same walls, the same rooms, same excitement among the students, the same chaos, groans at homework, and yes, the same morning assembly. Initially, it felt strange to stand with the teachers, but I soon adjusted. I loved my position as a teacher. Since, I was young in age, I could relate to the students easily. They loved me (at least most of them did) and except for a few difficult ones in each class, the rest completed their assignments in time and concentrated in the class. I also took care to give them individual attention and tried to pass on important values along with textbook information. They loved my innovative ways of teaching as a result of which I had to continuously come up with different and enthusiastic ways of teaching the subject. I taught classes seventh, eighth, and ninth-seven sections in total, comprising 450 students. I left in September 1995, as I was getting married at the end of the year. Out of all my varied work experiences, this short period as a teacher in my alma mater, remains the sweetest memory.

It has been five years since I got married and came to the United States of America. My memories of DPS have not faded with the passage of time. On the contrary, they have become more cherished and valuable, something that I want to cling on to, and pass on to my children in due course of time.

Pallavi Roy Mukerjee

Those were the days…………….

The nation's cricketing genius: Kapil Dev addressing
DPS students, who participated in a walk with him in 1983.

My best memories are of school days. Those were the days when one was free from any responsibility and the only work was to study.

The overall personality of a person is carved in school alone. I had joined DPS in 1975 as student of class one. It was indeed a long period of 12 years of learning and sweet memories.

I remember in the sixth class, I had taken Russian as my third language. In those days, competitions between students of different were held. I had participated in a number of these programmes including skits and a song competition. We won the song competition because of a very melodious Russian song.

Our school did not emphasize only on academics but took full care of the complete personality of the child. There were a host of co-curricular activities which children were encouraged to take part in. I also represented our school in an Inter School Group Orchestra Competition where we won the first prize.

I was in the school band and represented the school outside the school premises. I also participated in various annual functions. These occasions were indeed great fun.

The memories of the later years, that is of the senior school are really great. In my twelfth standard on Teacher’s day, I had dressed up in dhoti, kurta and Gandhi topi. We had also organized a cricket match of teachers versus students which was great fun. Before Diwali, we had taken permission for burning crackers. On the last day before the Diwali break we had collected money and bought crackers. It was a great afternoon which we all enjoyed.

I was a Commerce student and in those days the general notion was that the students of Commerce are very naughty. So we had a slogan “JAB TAK SURAJ CHAND RAHEGA, COMMERCE TU BADNAAM RAHEGA”.

The last days in school are really emotional. You are together with your friends everyday and then you part from each other. I still remember the lovely afternoon of the last day of the school when friends exchanged pleasantries and wrote their messages on each other’s clothes. The farewell organized was also great.

After the twelfth board results it was indeed an honour for me to sign the Roll of Honour.

Even today I am associated with the school. I do visit the school sometimes and am still in contact with some of the teachers. I also go to the Annual Dipsite Ball which is held on 27th of December every year. It is a moment of nostalgia, recalling old memories of school and searching for someone, somewhere from your batch.

I am really proud of my school. I give full credit to my school and all the teachers for making me what I am today.

Prashant Jain

The Alma Mater

A Special honour: President DPS Society,
Mr. Salman Khushid, felicitating Gaurav Shekar on
receiving 'Marker Cup' for all round achievement (1997-98).

For us, school was no institution. It shall remain the workshop where we were moulded from silly putty to what we are today. It is perhaps the most enduring experience in our lives. Much influenced by ‘Grease’, we called ourselves the ‘Pink ladies’, My initiation by fire was on a wintery day in November ’79. My convent pinafore was as alien to the public school breed as was a co-ed classroom to me. The bell rang for the first break and the teacher requested the monitor to guide me to the bookshop. Politely, conscientiously he led me to hade and left me there. All of 9 years old, already 5 feet, terrified, immobile-just a big baby; on the first floor of the boy’s hostel! Every dog has his day, I too had mine.

As we grew and changed so did the geography of the school. The swimming pool, the squash courts, the demolition of the mound where the basket ball courts now stand, the addition to the junior wing, the ‘Whitehouse’. However no administration, design foresaw the monthly mowing of the football field when 8 feet wide outs of female names mysteriously began to appear , neatly mowed, on the football greens, in the summer of 1985. Someone once said, ‘don’t let education interfere with your learning’, and we didn’t. We learnt to make friends the kind who still remain in our hearts though separated by time, space and even mortality. We learnt to be united- the innumerable hours spent running in circles around the field were no punishment nor was calling our parents. Incorrigible, we handed in our badges and our gold medals but not our integrity. They couldn’t help being impressed by our concoction-a lesson for life. Our educators worked with us and it taught us that maturity lies in learning from the young. We strived to emulate them. We learnt to leave an indelible mark and seek immortality- we carved our names on the barks of the trees that we planted during the S.U.P.W. periods. The traumatic episode of fainting in the teacher’s areas, when faced with the horrors of those less fortunate, brings a smile to my lips even now. Yet we learnt – we learnt to become aware and sensitive to life. Who can forget Pat Tates, a little tin shack next to the basket ball courts. The snob value of being able to hangout there beat all hangouts and perhaps only those of the post ‘Daffy’ era appreciate this-we learnt that humans are class conscious and its money that makes the man go.

In 1987 the basket ball team broke several records and distinguished itself. In this case the tiger doesn’t grow in the telling when I claim that both teams, the boys and the girls, were winners in all the tourneys that they played. Unbelievable yet true.

Its memories that blind us, bolster us and bequeath to us immortality. No illness was too grave, no emergency too urgent- nothing could keep us away. One handsome physics teacher aroused in me the first feminine realization and we burnished our lips with hamburger grease. The English department inspired us to kohl our eyes and buy delicately tatted handkerchiefs – sadly we came closer to achieving ‘ the Racoon’ rather than ‘the Elegant’. The flavour of our school lies in the fervour it arouses in its alumni. In any corner of the globe one Dipsite welcomes another. A heart warming instance is when a fellow Dipsite located me on the net and established a chat line with me. Though five years my senior, our alma mater gave us ample common ground to begin a friendship that is now a treasured one.

Times change, life changes, we walk the paths of our destiny. The buildings change, so do the people but in our hearts ’The School- DPS’ is an eternal immutable entity from which we all draw our identity.

Shalini S.Surie

Quintessential Love – A Dramatic Experience

A celebration of love: Tabinda jail as 'Laila' with
Ashish Abrol playing 'Manju' in a school Play.

It was late autumn in 1983. The school was abuzz with plans for the annual function. Like every year there would be the usual prize distribution, speeches, the mandatory qawwali and song and dance items. This year, however something special and different was being planned by none other then the Grande Dame of DPS, aka Julie.

It was to be a ballet, revolving around the central theme of LOVE. There were titters, suppressed giggles and blushes (which was obviously expected in the adolescent population! ) greeting this announcement. By all accounts, it was to be a melodramatic, star spangled extravaganza - the ‘event’ to surpass all events.

The ballet was to begin with Adam and Eve, go on to Shiva and Parvati, and then on to Laila and Majnu. Interspersed were depictions of maternal love and love for the country. Mrs Krishnan, Head of the English Department (and the aforementioned Julie) was to direct it. I was in the XI th standard at the time. Mrs. Krishnan was my teacher (Elective English) and like all sane people I was terrified of her (with due respect to Mrs K!)

Somehow, I found myself rehearsing for the part of Laila. The boy playing Majnu was my classmate, Ashish Abrol(who is now an IRS officer, no less!). The rehearsals were nerve-racking at times as Mrs. K was a perfectionist! In a dream sequence, I was to strike a pose and dash behind a curtain to become ‘invisible’. Fortunately, there were no dialogues to mug up or stumble over- a romantic ghazal by Faiz sung playback, took care of the audio bit.

A minor irritant during this phase was the insistence of junior school kids to chant ’Laila O Laila” on espying me (even when I was getting off the school bus). It used to bug me no end then!

Finally, the D-day arrived. Ashish, who had to sport an artificial beard for the crazed, ill-kempt look, broke out into a severe rash. The coarse fibre of his fake beard or possibly the gum used to fix it were the culprit. Anyhow, he gave an extremely realistic portrayal of a man in frenzied turmoil! As we finished our act and found our way back to the green room, we both received a warm hug none other than Mrs. K. All in all, it proved to be a memorable experience.

Tabinda Jalil

The Last of the Blue Coats

A Perfect rapport: Nitesh Dogra (1992) with
Mrs. Mazumdar. an all time favourite

Musings: Just a few days ago I received a letter asking me for a contribution for the souvenir being brought out to celebrate 50 years of DPS. It has been seven years since I left DPS after a six year stay there. It set me thinking about those adolescent years I spent in one of India’s finest educational institutions, the parent school of the DPS society- the Mathura Road branch. Beyond those years were the arduous years of medical college, yet like a djinn the DPS connection was always there to help me out.

