The Yearbook 2011_The Doon School

The Yearbook 2011

CONTENTS Curriculum: In the Class Room Academics Art Creative Writing Drama Hindi Music

Curriculum: Activities Committees Publications Clubs & Societies Spare Time Activities IAYP Expedition Student Exchange

Curriculum: Social Service Serving the Community in Doon Community Service Round Square Conferences Round Square International Service

Staff Founder’s Curriculum: Sports House Reports Special Section Sc Leavers In The Making

Editorial T

he Yearbook is an anomaly when we look at any other publication that the School can boast of. Every year, we only have one shot at perfection, one attempt to engage our Dosco readership. As an editorial board, we can never bounce back the next week or the next term. The pressure has always been on us, but year after year, we have managed to direct the high expectations into a publication that every Dosco treasures for a long time to come.

For the two of us, The Yearbook has occupied more time and space in our school lives than any other co-curricular activity. Quite obviously, our last Yearbook has been an endless pursuit for perfection. Every Yearbook attempts to surpass its predecessor’s achievements, and ever since the reins were handed over to the two of us, we have tried to emulate that ideology.

Thus, a need to innovate has always persisted in our minds. As each year provides a fresh dose of matter, each Yearbook must provide something that is invigorating to its readers. The various nuances that accompany a Yearbook must be altered into something that reflects a new colour, just as each year entitles itself to something unique.

While The Yearbook must remain the same, quintessentially, each new version has to make itself easily distinguishable. Our special section has been constructed keeping these principles in mind.

The Doon School has been part of an India that has undergone turbulent changes in the last 76 years. In our constantly evolving world, The Doon School has always managed to adapt to the passage of time. However, certain constants have had to be maintained; and this Yearbook has brought these long lasting traditions, tangible items passed through the years, into the limelight. We have encapsulated figures of cult icons, mirrors that don’t seem to go opaque and ties that have maintained the perfect knot through the years.

Of course, every Dosco, every master and the support staff have been captured thanks to our adept photographers. We still have the school captain pictures, the same house pictures and the extensive coverage on our Sc Leavers. Some things never change and a necessity to maintain our structure has prevented us from drifting off into unnecessary dimensions.

It seems only yesterday we were stacking up chairs after a long day of photography where every Dosco had managed to fit himself in front of the lens at least once. And it certainly never seemed the day would come where we would begin to pen our editorial for our final Yearbook, our swansong to the publication from which we have had much to gain.

- Eeshat Tiwary and Arjun Khaitan

From The Headmaster B

Dr Peter McLaughlin

eing one of the great schools of the world, almost every year that passes at The Doon School is an extraordinary twelve months. In 2011, as the pages of this Yearbook attest, Doon continued to forge ahead and meet the new challenges facing the School and the nation as a whole. It was fitting, then, that at a time of change, stress and strain in the world and in India, and in the microcosm of the nation that we represent, our Chief Guest at the Founder’s Day was His Holiness, The Dalai Lama. When I was at an international conference of school headmasters last October, a number of them were talking about the difficulties of finding special guests for their equivalents of our Founder’s. When I told them our list of guest speakers for DS75, which included a President, a King, a clutch of ministers and various other national figures and luminaries, they found it hard to believe, and when I told them who would be speaking to us in 2011, they refused to believe it. I think that at times we take for granted how special the School is in this respect. At a time when the world is suffering an existential crisis and even a crisis of existence, the presence of the Dalai Lama demonstrated to us the vital importance of our leaders having at the core of their beings genuine spiritual values. Here was a man who has no armies, no massive GDP at his disposal to use to influence or intimidate, and yet he is probably the most revered and respected leader on Earth today. To have him speak to the School under the trees outside the Rose Bowl is one of the more important moments in our history, something many of us will appreciate fully only in the years ahead if and when he turns out to be not only the fourteenth but also the last Dalai Lama. Furthermore, His Holiness was also one of the easiest guests a school could be blessed with; he has no ego and VVIP culture means nothing to him at a time when leaders around the globe are becoming ever more puffed up with their own importance and reflect their vanity in their luxurious and extravagant flaunting of their power while their peoples suffer. For me, one of the proudest moments of 2011 was when the Dalai Lama spoke to several thousand of his own people who had waited patiently for hours outside Chandbagh to catch just a glimpse of their divine spiritual leader. We invited them into the area next to Tata House, near Asia’s largest rubber tree, for an unscheduled audience; His Holiness spent half an hour with them, and their gratitude to The Doon School is eternal. This was a fine example of community service at its most meaningful.

Back down to earth on Main Field, for me another great privilege in 2011 was living through a Grand Slam. Not all Doon School Headmasters have had that opportunity in their tenures, so I am very grateful that I was able to feel that special atmosphere that surrounds one of the Houses winning this coveted trophy. It never became boring, but it did become routine for Jaipur to win an extraordinary number of inter-house competitions, including the core ones for the Grand Slam, cricket, hockey and soccer. But what made me prouder still was the reaction of the rest of the School; they were genuinely full of admiration and respect for Jaipur House and pleased for the School as a whole that in our time a Grand Slam had been achieved. Their response says a great deal about the strong traditions of true sportsmanship at Doon. The same applied to the gathering of almost the whole School to witness Tushar Gupta breaking the School record for the high jump, one of the most technically difficult of all athletic feats, for the second year running.

The SC Form of 2011 shattered other records as well. Although they found the challenge of meeting the cutoffs for Indian universities, which soared to absurd and nerve-wracking new heights in May-June 2011, as well as worldwide competition for places abroad, very stressful and disturbing, they rose to it. The overseas college placement record was the best at undergraduate level in the School’s history; Doon has always sent boys to elite universities, but the breadth and depth of the offers was truly astounding. The School Captain, Vihan Khanna, was simultaneously offered places by Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Dartmouth and UPenn, Georgetown, Duke and others, another ‘grand slam’ for 2011, this time in the academic arena. Besides his prodigious intellect, perhaps his close proximity to the Dalai Lama on the podium at Founder’s conferred a special blessing on him! Other boys excelled with their college placements to make this a gala year at undergraduate level. The batch, having set a new record for ICSE when they were in Class X, then went on to produce record Doon School results in their final ISC examinations, with Raghav Puri (also of Jaipur!) attaining 98.5% and topping the entire Dehradun education hub and district.

Despite all these extraordinary achievements, 2011 was in other ways a more normal and ordinary year for me: no swine flu outbreak, no security scares to deal with, and DS 75 behind us. We also brought to a temporary halt the plethora of construction projects that had meant that the SC Form had never seen the School without extensive areas cordoned off by barricading. Before they left, I wanted them, and the rest of the boys to be able to enjoy Chandbagh in all its pristine glory. The absence of major interruptions into the School’s routines gave me the time and space to work with the Board of Governors on completing the School development plan for the decade ahead. The educational landscape in India is changing so fast that those schools that stand still will wither and be left far behind the aggressive new challengers on the school scene. It must be remembered that Doon was once a new school and within thirty years Arthur Foot, John Martyn, the masters and boys had placed it firmly at the summit of Indian secondary education, displacing schools that are now 150 years old, and more.

The pages of this Yearbook are a testimony to how the School is responding to the challenges of twenty-first century India in a global society. Our vision for the next decade is for “India’s top school taking up its rightful place alongside the great schools of the world”, and our mission is “to attract and develop exceptional boys and masters from every background to serve a meritocratic India; to transform boys into educated men; inspire them to be just and ethical citizens; train them to be wise and principled leaders; and prepare them to enter one of the strongest fraternities for life”.

All those who lived and worked through 2011 can be justly proud of the contribution they have made to launching this mission, and to making this a unique and truly extraordinary institution that will endure and prosper. Congratulations to all those who made this a vintage year for Doon, and to the editorial board of this Yearbook for their excellent commitment and endeavour in producing this edition.

Academics

Academic Council

Knowledge Bank

Sitting (L to R): Mr Ajit Bajaj, Mr Vinay Pande, Mr Philip Burrett, Dr Peter McLaughlin, Mr Prabhakaran Nair, Mr Piyush Malviya, Dr Arvindanabha Shukla Standing (L to R): Mrs Priya Chaturvedi, Mr Rahul Luther, Mrs Namrata Pandey, Mr Debasish Chakrabarty, Mr Ambikesh Shukla, Mr Rajesh Majumdar, Mr Pankaj Joshi

At the heart of every outstanding school is the commitment to academic achievement and effort from the pupils, staff, parents and Board of Governors. The Doon School is no different. Whilst public examination results are only one means of assessing the quality of teaching and learning in a school, they do have a very significant part to play in the preparation of each boy for his professional life beyond school.

Indian Certificate of Secondary Education The Doon School produced record results in the ICSE in 2012 with boys taking the School through the 90+% mark for the first time. Manas Poddar topped the School with an average of 97.2%.

This year, 66% of the boys achieved an average of 90%, which has been the highest the School has ever recorded.

Below 90%

Above 90%

Indian School Certificate In 2012, the batch produced record results with a School average of 87.98%.

Raghav Puri topped the School with an average of 98.25%. His grades have taken him to one of the best colleges in the country, SRCC, Delhi University. Nipun Batra and Tushar Khurana got the second highest marks with an average of 98%. Nipun Batra was also awarded the Indian Government Education Scholarship, which is a scholarship awarded to high scoring students who have chosen to pursue science at University.

59% of the batch achieved 90% or more; this is the cutoff for admissions to the better colleges under Delhi University. Many of our SC-Leavers qualified.

The Batch of 2012 has received stunning offers for further studies. Many boys have been admitted to reputed colleges in Delhi University and Mumbai University. Our boys have received offers from institutions such as Cornell University, Harvard University, Georgetown University in the USA, St Andrews and Exeter in the UK, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Hong Kong, Queens University and McGill University in Canada to name but a few. A very pleasing number of boys received scholarships, at home as well as abroad.

Below 90%

Above 90%

International Baccalaureate The Batch of 2012 achieved record results in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme with an average of 35 grades.

The world-wide average was 29.83 grades.

Piroune Balachandran topped the School with a score of 43 grades. He has chosen to study at the top liberal arts college, Williams College, USA. 59% of the class scored 35 grades or more. These scores enabled the boys to dominate the highest echelons of university and college offers. Boys achieved an outstanding array of offers from Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford, Duke, Dartmouth College, Williams College and University of Chicago in the US, including a scholarship at Princeton University, the Huntsman Program at University of Pennsylvania and a free first year at Harvard University.

Offers were also made by the top Russell Group universities in the UK such as the London School of Economics, University College London, King’s College London, Bristol University, Durham University and University of Edinburgh as well as top offers from Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Below 35 grades

Above 35 grades

Painting by Ateendra Pande

Art

Art Department

Straight out of the pallette

Sitting (L to R): Mr Lawanshaiba Kharmawalong, Mr Anupam Chowdhury, Mr Arnab Mukherjee, Mrs Mohua Bhowmick, Mr Aloke Tirtha Bhowmick, Mr Sanjib Kalsi, Mr Tapan Barui, Lalu Ram, Kishan Lal Kashyap Standing (L to R): Kishore Burman, Anand, Vinod

In School, Art is not only an activity but also a popular subject on the academic front. This year twenty eight boys opted for Art as a subject in ISC and ICSE. The boys have performed well in the examinations this year, scoring an average of 87% in the ISC and 89% in the ICSE. The average IB grade in the subject was 6.5 out of 7, which is commendable.

Various workshops have been conducted to expose students to different forms of art Fourteen artists from Dehradun city and Art boys from B-Form to Sc Form took part in this Art workshop of local artists.

Mr. Sumanta Banerjee gave a lecture to the Art boys and guests on “Film as a Visual Medium in Society”.

Prof. Sumitabha Pal of Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan conducted a Dokra (metal work) Art workshop with the help of two traditional artists from Bengal.

Dr. Negi conducted a Photography Workshop at the Art school for Art and Photography boys.

Prof. Prasun Kanti Bhattacharya of Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan, conducted a Textile Art workshop in February 2012.

Mr. Arindam Bhaduri conducted an Art workshop on Photoshop for the Art subject boys and publications boys in May 2012.

Careers Department

Hidden ‘Ivy’s’

Sitting (L to R): Mr Vijay Kumar, Ms Prachi Nagalia, Mrs Namrata Pandey, Dr Harold Snedcof, Ms Sonia

2010-2011 has been another very successful year for the School in terms of university and college offers at home and abroad. The department has launched new initiatives, seen visits out and visitors in and supported the academic programmes e.g. Options at 16+ and Options at 14+. It has prepared boys for university entrance via the PSAT, SAT and supported training for IITs and Law preparation for CLAT. Department publications, a steady stream of visiting universities, individually and as fairs and presentations by professionals about their chosen careers all support the careers curriculum in School.

