Welham Girls’ School 66th Founders’ Day Celebrations
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 29 Oct: The All-India women’s topper of 1987 Civil Services batch, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Organisation, New York, and first lady diplomat from India to assume this position, presided over the Welham Girls’ School’s 66th Founders’ Day celebrations on Saturday.
Kamboj started her diplomatic journey in France and has served as Chief of Protocol, permanent Representative of India to UNESCO, High Commissioner of India to South Africa and Indian Ambassador to Bhutan through the course of her diplomatic journey. She has several OpEds to her credit, in different newspapers and magazines, on a diverse range of topics.
Chief Guest Kamboj also addressed the gathering. She shared her own poignant story mentioning how her father’s dream to see her as a diplomat became her driving ambition in life. She said, “It never mattered that I was not endowed with special signs of genius…the secret of life is that, if you really want something in life, there is nothing that should stop you. Intelligence, attitudes and aptitude are meaningless in the face of someone who knows what they want. All it requires is to chase your dream with uncompromising passion.” She exhorted the students to be unstoppable and constant in their dreams, find a purpose and not stop to chase it till infinity.
True to the school’s traditions, the Awards given out were not just to recognise marks alone or achievements in sports, etc., but to extol those qualities which build a person’s character – Good Citizenship, Helpfulness, Creativity, Compassion, Community Service and leadership. The King Constantine Medal, presented by Round Square to exceptional individuals of member schools who have done unusual and outstanding work within their local or school community was presented to Avika Mantri for conceptualising and spear-heading the ROOH service project.
‘Long Service Awards’ were also presented to four Support Staff Members for having served the institution for 25 years.
Also present were former Principal, Jyotsna Brar, and Vice Principal Gita Sharma as well as many old staff members.
With ‘Param Pravaah’ – A Musical Odyssey, students of the school established through a miscellany of music, dance and songs the blending of India’s traditional wisdom with modern progress, innovation, and a forward-looking approach. The Param Pravaah or Supreme Flow guided the audience through a journey focusing on India’s historical legacy, diverse traditions, intellectual contributions to various fields, democratic values, economic and scientific progress and its resilience as a nation. Diksha Garg, Anuj Garg and Anuj Bhargav, renowned music directors and composers, helped the school put up this main production.
The former Chairman of the PwC India Foundation and the President of the Board of Governors of Welham Girls’ School, Deepak Kapoor, shared the dais along with Neelu Khanna, Jayant Krishna, Renu Basu and Sangeeta Kain, Principal, Welham Boys’ School, along with other current and new members of the School Board.