INTRODUCTION TO DPS: 1986, when I had just returned from Germany. In all honesty, securing admission to DPS and that too midterm was not an easy task. I will always be grateful to Mrs. Kapoor, the then Principal for giving me enough time to prove myself at the admission test, coming as I was from a totally different education system. Luckily I did qualify and before I knew it I was amidst a sea of students. The first few weeks surely felt awkward. In Germany we used to have half the number of students with double the space for a classroom. However I soon got used to that just as I got used to those other minor but important etiquette like addressing your teachers “Sir” or Ma’am instead of Mr. of Mrs., raising your hand before asking a question or seeking permission from the teacher before entering the classroom.

Middle School (VII & VIII): My class-mates became my friends very soon. Some of us have remained in touch right through the years, though today it’s more by e-mail than by any other means because most of them are abroad. We often joke that if we have a class get-together it would be a better idea to have it in New Jersey rather than New Delhi! We had some excellent teachers- Mrs. Renu Malthora, Mrs. Neelam, Mrs. Usha Dhaundyal and Mr. Bahadur to name just a few. The newspaper in Education (NIE) programme of the Times of India had just begun then. The competition in our class was stiff. There were three future IIT-ians in our class (out of a total of six in our batch) and almost every other person was a gown-holder (The “blue coats” who far too often had practically ”blue blooded” status, I guess that’s why the system was done away with the time we left school in 92). However despite the hard work we had a great time.

IX & XI : A change of section found me in quagmire of some of the most notorious students in our batch. Within the next few months I had become an M.S.C., a personal achievement for me. However in class academics, I took a back seat. We had driven a young, pretty Physics teacher out of our class. By the middle of class X, hooliganism had reached a new peak. Furniture was broken in our class. Principal S. L. Dhawan would have none of it. As an example to others, we were made to study on “dhurris” for a month. We felt like animals in a zoo what with the whole school looking on. Anyhow, that surely had a sobering effect on the class. Before we knew it, it was time for the big, bad Boards. We were awaiting doomsday – results 1990.

XI & XII: Readmission found me in Science with Biology, my favourite combination. There was a new group of class mates and bonding which has lasted through the years. Class XI was a total of six months, what with the late start and the never-ending Mandal holidays. In our last years at school we were the pampered lot that had three Heads of Departments teaching us. In the end we lived up to their expectations. Over a dozen doctors emerged from our class and almost everyone else is an MBA or a professional in some other field today.

Memorable moments were Teachers’ day (when we were the teachers for the day), the ‘biryani’ picnic (a picnic to the Sultanpur birds sanctuary where yours truly was incharge of the food. The biryani was packed in plastic, as a result of which it got spoilt by the time we were ready for lunch, much to the horror of my classmates…. so the epithet) and ‘script writing’ day wherein we took great delight in scribbling on each others clothes. It was time to say goodbye to each other, to our teachers and above all to the school which had nurtured us and provided us a strong base, which witnessed our first crush, our first rivalry, our triumphs and tribulations and our moments of despair.

The Dipsite years : When I entered medical college, I didn’t realize that being a DIPSITE had its unique advantages. The foremost amongst them being the help from seniors from the same DPS branch. The Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi where I did my under graduation had some prominent DIPSITES….. so I was spared the sort of ragging that my class-mates endured. In my exams they helped me in numerous ways from notes to books to files. They campaigned for me, resulting in my being voted Vice-President of the college. Some of them remain my guiding lights to date. I make it a point to return to DPS whenever possible sharing my experience with my teachers.

Rooted in DPS I get my strength from it.

Nitish K. Dogra

Flashback – Our school years

Sealing friendships built over the years:
Godhuli Sen with her batchmates in 1992

It’s been seven years since we stepped out of school - but the memories of the times we spent there seem as sharp as ever, miraculously left unblurred by our roller-coaster ride through college, business school and now office. School memories are much like an ancient, well thumbed Wodehouse, to be taken out and delved into at leisure-a refuge from the pressures of yuppie life.

We can still taste the raw fear - it was in Class XI - Ms. Usha Mathur would be on the prowl in her capacity as Gestapo Chief (sorry, make that Class Rep!!)…us kids would of course be in the midst of a particularly sound intensive revelry, when we would be confronted by the sight of Old Miss Mathur staring down upon us much like an avenging angel would at the sinful cities. Often we would rush into the next door Multi Purpose Hall, and manage to coax and cajole Mr. Khanna to show us a movie. Unfortunately, his collection of movies ranged only to extent of very old video recordings of Sports Day celebrations at DPS Mathura Road…. but the thought of a lecture instead ensured that all of us were nevertheless glued to the screen !!

We remember with particular fondness the English faculty. Mrs. Subbarayan, was head of the faculty when we were in class XII, and she took us for English in XII A –the so-called best section. Weren’t we proud to be a part of that section ! Her extravagant gesticulation sent us into peals of laughter, which of course she was unaware of, in the midst of the English class. And who can forget tall and dignified Mrs. Fernandez, with her measured tone and patrician bearing. Reema Sharma we remember too –she taught both of us for three years.

Mrs. Kiran Kumar (Chemistry) brings back to us a lot of interesting memories. As students of classes IX and X. we used to be petrified of her. Her booming voice mortally scared us. One can then imagine what we went through when we heard that she would be our Class Teacher in XI A!! Some of us even went to the extent of thinking of changing our section…… but those of us who did not were in for a pleasant surprise. Not only was Mrs. Kumar “ not scary”- on the contrary she was amazingly sweet and protected us, her privileged class, like a mother hen would protect her brood of little chicks.

Arrangement classes we always looked forward to – as it meant that the concerned subject was on leave and we could do what we wanted to in the presence of a substitute teacher ……….. unless of course the teacher happened to be Mrs. Sangeeta Narang. Mrs. Narang was the designated “Socially Useful Productive Work” teacher . Unfortunately, as the students assigned to this subject were not particularly interested in making themselves either socially useful or productive, the poor lady had no choice but to direct her latent creativity towards the unsuspecting students of her arrangement classes. Thus having Mrs. Narang as our substitute teacher meant 40 minutes of unrewarding drudgery- dusting, cleaning and mopping unforgotten nooks and corners of the school. There was always a scramble to be allotted dusting duty at the Library as Mrs. Jalil, sweet as ever, would inevitably take pity on us and we would be lucky enough to spend that time reading instead!

Talking of arrangement teachers, who can forget Mr. Sukla- we don’t know many of you reading this have this met him-but those of you who have, can never ever forget this gentleman. He was a follower of Swami Vivekanand, who on his way from Bihar to find salvation on Mount Kailash, somehow got lost and found himself at DPS Mathura Road. Though slight of stature, Mr. Sukla had successfully managed to channelise all his spiritual energy into his eyes, which were now his foremost weapons. Many a class did we spend with him listening to the most extraordinary stories of Sukla ji’s encounters with varied beasts of the jungle-lions, tigers etc. all of which ended inevitably with the suitably chastened beast turning tail and fleeing, unable to resist the power of those hungry eyes!

Then there was Mrs. Ajmani, the home Science teacher, who believed strongly in inculcating the values of capitalism in the minds of the young students. The bread pakoras and bread rolls that would be prepared lovingly by her in her Home Science Department would promptly be put up for sale even before break time. The aroma would waft through the corridors and into the classrooms drawing out vast crowds of hungry gourmands. Unfortunately Mrs. Ajmani’ success was her downfall as the throngs of pakora devotees blocking the corridors ultimately led to the banning of the home Science Depatrment’s venture into market economics!!

Both of us were senior appointments of the school-and in that role we had a field day. We felt we were no less than the owners of the school. What pride we had when we stood on the stage during the assemblies, and how all-important we were when we ticked off those unsuspecting juniors, or even our class fellows, for being in line, wearing “wrong “ shoes or being talkative.

Memories of the school years are as clear as ever. As students of the Class of ’92, we really enjoyed every moment of our time spent in that glorious institution, DPS, and are proud of its existence. We know so well every corner of the school that often, when we do go back to the corridors and find unfamiliar faces, we have to tell ourselves that we are no longer in these classrooms –and we are really relegated to a batch of the yesteryears. We are proud to be writing for the Golden jubilee of DPS Mathura Road and we wish the school every success in the years to come.