Top Offers for 2012 India SRCC, Delhi Hindu College, Delhi Ramjas College, Delhi Sri Venkateshwara College, Delhi Sushant College of Architecture, Gurgaon Kirori Mal College, Delhi St Xavier’s, Mumbai HR College, Mumbai VS Dental College, Bangalore Christ University, Bangalore JD Birla College, Kolkata FLAME, Pune Symbiosis College, Pune

Australia University of Melbourne

Hong Kong Hong Kong University Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

Canada Brock University Carleton University McGill University McMaster University Queen’s University University of Alberta University of British Columbia University of Toronto University of Waterloo

Singapore La Salle College of Music & Art Singapore Management University National University of Singapore

United Kingdom

Canada USA

Hong Kong India Singapore Australia

United Kingdom City University, London Durham University King’s College, London London School of Economics Loughborough University University of Southampton University College, London University of Bath University of Birmingham University of Bristol Cardiff University University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Lancaster University of Manchester University of Sheffield University of St. Andrew’s University of Surrey University of Warwick University of York

USA Babson College Bard College Bentley College Boston University Boston College Brandeis University Bryant University Carnegie Melon University Chapman University Claremont McKenna College Colby College Cornell University Dartmouth College Denison University DePaul University Drexel University Duke University Emory University Florida institute of Technology Furman University Georgia Institute of Technology Georgetown University Guilford College

Harvard University Hamilton University Indiana University-Bloomington Ithaca College Johns Hopkins University Lafayette College Loyola Marymount University Macalester College New York University New York Film Academy Northeastern University Northwestern University Pomona College Princeton University Pitzer College Purdue University Rose Hulman Institute of Technology Skidmore College Stanford University Syracuse University Texas Christian University (TCU) Trinity College Tufts University

University of Chicago University of California- Berkeley University of California Los Angeles University of California San Diego University of Chicago University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Massachusetts Boston University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill University of Pennsylvania University of Rochester University of Texas- Austin Union College (New York) University of Virginia Vanderbilt University Vassar College Washington University of St. Louis Williams College Wesleyan College

This year boys have gone on to study a diverse range of courses and subject combinations which include: Economics, Engineering, Medicine, Law, Business Management and Communication, History, Film, Art, English, Maths, Physics, Accountancy, Philosophy, Architecture, Entrepreneurship, Computer Science and History of Art. The School has introduced a programme, ‘Take a Dosco to Work’, for boys to get introduced to a number professions in order to develop a foundation of their interests, ahead of the A form careers curriculum, which includes subject choices. The career’s s department has been keen to enable the boys to learn about skills that are expected from employees, such as time management, punctuality, loyalty and initiative. Under this programme, boys saw professionals working in various fields such as banking, medicine (both NGO and private practice), dentistry, hospitality, accountancy and journalism.

The head of the careers department attended the Overseas Association of College Admission Counselling (OACAC) conference, gained useful insights into college admission processes and met with many admission officers representing universities from India, Spain, Canada, UK, US, etc. The careers department also made an endeavour to establish links with these universities.

As part of this exercise, visits were made to St. Xavier’s College, Jai Hind College, HR College, Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Fergusson College, the Indian Law Society, FLAME, Symbiosis International University, Symbiosis Law College, Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Ness Wadia College, Christ University, Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology. In the UK visits were made to UCL, LSE, King’s College, Imperial College, University of Warwick, Bristol University, University of Bath, Cambridge, Loughborough University, University of York, University of Durham, and in Ireland to Trinity College, Dublin.

Other universities that were visited were Hong Kong University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, National University Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University and La Salle College.

The Careers Department also saw an increased number of visits from universities both in India and from abroad, out of which substantial universities had visited School for the first time. Most of these have been a result of the outreach programme of the department.

United States of America

Switzerland

Ireland

Princeton University USEIF University of Pennsylvania Rollins College Chapman College Claremont Mckenna College Yale University Bryant University Drake University The Ohio State University Oberlin College Hamilton College Tulane University Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles University of Wisconsin Farleigh Dickinson University University of Denver Lafayette College Wesleyan University

Les Roches International School of Hotel Management Glion Institute of Higher Education

Trinity College, Dublin

Canada CIS Tour-Canada University of Toronto Canadian Education System York University, Ontario Carleton University United Kingdom University of Warwick University of Bath University of Exeter Arts University College-Bournemouth The University of St. Andrew’s King’s College, London University College, London Imperial College, London University of Southampton Loughborough University

India ISBF- New Delhi NMIMS Mumbai SP Jain School of Global Management Singapore Nanyang Technological University Singapore Management University Australia University of Sydney Hong Kong Hong Kong University

Creative Writing

Painting by Nipun Mohan

Bakhle Literature Essay (Junior) What, in your opinion, is the central idea of your chosen texts and how does the author present to you, his stand on this issue ?

Hussain Haider

I have chosen the literary works of ‘Kim’ by Rudyard Kipling and ‘The White Tiger’ by Aravind Adiga in order to express my views on the question above. This essay revolves

around the main theme and core idea of these literary works. I have tried to explain what the texts mean and refer to the key issues that are being conveyed. Relevant quotations and references have been made to the texts constantly, as evidence for the views expressed.

Both the works have plenty in common. The setting of both the stories is India. This is because constant references are made to Indian culture and society in these texts. The authors have beautifully defined the true aura, atmosphere and colours of life in the Indian bazaars, villages, streets and roads. The books also talk about the cultural influence seen in India. They provide a short satirical reference to the ills of corruption as well.

In my viewpoint, the crux of the chosen texts revolves around the word ‘struggle’. The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘struggle’ as ‘to strive under difficult circumstances, to achieve something.’ In simpler words, trying to fight out difficulty in life. Struggle, in practical form, can be interpreted through various forms and examples. The authors concerned are explaining this through a dark plot, emphasizing the experiences of the protagonist, in dicey and difficult situations during the course of life. The book ‘Kim’ has the lead character in the form of Kimball ‘Kim’ O’ Hara and the White Tiger’s main character is a local Indian villager called Balram.

The texts are describing the notion of struggle through fictionally created real-life situations. The meaning of struggle drawn out is defined as battling adverse circumstances and problems we can face in our lives, and surviving them. The focus is set on the positive mindset and other such underlying qualities required holding onto us and not accepting ‘defeat’. The background and the plot revolving around the characters describe and provide evidence to this interpretation.

In Kim’s situation, he is described as a poor, orphaned boy who has no one to care for and look after him. He is living a vagabond existence in Lahore, British India, trying to survive by begging and occasionally working for a horse trader called Mahbub Ali. He is distressed and trapped under very adverse circumstances. Kim reflects simplicity in being but does not have any financial resources to get him out of his problems. Being of British origin, he is in danger of being at the centre of all the revolts and protests by the local inhabitants. Revolts against the increasing British oppression in India. Therefore self-safety is necessary, and he does not have anyone close to him to fulfill this requirement.

The background of Balram is quite similar as mentioned above. The story is set under the darkness of rural India, in a village called Laxmangarh in Bihar. Similar to Kim, Balram is also an optimistic, intelligent and a sharp boy, but again his circumstances are not fortunate enough. He is the son of a local rickshaw puller and as a result, the financial situation of his family is in distress. Balram’s family is too limited in financial resources to support his education. Hence, he is forced to work as a labourer at a local tea-shop, in order to sustain his family’s basic necessities. The book presents a critical analysis of the evil face of rural life in India. It states that rural life in India is a lifelong struggle of sustaining one’s family. They do not have access to all the facilities which city dwellers enjoy. Occupation options are limited and incomes are meagre. They have restricted means to live on, and therefore they cannot have access to sophisticated things. The standard of living in villages is quite low and the quality of life is poor.

Thus, we see that struggle can be derived and explained through real-life life struggles and situations as well. These circumstances seem impossible to win over, but the key lies in having the necessary will-power to fight them. The sub-idea which can be derived from the core idea is how to deal with struggles in real life. The authors concerned have tried to influence people, especially youngsters, how to keep finding solutions to tricky situations in life, and not lose our hope or will power. This has been done again by using the plot and characteristics of the protagonists. So when they seem impossible, even ‘Impossible’ says ‘I am possible’. The texts show us the qualities required to achieve our goal in life, to achieve success, to achieve what we want.

‘Where there is a will, there is a way’ is a popular saying and belief. Similarly, these texts show us that a positive mindset, optimistic beliefs and faith in us are the most efficient tools of fighting out such situations. The concept of will power comes in handy as well. Will power refers to the desire to keep fighting against the mounting difficulties and not to give up on your aim. It is primarily a psychological concept, which signifies inner strength and stress taking abilities. It is related to self-control, which is the ability of the person to hold on and control his/her body and mind, in the process of working towards their particular ambitions. This has been proven by the writers with the character sketches and the storyline of the protagonists in their respective texts. One more important quality such characters possess is optimism. The word ‘optimism’ comes from the

Latin word ‘optimum’, which means the best possible. Optimism is defined as the tendency of being hopeful and confident for a positive outcome of the venture concerned.

Practically, it means to expect the best possible outcome of the given circumstances. A person like this would never have negative thoughts pertaining to his/her abilities and of others around him as well.

Next comes, determination. Thomas Fuller once said “An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men.” Determination is defined as to be focused towards one’s aim in life and not to give it up, under any circumstances. It is to keep working hard tirelessly and not to think about materialistic concepts like ‘achievement’. Sometimes, shrewdness can also come in handy, but upto a limited extent. Shrewdness should be used against people who deserve it, in order to set an example for everyone. Critics might point that such practices are inhuman and anti-political or anti-social. But it is justified to do so as explained earlier.

The cumulative impact of all these can turn our fortunes in a big way. ‘God helps those who help themselves’. Therefore, we have to look for alternatives ourselves, help ourselves, and we will constantly have external help to trust and use. This point is further proven by studying the climaxes of the chosen texts. The protagonists have a turn of fortunes, and within no time, find themselves in an extremely comfortable and satisfying position. This is not just a matter of luck, but a result of constant effort and endurance.

In the book ‘Kim’, the protagonist Kimball O’ Hara experiences a similar turn of events in life. By chance or by destiny, Kim gets identified by his father’s regimental chaplain due to the Masonic certificate he wears around his neck. The chaplain finds it his rightful duty to educate Kim well, in order to ensure a good quality life ahead. Kim is admitted to a top-class British school in Lucknow. There, he also gets the opportunity to obtain training for the British secret services and at the same time, stay in contact with his best companions, a businessman and a priest. In this way we can see that Kim gets the opportunity to improve his life and earn suitable living for him. Moreover, he gets to do all that he loves. After all, “Success is sweet and sweeter if long delayed and gotten through many struggles and defeats.”

Similarly, Balram also goes through this particular phase. The difference is, but, that the path Balram takes runs on the notion of shrewdness. Balram, inspired by the stories of the urban world, learns to become a driver. He gets his break when a rich man of the village hires him as a driver for his son, Ashok in New Delhi. That is where Balram realizes the stories were actually true. He becomes aware of the immense wealth and opportunities that city life offers, and turns into an extremely ambitious man. He thinks that the only way out, to avail this opportunity is to murder Ashok and use his financial resources for himself. Meanwhile, Ashok divorces his wife and is increasingly becoming a prominent part of the corrupt practices in India. Balram feels that this is the best opportunity and murders Ashok, on the way to a politician’s house. Balram flees to Bangalore with his nephew Dharam, along with the huge sum of money Ashok was carrying. He uses this money to create his own taxi company in the technological capital of the country, and becomes a part of the legacy of rich entrepreneurs in the new technological society of India.

To conclude, I would like to state that I hope that I have proven my points well, with relevant references from my chosen texts. The thesis which can be drawn from these texts is the notion of struggle. Struggle here refers to the problematic circumstances in a man’s life, explained by the authors underlining real-life situations. This essay also talks about the qualities which are necessary to fight out these difficulties. The key lies in putting our own efforts towards our goals. Struggle, Triumph and Disaster are just mere imposters, trying to divert us from our primary aims and success in life. It is happiness what counts, and happiness is complementary with a sense of achievement. Happiness and prosperity are the true gifts of God only for mankind. The catch lies in putting a considerable amount of effort into our work to achieve it.

Bakhle Literature Essay (Senior) The description of people or places or events in literary works is likely to be more than just decoration.

Sookrit Malik

Descriptions of events, places and people provide the framework within which a novel operates. Since conflict is the most essential necessity of a story, the three in conjunction sow the seeds of discord that help advance the story. Furthermore, this framework results in the creation of a virtual reality, which in the case of the books I have chosen mirrors the real world. The books I have chosen are ‘The Glass Palace’ and ‘Calcutta Chromosome’ both of which belong to the same author, Amitav Ghosh. His style of writing and use of detail with such finesse in his works is a key reason behind my selecting these texts.

It is important to draw upon a pattern common to both ‘The Glass Palace’ and ‘Calcutta Chromosome’ that will help in the cohesion of the themes across the two works. By setting these books in the past Ghosh has given himself the liberty to create his own depiction of reality, allowing the author’s world to steer historical events. Ghosh describes these events because this helps him coerce the reader into believing that the Ghosh’s fictional world, which is set around these events, actually represents the reality. Be it the wealth of detail hidden in the glass palace or a local man’s description of the day to day life in Calcutta, Ghosh’s stories are so richly and compassionately rendered that the reader is left captive in Ghosh’s fictional world.

However descriptions serve more than that, often they are used to bring out features of characters, explicate ideas, or even point to where the book is headed. Through this essay, I will discuss how descriptions create a book, and allow the reader to view the world in its totality. This essay focuses on how descriptions are an integral layer of any work of fiction. It also argues the literary features that arise as a result of these descriptions.

Events not only establish reality but they also influence, and in some cases supplement, the setting in which the characters of a book are going to interact. Moreover, the author adroitly uses the description of events to establish the mood and tone of the dialogue.

“Lying in bed with Dinu, she’d found herself listening to voices that were inaudible during the day:…It was as though the walls had tuned porous in the stillness of the night, flooding her room with an unseen tide of defeat and suffering. The more she listened the more directly they spoke to her, sometimes in tones that seemed to recall the past, sometimes in notes of warning.” (The Glass Palace, Pg.210) It is human tendency to attribute human characteristics to inanimate objects. Ghosh exploits his reader’s anthropomorphic nature by using his descriptions of people, places and events; this allows his reader to not only understand the setting better but also to establish an emotional connection. It is these descriptions that bring to life the inanimate objects, give human like characters like in the above lines or ‘Ava’ in Calcutta Chromosome or ‘Dinu’s Camera’ in Glass Palace. In some cases Ghosh’s grasp on the cultures and his precision in capturing little details of an event, can hold a far deeper symbolic meaning than an array of descriptions simply because those are details that only a local man would notice. These trivial details lend more authenticity to his work bringing it closer to reality with every description.

“Two carriages were waiting by the east gate. Just as he was about to step in, the King noticed that the ceremonial canopy had seven tiers, the number allotted to a nobleman, not the nine due to a king.” (The Glass Palace, Ch. 4, Pg.43) This little detail is symbolic of the King’s new status and the newly established British rule in Burma. In some cases, the descriptions can also reflect the affinity between the author and his character. It is Ghosh’s involvement with his characters, which leads him to describe the details surrounding them so vividly. One of the most interesting facts about the Ghosh’s writing is his ease of using details of culture and customs which are not his native custom. In the landscape of “The Calcutta Chromosome” there is no serendipity, and every event and each apparent coincidence is part of a grand design. For example, the pages of an old newspaper that was once given to an Indian journalist as fish wrapping just might, Murugan says, “be the key to one of the mysteries of the century.” (3) Ghosh has an eye for detail and that can be explained from the descriptions of the disease called Anthrax. By dramatizing the effects of the disease, the impact on the readers mind is astounding.

