Schools come alive with the spirit of patriotism

A ceremonial parade, pageantry, patriotic songs, dance recitals and other cultural programmes marked the Republic Day celebrations at MES Indian School yesterday. The function was held in the open-air auditorium from 7.30am.

B M Sidhique, chief guest and president of the MES governing body, hoisted the Indian tricolour. “As sons of the soil, it is our prime duty to dedicate ourselves for the prosperity of our nation and the welfare of its people, apart from being inspired by the great freedom fighters who have laid down their lives in the course of their relentless battle for the noble cause of the growth and progress of the nation,” Sidhique said in his keynote address.

“We must re-dedicate ourselves on this day to the peaceful but sure realisation of the dream that had inspired the freedom fighters to establish a classless, co-operative, free, happy and cultured society.”

Students carried the national flag with much pride as the campus came alive with the spirit of patriotism.

Assistant head girl Sai Spandana welcomed the gathering while assistant head boy Suhail Suhair proposed a vote of thanks. Head boy Mohamed Irfan and head girl Irene Abraham compered the ceremony.

The attendees included principal A P Sasidharan, senior school officials, teachers, students, parents and members of various socio-cultural organisations, among others.

Ideal Indian School president Hassan Kunhi M P hoisted the national flag at 8am in a ceremony organised to mark the Republic Day.

In his address, the school president said India had come a long way in the past six decades and achieved a lot compared to other developing countries, particularly in industry, education and healthcare. He called upon students to contribute to the process of making the nation stronger and build an India that has religious tolerance, better human rights conditions and no corruption.

Assistant head boy Mizan Ali Jaffer welcomed the gathering. In his speech, Class X student Surya Narayanan urged the youth to live up to the traditions of their country and work for her betterment. The school choir, meanwhile, performed a patriotic song.

Sana Shanavas of Class X proposed a vote of thanks. Shyla Jose, head of the English department, compered the event.

Staff members, students, vice-president Syed Abdul Hye and principal Syed Shoukath Ali were among those who took part in the celebrations.

A colourful ceremony marked the Republic Day celebrations at Doha Modern Indian School. The scouts and guides of the school unfurled the Indian tricolour and the students paid glorious tributes to the martyrs of the freedom movement. The highlights of the programme included a dance recital, “Vande Mataram”. The scouts and guides also read out the famous quotes of Sarojini Naidu and the “Tryst with Destiny” speech delivered by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to mark India’s independence.

The director of schools, Jayashankar Pillai, took the salute and highlighted the importance of patriotism. Pillai reminded the audience of the contributions of the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh and B R Ambedkar.  He congratulated the students, teachers and parents and wished them a Happy Republic Day.

Bhavan’s Public School celebrated the Republic Day by organising a ceremony on its Wakrah campus. Acting chairman and chief guest of the function, J K Menon, hoisted the tricolour even as students carried out a march-past to mark the occasion.

School principal Dr G Manulal welcomed the gathering and spoke on the importance of the day. The Republic Day message was delivered by school president Saleem Ponnambath, who said Indians had to uphold all the values mentioned in the constitution. He also stressed that citizens of India had to first bring a transformation at home before focusing on the larger society.

Students staged a cultural programme and spread the message of patriotism through dance and music. Meghana Pannikotte of Class VII said: “It is not the external evils that we have to fight, but the evils within us, if we want to strengthen our nation.” 

Headmistress Prabhavathy Nambiar proposed a vote of thanks. The Indian flag was also hoisted at the Matar Qadeem complex of Bhavan’s School by vice-chairman R O Abdul Kader.

DPS-Modern Indian School celebrated the day amid much patriotic fervour on its premises at Wakrah.

Azim Abbas, chief guest and director of transport, hoisted the tricolour. This was followed by a cultural programme in the auditorium with speeches by Abbas and school principal Asna Nafees.

The other attractions included inspirational songs by the school choir, a science exhibition featuring innovative projects by students from classes VI to XII and “The English Corner” – an initiative by future linguists that turned out to be quite interactive and informative.

At Birla Public School, the flag was hoisted by chairman C V Rappai at 7.30am. After that, the school choir performed the national anthem and patriotic songs.

In his speech, Rappai stressed the “trials and tribulations of the great leaders” and also appealed to teachers to inculcate moral and ethical values in youngsters to “make them responsible citizens of this world”.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Sindhu Manoj (HM – activities). Sweets were then distributed among the students and their parents.

The management, staff and students of Shantiniketan Indian School celebrated the spirit of patriotism with a function held on the institute’s premises. Committee member Mohamed Iqbal hoisted the tricolour and spoke on the importance of the day. Students then performed patriotic songs.

School principal A P Mohamed Ismail and headmaster Shihabudheen Pulath were among those who attended the ceremony.

Tomorrow, students of the school will stage a cultural extravaganza to highlight India’s culture, tradition and customs.