V.Venkatesh
Godhuli (Sen ) Vishwanathan

School Times

What is school? Good question, varied answer. At age 12, it is the pain of getting up early in the morning. At age 15, school’s cool. At 17 its Board exams Now it’s a whole lot of things you could have done right. Above all, it’s the time you can never forget.

I joined DPS Mathura Road in Class VII (the year -1987)and the very first day, we were taken for a movie. I told myself, Wow! This a fun place and this is the place where I want to be.

Among the many things about school and zillions of incidents, I can remember this one very distinctly.

This was in Class XII (the last year of school). We thought that we were the cream of the school. We decided to mass bunk a class (I think it was a Maths class. The plan was almost successfully executed. When I say almost, in our meticulously laid out plan, there was one hitch- Mr. Rawat. He caught us and we were made to kneel down in front of our class (incidentally Mr. Rawat’s son was in our class). One would expect that there would be crying and shifting of blame. None of this happened. Instead, there was sense of camaraderie and togetherness on everyone’s faces. An expression, which is what DPS is all about. In or lose , we stick together.

I am a Chartered Accountant and am currently working as a senior Consultant at Arthur Anderson, new Delhi. But till date, school is the place where I want to be.

Manevendra Singh Sial

A School Excursion

The year was 1990 when I was a student of XI-J and considered myself an ace sportsman always on the look out for adventure and sports. With the initiative of Mr. Yograj and Mr. Bahadur, an excursion was organized to the little known triangle Nahan, Renuka and the Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh.

The trip had around 50 students from various sections of our batch and we took our school bus for the trip, whose duration was 3 nights and 4 days. We left around 9 pm via Ambala and within 10 hours reached Nahan, the first in the triangle situated on an isolated ridge in the Shivaliks overlooking ravines and greenfields. Nahan is a well laid out picturesque town known for its cleanliness and dust free streets. As Yograj was our History Teacher, he insisted that we take down notes regarding the origin of the town. I traced my old school diary from where I am writing these excerpts.

Courtesy both Mr. Bahadur and Mr. Yograj, for they are very active members of YHAI(Youth Hostel Assosication Of India),we stayed at the Youth hostel Association of India), we stayed at the Youth Hostel in Nahan. All of us being teenagers, the boys group clandestinely spent the evening with a couple of pegs and puffs.

The following day was spent sight-seeing. We saw the Nahan Palace, the famous Nahan Foundry which is one of the oldest Foundries in Northern India, a lovely view point where one could see the exquisite Shivaliks and a temple.

Next day our destination was the picturesque lake at Renuka about 45 kms from Nahan.

We stayed in a huge hall near the Renuka Lake which was converted into a dormitory. Unfortunately the girls got a better deal as they were accommodated in the HP Tourism Guest house.

Most of our time was spent boating in the lake and visiting the Renuka Wild Life Sanctuary where one was lucky to see the majestic emperor of the forests and the pride of the nation, the ASIATIC LION we took a lot of photographs of the animals which included Black Bear, Barking Deer, Goral, Jackals etc. In the evening we visited the Gayatri temple which is on the banks of the lake.

En route to Delhi we went to a city sacred to the memory of Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Paonta Sahib. Situated on the Yamuna River, it is important as a Sikh place of religious worship.

After lunch we headed back towards the capital. The journey took us around seven hours and by dinner we were back in school. I was quite an active participant when it came to excursions which the school organized because not only it gathering more knowledge through traveling but you also made friends with people in the school who were not your class mates. It increases your interaction with other. This was the most educative and memorable trip during my stay at DPS Mathura Road(1978 to 1991).

Srimanto Bhattacharya

An Education for Life

Service Before Self: the certificate says it all.
"This is to certify that Shri Ram Khanna has attained
excellence in his work at the School during the year
1963-64. The prize money has been donated by him to
the Jawan's Welfare Fund which is greatly appreciated."

School life is not merely a beautiful memory for me ….. it is a part of my daily existence. My thoughts , my attitudes , my values and my behaviour have all been molded largely by the eleven years that I studied in Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. Although I do have many happy recollections of my school days, I would prefer not to dwell on them. Instead, on this occasion of the school’s Golden Jubilee, it would be fitting to think about the tradition of ‘ Service before Self’ that our school teaches us. Over the years, fifty batches of students have passed out of the portals of this institution and each of these men and women carry the distinct imprints of DPS. I am sure that all of us realize that the education we received from our alma mater was such a tremendous privilege. And having received so much when so many others have so little, we feel compelled to give something in return. Perhaps that is why so many students of DPS Mathura Road have carved out a niche for themselves in society, excelling in the field of their choice. We are proud of our school and we hope that it will be proud of us too.

On a personal note, as a student I was always encouraged to look beyond studies and develop my interests in writing and public speaking. As the head Girl, the greatest challenge that I faced was to lead other by setting an example. As an aluminums of this institution, I am constantly reminded of the enormous respect and stature commanded by the name Delhi Public School Mathura Road.

To end in a lighter vein, however, here are a few snippets of school life that I cherish the most.

ASSEMBLY: from the thought for the day to the new highlights to the National Anthem the morning assembly that we all loved to hate is now part of my favourite school memories!

FRIENDS: If I had to name just one reason why I think DPS is wonderful, it will be because it has given me friends whose company I still enjoy and whom I can always depend on.

CANTEEN: Sizzling hot samosas from the school canteen….what else does a growing child need?

MONDAY TESTS: The reason that II still hate Mondays. Eight o’clock on Sunday nights and I still get that sinking feeling!

TEACHERS: Now this is where I get sentimental. I remember each of my teacher, right from junior school onwards, with the greatest affection and respect. Thank you!

Ulka Kelkar

A Birthday Sonnet

D elhi public school, Mathura Road
P lease accept this humble ode.
S o many years you have stood there,

M ade men of boys under your care
A and turned girls ladies fine,
T aught all to walk the narrow line
H ousing knowledge, honour service for all,
U nder your wings, we each grew tall.
R eading, laughing playing, learning………
A and now, fifty you are turning.

R evel for there is still much in store,
O DPS may you stand forevermore!
A nd in the end, there’s just left to say
D ear School-Happy birthday
.

Avedis Seferian

Facing Challenges – the DPS Way

Shri Sahib Singh Verma, Cheif Minister of Delhi,
at a morning assembly

The memory of all the years in school and all my teachers is still fresh in my mind. Most of the teachings of the school in academics as well as non-academics have helped me face the challenges of life.

The junior school gave me some of my best friends, who have become life long friends. Junior school taught me what friendship was. The teachers showed me the way to accept and face challenges. The middle and senior school gave me the opening to the real world. I learnt my basics of academics as well as life from my teachers and my seniors. The best thing I liked about my school was the way we encouraged each other to do a better in spite of competition amongst us.

I still take pride in mentioning some of my teacher- Mr. Aggarwal (Mathematics), Mrs. Kiran Kumar (Chemistry), Mrs. Deeksha (Physics); Mr. Bharadwaj and Mr. Sardana (Engineering Drawing) and Mr. Khalid Mahmood (Electrical Gadgets). I thank them and all my teachers and above all my school for bringing out the best in me and making me a good individual.

I never won any prize in school except for the golden chance of signing the ROLL OF HONOUR for proficiency in academics in the class XII Boards. But my biggest achievements in life so far has been clearing the JEE. I am presently doing my B.Tech. from IIT-Delhi.

I take pride in being a DIPSITE…..

Mohit Mathur

At A Loss for Words

I tried …… I really did. I hadn’t imagined that I would find myself completely incapable of expressing how wonderful my thirteen years at DPS have been. I have always been known to be abnormally proud of being a Dipsite – a Dipsite with almost cheerleader like qualities when it comes to talking about her school!

My year at this school have been far from uneventful – I have won, lost, cried, laughed, been applauded, reprimanded, made and lost friends and everything else in between. I have been taught to lead and to follow. After graduating from DPS , being the Head Girl of Junior , Middle and Senior School, remains as signification a memory as does that 29 out of 100 in Mathematics in a term exam.

But frankly, I find myself in no position to write about any of this.

After having promised to write this article in May, and finally getting down to it in October , I think I have finally come to an understanding as to why I seem to have lost out on even the little creative power that I was sure I had.

DPS to me is not an external object that I am able to see, and describe. To me DPS stands for every memory of my first 18 years of life, starting from the time I shared cream biscuit with my first friend in Prep on the first day of school, to writing farewell notes in each other “slam books”. It is almost impossible for me to write about every memory of mine, because that is what DPS is.

I belong to that category of students who wouldn’t have to think too hard to come up with a few hundred things that we disliked about this school. But, we are the same people who have found our lives so enriched, with the wonderful people we have met and the experiences that we have had, that it would be impossible for us not to be swept off by a gush of memories every time we think of DPS. We loved it, we hated it, we were proud of it, and many times disappointed by it-but it definitely has made me who I am . And for that, all I can say is – THANK YOU, DPS – for all that you became for me!