“The swellings had grown to pineapple size and the elephant’s hide had begun to crack and break apart. As the hours passed the lesions grew yet larger and the cracks deepened. Soon the pustules began to leak a whitish ooze. Within a short while the animals’ hide was wet with discharge. Rivulets of blood-streaked pus began to drip to the ground. The soil around the animals’ feet turned into sludge churned with blood and ooze.”(Glass Palace, Ch.8, Pg. 95), The first person narration of an event is an instrument that Ghosh uses to help his readers understand the views and perception of his character. This enables us to realize the mental and emotional state of the character, as descriptions in most cases bear a symbolic meaning referring to a larger theme or idea in the character’s life, while the description used in the course of the third person narrative can establish the author’s perspective of his character.

Some novels are concrete and realistic in their descriptions of places, attempting to replicate in words the sense impressions of the physical world that they focus on, while other works try to create the complex impression of a character’s response to that world by giving an impression of the ebb and flow of their consciousness. Ghosh in his works tries to combine both these approaches giving his texts a contemporary flavour.

It is descriptions that Ghosh feeds his reader, “who selects, eliminates, alters, exaggerates, minimizes, glorifies, and vilifies also; but in the end it creates its own reality, its heterogeneous but usually coherent version of events; and no sane human being ever trusts someone else’s version more than his own.” (6) “His name meant Prince, but he was anything but princely in appearance, with his oil-splashed vest, his untidily knotted longyi and his bare feet with their thick slippers of callused skin.” (Glass Palace, Ch. 1, Pg. 4)

These details are in most cases symbolic of our perception of the writer’s fictional world and the characters in it. Ghosh uses this phenomenon to make his readers decipher the persona, emotional condition and perception of his characters by describing people in a specific manner.

“The Harley Davidson was speeding down the drive, heading into the estate. He caught a glimpse of Alison’s scarf fluttering like a pennant.” (Glass Palace, Ch. 31, Pg. 371) Ghosh also uses these descriptions to depict the complex dynamics of a character’s relationship. The distance between Dinu and Alison increases as Arjun starts spending more and more time with Alison. Ghosh uses description to show the last straw in their relationship. He even questions the dilemma relating to notions of femininity in Indian society or the contribution of colonialists to India science. Urmila chooses to break free from her responsibilities to live her own life when she is investigating Ross with Murugan.

“Urmila no longer cared about the fish or the press conference of the minster for mass communication.” (Calcutta Chromosome, Ch. 20 Pg. 116) Sometimes certain descriptions of a person’s behaviour reveal the under currents and larger issues and themes surrounding the plot. Queen Supayalat was used to ‘ shiko’; this was a part of the Burmese tradition that stated that the servants and helpers would have to perform a special kind of a crawl on their fours when they are serving the Queen.

Once they were exiled, their resources started to deplete very fast and the servants kept on leaving as there was nothing binding them to the service of the Queen anymore.

Finally, the Queen had to compromise. Compromise soon establishes itself as a symbol in the household of the Burmese monarchy.

Just like the flux in the description of the people over a period of time, the description of the places is also seen to change. In ‘The Glass Palace’, this change can also be directly linked to the flux in world affairs. As the political and socio-economic scenarios in certain places change, the lifestyle and the behaviour of the community living in that place is also directly affected. Malacca was home to dozens of spice gardens but the change in the political and socio-economic scenario forces everybody to set up rubber plantations.

“Now everyone, even the most timid British corporation, was following the lead, planting rubber; Money had been pouring into the city. This was the material of the coming age; the next generation of machines could not be made to work without the indispensable absorber of friction” (Glass Palace, Ch. 15, Pg.182) In ‘Calcutta Chromosome’, there are three houses or buildings that might be read as metonymic structures in the text. The descriptions of these structures are symbolic of the central theme of the text, while they also help to familiarizes the reader with several sub-themes of the text.

The first is Antar’s decaying building in New York, symbolic in many ways of Antar’s migrant existence in 21st-century United States. The stagnant and sick atmosphere of the building reflects Antar’s own stagnant and diseased existence. Antar, like his home, has been left behind and forsaken by the modern age.

The second house of some symbolic importance in the novel is the colonial “bungalow” Ronald Ross lives in while working in Secunderabad. Through Murugan the house is set up as an obvious symbol of colonial decadence: “He calls it a bungalow, but don’t let him fool you: this place has a couple of dozen rooms, and half an acre of garden. Then there are the servants’ quarters, way out back, where you can hardly see them: a long, low line of rooms. The rooms are pretty small, but some of them have six or seven people living inside and some have whole families in residence.” (Calcutta Chromosome, Pg.87) The size and set-up of the house is of little importance to the events in the novel. By dwelling on this otherwise insignificant detail, however, Murugan hints that the colonial inequalities that may seem to be of secondary importance may in fact be central to understanding the course of events in the novel.

The “large, old-fashioned colonial mansion” at “number three Robinson Street” that Romen Haldar is renovating and allowing his group of counter-scientists to use as a meeting place is the same house Ronald Ross lived in while working in Calcutta at the turn of the century (Calcutta Chromosome, Pg.81). In this case, it is difficult not to read some postcolonial significance into the fact that Indians and Nepalis have dismantled the house’s interior and that “the entire construction gang was living in the gutted shell of the house” (Calcutta Chromosome, Pg.161). At the centre of the novel, then, is the deconstruction of a colonial structure by former colonized subjects who are using the building to celebrate their distinctly Indian and non-colonial achievements in the area of malaria research.

The Glass Palace is where young people, stifled by the military junta of present day Burma, gather to open their minds, to discuss books, pictures and ideas. Without labouring a symbolic point, in retrospect the author is able to imbue the title with images of loss as well as hope.

The use of description in literature depends on the quality of the literary text itself. The use of descriptions by Ghosh certainly proves to us that descriptions are more than just decorations. But if the author decides to use descriptions as decorations in some parts of his text, he loses the relevance of the descriptions in his whole text and therefore the quality of his text can easily be questioned.

It is descriptions that establish the composite nature of literature, provide it with a framework, influence and supplement setting, reveal a character’s perception and persona, set the tone and mood of the text, even question the society. Are descriptions still likely to be incidental or decorative?

Shanti Swaroop Essay Contest Computer Science Is Becoming Far too Consumerist.

Gaurav Garg

Wikipedia defines Computer Science as “the study of the theoretical foundations of computation and of the practical techniques for its implementation and application in computer systems.” Computer scientists are the people who develop algorithmic processes that create and transform information to model complex systems.

The computers we see and use are the products of the collaboration of various fields of Computer Science. These products give us an insight into the state of Computer Science at the time. The computers today clearly reveal the consumerist nature of Computer Science presently.

In 1812, Charles Babbage, known as the Father of Computers, was sitting in his room, looking at a table of logarithms, which he knew to be full of mistakes. The frustration of these error-filled tables provoked the idea of computing all tabular functions by machinery. Babbage was possessed by the thought that the efforts of the error prone humans could be taken over entirely by machinery which would be quicker and less vulnerable to errors and thus began working on the Difference Engine, the first known computing machine.

Computers were always meant for computation. The entire idea behind a computer was to reduce human workload and get far more accurate results. But all of that changed in the 1970s, when two college students got together in a garage and decided to sell fully assembled computers. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, founders of Apple Inc. made the first commercially available personal computer, The Apple I. This meant that any semi-literate could now possess his own computer, and the Commercialization has only gone uphill from there.

Commercialization is the prime element of consumerism. According to the English Oxford Dictionary, Consumerism is the “preoccupation of society with acquiring goods”. It is the commercialization that fuels this preoccupation. Advertisements subtly reshape one’s desires around material possessions. And the consumption culture that surrounds us begins to make excessive consumption appear natural and normal. It’s very easy to get dragged into consumerism and companies take full advantage of that. In the field of Computer Science, this commercialization kills the academic value of the product.

There are numerous firms that manufacture cheap computers to make a profit. Some of these machines are partly meant for academic use, others not at all. By computers, I am referring to all products of Computer Science. Not just a Desktop PC, but everything from a calculator to video games. Ever heard of a deity being advertised? Computer Science was the same a few years back. It won’t be surprising if temples come up with marketing schemes in the years to come. Computer Science is no longer being used for the academic purposes it was made for, but has become a market.

Apart from commercialization, there are many other factors to consumerism. Consumerism is regarded as “the tendency of people to identify strongly with products or services they consume, regardless of the utility.” It is the tendency to buy more products, which extend beyond what is needed. Especially those with commercial brand names and perceived status-symbolism appeal like a luxury car, designer clothing, or expensive jewelry.

Almost everything has been affected by consumerism in society today. Everything from food to houses is becoming consumerist, but no one could have thought Computer Science would be a victim.

The technological breakthroughs today are no longer centered around utility. One would find it tough to list down the substantial uses of an iPad, and yet, 15 million of them were sold within the first nine months of launch. This shows that Computer Science has become a fashion statement. It’s the style that sells the iPad, not its productivity. Another example is that of Alienware Computers. Manufactured only to give its buyers a status quo, even these generate great revenues. As a result, academic growth of Computer Science has become the secondary motive in development.

In recent years, it has become difficult to point out any significant progress in Computer Science. Intel calls their latest 2nd generation processors a “Giant Leap”, But the progress is not even a small step, when compared to the advances made in the pre-consumerist era. Because of consumerism, contribution to Computer Science is no longer idealistic. The R&D departments work only to reach the masses, and not for the greater good. Profit is all that matters, and the result is cheap, consumerist computers, as seen today. A clear proof of increasing consumerism.

If looked back at the history of computers, one can see that any major progress in Computer Science was the cause of a very strong incentive.

In 1941, Konrad Zuse, a German Engineer developed the Z3, a computer to design airplanes, missiles and other weaponry for the second World War. The British also invented a computer called Colossus to decrypt German messages. Transistors were invented to replace the vacuum tube used at that time and thus reduce the massive size of computers. Early super computers like the Stretch by IBM were made for atomic scientists. The list just

goes on. It is only recently that Computer Science is being used to make money. Cost has become the priority. Something as holy as Computer Science has become a market with cut throat competition among innumerous brands. Customers have become the soul impetus for development in Computer Science. All in all, progress in Computer Science is only for consumerist reasons.I agree that there is immense research work going on over Artificial Intelligence, but the work is much slower than what was promised. And gradually, even Artificial Intelligence has begun to have consumerist motives to it, researchers are now focusing more towards getting Artificial Intelligence to households just like Desktop PCs. Another aspect of Computer Science is Digital Simulation. It involves making a digital replica of a real life event to study it better and be able to perform experiments without risks. It was meant for scientists to predict the effects of medicine, cosmologists to get a clearer picture of the events in the universe, students to have a better understanding of various topics, etcetera.

Unfortunately, even this has been turned into something of minimal productivity and zero academic value, Digital Gaming. This form of digital simulation has become immensely popular and all credit goes to consumerism. Just seeing a neighbor with the latest Nintendo console, we can spend thousands of rupees on something we never knew we needed.

One cannot deny that Computer Science has become a victim of consumerism. Computer Science proves true for all elements and symptoms of consumerism.

It results in wasteful use of energy and material far above and beyond that is needed for everyday living at a comfortable level. Ultimately, it results in the stagnation of progress. It is driven by huge sums spent on advertising, designed to create a desire to follow trends. Consumerism eventually leads to materialism, recently a very prominent sight in the field of Computer Science.

But all is not yet lost. Consumerism in Computer Science has just reached its tipping point and still can be brought back to stability. Consumerism is driven completely by human desires and public sentiments. Consumerism is not always bad. To live, one needs to consume. It becomes a problem when there is excessive growth in consumerism, which stalemates progress.

There are two ways to satisfy one’s desires: one is to continue to accumulate more. The other is to desire less.

Historical Circle Essay Contest 1968, 1989, 2011 – is just history repeating itself – nothing comes out of it!

Devesh Sharma

1968, 1989, 2011 – is just history repeating itself – nothing comes out of it! Really? Does nothing, absolutely nothing come out of it? If no, then what does it take to explain the present state of affairs in Arab countries like Libya, Egypt, and Yemen, and the fact that all three years mentioned in the title are, or will become benchmarks in the history of both revolutions and revolutionaries? And how exactly are we to answer the latter? Well, perhaps we are not designated to do so, or more appropriately, we cannot do so, simply because of its tendency of becoming as prickly as the question that procured it in the first place. Therefore, let us not venture into that forest, as it is way too dense.

Introductions become a requisite for matters as opaque as the one we are presently questioning. To make a start, the theme of this essay is revolution. And what is revolution? Well, a revolution, in the literal sense, refers to a ‘turn around’ in Latin. Different sources have varied descriptions. The Oxford Dictionary claims a revolution to be ‘a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a system’, and Aristotle stated that a revolution is a ‘complete change from one constitution to another’ or the ‘modification of an existing constitution’. So winding up those I can say that a revolution is a perceptible and evident change in the administration of a governing system, either social, political, or even both.

It is fundamental human psychology to compare unexplained events to precedents similar to the former. The years 1848, 1968, and 1989 have been grouped together as the revolutions similar to the ones in 2011, or have at least been claimed to be similar. And that is also the title of this essay, is not it? Well, to be truthful, the title skipped the year 1848. So to summarize in a few words, I am going to discuss both aspects of a comparison, only with the revolutions of 1968 and 1989, in the same order, sustained with the help of what some eminent historians have stated in the past on this matter.

