SPEECH OF HON’BLE GOVERNOR PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT TO BE DELIVERED ON THE 62ND FOUNDERS’ DAY FUNCTION OF THE PUNJAB PUBLIC SCHOOL, NABHA SCHEDULED ON 21 OCTOBER 2022 AT 12.15

I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to The Punjab Public School, Nabha on the 62nd Founders’ Day Celebrations.

It gives me immense delight to be on the campus of The Punjab Public School. It is a great feeling to see highly disciplined and smartly turned out boys and girls of this institution; and it is quite satisfying to see parents turning up in huge numbers to be part of the 62nd Founders’ Day celebrations of the school.

It is my singular distinct honour to act as the Chairman of the School Board of Governors. I am told the school has been ranked No. 9 in Co-Ed Boarding Schools category in Education World India School Rankings (2021-22) and No. 1 in Punjab. I am also told the school has produced excellent Board results both for ICSE and ISC over the years.

Congratulations team PPS Nabha! You have made us all proud.

I believe that the strength of any educational institution can be gauged from the achievements of its ex-students. In this field Punjab Public School has out shone many of the other prestigious institutions of the country.

The very fact the school has produced a galaxy of top ranking Officers in the Armed Forces and top-notch professionals in various other fields shows the inherent strength of the school and the vision and direction given by the founding fathers of the School.

Friends,

The youth with quality & character form the backbone of any nation , they have to be in the forefront for every activity related to national development. Given the hostile environment in our neighbourhood and the present world order, the responsibility of the youth has grown manifold.

However, despite the technological advancement, physical endurance still factors in very strongly. It simply cannot be disregarded or wished away. Infact, the recent pandemic made us realise the importance of immunity that can only be ensured if we persist with physical activity.

I firmly believe that there is no better opportunity to cultivate the culture of physical well-being than the budding years of one’s life in school . It is my appeal to staff to continue such activities and further enlarge their scope.

And the students must enthusiastically take up sports orany form of exercise which appeals to them and build a healthy lifestyle.

It is the bane of modern, competitive education that students are often constrained ot the four-walls of the classroom in the name of academics.

Classroom programmes must be ably supplemented with active participation in co-curricular activities.

There is a saying that “The Battle of Waterloo was won in the playing field of Eton ”. India’s tomorrows are shaped in the crucibies of great schools, in their classrooms, games fields as in the well as in the co-curricular activities.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

It is indeed true that schooling lays the most important foundation for a student’s academic and professional excellence in later years . But more importantly, the time that the children spend in school during their formative years shapes their personality and moulds their character. This becomes the biggest determinant in not only the individual’s success at a personal level – but is also the key to build model citizenry that can take the country forward.

The schools must focus on value-based, holistic education that brings out the greatest potential and the highest virtues from each student. Remember, education without values is no education at all.

Schools should take the lead in meeting the moral challenges of our times and reset our moral compass, ensuring that our civilizational values of love for motherland; performance of duty; compassion for all; tolerance for pluralism; respect for women and elderly; truth and honesty in life; discipline and self-restraint in conduct, and responsibility in action are fully entrenched in the young minds.

Swami Vivekananda believed that education should build character. He once observed, "Education is not the amount of information that we put into the brain……… We must have life building, man making and character making assimilation of ideas . If you have assimilated five ideas and made them your life and character, you have more education than any man who has got by heart a whole library…….”.

We must be conscious that the outcome of our education system will be measured not merely by the number of degree holders, but in the large number of informed citizens that we create – enlightened citizens, who respect humanism and instinctively rise above narrow feelings of hatred, regionalism, violence, divisiveness; and contribute gainfully to a better, stronger and vibrant India.

I urge the students in the audience to stride onto paths of life with a positive attitude and strong spirit. Besides training and education, what will keep you in good stead is strength of character, mind and purpose.

Mahatma Gandhi spoke about seven sins that we should beware of. These seven sins are:

§ Wealth without work

§ Pleasure without conscience,

§ Knowledge without character,

§ Commerce without morality,

§ Science without humanity,

§ Religion without sacrifice and

§ Politics without principle.

I would also like you to remember that knowledge should be always used in the service of the people and society.

And have empathy for your fellow human beings. You have to learn to be grounded in your approach and perfect in your demeanour. This can materialize, if you look at everything from the perspective of another individual as well. You need to contemplate if any action of yours might have an adverse impact on your fellow beings.

Her comes in Gandhi’s talisman: whenever you are in doubt, apply the following test: Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destiny? Then you will find your doubts and your self melting away.

Dear students, this is what you have to be like. What adds to your value is not the position of authority or the money you earn, but whether you could feel for the fellow beings when they were suffering. A loving glance, a helping hand and a word of encouragement can work wonders. The world is in need of such men and women. It is my earnest desire that you enrich yourself with the value system. This alone will take you far in life.

Children, we are celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, 75 years of India’s Independence. But, 25 years from now in the Amrit Kaal when we will be celebrating the 100 years of our Independence, the role of all of you will be very important you will be the leaders, the doctors, the engineers, the entrepreneurs, the scientists who will be running the state-of-affairs.

So, it is very important that right from your school – years you learn to put premium on ethics and human & Constitutional values like empathy, respect for others, cleanliness, courtesy, democratic spirit, spirit of service, respect for public property, scientific temper, liberty, responsibility, pluralism, equality and justice.

Late Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru often said, “If India is to be a great nation, it must begin in her classrooms.

Finally, I would like to compliment the Roll of Honour Awardee Shri Suman Kant Munjal. I would also like to compliment and appreciate the Lifetime Achievement Awardee Shri Pritam Singh Gill for his dedicated service to the School.

I am told that this school has to its credit a large number ofalumni who have made it to the Armed Forces, civil services, public life, business, journalism, medicine and other professions. I am sure that the school will continue to achieve greater heights, propelled by its motto “Onward and Upward”.

I wish the school the very best for the future and I convey my best wishes to the Board of Governors, the Headmaster, staff and students.

I also wish you a very happy Deepawali and a prosperous 2023.

Thank you,

Jai Hind.