Happy Birthday, my dear school.

Shalini Unnikrishnan

Togetherness

Sharing memories: A special DIPSITE dinner at
Bombay Radio Club

We moved together
We giggled together
We sang together
We dance together
We even had crushes together

In short we believed in togetherness. We includes Deepika, Bhavna and of course Me. In School we lived in a world of our own thoughts but we were fully aware of the happenings around. The three of us even had a language of our own – incomprehensible to others. There was an unwritten rule – loyalty to the group was utmost. Till date we abide by that – talk bad about one of us and the other two will jump in defense. We lived to be happy and lived each day as it came.

If any day of us was absent, not only were we unhappy but even other students found it unusual and unfailingly asked about the absentee’s whereabouts. The three of us were a common sight in school and anyone from the batch of ’96 would vouch for that. Those were wonderful days.

When school got over all of us had to look for suitable colleges. As expected we wanted to join the same course. But that didn’t happen. Even this situation didn’t deter us from our path of togetherness. We still managed to take out time and meet. The frequency of our meetings was less, which we regretted and therefore jumped at every opportunity we got to meet. If I ever bump into anyone from school, they always enquire about the other two. I willingly oblige.

Three years of college and again we found ourselves standing at a crossroad. The togetherness intact but the field of focus have changed completely. All three of us have joined diverse fields. But we still keep in touch. We still miss our school days.

I know we have a lifetime to go and I hope our togetherness remains the way it has. At the end of it, I realize that beautiful friendship like these start somewhere, that somewhere for me was DPS.

I owe it all to my school – DPS.

Anjali Bansal

A Sense of Belonging

I’ve always been known to be the dreamy, absentminded kind and of course, for good reasons! But there is certain day of my life which I remember better than yesterday. That’s probably because those days were registered not only by my mind but also, my heart.

DPS Mathura Road, meant the entire world to me for fourteen odd years of my life! And even though, I’ve been out of school for more than three years now, those days keep coming back to me more often than not.

This wonderful place has given me more than I could ask for. Some impeccable expressions which have left there impression on me …… memories, to be treasured for a life time…… friendships, that shall last for ever and the best of all ….. a sense of belonging I’ll always be proud of.

In the end I would just say –

Thank you DPS – fro making me what I am.

Bhavna Kapoor

Assembly – an Institution

A gracious moment: Shri H.K Dua, Media Advisor
to Prime Minister, being presented a memento by
Principal Mr. K.N. Sardana

July of 1986. I was then a young boy just turned eight and dressed in the regulatory white shirt, white shorts, green belt, white socks and black shoes, holding my mother’s hand on the way to the concrete basketball courts that on certain mornings of the week doubled as an assembly ground. I was nervous and excited all at the same time, this being my first day at a new school. I joined the line of the students of class IV–C, initially staying all the way at the back. But one of the teachers told me the line was organized according to height, so I moved quite a way up to the front. My mother waved goodbye and I turned my attention to the stage, where a drill instructor was starting to go through the routine of the morning exercises. Hands forward, hands up, sideways, down. Stand-at-ease, Attention ……..that was the first of many, many assemblies. By some strange trick of memory, I recall that very first one so well. None of the hundreds that followed are as clearly embedded in my mind.

What a sight a DPS assembly is to observe! During the summer, students forming a pristine sea of white; during winters, a serene grey-green lake. Assemblies held in all parts of the school campus – from the junior school basketball ground to what was once the buses area (and is new wing of the school) that faces Himalayan Hall. Never an exercise in orderliness, they are nonetheless an amazing example of unity – mass of differences made one as if by magic.

Only the rare students will profess to enjoy assembly very much, yet all nonetheless look forward to it. Because for all its annoying features (standing in line, keeping quiet, hands out of your pockets), it is still the first occasion you get to greet your friends on a new morning. Indeed, of all the purposes assembly serves, the one closest to my heart (and the only one that really matters , if you ask me ), is the service it provides as a forum for student to meet. The real purpose of assembly is already served before it actually starts (with a physical training instructor taking the microphone to bring all to order).

Can you imagine how different things would be if the first thing we did when we got off our buses everyday was to go straight to class, sit down and start studying? I think such a situation would represent a great loss. And by loss I certainly do not mean losing the chance to hear some politician wax eloquent (most of those speeches were just exercises in patience, although some were admittedly rather good) or to hear the news headlines. Those loses would be borne with great stoicism (not to mention mirth). No, what we have lost would be access to an institution that, over the years, becomes as much a part of our school life exams and recess.

I say all this ‘safely’ behind a well of over four years between me and my last assembly which makes my verdict somewhat questionable. Nonetheless, any Dipsite looking back upon his or her schooldays will definitely find a whole bunch of memories associated with assembly and certainly a lot more pleasant that the ones associated with exams! Assemblies serve as milestone in our foray through school, and, in the large picture, in the history of the school itself. I sit here trying to imagine how the assembly (or assembles) that mark the 50th anniversary of our DPS will be. I can hear the choir singing, the Principal speaking, the student s clapping …..then, “Stand straight and still for the national Anthem” and then, “Chenab house , Quick Macrch ! Left , Left , left, left, left, left…………..”.

Avedis Seferian

Preparing for Life

Sigh! This is precisely what happens every time the ‘university special’ trudges along Mathura road, down memory lane , enroute to its destination. The sight of a huge white building with its latest appendage – the nursery block and a fleeting glimpse of those, who from far seem tinier than what the epithet ‘Tiny tots’ might suggest, makes my heart go quiet, almost so , before the jerking bus once again throttles it into activity.

Two years out of school and I realize in full the wise words of many a senior. Life in school must be enjoyed to the fullest for once gone it never comes back. So hackneyed, yet so laden with meaning; a meaning that never was so well understood as now when school life has ended. If anything there remains a pool of memories, sweet, sour and some bitter too, that comes up from time to time as if to impress how everlasting school life is at least in the realm of consciousness if not in that of reality. These memories do much to elicit sighs whenever I witness that mammoth structure which stand for me just as much as a valuable source of friends as it does as an educational institution. To tell the truth, till date I cherish my school more for the moments of togetherness it endowed upon me and company, then for its valiant efforts (thought hopefully not entire rely in vain my case) to mould grey matter into civilized minds.

In retrospect, school life was also a major source of some valuable lessons. These lessons are not ones that may be grasped from books but lessons that are learnt from observation and repeated interaction with others on a common platform-success, failure, rise and fall all manifest themselves in ways peculiar to school life. Be it an outstanding performance in class or the ignominy of being made to stand out of class, both are to be taken in one’s stride. The up’s and down’s are an essential part of school. The understanding of this continuity then inspires constant effort. In fact after school, one’s approach to difficult situations is subconsciously structured to avoid the behavioral blunders of school life and seek inspiration from the right attitudes which in one way or another were rewarded in the years of schooling.

For me, passing out of school was in itself a great lesson in the transient nature of things. What seemed like a distant reality in school, the fact that one day I would be an ‘old boy’, now is a fructified reality. Life surely means business as time rolls from one year into another. Thus it is also an inexorable truth that college too will end, and in fact end it will soon . So even in its closing chapters, school life imparts a remarkable lesson to be learnt.

No wonder then, that there is as much awe for school as is attachment, for the rich source of the invaluable experiences that it was.

Ashutosh Mohan Rastogi

Life at DPS – Worth a Rerun !

Three years. Almost three years since I passed out from school, but the memories of even the smallest events of my thirteen year long “experience” are as fresh as if they had occurred just yesterday. Right from day one till the farewell, school life truly was a joyride, with the occasional bumps, of course!

Believe me guys, even the things which I’m sure are, are a pain for you now , make us smile and laugh whenever we think about them. Those irritating uniforms checks, those P.T. exercise, and last , but not the least, those daily morning assemblies in the summer , with everyone melting away waiting to be dispersed !

I distinctly remember when we were in the sixth, there was a bomb scare ! Mrs. Duggal , who was the Headmistress , came running trying to push all of us out in the field and all of us said, “Ma’am , let us first get out bags from the class!” Of course, thankfully it was just a scare. But I remember all of us waiting in the jam packed football field waiting for the school to blow up any moment !