Let us first speculate at the three years that need to be discussed. The year 1968 saw rebels in the Republic of Congo, the Juan V Alvarado led coup in Peru, Alexander Dubček’s failed attempt to liberalize Czechoslovakia against the Soviet Union, and most importantly, the French May revolution initiated by students and workers against the government of Charles de Gaulle of France. The Fall of Communism, or the year 1989, had more revolutions than in 1968. The Singing Revolution, the Caracazo riots in Venezuela, the Tiananmen Square protests, the Velvet Revolution, the Romanian Revolution, and the fall of the famous Berlin Wall that had become a memoir from the Second World War were the highlights of the year. The year 2011 has so far seen the ‘wave of revolution’ in the Arab world, and has rightfully been called the Arab Spring. The countries Tunisia, Libya, Syria, Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Yemen, and not to forget Egypt, underwent revolution in some form or the other this year. The Occupy Wall Street movement and the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare in India are the other major ‘revolutions to be’ in the year 2011.

Many historians have, in the past, compared the three years of revolution in terms of procedure, participation, endeavor, etc., and have come up with varied conclusions, some saying that the three seem undoubtedly analogous while others declare them disparate. Following that method, I shall be quoting myriad observations from a basket of both the contrasts to support what my verdict. So to make progress I shall first tackle the year 1968 by sharing what I, amongst others, thought of its similarities and differences with the present situation in the Arab world. I shall then do the same with the year of the ‘Fall of Communism’, i.e. 1989. To support my comparisons, I shall also briefly juxtapose the year 1848 with 2011, considering the great relevance that the former has in explaining the latter.

The year 1968 was dominated by the France May rebellion, which included students working their way against the government by clashing frequently with the police and teaming up with workers to paralyze the French economy. However, other rebellions, including the war in Vietnam and the Soviet encounter to invade Czechoslovakia, made as much breaking news as the others.

Michael D Mosttig from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) claimed that the May rebellion in France in 1968 was similar to the Egyptian uprising in 2011 in the sense that it was ‘a largely leaderless revolt of the young, and a government regained control of the situation.’ Amiel Unger also pointed out that both the French and Egyptian revolutionaries rebelled due to the very dodgy situation young people found themselves in post their studies.

On the other hand, George Friedman at Spero News differs from the others by stating that the 1968 protests ‘overthrew no regime even temporarily and left some cultural remnants of minimal historic importance’, whilst ‘the Arab world will not experience massive regime change as in 1968’. He also says that the aftermath of the Arab rebellions will not be as short lived as in the case of the rebellions in 1968. Not only that, he also predicts that ‘the democracies that eventually arise will produce regimes that will take their bearings from their own culture, which means Islam’.

The Tiananmen Square protests in China, and the pro-democracy protests in Poland that spread to Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania are what led to the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall and hence Communism in 1989. A major cause of this revolution was the large scale reforms in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), which was the head of all Communist states. Mikhail Gorbachev’s official encouragement of perestroika (radical restructuring) and glasnost (greater political openness), for political and economic reasons led to a major trend of discontent amongst the public. It was during this period that many of the Warsaw Pact countries moved to pluralist political systems. So through the summer of 1989, the world saw the Eastern European states breaking away from the Communist bloc.

Moving on to the comparison, the most evident similarity between the incidents of 1989 and 2011 is the way the protest ‘dominoed’ from one country to another, i.e. the Arab countries in 2011, and the Eastern European countries in 1989. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, analogized the two by saying that the protestors in both cases were trying to ‘shake off their fear’. Eugene Rogan from the prestigious Oxford University further supported that comparison by pointing out that one of the participating countries in both cases was responsible for showing the others how strikes and demonstrations could ‘challenge the state’s ability to repress basic rights, like freedom of speech and free assembly’. Poland and Tunisia were responsible for the same in their respective spheres.

Similarly, Adrian Michaels at The Guardian says that both revolutions evolved from a situation of political sluggishness.

To counter that, George Soros, responsible for financing opposition movements in Eastern Europe which in turn led to the revolutions of 1989, was among others who stated that Eastern Europeans supported America only and solely because it opposed the Soviet Union in most spheres. On the other hand, he said, demonstrators in the Middle East were suspicious of the United States because it allied with the regimes that are collapsing.

The United States ambassador to the Soviet Union at the time, James Collins, told the Associated Press (AP) that the Middle East protests “have been uprisings against a sclerotic and out of touch leadership” whereas in in Eastern Europe “the change was much deeper, systemic. It touched the roots of the economy and the way society operated.” The Guardian’s Timothy Garton Ash, meanwhile, claims that the Middle East movements in 2011 were not as well planned as the ones in 1989 and were also not “led by democratic opposition movements and civil society groups, which in 1989 sustained non-violent discipline, even in the face of provocation, and paved the way to a transition negotiated at round tables.”

One cannot really draw a definite conclusion on whether or not the year 2011 can be called a deja vu of the year 1968 or 1989. However the year 1848 might have some more cogent explanations in store for us.

In 1848, the February revolution in France was responsible for triggering similar uprisings in almost every other country in Europe. This time, the whole movement was credited to be spearheaded by the middle class of Europe. Historians claim that the movement was greatly influenced at a very young stage by a variety of causes including economic hardships and other national engagements including nationalistic, liberalistic and socialistic ones. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on who we are to take into consideration, the movement as a whole was a failure despite being undertaken in varied methods in different places. The French protestors, for example, protested against the monarch only to bear the destruction of the short lived republic they had created. The Germans faced a similar result after their endeavours when they failed to unite.

Anne Applebaum of the Washington Post argues that the Middle East protests, like the revolutions of 1848, “are the product of multiple changes--economic, technological, demographic--and have taken on a distinctly different flavour and meaning in each country.” She adds that despite failing, the revolutions of 1848 planted the seeds for change over a longer period. By the end of the 19th century, she points out, Bismarck had united Germany. Similarly, France had established its Third Republic. On account of that, Anne predicts that even if many of the Middle East uprisings fail, the region may indeed undergo an evident transformation, maybe caused more by negotiation than revolution.

In opposition, the Atlantic’s Andrew Sullivan argues that 2011 isn’t the same as 1848 by asking- “What happens when a backward region has an 1848 in 2011, an era where the rest of the world has already moved way past them--and the people, demographically skewed young, know it via the web and satellite TV?...

We will see some good outcomes and some disastrous ones. But the idea that these tyrants could hang on for ever, given their records and within these global currents is a fantasy.”

Finally, coming to the core of the essay, 2011 has been rightfully termed as the Arab Spring. The important story about the 2011 Arab revolts in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya is not how the globalization of the norms of civic engagement shaped the protesters’ aspirations. Nor is it about how activists used technology to share ideas and tactics. Instead, the critical issue is how and why these ambitions and techniques resonated in their various local contexts. The Arab Spring itself varied widely within itself. Although they all shared a common feeling for the protest, and for the self-dignity they demanded, different regions reflected different economic grievances and social dynamics. In Egypt, urbane and cosmopolitan young people in the major cities organized the uprisings, whereas in Libya, shabby bands of armed rebels in the eastern provinces led the protests, revealing the tribal and regional cleavages that have beset the country for decades. The last end of the triangle shows that the demonstrations in Tunisia spiraled toward the capital from the neglected rural areas.

Dr. Asef Bayat, a sociologist, and writer of the book Life as Politics: How Ordinary People Change the Middle East, says that the difference lies in the regimes and governments themselves. I quote him for further elaboration. “Eastern Europe was a bloc that was very much dependent upon the Soviet Union, which suddenly became open. But this is not so much the case in the Middle East – you have states that are dependent upon the West, but not to the extent that the

Eastern European countries depended upon the Soviet Union; and you have some countries that do not at all depend upon the West, like Syria and Libya.”

1989 was defined by the east Europeans as an escape from an empire that only had a face of socialism, and became a chaotic year of protest. 2011 too had no road map, neither any actually existing target toward which it could drive. It appeared to have begun the same way. Dissolving dictatorship, ending random and brutal violence, and hence enabling free and open association and speech are the foundations for the public sphere in which public goods can be identified, defended, and sought. That is what holds the comparison together. And that embrace of freedom is no doubt the common starting point of 1989 and 2011. But 2011, with public parades demanding dignity and justice blossoming across the world, shows that the standard has, over time, become low standard. And that is why 1968 might be the better historical analogy to consider.

The years 2011 and 1968 have a very unique and absurd relation amongst others. 1968 saw rebellions being inspired without any kind of strategy. The students of Warsaw University emphasized on free speech while the students at Columbia University gave more importance to ending the war and the French students in Paris asked for a new morality. Nevertheless they, amongst many others, came together as a part of the same effort held together by similar aesthetic tastes in music, art, etc.

One would fail to find a common platform for change across the two movements. However, if one inquires from the public as to whether the minority comprising dictators, theocratic frontrunners or any other leaders had failed to do their ‘job’, the answer would be a deafening “yes”. In both 2011 and 1968, the expression of the rebels is one which asks the world to view their lives from their point of view. It is an attempt to prevent the world from perceiving only the minority’s demands of more licenses and money and time to ‘try’ and improve their regimes.

This comparison invokes some to warn the world of 2011’s failure as a year of revolt, similar to 1968, due to the unorganized format of the same. Movements like these are destined for takeover by ideologues that are unfamiliar with democratic and peaceful change and also for the devastation by the same to stimulate violence and hatred within a society which has already been introduced to state repression.

So, the year 1968 does seem to help answer questions about 2011. Scanning the evidence, one can allege that the world and its historians need to further investigate the relationship between the associated countries from 1968, 1989 and the Arab nations associated with the Arab Spring, to ease out the burden on the Arab world of impressing the rest of the world.

After exploring the boundaries of this topic, I can now attempt to answer our title – ‘1968, 1989, 2011 – is just history repeating itself – nothing comes out of it!’

The year 1968 has a more supportable relation with the year 2011 than 1989. Both years sought similar, rather the same justification in terms of economic, political, social, educational and judicial stature. Meanwhile, the incidents in 1848 support Anne Applebaum’s prediction about the long term effectiveness of the Arab Spring. The year 1989 too had its own share of likes and dislikes in its comparison, and lost out to the publicity heads that I cited before.

So I respond by settling on the statement that what ‘comes out from these events’ is that communities and their leaders have an option of looking into the past to understand the present and tame the future, using a comparative exploration of causes and events.

Dramatics

Hindi Dramatics Senior

And the award goes to‌

Master-in-Charge Mr M H Farooqui

Boy-in-Charge Saud Khan

Sitting (L to R): Saif Ali, Abhijeet Nagar, Mr M H Farooqui, Saud Khan, Mr Samik Das, Shubham Dhingra, Uma Shankar Goswami Standing (L to R): Apekshit Goel, Yash Raj Agarwal, Sanat Verma, Kumar Sambhav, Ritesh Shinde, Vidit Sidana

Hindi Dramatics Junior

Theatrewalas

Master-in-Charge Mr Vidhukesh Vimal

Boy-in-Charge Jai Ahuja

Sitting (L to R): Aditeya Lochan Singh, Jai Ahuja, Mr. Vidhukesh Vimal, Vibhav Gupta, Sahir Choudhary Standing (L to R): Arth Gupta, Nikunj Agarwal, Akhil Ranjan, Varun Gupta, Rohan Hundia

English Dramatics

Superstar

Masters-in-Charge Senior - Mr K V Arjun Rao Junior - Mr Shrey Nagalia

Boy-in-Charge Raghav Puri

Sitting 1st row (L to R): Aditya Gandhi, Arjun Sharma, Mrigank Khemka, Yuvan Kumar, Yash Dhandhania, Malini Malviya, Aditya Bhattacharya Sitting 2nd row (L to R): Rohan Shriram, Mrs Abia Qezilbash, Dhruv Sirohi, Mr K V Arjun Rao, Raghav Puri, Mr Ashad Qezilbash, Akshay Sharan, Mr Shrey Nagalia, Varun Gupta Standing (L to R): Shantanu Seth, Madhavan Saklani, Agni Raj Singh, Nipurn Datta, Jai Pratap Singh Kairon, Karan Singh, Arnav Matta, Rohil Mehrotra, Anmol Singh Jamwal, Suraj Bishnoi, Raniz Bordoloi, Dhruv Singhal, Vigya Singh Dhiman

Drama is an integral part of learning at the School. This year, the boys and teachers of the School took drama to a new level altogether. Jesus Christ Superstar, the iconic musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, was chosen as The Doon School’s Founder’s Day production. It was the first live musical production in the history of the School. With Mr Arjun Rao as the Director and Mrs Priya Chaturvedi as the Musical Director, preparations for the play began well in advance. Staying true to the Dosco spirit, there was never any question of hiring professional musicians, dancers or set designers. Everything was done in-house. With that in mind, myriad teams were formed and set into motion - dancers, choir, orchestra, actors, set designers, AV squad. After innumerable hours of practice and rehearsals, the musical was performed four times in front of different audiences, the final being the main day of Founder’s. All efforts truly paid off; the show received a standing ovation each time it was performed and it will be etched in The Doon School memory for many years to come.

The musicians were led magnificently by Yuv Vir Khosla, a fabulous pianist in his own right. Magnificent performances were delivered by Raghav Puri as Judas, Karan Singh as Jesus, Malini Malaviya as Mary Magdalene, Dhruv Sirohi as Pontius Pilate and Pranoy Bohara as King Herod.

This year, the Vimal Bhagat Trophy for Excellence in English Theatre was awarded to Raghav Puri, while the Kendall Trophy for Best Actor was shared between Dhruv Sirohi and Karan Singh. Malini Malaviya and Pranoy Bohara bagged the awards for Best Supporting Actress and Actor respectively, and for a persistent dedication to the School English dramatics society, School English Dramatics Colours were awarded to Rohan Shriram, Akshay Sharan, Dhruv Sirohi and Raghav Puri.

Godse@gandhi.com, a Hindi play written by Asghar Wajahat, was given a dramatized Hindi reading performance on the occasion of Founder’s Day this year.

Senior boys took part in this performance. Stage lights were designed by Shantanu and Vedant Khanna. The performance was directed by Mr M H Farooqui and produced by Mr Samik Das. Ten students performed the reading of the play Jayez Hatyare, which is the Hindi adaptation of the play, The Just Assassin, by Albert Camus. This was conceived and initiated by Mr Samik Das and Mr Dhanesh Joshi and directed by Mr M H Farooqui, and was performed on the 50th anniversary of World Theatre Day. Also, performances representing various forms of storytelling were staged on the occasion of World Book Day. Shashvat Dhandhania, Saif Ali, Sanat Verma, Mihir Kiran, Sanat Kumar Thakur, Aditya Dhingra, Rishab Sharma, Vrindam Nagpal, Shivank Sharma, Shubham Khemka, Vidit Sidana, and Asim Bansal took part in this perfomance.

Saif Ali, Vidit Sidana and Shubham Dhingra were awarded School Hindi Dramatics Colours for their consistent dedication to the School Hindi dramatics society. The Superama Scholarship for the year 2011, an award that recognizes the best contribution to Hindi Dramatics, was awarded to Saud Khan.

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Music

Music Society

Sharps and Flats

Master-in-Charge Mrs Priya Chaturvedi

Music Captain Akshay Sharan

Music Secretary Aashray Batra

Sitting (L to R): Mr. Avijit Chattopadhyay, Akshay Sharan, Mrs Priya Chaturvedi, Pranoy Bohara, Mr Partho Roy Chowdhury Standing (L to R): Aashray Batra, Vigya Singh Dhiman, Gursehej Singh Oberoi, Rohan Shriram

Trinity Guildhall Examinees

Do Re Me Fa

Master-in-Charge Mrs Priya Chaturvedi

Sitting (L to R): Bipasha, Saumil Agrawal, Harsh Vardhan Bansal, Sumer Sehgal, Yuv Vir Khosla, Mrs Priya Chaturvedi, Yash Mall, Imaan Pariat Mehta, Aakanksha Mohan, Shourya Kishorepuria, Agni Raj Singh Standing (L to R): Yogesh Agarwal, Arush Sood, Tanishq Agarwal, Rishabh Agarwal, Aditya Malik, Prabnur Bal, Namanshree Jain, Hamza Khan, Yuvraj Nathani, Rishabh Pande, Krishna Lohiya, Atrey Bhargava, Yuvan Kumar, Umang Gupta

The School Music Society

had a packed calendar of concerts, competitions, workshops and master classes through 2011, as is to be expected, with musicmaking being a year-round activity featuring participation across all year groups.

The Spring Term began on an international note with a concert of music from Brazil. The young artiste, Ze Azevedo-Kohli, performed on the guitar, giving the audience a taste of the unique rhythm of Latin American music. He was accompanied on the drums by the School Popular Band Leader Rohan Shriram . This, and other such interaction between visiting performers and our young musicians, is an invaluable experience for our music students, broadening their horizons and giving them an appreciation of professional concertizing.

In this term we also had a visit from Ustad Mujtaba Ali, faculty member of the Panjabi University. His flute recital, in which he was accompanied by ABC on the tabla, showcased the range of this most well-known instrument, in terms of timbre and tone colour, in ways that the audience had rarely, if ever, encountered.

They were able to see how, in the hands of a maestro, the humble bansuri could become an instrument of great power and beauty.

The term also saw the newest members of the School community, the D formers, make their musical stage debut in the Summer Production, with a complex choral composition in the Hindustani classical style. The Summer Production, which was performed to an audience of boys and parents, featured a variety of musical genres and instruments ranging from the sitar to the guitar. The School Orchestra, fresh from its success at the Izhar-e-Hunar Inter-School Cultural Competition at Hopetown School ( it was placed first in its category) performed here, as did the School Dance Troupe, which had also won laurels at Hopetown.

The Prize-Giving ceremony in March featured the inspiring Ode to Joy from Beethoven`s 9th symphony and the equally upbeat Mile sur mera tumhara , popularized by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, performed by the School Orchestra and Choir. Since the event also saw us bid farewell to the Sc-Leavers, a whole-hearted rendition of Auld Lang Syne gave the passing-out batch some music to remember the School by.

Old Boy and former School Captain, Sriyash Kishorepuria, who is studying at the Conservatory of Music, NUS, Singapore, gave a piano recital which featured some of the best-known and most demanding works of the great composers of Western Art Music, including much-loved pieces like Beethoven`s `Moonlight` Sonata and Debussy`s Clair de Lune .

The term wound up with the eagerly-awaited Battle of the Bands, which is a recent introduction, and is certainly here to stay in the music calendar of events.

This year the Battle was a hard-fought one, with participation across all year groups. Since it is that rare intra-mural event: not an inter-house one, the bands had picked talent, IPL-style, from all houses and forms. The result was some electrifying performances, full of enthusiasm and high-energy interaction with the audience.

The Autumn Term is traditionally given over to intense practice sessions for the inter-house competition and the Founder`s Production. Eight categories are presented in the competition: Dance, Popular Band, Choir, Tabla, Hindustani Instrumental, Vocal, Drum Solo and Piano. It was more than a competition, a festival of music which saw performances of high skill and mature musical understanding.

A visit by young British musicians, under the aegis of the Worldwide Appreciation of Music Foundation (WAM) saw pianists and violinists benefit immensely from the master classes and workshop. With its ever-growing Trinity music programme, the School has been chosen, among a very few others, India-wide, to be placed on WAM`s international calender. The musicians who addressed the finer points of technique and interpretation, ended with a piano recital of some virtuoso works and a duet for 4 hands.

This year, the Dramatic and Music Societies joined forces to produce the Andrew Lloyd-Webber- Tim Rice rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar. Practice for this challenging work had been happening through the year, and the four shows over Founder`s was the triumphant culmination of months of dedicated work and rehearsal.

The musical bow to the end of the year is made by the candidates taking the Trinity College London music grade examinations over the last two days of November. All twenty-eight students who took the examination in piano, electronic keyboard and violin passed with either a High Merit or Distinction.

- Mrs Priya Chaturvedi

Activities

Committees

Games Committee

Citius, Altius, Fortius

Chairperson Mr Deepak Sharma

Secretary Vihan Khanna

Sitting (L to R): Mr Sudhir Thapa, Mr Chandan Singh Ghughtyal, Mr Vishal Mohla, Dr Arvindanabha Shukla, Vihan Khanna, Mr Deepak Sharma, Mr Michael James, Mr Samik Das, Mr Ramesh Bhardwaj, Mr Ashish Dean, Mr Vidhukesh Vimal, Mr Anand Kumar Mandhian Standing (L to R): Pranoy Bohara, Divij Budhraja, Prabhjot Singh, Sumaer Sandhu, Angad Singh, Anmol Singh Jamwal, Tushar Gupta, Udai Bothra, Vaibhav Gupta, Vigya Singh Dhiman

Library Council

No restricted section here

Chairperson Dr Peter McLaughlin

Secretary Vaibhav Bahadur

Sitting (L to R): Mr Srinivas Swamy, Mrs Purnima Dutta, Mr Manoj Pandey, Mrs Priya Chaturvedi, Mr Pankaj Das, Vaibhav Bahadur, Dr Peter McLaughlin, Mr Vinay Pande, Mr Kamal Ahuja, Dr Mona Khanna, Mr Ambikesh Shukla Standing (L to R): Chaitanya Kediyal, Divyansh Goel, Akshay Sharan, Kanishka Malik, Rohan Nath Behl, Ishaan Khanna, Yash Madhav Johri, Harshvardhan Singh, Arnav Joshi, Siddharth Popli, Suyash Raj Shivam, Yuvan Kumar

Mess Committee

To Eat or Not to Eat

Chairperson Mr Philip Burrett

Secretary Mohit Seth

Sitting (L to R): Saib Ahmad, Mr Istemdad Ali, Mr Sanjay Makhija, Mr Sameer Katre, Mohit Seth, Mr Philip Burrett, Mrs Meenakshi Tripathi, Mr K V Arjun Rao, Raghav Dhanda Standing (L to R): Atharva Matta, Vireshwar Sidhu, Jai Ahuja, Yashasvi Havelia, Sambuddha Naha, Rishav Raj Das, Ashutosh Goyal

Technology Council

Technocrats!

Chairperson Mr Ambikesh Shukla

Secretary Nipun Batra

Sitting (L to R): Mr Arnab Mukherjee, Mr Vishal Mohla, Mr Ambikesh Shukla, Dr Peter McLaughlin, Nipun Batra, Mr Biren Chamola, Mr Sandeep Singh Mann, Mr K C Maurya, Mr Vikram Sabharwal Standing (L to R): Nivit Kochhar, Sookrit Malik, Yash Vardhan Singhania, Gaurang Ahuja, Josh Pasricha, Eshaan Bhardwaj

Publications

Doon School Art Magazine

Palette-able

Master-in-Charge Mr Aloke Tirtha Bhowmick

Editor-in-Chief Anshuman Bhargava

Sitting (L to R): Sagar Karnavat, Apurv Agarwal, Mr Arnab Mukherjee, Vaibhav Gupta, Mr Aloke Tirtha Bhowmick, Anshuman Bhargava, Gursehej Singh Oberoi, Yash Vardhan Singhania, AteendraPande Standing (L to R): Arush Sood, Amartya Bhowmick, Shreshtha Verma, Abhijeet Karwa, Rishavraj Das

Doon School Information Review

4.5/5... Must Watch!

Master-in-Charge Mrs Priyanka Bhattacharya

Editor-in-Chief Piroune Balachandran

Sitting(L to R): Vikram Kejriwal, Vihan Khanna, Piroune Balachandran, Mrs Priyanka Bhattacharya, Rayhaan Imam, Spandan Gopal Agarwal, Vaibhav Bahadur Standing(L to R): Udbhav Agarwal, Agni Raj Singh, Raghuraj Rathi, Arjun Parmar, Kunal Kanodia, Rahul Srivastava

The Doon School Weekly

Saturday Morning Fever

Masters-in-Charge Mr Shrey Nagalia, Mr Rashid Sharfuddin

Editor-in-Chief Kanishka Malik

Sitting (L to R): Mr Rashid Sharfuddin, Shashvat Dhandhania, Mr Shrey Nagalia, Kanishka Malik, Mr Philip Burrett, Raghav Puri, Dr Arvindanabha Shukla, Mr Vishal Mohla, Mr K C Maurya Standing (L to R): Akshaj Garg, Aditya Bhattacharya,Utkarsh Jha, Arjun Kamdar, Raniz Bordoloi, Shivank Singh, Kunal Kanodia, Yuv Vir Khosla, Vikramaditya Kapur, Devansh Agarwal

Echo

Budding Theorists

Master-in-Charge Mr Rajesh Majumdar

Editors-in-Chief Revant Nayar, Sachit Taneja

Sitting (L to R): Rohan Shriram, Mr Sandeep Khanna, Revant Nayar, Mr Rajesh Majumdar, Sachit Taneja, Mrs Ritu Bahl Mohan, Spandan Gopal Agarwal Standing (L to R): Yash Dhandhania, Aashray Batra, Vatsal Modi, Devesh Sharma, Raghav Puri, Alawi Singh, Aditya Vikram Gupta, Udbhav Agarwal, Parth Agarwal

The Econocrat

Taking Stock

Master-in-Charge Mr Mohammad Istemdad Ali

Editor-in-Chief Kanishka Malik

Sitting (L to R): Kunal Kanodia, Kanishka Malik, Mr Istemdad Ali, Dhruv Sirohi,Udai Bothra Standing (L to R): Vikramaditya Kapur, Aditya Bhattacharya

The Infinity

LHS=RHS

Master-in-Charge Mr Anjan Chaudhary

Editor-in-Chief Vinayak Bansal

Sitting (L to R): Mohit Gupta, Spandan Gopal Agarwal, Mr Anjan Chaudhary, Vinayak Bansal, Mr Chandan Singh Ghughtyal, Varun Gupta, Revant Nayar Standing (L to R):Ashutosh Goyal, Aditya Vikram Gupta,Udhbav Agarwal, Aviral Gupta, Devesh Sharma,Ujjwal Dahuja, Nipun Batra, Suyash Agarwal, Shivam Goyal, Shivan Tandon

Srijan Prayas

Aaj Tak

Master-in-Charge Mohammad Hammad Farooqui

Editor-in-Chief Sanat Thakur

Sitting (L to R): Vidit Sidana, Tanmay Kapoor, Mr M H Farooqi, Sanat Kumar Thakur, Uma Shankar Goswami Standing(L to R): Abhishek Pande, Ritesh Popat Shinde, Gaurav Garg, Shikher Chawchheria, Parth Gupta, Chaitanya Fatehpuria

The Circle

Politique

Master-in-Charge Ms Purnima Dutta

Editor-in-Chief Shashvat Dhandhania

Sitting (L to R): Aditya Vikram Gupta, Revant Nayar, Yash Johri, Mrs Purnima Dutta, Shashvat Dhandhania, Abhinav Mittal, Udai Bothra, Manas Poddar

The Yearbook

The Usual Suspects

Master-in-Charge Mrs Purnima Dutta

Editors-in-Chief Anmol Singh Jamwal, Udai Bothra

Sitting (L to R): Vigya Singh Dhiman, Mr Skand Bali, Dr M H Farooqui, Anmol Singh Jamwal, Udai Bothra, Mrs Purnima Dutta, Ms Stuti Kuthiala, Rohan Nath Behl Standing (L to R): Siddhant Sachdev, Rohan Shriram, Arjun Khaitan, Eeshat Tiwary, Devesh Sharma, Agni Raj Singh, Rahul Srivastava, Ritvik Kar, Guruansh Singh

Yuv Arpan

Empowering Doon Youth

Master-in-Charge Mohammad Hammad Farooqui

Editor-in-Chief Uma Shankar Goswami

Sitting (L to R): Madhavan Saklani, Shubham Dhingra, Mr M H Farooqui, Uma Shankar Goswami, Sanat Kumar Thakur Standing (L to R): Apekshit Goel, Yashraj Agarwal, Anshul Tibrewal, Abhinav Kejriwal

Clubs & Societies

Astronomy Society

Eclipsed!