Even the smallest and most innocent pranks were so much fun because we all were aware that some teacher or the other always had an eye on us. Now, that I’m a Dipsite, I can share them with you , but I’m sure many teacher’s might feel I was the wrong choice for the Head Boy’s post after reading this ! Whether it was the “official” or “unofficial” bunking or collecting money for the Teacher’s day party without letting any one know, or even arguing with the authorities to allow us to celebrative Teacher’s day and farewell, which everyone in twelfth looks forward to from day one, everything has truly been a memorable experience .You know, there something very ironical about school life, which everyone realizes only after leaving school. In school, everyone is dying to be free and independent, but once you enter college, some how the pranks and other “schoolish” activities lose their charm because then no one really cares about what you do!

All in all, following the same daily routine, wearing the same uniforms and coming to the same instruction every day for 13 long years has given me the most wonderful friends and the most memorable times and a heart full of memories to cherish forever.

So, guys all I say to you is :-

Enjoy each and every moment of your time at DPS , because believe me, there will never be a time quite like this.

Kunal Soni
Headboy

Winter Shorts

“Bhaiyya, aap fail huye hai?” interesting question. Very interesting. Especially it it’s your first day of school. The questioner was short, had curly hair and more a look of –welcome? Doubt? curiosity? who knows? I smiled and said, “Nahi, main new admission hoon”. Doubt and I had to be initiated into the school. My name was asked, introductions were made, I was given a tour of the school- I was in, I was accepted, I was Home.

Ten years is a long time. It seems like forever when you’re 20, which is what I am. It’s half of my life, and it’s the precise amount of time that has passed since I first entered through the gate, sat in the school bus, played in the school yard, had my hands caned (or sticked) for not cutting my nails. In contrast, three years have passed since I made my final exit from Delhi Public School, Mathura Road to seek my fortune in the big, bad world outside. I return to school occasionally and find myself a stranger. I don’t know the kids on the fields, the canteen is unrecognizable, even some of the teachers are new. It’s good sign that you’re getting old when the most familiar face in school has wrinkles on it.

So I walk through familiar corridors thronged by unknown people, trying to recollect every moment spent within the friendly wall of a shelter from the outside. A world where bells decide when you do what you do, four in the afternoon seems like a late time to get home, and some distant cousin of Gianni Versace’s dictates that boys must wear shorts and knee-length socks in the winter My my , my.

The more things change, the more they remain the same. Some poor soul’s been deposited outside his classroom for not having brought his Physics textbooks to class. He looks at me with the solemnity of Jesus on the cross. Don’t worry .my friend, my palms have bled for the same cause. Keep the faith.

I duck into a stairway to avoid bumping into a friendly, but avoidable face from yesteryear. No offence pal but now I have a choice, I do not wish to meet you. Guru-shishya tradition or no guru-shishya tradition.

I meet some old friends from my batch, exchange information, talk about the past. Meet my former teachers. Discuss how our batch was the best. (But of course-doesn’t your batch do the same?) Walk past the Chemistry lab. Hold my breath to handle the Hydrogen Sulphide vapours. Evaluate the young ladies.

Everything comes back in flashes. Everything is disjointed. Yet somehow hangs together. People, times, incidents, accidents, joy, sorrow, highs, low –everything is still there and there it will stay.

What is an institution? Bricks, cement and people. An institutions is its people. The people who made it what it is until finally the people became known by the institution. You dream you act you try. Individuals come together to become a force an army a DPS.

DPS Three letters on my resume when I file an application. But those three letters are like three colossal pillars that are holding me up still and will hold me up for all time. Those are the letters I still wear on my faded out shaped school T-shirts. Those are the letters that bind me with a total stranger who has also known and loved my school. Those are the letters with which my destiny my future I have been written DPS.

I walk out of the gate and look back. I look at the endless rows of cars parked outside. I look at the gunman with his moustache to strike terror in any evil being. I look at the fresh paint on the old building. I look at the four and five year olds laughing and playing in the winter sun. I watch the last bus pulling out remembering the last day that I sat in a school bus and how I watched the building slowly fade out of sight. And then I look at the sky and smile. You’ve come a long way in 50 years DPS when I come to the 100 year celebrations, at the age of 70 the sky is where I hope to find you.

Misha Kumar

My Experiences as Head Girl

“If I were given by the Almighty one moment of glory to unfurl

I would tell him lord make me once more the school’ Head Girl”

And I waited…. holding my breath while the butterflies fluttered violently in my stomach….it must have been a matter of a few seconds. But in those few seconds I probably experienced what Neil Armstrong felt just before he stepped on the moon, just what Tenzing Norgay felt when at end of his climb, he found the shining peak of Everest beckoning him.” What if it is does not happen?”

I had told myself on the morning of 13 February 1996, “It does not matter, if it does not happen, I shall take it in my stride”. But hope lies eternal in the human heart, and so does fear and I got a lifetime flavour of both on that nippy winter morning. As the names of the new appointments who would take over the responsibility for the next academic session were announced, I kept my fingers crossed, after all not everybody aspires to become the Head Girl of DPS Mathura Road, and more importantly not everybody becomes it.

The names of the Perfectorial appointments began, I prayed silently. It was getting close…. And finally the Head Girl…. I could not hear my name, not because I had lost it, but because it was drowned in the collective cheer that went up. That moment I realized what good friends are. All I remember are big hugs and loud clapping and the fact that my teachers almost pushed me on the stage, patting me on my back.

I got it. Two years of a cherished desire and burning ambition had culminated in this moment which was not merely a personal victory but also proved my worth to all those who loved and trusted me.

To say the least, I was on cloud nine. It was the beginning of a wonderful time. The year promised to be hectic, yet I knew I would enjoy every moment of it. I was aware of the tremendous prestige and responsibility I was carrying and had promised myself that I would not betray the faith the entire school had reposed in me.

A year in DPS Mathura Road is never devoid of excitement and my year was no exception. I had my regular duties, to maintain discipline, to be the link between the students and the school administration and to see that the day-to day curriculum functions smoothly. The middle of the year is the time for all competitions to come up. I made it a personal agenda to see to it that DPS Mathura Road won every competition it took part in. Be it debates, dramatics, Bang club or any other inter school event. It meant a lot of coordination, rigorous practice, and motivating everybody constantly. I used to get tired at times and felt like running away, but then all the sweat was compensated when I would see the glittering trophy being picked up by a fellow student and brought back home!

My moment of glory was the Inter-DPS meet, when I lead the contingent to the grounds of DPS R.K. Puram. The fact that both the branches are intensely competitive is not unknown to any student or Dipsite. But then do we not have the same genes of excellence? I had a tough time soothing ruffled feather and keeping the morale of the team high. I said only one thing, irrespective of whether we win or not, nobody should be able to point a finger at our discipline. We won most of the events at the meet. We proved the mettle of the mother school, when I proudly lifted (on behalf of the school), the trophy for the best disciplined school at the meet, that too at DPS R.K. Puram. That was the moment I felt that I had delivered my promise to the school.

The next memorable event was our Annual Day. I really felt important as I welcomed event our Chief Guest Shri R.C. Bhargava, Executive Director of Maruti Udyog Ltd. I know we all go on to achieve a lot of things in our lives, but the happiness and pride of moments like this cannot be matched.

I had the most satisfying year as the Head Girl. I still treasure my photograph at the Principal’s desk when I was Principal (with restrictive powers) on Teacher’s Day. I don not think I would experience the same euphoria if ever the world was at my feet!

I also take this opportunity to thank all my friends and fellow appointments without whom my tenure would not be half as successful.

But above all I thank DPS, for it reposed faith in me, making me very confident. It enhanced my capacity to shoulder responsibility by appointing me the Head Girl. Even today I glow in the admiration that I see in the people’s eyes when they say …….. “Oh you were the Head Girl!”

I wish my alma mater the very best of times in long years to come and always pray to God that may we all be worthy of this institution that we owe so much to.

Tavishi Paitandy

The DPS Spirit

Anyone who has been to any sort of competition will tell you that crowd support is a great thing to have, and anyone who has been part of that crowd, cheering for his school, will tell how much fun it had been.

I have screamed myself hoarse on a number of occasions at events like Youthquake, inter–DPS and other Inter –School Competitions. You see, more than ever, the time when I really got the “I’m a Dipsite” feeling was on such occasions. It’s when we’re all shouting “DPS, DPS” together (or, at an inter DPS meet, “Mathura Road, Mathura Road”) that we realize that, no matter what our differences are, we belong to one institution. It’s when our basketball team trounces the opposition, our debaters drive home a point, that we feel proud to have those three letter on our shirt pockets.

I think one of the best things about DPS Mathura Road is the excellent opportunities it provides its students on the extracurricular front. You name it, we do it and we do it well. From basketball to quizzing, debating to table tennis, music, to swimming, our school has a finger in every pie. From an active Environment Council to Warp, our Computer club, there is a wide range of activities in which one can participate.