Master-in-Charge Mr Rajesh Majumdar

Boys-in-Charge Vaibhav Bahadur, Utkarsh Garg

Sitting (L to R): Shivam Goyal, Nipun Batra, Utkarsh Garg, Mr Rajesh Majumdar, Vaibhav Bahadur, Tushar Mohan, Abhishek Kakkar Standing (L to R): Eshaan Bhardwaj, Yasir Nizam, Shrey Aryan, Yash Upadhyay, Prabnur Bal, Agastya Bellad, Husain Haider, Jai Singh Yadav

Business Club

Moneyball

Master-in-Charge Mr Mohammad Istemdad Ali

Boy-in-Charge Udai Bothra

Sitting (L to R): Mr Kamal Ahuja, Udai Bothra, Mr Istemdad Ali Standing (L to R): Aditya Vikram Gupta, Vidit Sidana

Historical Circle

Waiting for the world to change

Masters-in-Charge Mr Piyush Malviya, Mr Rashid Sharfuddin

Boys-in-Charge Vikram Kejariwal

Sitting (L to R): Shashvat Dhandhania, Mr Piyush Malviya, Vikram Kejriwal, Mr Rashid Sharfuddin, Yash Johri Standing (L to R): Yash Dhandhania, Rayhaan Imam, Zorawar Whig, Devesh Sharma, Shivank Singh, Sehaj Jouhal

Junior English Debating Society

Point and Counter-Point

Master-in-Charge Mr Debasish Chakrabarty

Boys-in-Charge Yuvraj Nathani, Vrindam Nagpal

Sitting (L to R): Aditya Bhattacharya, Vrindam Nagpal, Mr Debasish Chakrabarty, Devansh Agarwal, Jai Ahuja Standing (L to R): Parth Agarwal, Nachiket Jain, Abhinav Kejriwal

Math Colloquium

y=mx+c

Masters-in-Charge

Junior - Mr Rahul Luther, Mr Sudhir Thapa Senior - Dr Mona Khanna

Sitting (L to R): Shivam Goyal, Yash Vardhan Singhania, Mr Rahul Luther, Mr Sudhir Thapa, Mr Pankaj Joshi, Dr Mona Khanna, Ujjwal Dahuja, Aditya Vikram Gupta Standing (L to R): Anvay Grover, Manan Dadhania, Nikhil Saraf, Rishit Agarwal, Sachin Mehra, Sabhya Katia, Shourya Agarwal, Ayush Tripathi, Shlok Jain, Samarth Juneja

Model United Nations

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Recognised

Master-in-Charge Mr Rashid Sharfuddin

Boy-in-Charge Aashray Batra

Secretary General Sumaer Sandhu

Sitting 1st Row (L to R): Syed Mohammad Amaan Kazmi, Ishaan Sandhu, Prabnur Bal, Siddharth Sarin, Palash Kanwar, Armaan Imam, Yash Upadhyay, Arjun Sharma, Harshvardhan Singh Kneeling (L to R): Siddharth Popli, Shivinderjit Cheema, Sayuj Dhandhania, Rishi Raj Khan, Jai Lamba, Mihir Kiran, Aditya Dhingra, Rishikant Sharma, Paramdeep Singh Sitting 2nd Row (L to R): Varun Gupta, Rohan Shriram, Kanishka Malik, Gursehej Singh Oberoi, Sachit Taneja, Mr Rashid Sharfuddin, Sumaer Sandhu, Vikram Kejariwal, Aashray Batra, Vihan Khanna, Aditya Gupta Standing 1st Row (L to R): Shubham Dhingra, Vikramaditya Kapur, Dhruv Prasad, Rayhaan Imam, Nabeel Shah, Rahul Srivastava, Shreshtha Verma, Devesh Sharma, Dhruv Sirohi, Dhruv Singhal, Piroune Balachandran, Sambuddha Naha, Abhinav Mittal, Sookrit Malik, Shashvat Dhandhania Standing 2nd Row (L to R): Arjun Parmar, Pranjal Bhatt, Arnav Matta, Adhiraj Thakran, Alawi Singh, Abhishek Bansal, Gaurang Ahuja, Ujjwal Dahuja, Kunal Kanodia, Shrish Srivastava, Siddhant Sachdev

Nature Club

Dosco Protocol 2011

Masters-in-Charge Mr Chitranjan Kagdee, Mr Sandeep Khanna

Boys-in-Charge Sagar Karnavat, Siddharth Dhanda

Sitting (L to R): Parth Gupta, Alawi Singh, Kumar Sambhav, Mr Chit Ranjan Kagdee, Sagar Karnavat, Mr Sandeep Khanna, Aviral Gupta, Sanat Kumar Thakur, Nivit Kochhar Standing (L to R): Samarth Makhija, Ishmam Chaudhary, Ritvik Kar, Udbhav Agarwal, Syed Mohammad Amaan Kazmi, Devesh Sharma, Jai Ahuja, Chaitanya Fatehpuria, Ashutosh Goyal, Vibhav Gupta, Aditya Dhingra, Arnav Kumar

Quiz

Buzzer Beater

Master-in-Charge Mr John Xavier

Boy-in-Charge Shubham Agrawal

Sitting (L to R): Gaurang Ahuja, Shubham Agrawal, Mr John Xavier, Nipun Batra, Abhinav Mittal Standing (L to R): Aditya Bhattacharya, Shrish Srivastava, Yash Madhav Johri, Agni Raj Singh

RLSS - Life Guards

Baywatch

Master-in-Charge Mr Sanjiv Bathla

Boys-in-Charge Saib Ahmad, Jai Veer Jakhar

Sitting (L to R): Sagar Karnavat, Angad Singh, Nipun Batra, Saib Ahmad, Mr Sanjiv Bathla, Jai Veer Jakhar, Sambuddha Naha, Saransh Seth, Raghav Chandra Standing (L to R): Yash Jalan, Raj Surana, Vatsal Modi, Agni Raj Singh, Animesh Jain, Divyant Sapra

RLSS - Life Savers

Finding Nemo

Master-in-Charge Mr Sanjiv Bathla

Boys-in-Charge Saib Ahmad, Jai Veer Jakhar

Sitting (L to R): Josh Pasricha, Saib Ahmad, Mr Sanjiv Bathla, Jai Veer Jakhar, Shubham Agarwal Standing (L to R): Malini Malviya, Ritvik Kar, Rohan Agarwal, Himanshu Poddar, Harshvardhan Singh, Abhishek Pai, Varun Pais, Mahak Sharma

Senior English Debating Society

This House Believes…

Master-in-Charge Mrs Priyanka Bhattacharya

Boy-in-Charge Shashvat Dhandhania

Sitting (L to R): Rohan Shriram, Mr Debasish Chakrabarty, Kanishka Malik, Mrs Priyanka Bhattacharya, Shashvat Dhandhania, Mr Shrey Nagalia, Vihan Khanna Standing (L to R): Siddhant Sachdev, Udbhav Agarwal, Kunal Kanodia, Rahul Srivastava, Madhav Dutt, Vikramaditya Kapur, Vishal Tummala

Video Club

[RECORDING°]

Master-in-Charge Mr Vidhukesh Vimal

Boy-in-Charge Aditya Gupta

Sitting (L to R): Aditeya Lochan Singh, Aditya Gupta, Mr Vidhukesh Vimal, Dhruv Singhal, Siddharth Popli Standing (L to R): Arnav Jain, Dhananjaya Bansal, Husain Haider, Zayaan Khodaiji, Harshvardhan Singh, Yasharth Goyal, Rishabh Sharma, Samaksh Khanna

Virtual Stock Exchange

Hold. Sell. Buy.

Master-in-Charge Mr Mohammad Istemdad Ali

Boy-in-Charge Udai Bothra

Sitting (L to R): Aditya Vikram Gupta, Udai Bothra, Mr Istemdad Ali, Vidit Sidana

Entertainment Committee

The Doon School Presents...

Masters-in-Charge Mr Ashish Dean, Mr Sandip Mann

Boys-in-Charge Rohan Shriram, Rahil Badhwar

Sitting (L to R): Arjun Khaitan, Kumar Sambhav, Rohan Shriram, Mr Sandip Singh Mann, Mr Ashish Dean, Rahil Badhwar, Shawn Kapur, Rohil Mehrotra Standing (L to R): Nayan Manchanda, Ritvik Kar, Yuvraj Nathani, Vedant Khanna, Shantanu, Agni Raj Singh, Kushagr Singh, Rishab Badhwar, Aditya Vir Roy

Master-in-Charge Mr Debasish Chakrabarty

LAMDA

Soliloquy

Boy-in-Charge Spandan Gopal Agarwal

Sitting (L to R): Ms Stuti Kuthiala, Mrs Priyanka Bhattacharya, Mrs Priya Chaturvedi, Aditya Vikram Gupta, Mr Debasish Chakrabarty, Apurv Agarwal, Mr Ashad Qezilbash, Mr John Xavier, Ms Priya Chauhan, Mr Shrey Nagalia Standing 1st Row (L to R): Yuvan Kumar, Ananay Sethi, Bhuvan Verma, Ajiitesh Gupta, Yajawin Tandon, Jaivir Puri, C C Chengappa, Vivan Sharma, Hamza Khan, Vishesh Khetan, Shashvat Dhandhania, Prabhsharan Singh Mamik, Rohan Agarwal, Dhruv Kharabandha, Anshul Tibrewal, Angad Singh Shergill, Nihal Dhillon, Mukul Goyal, Siddarth Pahuja, Vatsal Goenka, Madhav Khirwar, Rahil Chamola Standing 2nd Row (L to R): Ranveer Modi, Dhruv Johri, Nasir Iqbal, Jayadityavir Singh, Kartavya Nagpal, Atrey Bhargava, Madhav Agarwal, Sikander Suri, Vansh Agarwal, Manan Pradhan, Karan Sethy, Devansh Agarwal, Atharva Matta, Pulkit Agarwal, Madhav Gurtoo, Karan Dhillon, Suryansh Agarwal, Divij Kapoor, Pratyaksh Singh Parmar, Dhruv Ahuja, Yasir Nizam Standing 3rd Row (L to R): Vaibhav Chandok, Shreyash Agarwal, Smayan Sahni, Aditya Maheshwari , Kanav Agarwal, Rahul Agarwal, Leonardo Pamei, Anant Mohan, Anirudh Batra, Tanmay Nautiyal, Priyanshu Raj, Samarth Bhardwaj, Ujjwal Maheshwari, Rahul Das, Sakcham Bhalotia, Rohan Hundia, Siddharth Jain, Jagjit Singh, Atharva Shukla, Nihaal Singh Mann, Chinmaya Sharma, Nikhil Fatehpuria, Samaksh Khanna, Prakhar Dwivedi Standing 4th Row (L to R): Devesh Sharma, Vineet Puri, Ashish Pande, Madhav Mall, Chaitanya Kediyal, Anirudh Popli, Mahak Sharma, Raghav Kumar, Yash Killa, Mayank Agarwal, Rahul Garg, Tejit Pabari, Kanav Agarwal, Nikhil Chauhan, Arya Khannal, Amol Pajni, Smrithi Nair, Savar Khanna, Saksham Goel, Tushaar Sharma, Nalini Malviya, Varun Sehgal, Nipurn Dutta

Spare Time Activities

Aeromodelling

Skyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Limit

Master-in-Charge Mr Ashish Dean

Boys-in-Charge Ishaan Khanna, Prahlad Singh

Sitting (L to R): Nipurn Datta, Ishaan Khanna, Mr Ashish Dean, Prahlad Singh, Shivam Goyal Standing (L to R): Siddharth Jain, Nirvan Dogra, Jai Khanna, Sabharsh Sidhu, Dhruv Kharbanda, Kartikeya Kardam

Junior Chemists

Acids, Bases, Salts

Master-in-Charge Mrs Meeta Sharma

Sitting (L to R): Hamza Khan, Sakcham Bhalotia, Samarth Bhardwaj, Mrs Meeta Sharma, Aarya Bhadra Khunal, Tanmay Nautiyal, Yash Killa

Senior Chemists

Catenation

Master-in-Charge Mrs Malvika Bhatt

Sitting (L to R): Aakanksha Mohan, Ayush Tripathi, Parth Gupta, Mrs Malvika Bhatt, Sanat Kumar Thakur, Yash Agarwal, Mahak Sharma Standing (L to R): Adhiraj Singh, Shivank Singh, Dhruv Singhal, Dhairik Fuletra

Chess

It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Black or White!

Master-in-Charge Mr Chitranjan Kagdee

School Chess Captain Ujjwal Dahuja

Sitting (L to R): Ritvik Khare, Shorya Agarwal, Ujjwal Dahuja, Mr Chitranjan Kagdee, Sarthak Gupta, Parth Khanna, Chaitanya Fatehpuria

Cooking

Chop, Chomp, Burp!

Master-in-Charge Mrs Ritu Bahl Mohan

Sitting (L to R): Aditya Vir Roy, Josh Pasricha, Saksham Agarwal, Mrs Ritu Bahl Mohan, Gaurav Kothari, Saket Golyan, Atharva Matta Standing (L to R): Viren Agarwal, Vrishankaditya Parmar, Rohan Agarwal, Lakshay Varshney

Design & Technology

Metal-lica

Master-in-Charge Mr A R Singh

Boy-in-Charge Saransh Seth

Sitting (L to R): Vibhav Gupta, Gaurav Kothari, Avik Gugalia, Mr Dinesh Chandra Bhatkoti, Saransh Seth, Mr A R Singh, Chaitanya Fatehpuria , Saket Golyan, Uday Rathore Standing (L to R): Ashish Pande, Nihal S Mann, D. Prasanna Rajan, Vivan Sharma, Mr Furkan Khan, Mr Vijay Kumar, Mr Hari Om, Ritesh Devnani, Jai Ahuja, Divyansh Goel, Jaiaditya Singh

Electronics & Robotics

Wall-E

Master-in-Charge Mr Ashish Dean

Boy-in-Charge Vaibhav Bahadur

Sitting (L to R): Arnav Matta, Mr Rajesh Majumdar, Utkarsh Garg, Mr Ashish Dean, Vaibhav Bahadur, Mr Sandip S Mann, Sookrit Malik Standing (L to R): Tejit Pabari, Mukul Goyal, Rahul Das

HAM Radio

It Hertz!