School is, no matter how you define it, an institution that moulds a child into an adult, readying him to face the world, sculpting his personality and shaping his character. That is what DPS does better than other schools. Annual theatrical productions free the talents of budding actors and actresses, musical events fuel the passions of future Lata Mangeshkars and Sonu Nigams, essay and story-writing competitions release the creativity of tomorrow’s Arundhati Roys and Salman Rushides (minus the fatwa, hopefully).

Nowadays, the trend is towards studying more, extra classes tuition and coaching, all-important exam marks and so on. In this environment, prevalent in the whole of India, we must stand out as pioneers by keeping our tradition of active participation in co-curricular activities intact. We must lead the way by refusing to change with the times, and by striving not to turn our students into a bunch of robots learning by rote, or foregoing a debate or a match in favour of extra classes. When a school encourages its students to take a little time out from regular classes, and urges him to sing, dance play cricket or to speak out at the next assembly, then that student gains experience as well as confidence and learns more than any teacher, no matter how good could have taught him.

Whenever I look back about my days at DPS, I remember more than the exams I took the competitions I participated in, whether I quizzed or shouted at the top of my lungs with our part of crowd. Nothing can match that part of my life at DPS. May be if you try it once, you’ll know what I mean…..

Nazareth Seferian

Beyond The Books

Photographs:
Tabrez Ahmad

Semicolon

The fright before the mike; the morning prayer read by R.D.Singh, Miss Mathur’s slap ;Mrs Kusum Wadhwa’s slap, infact a whole tirade of unending slaps and Mr. Rawat’ kingly plum push on the bums, the morning mist in deep winters that covered like time, thick and dense the field at assembly time; the vendors and canteen wallahs; the band practice; the false tummy ache pills got in long queues at the clinic or their weird smelling, red-looking iodine tincture, Mrs. Fernandez’s poise; or the soft reproof from Mrs.Lalit Mathur ; the smell of the music room aggarbattis, wood and the lingering perfume Mrs. Kashyap wore; Mrs Savitri Majumdar’s dance steps or rat dissections in the Bio. Lab; anatomy classes under Mrs Gogna or leaf lessons of Dr. Bhasin, Mrs. Mazumdar’s details of insect legs, or the attempts at naughtiness in stay backs; the pineapple slice thick with massala; or tiresome charts on life processes in bio projects; the first linking of a maturing desire; the deft look up legs climbing the spiral staircase ; Mr. Arvind Kumar and the enigma that was Physics; the hole in the wall and the forbidden way to Sunder Nagar Nathu’s; the smell of rubbish from the bin at the gate from which the buses used to leave; the cobwebs in the squash room; the smell of sawdust in the SUPW block or the way the stairs just outside used to tremble when stepped on; the commotion under the flag Ravi or for that matter Sutlej; the revulsion towards bottle green colour in the sweaters or grey pants; the taste of a rare chicken in the boy’s hostel; the smell of grease paint before a performance and the memory of a pained anticipation in the eyes of my Headmistress as I spoke at the Shankar’s International Elocution; the weight of the Senior Appointment’s badge or that of M. S.C. of monitor, or the combined weight of the three; the envy when Avedis won a debate and I did not ; the innumerably long, seemingly interminable years of adolescence; and uncomfortable discomforting hormones; the chalk dust that now settles over the past not immensely happy, a past with its thorns and pricking, its jibes and jabs, but a past honest and beautiful smelling like an ancient legacy or the smell of books in iron shelves in the Senior School library.

Ashim Malhotra

A D.P.S. Girl

Intellect at play: Akshara Pradhan, Head Girl '98 at a
Quiz organised at DPS Mathura Road

As clinched as it may sound, DPS has always been my second home. My mother can testify to the fact that my attendance is probably one of the highest ever. Despite the early morning wake-ups, the cold or hot weather the interminable wait at the bus stop, the crowded buses - I was always eager to get to school, every single day. I loved everything about my school, even the assemblies!

I first joined school when I was in class three and I have always envied my friends who joined DPS in nursery because I missed out on 3 extra years in the institution. I remember Junior School as a crowded, noisy place with incredible energy. I loved our small stage where our assemblies were held, yet I was thrilled when we had combined assemblies in the senior school ground. The fluttering of the flags of different houses, the straight lines of students, the interesting weekly tableaus presented –all remind me of the pride I felt, as a child and still feel as an adult –the pride of being a Dipsite!

The most enjoyable times of my life in Junior School were spent in the library where I read innumerable books(I hated the ones- student –one book restriction and always used my friends’ cards to issue book!) helped the librarian and peeked into the staff room even though science was never my favourite subject. The colourful charts, the life like models and the interesting books were thrills unimaginable.

The three years I spent in middle school (which was later incorporated into senior school) were great fun with us acting like grown up students yet with all the self-importance of children. I remember taking part in the annual functions, the third language programmes, organizing assemblies and of course, bossing around as the Head girl. Being the last batch to be part of Middle School only makes the memories more precious.

Senior school was excitement and adventure! I was finally in the most sought after part of the school-the main building. Being part of the Student’s Council, the Editorial Board, the Interact Club and the Activity Council - all were thrills I relished as a senior school student. The pride with which we represented our school in inter-school competitions and the event of the year BANG Club. The months spent practicing for it, the last minute stage fright for the Dramatics event, the excitement at winning CLUE- I doubt anything could ever give me that adrenalin rush again. In college, where such events are a dime a dozen, one really appreciates the significance of events like Youthquake and Cornucopia in a school student’s life.

My seniors made big impressions on me and I have always considered them my role models as a senior appointment. The farewell we gave our seniors and the farewell got as seniors encapsulate a year filled with emotion and activity. We gave all we had to our school and only now do I realize how much more we got back. Whether it was organizing debates or quizzes, meeting guests, arranging special assemblies, hosting a group of exchange students or just relaxing in the canteen, that year changed my attitude to life.

DPS has always been a huge part of my life with my mother and her whole family, being Dipsites , and with my brother and I carrying on the tradition . I truly hope I can admit my children to this much loved school for the experience of being a Dipsite is unequalled. No matter what my loyalties to my college. I am first and foremost a Dipsite. I am a DPS girl through and through and DPS shall always have a special place in my heart.

Akshara Pradhan

DPS On The Net

Going hi-tech: Our Patron Shri Prem kirpal and Principal
Mr. G.P.S Waraich at the inauguration of the Computer
Centre at DPS on 1.11.83

As the Golden Jubilee of one the best schools of Delhi, indeed India, is being celebrated in the last year of the millennium, it is only fitting the Dipsites all over the world stay connected with the help of the world wide web. If you want to check out what the web tells you of Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, you have a choice of the official webpage put up sometime in 1997 or a webpage put up by Kumud Ajmani of the 1982 batch, which lists Mathura Road as well as her sister /rival R.K.Puram. The webpages are an amazing mix of memories with students of as far back as 1968 writing of their times at DPS. Man, that’s ancient! What I found made me smile, laugh and finally grin as Dipsites from way back describe their experiences, memories and hopes of and for DPS. If an institution is judged but its students both ex-and present then DPS is assured of a place in history. We may not have many famous personalities on our rolls (and we do!) but we have something better and far more precious. People who look back on their school days with fondness, appreciation and nostalgia as befits Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. What is a careful compilation of entries in the webpages-alumni and guest pages. If you enjoy reading the accounts even half as much as I did , then all the work compiling them has been worth it!!

The first memory of many students is fun to read. Gaurav Bhargava of the 1989 batch knows which side his bread is buttered when he lists “half fried samosa squashed between the stale burger and amount paid : Re. 1 “as his first memory of DPS! While Amit Ali of the 1989 batch says “Being the academic (read neardy!) types, the first memories relate to the exams” Shubh Agarwal of the 1989 batch lists his priorities as “Hand cricket and the overflowing private buses”. And Vikram Abrol of the 1989 batch believes “the back bencher” had it good because they had “an over all view of the class and could sleep during the periods”.

Getting to school on time has been a problem every student has faced some time or the other in his or her life and then facing the consequences. But no one has had a reception such as Sachin Gupta of the 1994 batch who writes “……there was one time I actually made it to school in time for the first class. My teacher congratulated me!” Sunil Munjal of the 1985 batch doubts he will ever forget” the morning jogs around the playing field for coming late to assembly “. Yasmeen Khan of the 1989 batch remembers the” 10 rounds of the ground with shoes around the neck for being beltless in assembly but sometimes I escaped as I was in the choir”.

The extra curricular activities of Delhi Public School have always been a source of pride. Be it Debates, Quizzes, Dramatics, Clubs, the Trips, Sports or even the Editorial Board, DPS has had it all! Ashish Gupta of the batch of 1985 especially remembers the “incredible extra curricular activities : KG-Hall ‘educational’ movies, bird watching (the feathered kind too),the drama competition, the quizzes. “While Sanjeev Misra of the class of 1983 gives a special mention to “all the hiking trips”. Chak Resh of the 1979 batch remembers “the Roteract Club and basketball and the fete. A newspaper that I and R.K Devasthali started (with an interview with Mr.Din Dayal)”. While Ravindranath Raghunath of the class of 1979 has “fond memories of the Athletic team , debates and the Pride Parade’, V. Ramachandran of the 1973 batch remembers “Dramatics on Saturdays”. The dancing at the annual day functions are remembered for long, arduous but enjoyable practices, the tension, chaos and sweet appreciation of the final day.

Ravi Rupasinghe of the class of 1987 reminisces, “Enjoyed taking part in western music (I was the convenor of activities for western music)”.

BANG club and all accompanied thrills are remembered with glee as the place where Dipsites won innumerable prizes and fought with Modern! Superb accomplishments in sports and activities are a hallmark of DPS life.

Murali Chodavarapu of the 1972 batch writes of when he “signed the Roll of Honour for athletics and represented the school in all inter-school competitions and was unbeaten in the 100 metres dash. I secured my name and fame in just one year when I was selected to represent the state and was flown from Cochin to Delhi to appear for the examinations in March of ’72!’

Sadhana Asthana of the class of 1968 adds, “In 1967, as the Ravi House Captain, I had to run the 4x100 metre relay at the Annual Sports Day so that my House could come first (though I had never been a runner) and I got a standing ovation from the cheering school crowd as I had previously won the first positions in shot-put, javelin and discus throw the same day. It was the most glorious moment of my school life”

Maneesh Kumar of 1983 batch talks about a trek to Kashmir, “I must have been in class VI or VII, and I remember, along with other teachers , Mr. Tabrez was a part of the group. The nights around the bonfire, the bus journey, and the actual trek were all a lot of fun and a memory I will cherish forever!”

Yengkhom Ashish Raj Singh, class of 1987, writes from Manipur, “Memories of my 8 years in DPS Matura Road, are still vivid in my mind, and no force in this universe can take that away from me. DPS winning the IPSC football Tournament in final year for the third time is something I have cherished throughout my life after DPS… but then there is no such thing as a life after DPS, let alone a life without it!”

One also remembers the festivals of Holi and Diwali celebrated in school much to the delight of the students and the despair of the teachers. Arjun Verma of the 1991 batch talks of one of the funnier incidents in school”.. when I was caught with a group of friends lighting firecrackers in the girl’s toilet by none other than the Vice Principal DR. Tiwari and Ms. Usha Mathur ………..those guys could never take a joke!!” Atul Chopra of the 1987 batch gets a high to this day when he recalls “the 50,000 ki laddi” on the eve of Diwali in 1986!!” Rajesh Agarwal of the 1983 batch thinks that the ‘Holi’ celebrations were the best” and wants to know “Are they still doing it?” Throwing water balloons at Holi and hiding firecrackers from teachers at Diwali are well known events in any Dipsite’s life.

We have some truly ingenious souls who overcome problems with creativity and style! Yatin Tewri of the 1992 batch talks of one such event when he describes “the day we made tea in the classroom. Winters were really hard to bear especially before the ‘Break’. So we got a small emersion rod, tea-bags and milk powder, a hard glass beaker from the chemistry lab and set water to boil as Mr Das’s English class started. A few mintues later we were sipping hot tea hiding behind the English text books. ‘We’ in this episode were Praneet Aluwalia, now in Merchant Navy, Anoop and Jagbir and other helpful souls of class XII-F”. “Not to forget Puneet Gupta of the 1991 batch who recalls “……getting caught with a fake bandage (one of those days..) and I nearly got suspended!”

An integral part of school life was and is the hostel complete with the hostellers. The hostellers’ memories are best summed up in one word-“SLEEP”!! As Tanmay Jaswal of the 1988 batch testifies “The morning P.T. in the hostel (Oh God! waking up at 5.00 a.m., and if not getting a cane on the posterior for sleeping too late!), climbing up the bathroom drainpipe in the hostel and going through the broken bathroom window to steal a snooze during school hours. “Vishal Kumar Sinha of the batch of 1985 clearly remembers “the first time in the DPS Matura Road Hostel a lady Warden came and the swimming pool incharge too was a lady”. He also believes that as a hosteller, “I had lots of exposure to the outside world since this was first time I came away far from my home”. Bimal Agarwal of the 1991 batch talks of “Prem from the mess who literally kept us alive with extra servings”. For many day scholars, once outside school, the hosteller-dayscholar fights are things of the past and both remember each other with affection.

Thoughtful moments: DIPSITE in the Board room,
pooling ideas for a golden future

The most important memories of Dipsites everywhere are their teachers and they are remembered with love and gratitude. All the students owe their teachers a lot they talk of the teacher’s encouragement, support and love.

Some of the most adored include Ms. Bhaduri, Mr. Bhardwaj,Mr. Chabbra , Mr. R.S Chauhan, Mrs Dubey, Mrs. Duggal, Late Mr. Mukund Ekbote, Mrs. June Fernandez, Mr. C.P. Gupta, Late Mr. T. K. Janin, Mrs. Kabadia, Mr. I. Kansal, Mrs. Kapoor, Mrs. N.Kapur, Mrs Kashyap, Mr. K.K. Katyal, Mrs. Kaul, Mrs. Prem Krishnan, Mrs. Mohan, Mrs. Renu Malhotra , Mrs. Mattu, Mr. Pathak(Now Dr.!!), Mr. A.V.R. Rao, Late Mr. K.L.Sharma, Mr R.S. Srivastva, MR. Tabrez, Dr. R.C. Tewari , Mr. V.K. Varma and Mrs. Virmani.

Clearly one of the more popular teachers Mr. U.S. Arora has a fan in Atul Sharma of the 1990 batch who thinks that of all his memories the “most memorable are the classes of our class teachers Mr. USA (oops! I could not, study a single word of physics because 90% of the time I used to laugh at his jokes in the class…)”

For Vineet Verma of the 1977 batch it was family affair with “Mrs. Lamba, the Maths teacher. I understand that she taught my younger brother, Suneet Verma (of ’80 batch) and my sister Geetika Varma (of 82’ batch) and beat up all three of us!!!”

Chak Resh, class of 1969 remembers Principal Din Dayal very well and holds him responsible for making DPS a unique school. “Things that are disappearing from all societies, respect for all shown and practiced in my time. The democratic running of the school with features such as Students’ Council, absolutely equal participation for boys and girls”.

Christel Stevens, who was some sort of an exchange teacher has this to say about his time in DPS-“ I assisted music teacher Phoebe Carvalho in teaching western Music during 1980-1982 at Mathura Road. My favourite memory was teaching jazz music and dance after school to some great kids who probably went on to fame and glory”.

Vikram Dutt of the 1967 batch who is currently a specialist in working with persons with disabilities recalls his time in DPS as “wonderful; the greatest all I have accomplished, and by the grace of God, it is not wholly inadequate, is due to DPS”. Ravinder Singh of the class of 1968 writes “Fond memories of Din Dayal walking through the corridors, cane in hand Mr. Khosla straining to order us into attention; Mrs. Loomba who I was secretly in love with” Kumud Ajmani of the class of 1982, currently a research engineer at NASA Lewis Research Center engaged in Computational Fluid Dynamics for rocket engine design, sends” a salute to all the teachers who had a role in shaping me into what I am today. Particularly Ms. Preeti Mookerjee- Mehra (English), Mrs. Mazumdar(Biology), Mr. Avatar Singh (Maths), Mr.Chabbra(Physics) and the incomparable Dr. Tewari (Chemistry)-thanks for the foundation !”And then there are students like Sreenivas Rao of the class of 1975who gleefully recall” the chemical explosion and the overheated bottle of ammonia”.

Then there are some students who prove their teachers wrong like Shekhar Tewatia of the 1989 batch ,currently a software engineer with CGN & associates ,who remembers being “advised by the staff of the computer center not to take my computer science exam so that they could have a good result to show”. Natesh C. Mohan of the class of 1963 adds, “Most of all, I remember Mrs. Sen gupta ,the then Assistant Principal Being most surprised that I passed the ISC in the first division.”

Athar All Khan, 1983 batch presently Regional Sales Manager, American Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, mails, “My English teachers, Mrs. Subbarayan who promised I was going to fail my English Board exam; and then I was one ot the few who received a distinction in English.