Master-in-Charge Mr Manish Pant

Boy-in-Charge Apurv Agarwal

Sitting (L to R): Himanshu Todi, Mr Manish Pant, Apurv Agarwal, Mr Ramesh Bhardwaj, Aviral Gupta Standing (L to R): Guruansh Singh, Ashutosh Goyal, Amal Agarwal, Yasharth Goyal, Yash Dhandhania

Hindi Debating

Halla Bol!

Master-in-Charge Mr Vidhukesh Vimal

Boy-in-Charge Uma Shankar Goswami

Sitting (L to R): Revant Nayar, Uma Shankar Goswami, Mr.Vidhukesh Vimal, Sanat Kumar Thakur, Ritesh Popat Shinde Standing (L to R): Rohan Hundia, Udbhav Agarwal, Arth Gupta

Motor Mechanics

Pedal to the Metal

Master-in-Charge Mr Praveen Dwivedi

Boy-in-Charge Saptarshi Biswas

Sitting (L to R): Akarsh Tibrewal, Saptarshi Biswas, Mr Praveen Dwivedi, Suyash Agrawal, Karan Sethy Standing (L to R): Anant Mohan, Raghav Kumar, Kanav Agarwal, Suryansh Agarwal, Bhuvan Verma, Agastya Shetty

Photography

Caught Offside

Masters-in-Charge Senior - Mr Sanjiv Bathla Junior - Mr Ashad Qezilbash

Boys-in-Charge Sparsh Batra, Saib Ahmad

Sitting (L to R): Harshvardhan Singh, Rahul Srivastava, Shreshtha Verma, Mr Sanjiv Bathla, Saib Ahmad, Mr Ashad Qezilbash, Abhishek Pande, Vatsal Goenka, Nakul Talwar Standing (L to R): Kunal Verma, Pranav Kothiwal, Rahul Agarwal, Rishith Agarwal, Sarthak Katiyar, Ritesh Devnani, Arjun Kapur, Sai Swayam Samal, Arnav Kumar, Shivam Sharma

Pin & Thread

Nailed It!

Master-in-Charge Mr Devendra Kumar Mishra

Boy-in-Charge Agastya Bellad

Sitting (L to R): Sachin Mehra, Agastya Bellad, Mr Devender Kumar Mishra, Shubham Agarwal, Sehaj Singh Jouhal Standing (L to R): Arnav Jain, Azaan Brar, Kunal Kanodia, Rishavraj Das

Yoga

Inhale… Exhale…

Master-in-Charge Mr K P S Tomar

Boy-in-Charge Arnav Joshi

Sitting (L to R): Ayush Sarawgi, Arnav Kumar, Mr K P S Tomar, Arnav Joshi, Viren Agarwal Standing (L to R): Ashvin Solanki, Udbhav Agarwal, Syed Mohammad Amaan Kazmi, Vrishankaditya Parmar, Yash Kuldeep Mishra

International Award for Young People

Bronze Just the beginning

Sitting 1st Row (L to R): Aditya Dhingra, Aditya Gupta, Sudhansh Agarwal, Vibhav Gupta, Ritvik Kar, Vrindam Nagpal Sitting 2nd Row (L to R): Uday Rathore, Arush Sood, Abhishek Kakkar, Mr Skand Bali, Yash Vardhan Singhania, Mr Manish Pant, Pranjal Bhatt, Parth Vohra, Yuvraj Nathani Standing (L to R): Siddarth Pahuja, Sai Swayam Samal, Akshay Sarawgi, Sarthak Gupta, Sabhya Katia, Sachin Mehra, Prabnur Bal, Arjun Kamdar, Anmol Jain, Harshvardhan Singh, Digvijay Gupta

International Award for Young People

Silver The lining in the cloud

Master-in-Charge Mr Skand Bali Boy-in-Charge Yash Vardhan Singhania

Sitting (L to R): Himanshu Todi, Aakanksha Mohan, Mr Skand Bali, Yash Vardhan Singhania, Mr Manish Pant, Mahak Sharma, Tanmay Kapoor Standing (L to R): Vatsal Goenka, Madhavan Saklani, Neelansh Khurana, Pranjal Bhatt, Eeshat Tiwary, Avik Gugalia

International Award for Young People

Gold A Midas Touch

Sitting (L to R): Nipun Batra, Prahlad Singh, Mr Skand Bali, Yash Vardhan Singhania, Saransh Seth Standing (L to R): Apurv Aggarwal, Vaibhav Bahadur, Dhruv Sawhney, Varun Gupta, Shubham Agrawal, Anshuman Bhargava

Everest Base Camp Expedition

Limitless

Master-in-Charge Dr Arvindanabha Shukla

Sitting (L to R): Mr Skand Bali, Nakul Jaidka, Mr Pankaj Joshi, Abhijeet Karwa, Dr Arvindanabha Shukla, Shreshtha Verma, Mr Biren Chamola, Eeshat Tiwary, Mr Srinivas Swamy Standing (L to R): Harsh Vardhan Bansal, Abhishek Pande, Pulkit Bansal, Neelansh Khurana, Shreyas Keyal, Zorawar Singh, Ritesh Shinde, Dhruv Prasad

The mother of all mid-terms!

- Eeshat Tiwary Base Camp down, Everest to go.

- Abhijeet Karwa Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst!

- Dr Arvindanabha Shukla

Expedition increased the mileage in me, literally.

- Neelansh Khurana Base Camp was Mission Freaking Insanity!

- Shreyas Keyal Expedition was the walk down memory lane.

- Sanchit Thakral

Conquering Everest Base Camp, the highest base camp in the world, is an experience worth the effort; it comes as no surprise that this year, the School

participated in this expedition for the third time. The group was led by Dr Shukla, Mr Bali, Mr Swamy and Mr Chamola and comprised seventeen students, including myself.

After numerous group meetings and fitness sessions, we were ready for the adventure. We flew to Kathmandu on May 29 and reached at noon. We drove down to Thamel, where our hotel was situated and were introduced to our expedition guides, Lalit and Kiran. After a day of exploring Thamel, we flew to Lukla, where we encountered one of the most exciting touchdowns. The runway, situated in the midst of three mountain sides, ends at a cliff; the approach scared all of us, especially when we saw that the runway ended at a cliff. From Lukla, we trekked towards Phakding, a trek of three hours. The next day, we trekked six hours to Namche Bazaar (3440m), the Sherpa capital, with a quick break en route at Jhorsale. At this height, acclimatization was necessary and we had to spend the next two days acclimatizing by trekking within the Namche region. Only after that could we trek to Phortse (at a height of 3700m), followed by the trek to Dingboche.

We reached Dingboche after nine hours and to our relief, Dr Shukla announced that we were to spend the following day resting. Our leader also advised the group to go for a short trek to further acclimatize itself. We trekked to the nearest hill and from there, we had another view of Mt Ama Dablam. After we returned, we got down to playing ‘Quote Piece’, the popular card game. Seeing the popularity amongst the group, Dr Shukla decided to create a tournament, with a grand prize of two bottles of coke! Mr Bali named it ‘EPL’, short for Expedition Premier League. To everyone’s surprise, the team of Mr Swamy and Neelansh emerged victorious. After this short break, we headed for Lobuche in the morning.

We stopped for a short break at Memory Hill, a place dedicated to the people who had died during various expeditions. We reached Lobuche in about six hours and from a height of 4930m, we could see Everest Base Camp as well as Kala Patthar; we were now very close to our destination. After a quick check on everyone’s health, we called it a day.

A few members of the team could not participate in the trek to Gorak Shep due to acute altitude sickness (they had to trek back to Lobuche). The rest of us reached Gorak Shep in three hours. On the way, we saw the Khumbu glacier and the top of Mt Everest. After a quick lunch, we started our climb towards Everest Base Camp. Slowly and steadily, the group reached the final destination, which was at a height of 5550m. We celebrated our achievement with a few pictures with the School flag. All of us were satisfied. After a while, we headed back to Gorak Shep. At the lodge, we noticed a T-shirt pinned on the wall by the previous group from School which had reached the Everest Base Camp. One of us made some designs on a spare T-shirt and put it up.

The next day, very early in the morning, a small group left for Kala Patthar, but had to abandon the climb midway due to sudden deterioration in weather conditions. At that point we realized how wrong a trek could go, if not planned meticulously. Later in the day, we trekked down to Pheriche (4370m), where we joined the rest of the group. We completed the descent of 900m in about seven hours. To everyone’s delight, we were served pancakes with Nutella for breakfast, the next morning. After breakfast we trekked down to Namche Bazaar. On the way, we stopped at Thyangboche (3867m.), where the famous Kopan monastery is located. We completed our last trek the following day, after reaching Lukla.

Finally, we boarded the plane for Kathmandu. While some prayed for a safe flight, others could not get over the expedition’s success and the part they had played in it. At Kathmandu, we had three days to enjoy the capital city. We visited the Pashupati Nath temple, Bhaktapur and Patan cities. On the last day, we went to Rum-doodle, a restaurant dedicated to Himalayan mountaineers. After our fair share of Dal-Bhat, momos and eggs, we finished our expedition. Content with our achievement, we congratulated each other on a safe and exciting expedition. We flew back to Delhi, and everyone headed in different directions, cherishing the same memories.

- Eeshat Tiwary

Student Exchange

Around the World in 80 days!

Master-in-Charge Mr Ambikesh Shukla

Exchange Schools

Sitting (L to R): Aditya Vikram Gupta, Shivam Goyal, Aviral Gupta, Nivit Kochhar, Mr Ambikesh Shukla, Siddharth Kaul, Siddhant Sachdev, Arjun Parmar, Animesh Jain Standing (L to R): Arjun Khaitan, Yash Jalan, Shantanu Seth, Banda Maan Singh Lamba, Raghav Nath, Sanat Kumar Thakur, Jai Pratap Singh Kairon, Ujjwal Dahuja, Yash Madhav Johri, Zorawar Whig, Karan Shingal, Yuv Vir Khosla, Avik Gugalia

Singing Lord of the Dance with the Eton choir in chapel, wearing a tailcoat, waistcoat and false collar, is a memory I will forever treasure.

- Yuv Vir Khosla

2 months, 200 new friends, 2000 new memories but most importantly, 1 refined personality.

The English Summer that changed my life!

- Aviral Gupta

Exciting. Eneregetic. Exchange.

The best souvenier I got from Down Under!

- Siddhant Sachdev

- Raghav Nath

- Shivam Goyal

An unmatched experience I would love to live again!

- Sanat Kumar Thakur

Stowe School, England Siddhant Sachdev Aditya Vikram Gupta Millfield School, England Yash Jalan Arjun Parmar St Stithians College, South Africa Shivam Goyal Deerfield Academy, United States Ujjwal Dahuja The Armidale School, Australia Raghav Nath The King’s School, Australia Arjun Khaitan Siddharth Kaul Saint Andrew’s School, United States Nivit Kochhar The Regent’s School, Thailand Avik Gugalia St Edward’s School, England Aviral Gupta Zorawar Whig King’s Academy, Jordan Banda Mann Singh Lamba Animesh Jain Bridge House School, South Africa Sanat Kumar Thakur St Philips College, Australia Shantanu Seth Brookhouse International School, Kenya Jai Pratap Singh Kairon Groton School, United States Karan Shinghal Eton College, England Yuv Vir Khosla Ballarat Grammar School, Australia Yash Johri

A true Australian experience which left me enthralled and enriched…

- Arjun Khaitan

After a mesmerising 2 months, Exchange changed my perspective of life.

- Siddharth Kaul

From playing footy the australian way to visiting the Agers Rock; From making amazing new friends, to the entertaining hours in the classroom, and from being a fresher in the start, to becoming a true St. Phillipian in the end. Exchange was a life-changing experience, worth living again - Shantanu Seth

From Chasing Kangaroos with my ever-loving host family to playing Aussie Rules Football with my new mates; the memories I have brought back from the Land of OZ will be forever-prized.

- Yash Johri

A taxi drive through teenage utopia.

- Zorawar Whig

I went, I enjoyed, I came back.

- Banda Mann Singh Lamba

A contending exposure and learning experience that I would like to cherish.

- Animesh Jain

Exchange for me was five new sports learnt, four different places visited , three months of bliss, too many new friends made and a once in a lifetime experience.

- Aditya Vikram Gupta

Wonderful experience was this exchange, Golden opportunity for cultural inter change. I enthusiastically got back to school; after having had Regent’s welcomed change.

- Avik Gugalia Whatever I am, I’m after exchange.

- Yash Jalan

An experience so mind-blowingly spectacular, that even the disappointments left a smile on one’s face.

- Arjun Parmar

In the blockbuster movie of life, exchange was a short but unforgettable scene.

- Nivit Kochhar

Social Service

Audio Visual Squad

A Tale of Two Mics

Masters-in-Charge Mr Sandeep Singh Mann, Mr Ashish Dean

Boys-in-Charge Prahlad Singh, Vaibhav Bahadur

Sitting 1st row (L to R): Guruansh Singh, Ritvik Kar, Mihir Kiran, D Prasanna Rajan, Paramdeep Singh, Sabir Singh, Sahir Choudhary, Yash Dhandhania, Ashvin Solanki, Vivek Vishwanathan Sitting 2nd row (L to R): Nivit Kochhar, Rohil Mehrotra, Dhruv Mahajan, Apurv Agarwal, Vaibhav Bahadur, Mr Sandip S Mann, Mr Ashish Dean, Prahlad Singh, Sachit Taneja, Dhruv Sirohi, Arjun Khaitan, Abhijeet Karwa Standing (L to R): Aamir Shah, Shubham Sikaria, Durgesh Agarwal, Jai Ahuja, Suraj Bishnoi, Shantanu, Devesh Sharma, Kumar Sambhav, Alawi Singh, Vedant Khanna, Hamza Khan, Mudit Agarwal, Rishabh Agarwal, Chirag Mittal, Shawn Kapur, Shubham Dhingra

Archives

They canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t break the records!