“Akif Sultan of the class of 1982 remembers “Once a trainee teacher cried in our class with tears running down her cheeks. Another teacher caught one student hitting him with a piece of chalk. He walked in rage to the student with the duster in his hand, but changed his mind on the way, and said, "Why don't you hit me with this". Some teachers are life savers too................

Rajarshi Sen of the 1980 batch remembers one such incident, when her class teacher, Mr. Baweja saved the entire class from receiving the disastrous 'Yellow card'. Here's what she has to say -'while in class XII, a mass bunk was organised during SUPW class. Around 50 students decided to watch 'God Father' at Archana, a theater in Greater Kailash.

Somehow, the high-ups got wind of it, a group of prefects led by Mr. Rao decided to hand the wrong doers a yellow card at the entrance of the theater'. Luckily, she was saved when Mr. Baweja summoned her at recess, and warned her of impending doom. She was given a school pass and told to sell the tickets.

Bunking surely rates as the favourite activity cutting across almost 4 decades ! While the older students talk of Sunder Nagar, Sweets Corner and Pat Tate's as their favourite hangouts, the later students swear by the holy Trinity of Priya, Chanakya and PVR ! Tejinder Singh of the 1992 batch talks nonchalantly of his buddies and him bunking. He also describes the girls first bunk"... the first time the girls in my class.... decided to bunk class Smrithi, Alpana, Roopali.... they were so scared that they might get caught that they sat in the ladies' toilet the whole period while we boys were playing volleyball. It was the biggest laugh we could have had..."

Bimal Agarwal of the 1991 batch talks of "US Arora, mad after our Jong bunking sessions. Bagga, trying to cover up our bunking classes as a monitor." Vijay Barnabas of the class of 1977 clearly recalls" Skipping classes on the pretext of having to edit Dipscol or go to orchestra practice." Rajiv Soni of the 1976 batch writes of "bunking and getting caught despite being a PSC in 1976." Jumping the school walls is an activity which all students took part in with each succeeding batch getting better and better at it! In fact, Amit Verma, class of 1986 seems to have spent more time at Nirula's in Chanakya and Sunder Nagar.

As expected our teachers were more than a match for us students as they gave as good as they got.

Sanjeev Sharma of the class of 1983 remembers the 'cards'- the red card, the blue card and the yellow card but is quick to add that he "never got one!" Me thinks the gentleman doth protest too much. Raj Dhir of the 1964 batch is still protesting his innocence when he remembers. "Mr. Din Dayal's whipping - no fault of mine !" Vinod Kumar of the 1977 batch remembers" being caught by DOPE when trying to put stones in Guruji's Harmonium near the assembly stage. My knuckles still pain - Ouch!" Getting external memos was another form of revenge that the teachers used till its later futility resulted in its disappearance by the 1990s.

When skipping out of school became difficult, our resourceful students stayed near the school while exercising their right to bunk classes. The older generation talks of skipping classes and avoiding teachers by hanging around in the ruins while the later batch had a huge campus to avoid teachers in ! "Hanging around the water cooler" as Somik Lall of the 1989 batch puts it. Sanjay Gupta of the 1988 batch talks of "watching movies in the room next to the XII A class which had a TV and VCR in it." Playing "dusterball" during break, watching girls play basketball, reading comics and Hardy boys below the desk in the rear benches, all add to the average student's extracurricular activities.

Another favourite place of all Dipsites was the canteen in the lunch break (and even in other periods !). Students remember 25 paise samosas at the canteen, standing in the long queue to get a hot dog at Pat Tates, bunking classes to eat a burger at Pat-Tates, the guy who sold fresh pineapples, memories of buying 'kamrack' and 'ber' from the junior school grounds, the kites which snatched sandwiches from their hands at break, checking out babes in the lunch hour and horse fighting at lunch break. Amit Verma from the 1979 batch talks of finishing his lunch before the third period. Well, apparently times haven't changed much-half the school still thinks that the appropriate time for eating one's tiffin is before the lunch break.

The older students especially remember the tents which constituted the school during their time (back in the Ice Age !) Amar Jeet Sharma of the 1963 batch reminisces about the 'leaking tents' which gave bonus holidays in the monsoon. Dhruv Shankar who graduated in 1970 remembers starting school in tents and moving on to buildings later. Anil Kumar of the same batch even talks of the occasional fire that burnt the classrooms down. Whew ! Talk about an exciting day at school.

Dipsites always lent a helping hand to the institution during fund raising events starting from the days when the school needed a swimming pool till a few years ago when a nursery wing was added to the school. Akif Sultan of the 1982 batch recalls "walking to Defence Colony to sell tickets for the fete". Sandeep Maheshwari of the 1975 batch remembers "organizing lot of fetes to raise funds for the Swimming Pool at the Mathura Road branch. "As does V. Ramachandran of the 1973 batch. Swati Dogra of the batch of 1998 remembers "selling tickets for the dance-drama in Khan Market to help raise money for the new nursery block". Venkatesh Raju, who graduated in 1980 remembers trying desperately to sell fete tickets at movie theatres.

Often enough whole families were admitted to DPS with the result a huge part of our alumni consists of people from the same families. Akshara Pradhan of the 1998 batch admits to come from a "DPS family" as "my mother's entire family of five went to DPS and I have grown up listening to my aunts and uncles talk of DPS and my brother too is a Dipsite." Mani Sitaraman of the of 1975 batch admits having "borrowed DPS memories from my brothers Kuppu Sitaraman (1963), Seenu (1966) and indeed cousin Leela Subramaniam (1955 ish !) "Vimal Chopra of the batch of 1982 believes that "I could never dissociate myself; now both my kids, daughter and son go to DPS Rohini". Vinod Kumar "was recently there at the fete and it was great fun taking my 7 year old son who is in DPS Vasant Vihar around."

Rakesh Mathur who graduated in 1976 writes, "I'm presently the General Secretary of the Dipsites Association. It is always a pleasure to go back to the school". Arun Gupta, class of 1977, adds "I've managed to stay in touch with two of my friends from DPS Mathura Road - Vijay and Bimal. These relationships have now spanned more than 25 years. Whenever we meet or talk, the conversation invariably turns to our school which just goes to show what a deep impact our school years had on us. My wife is a Dipsite too (R.K. Puram) and my son goes to DPS, East of Kailash". "You can never out grow a school like DPS", Ashit Kumar. He passed out in 1981.

For those of you who can't get enough of DPS, watch out for these new best sellers soon to hit the stands ! Kumud Ajmani of the 1982 class thinks "I could (and probably should !) write a book on all that I remember". Ajeet Mathur of the class of 1972 believes that it "would take a book to write all my memories" and asks us to "wait for my memoirs".

The webpages also reveal some startlingly pithy phrase and apt summaries. Sudhanshu Bankata of the 1990 batch hits the nail on the head when he says that "School was all about wonderful friends and a secure environment where the unfolding of the next day did not weigh heavily on one's mind. Teachers who always made it a point to target me as I used to target them ! This is a testimony to the fact that even fun loving students can study at the same time, make merry and go on to save lives. Rakesh Dogra, class of 1977 gets nostalgic about his days at DPS, when he says that 'studying here for 12 years was a great experience'. He echoes a common feeling with his realization that one values the DPS experience more when one is out of it. Jasdeep Singh of the 1986 batch believes that over the world, no institution can match upto DPS, which 'prepares you for the real world'. He believes that at DPS, an optimum combination of studies, sports and discipline helps mould a person. Anish M. Wig thanks DPS for something else - "his wife whom he met in class XI". Sandeep Israni of the 1987 batch sums up his time in DPS as the "Biggest Party of my Life" while Davinder Vacher of the class of 1958 succinctly sums up DPS life in his time as "tents, dust and heat".

Getting together: DIPSITE Round Table-
22 September 1999: Reliving the past

If you think the students' comments are fun, then take a look at the teacher who took a break from teaching and marking examination papers to fill in a comment. From one of our favourite teachers - U.S. Arora (Senior Teacher, Physics, DPS Mathura Road since 1980), comes this humorous yet sincere note. "My warm and affectionate hello to all those who remember their teachers - thank you all for re-living that sweet gone-by era which you spent with us in the school. If anyone of you requires any service from DPS Mathura Road (except things from the canteen and the like) please feel free to e-mail me.... consider it as a part of 'After-Sale-Service', read as a 'token-of-rememberance' from my side."

The perfect end to this compilation would be a comment from Rajesh Mohan of the class of 1982 who firmly believes that "We were, are and will be the best in Delhi, India and the world I!!!" Heck who's arguing ?

Compiled by
Akshara Pradhan