Master-in-Charge Mrs Abia Qezilbash

Boys-in-Charge Rishi Agarwal, Apurv Agarwal

Sittting (L to R): Aditya Vikram Gupta, Apurv Agarwal, Mrs Abia Qezilbash, Rishi Agarwal, Abhishek Pande, Arjun Khaitan Standing (L to R): Apekshit Goel, Rishabh Tusnial, Nipun Batra, Kamlesh Dhanik, Suhel Karara, Arjun Kapur, Ashish Verma

Boys Bank & Tuck Shop

Money Minded

Masters-in-Charge Mr Manoj Pandey, Mr Shadeep Adhikari

Boys-in-Charge Shubham Agarwal, Vatsal Modi

Sitting 1strow (L to R):Nikunj Agarwal, Laksh Sharaf, Rishit Agarwal, Pranav Kothiwal Sitting 2nd row (L to R): Mr Srinivas Swamy, Mr Sandeep Khanna, Mrs Malvika Bhatt, Mr Manoj Pandey, Vatsal Modi, Mr Sandeep Adhikari, Mr Samik Das, Mr Chandan Singh Ghughtyal, Mr Sudhir Thapa, Mr Ambikesh Shukhla Standing (L to R): Sai Swayam Samal, Avik Gugalia, Aditya Malik, Tanmay Kapoor, Udit Rungta, Ritesh Devnani, Neelansh Khurana, Akhil Ranjan, Himanshu Todi, Abhishek Pande, Ishmam Chowdhury

Lost Property Office

FIRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d yet?

Master-in-Charge Mr Prabhakaran Nair

Boy-in-Charge Pranav Agarwal

Sitting 1st Row (L to R): VatsalGoenka, Mr Prabhakaran Nair, Pranav Agarwal Standing 1st Row (L to R): Aditya Gupta, Arjun Kamdar, Samarth Juneja

Paper Recycling

Pulp Fiction

Masters-in-Charge Mr Vinay Pandey, Mr Srinivas Swamy

Boys-in-Charge Virein Chabra, Saib Ahmad

Sitting 1st row (L to R): Divyansh Goel, Rishavraj Das, Devang Mehra, Arush Sood, Vibhav Gupta, Uday Rathore, Parth Vohra Sitting 2nd row (L to R): Yash Vardhan Singhania, Rohan Shriram, Madhav Dutt, Mr Srinivas Swamy, Virein Chabra, Saib Ahmad, Mr Vinay Pande, Eeshat Tiwary, Vihan Khanna, Neelansh Khurana Standing (L to R): Harshvardhan Singh, Rahul Srivastava, Satvik Narain, Ujjwal Dahuja, Abhishek Kakkar, Varun N Sinha, Agni Raj Singh, Kunal Kanodia, Palash Kanwar, Chaitanya Fatehpuria

Stage Committee

Lights, Camera, Furniture!

Masters-in-Charge Mr Skand Bali, Mr Samik Das

Boys-in-Charge Anmol Singh Jamwal, Sharan Seth

Sitting (L to R): Dhruv Sawhney, Aditya Vikram Gupta, Mr Skand Bali, Sharan Seth, Mr Samik Das, Anmol Singh Jamwal, Mr Ramesh Bhardwaj, Abhijeet Karwa, Harshil Agarwal Standing (L to R): Digivjay Gupta, Shubham Sikaria, Ishmam M Chaudhary, Pranjalya Shukla, Farhan Anis, Siddharth Suri, Nihal Sharma, Vatsal Agarwal, Suhel Karara, Raghav Bansal, Devesh Sahai, Ayuushman Aroraa

Trophy Squad

Rise and Shine

Masters-in-Charge Mr Anand Kumar Mandhian, Mr Pankaj Das

Boy-in-Charge Anshuman Bhargava

Sitting 1st row (L to R): Madhav Goel, Parth Aggarwal, Manan Dhandhania, Shlok Jain Sitting 2nd row (L to R): Nayan Manchanda, Suyash Bishnoi, Mr Anand K Mandhian, Anshuman Bhargava, Mr Pankaj Das, Neelansh Khurana, Satvik Narain Standing (L to R): Lakshya Varshney, Sarthak Gupta, Kanav Ghai, Sabhya Katia, Sachin Mehra, Suryansh Nevatia, Ritvik Khare, Aditya Dhingra

Weather Reporting

Predicting Dec 21, 2012

Master-in-Charge Mr Srinivas Swamy

Boy-in-Charge Mohit Gupta

Sitting (L to R): Kumar Sambhav, Banda Maan Singh Lamba, Mohit Gupta, Mr Srinivas Swamy, Shawn Kapur, Alawi Singh, Shrish Srivastava Standing (L to R): Chaitanya Fatehpuria, Zorawar Singh, Raghav Kothiwal, Udbhav Agarwal

Community Service

An aristocracy of service

Master-in-Charge Mrs Amrit Burrett

Secretaries Udai Bothra Vigya Singh Dhiman

Sitting 1stRow (L to R): Abhishek Pande, Avik Gugalia, Uday Vir Lakhanpal , Vatsal Modi ,Shrish Srivastava, Yash Vardhan Singhania, Saransh Seth, Yash Johri, Kumar Sambhav Sitting 2nd row (L to R): Mr Rahul Luther, Ms Banita Bhau, Ms Priya Chauhan, Dr Mona Khanna, Mrs Meeta Sharma, Vigya Singh Dhiman, Mrs Amrit Burett, Udai Bothra, Mr Praveen Dwivedi, Mrs Ritu Bahl Mohan, Mrs Malvika Bhatt, Mr Anjan Chaudhury, Mr Kamal Ahuja Standing (L to R): Mr Sudhir Thapa, Mr Sandeep Khanna, Mr Vidhukesh Vimal, Mr Kirti Pal Singh Tomar, Mr Srinivas Swamy, Mr Samik Das,Mr Devendra Kumar Mishra, Mr Dhanesh Joshi, Mr Rajesh Majumdar, Mr Chandan Singh Gughtyal, Mr Manu Mehrotra, Mr Tappan Bariu, Mr Istemdad Ali

Community Service initiatives provided by School: Micro-finance

John Martyn School

This initiative provides for a provision of financial services to the low-income people, usually villagers, who lack access to banking and related services, by the School.

The School art and music societies have come forward to take students to train the John Martyn students regularly. The art school society is helping the JMMT school to set up a small art school and the music school has donated a number of instruments, apart from training the boys and girls there.

Youth Empowerment

Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship

Youth Empowerment is an opportunity for boys to discuss social issues and other relevant topics with underprivileged children from Sapera Basti and Bindal.

Training programmes for women empowerment were organized in conjunction with the IIE for women from different villages, with training given in food processing, beautician work, tailoring and fashion design.

Udaan

Serving the differently abled

This is an initiative which works towards drug and alcohol rehabilitation. The boys work alongside Nizaat, a local NGO working against substance abuse, under this initiative. The boys also performed street plays to spread awareness.

Under this, the boys work closely with a special child to understand and learn about the disability that the special child has. The boys visit every week to work with the children.

Doon Gyanodaya Vatika Village Developement Batoli Village: The School has taken over the community centre built by Doon School boys long ago. Hyderabad House has donated money to this village for development purposes.

Kile: This is a new village adopted by Jaipur House. The boys and teachers make regular visits to organize games and interact with over 250 residents of the village.

Dandapur and Mulookchand: Both these schools are visited on a regular basis.

Two teacher-training programmes were organized there this year to improve the teaching methodology.

Rasulpur: This is a new village adopted by the School after a request from the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Friends of the Doon Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to teach English there. Boys visit the village on Sundays.

These are developmental projects supported by Mr. Avinash Alag, an Old Boy of the School.

Balbir Vatika A group of students from here were taken for a day outing, one which turned out to be an enriching experience for the students. The School was also successful in getting students from the Vatika admission in Summer Valley School.

Sapera Basti This year saw ten boys from the Basti complete their IAYP Bronze award and four girls complete their training as beauticians.

Sports Clinic

Environmental Action - People for Animals

This initiative provides cricket, basketball, and football facilities within the School compound to under privileged children.

Under this, boys help various societies like the People For Animals (PFA), a courageous NGO fighting for animals to be treated humanely. These included a walk to save the tigers and a run to raise funds for an animal shelter in Dehradun. Boys also visited the Assan Barrage (a bird sanctuary) to see migratory birds.

Second Helping Under the Second Helping programme, leftover food after lunch from the CDH is collected and then distributed by the boys at the Bindal slum.

Round Square Conference

Rounding it up!

Master-in-Charge Ambikesh Shukla

Conferences RSC, British School, New Delhi RSC, Scindia School, Gwalior RSC, Pathways World School, Gurgaon RSIC, Wellington College, London Sitting 1st Row (L to R): Vrindam Nagpal, Anirudh Popli, Saksham Goel, Rohan Hundia, Samarth Juneja Sitting 2nd Row (L to R): Gursehej Singh Oberoi, Spandan Gopal Agarwal, Mr Nitin Chauhan, Mr Vidhukesh Vimal, Mr Ambikesh Shukla, Mrs Anez Katre, Mr Sanjiv Bathla, Sambuddha Naha, Saud Khan Standing (L to R): Karmanya Malhotra, Amartya Bhowmick, Nakul Jaidka, Yash Mall, Pranoy Bohara, Shreyas Keyal, Pranjal Varshney, Raghav Bansal, Sachin Mehra, Abhinav Mittal, Abhinav Kejriwal

Round Square Conference The Scindia School, Gwalior

- Vrindam Nagpal

As seven of us accompanied by Mr Vidhukesh Vimal left for Scindia School, Gwalior on the morning of 3rd February, we were full of anticipation for what lay ahead for us. All we knew was that the theme was, “Friends Everywhere”.

But in the five days that we spent in Gwalior, we learnt far more than we had expected. We learned to treat everyone equally, especially those who were differently abled. We reached the Scindia School after a tiring but eventful train journey of twelve hours. For most of us, this was the first train journey in a sleeping coach, so there was an unmatched excitement amongst us. As soon as we reached the school, we were escorted to the dormitories that would be our home for the next five days. On the first day, after having an appetizing breakfast, we headed for the opening ceremony. We were soon divided in our ‘Baraza’ groups where we began by introducing ourselves and getting to know the others a little better. Our agenda was to discuss the issue of the differently abled being looked down upon and not being treated as equals. Sooner than we knew, we realized that the theme ‘Friends Everywhere’ was not only about socializing but about making friends with people who are treated like outcasts by the world. We also went for social service late in the evening, far away from the world of comfort, and saw a world we had hardly seen before.

On the second day, after some discussion, we met some of the people we had talked about for a whole day and finally understood that these people were not really different from us. After the ‘Baraza’ meetings, every school had to perform some entertainment. Having the master-in-charge of junior Hindi drama society with us, we decided to perform a skit. We practised hard and were very confident during the rehearsals, but just like playing a match is always tougher than practices, performing in front of an audience was a lot tougher. Our plan backfired and one of the boys forgot his dialogues right in the core of the play. The thirty seconds that we stood on the stage just staring, will certainly be hard to forget.

The third day was utilized for social service. We went to a village and carried out a survey, and discovered that most of the villagers didn’t get a proper supply of water or food, opposed to what the government had been promising. On the fourth day, we summarized our discussions and presented our Baraza’s stand during the RSC assembly.

Finally, the time for us to bid farewell to many new friends, put away happy memories, and reflect on lessons learnt had come. All in all, this conference was one that became an essential part of our education at Doon.

Round Square Conference Wellington College, London

- Shubham Khemka

A group of five students, namely, Nakul Jaidka, Shreyas Keyal, Yash Mall, Gopal Singh Mann and Shubham Khemka escorted by Mr Ambikesh Shukla and Mrs Anez Katre, represented The Doon School at the Round Square Conference that was held in Wellington College, London.

On leaving School, we looked forward to our pre conference trip to Villars, a small town on the outskirts of Geneva, Switzerland. We soon arrived in Switzerland where the schools which were hosting us, Aiglon College and Beau Soleil, received us at the station and took us to our lodgings. There were four schools together in the group- Daly College, Indore, Markham College, Peru, Starehe Boys, Kenya and The Doon School, Dehradun. We explored the landscape of Switzerland seeing many old castles like the Chateau de Chillon and a few of their war tunnels. We also went trekking to and crossed the border of France. The last few days of touring comprised of us going to the famous CERN and some other tourist destinations after which we soon departed for the conference in London.

It was amazing to see the number of schools and the students and also the campus of such an elite and old institution of London. We were given our schedules and left in the community of more than 1000 students. It was an amazing opening ceremony with the Queen opening the conference in the presence of the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of York and HM King Constantine of the Hellenes and Queen Anne Marie.

We visited many locations and were also taken out for social service to old age homes, we helped launch cleanliness drives, as well. We also attended a village fete, which was like a gala with a myriad number of stalls. Finally we had the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Last Night of the Promsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, when everyone danced with each other, celebrating the conference.

The conference, then soon came to a close and the parting with our new friends was hard, but with the knowledge of all that we had gained, we were not only content, but utterly glad that we decided to be a part of this trip.

Round Square International Service

Service Internationalé

Master-in-Charge Ambikesh Shukla

Projects RSIS, Ladakh RSIS, Peru RSIS, South Africa Sitting (L to R): Apurv Agarwal, Jaiveer Jakhar, Spandan Gopal Agarwal, Mr Ambikesh Shukla, Dhruv Sirohi, Sambuddha Naha, Rohan Nath Behl Standing (L to R): Aditya Gupta, Abhishek Bansal, Gaurang Ahuja, Sachit Taneja

RSIS, Katapathar RSIS, Cambodia RSIS, Thailand

RSIS, Thailand

- Mr Biren Chamola

Students and parents from various Round Square Schools across the globe came together to work together in a remote village of Karen Tribe in the hills of Northern Thailand near Chomthong from 7-22 December 2011. There were sixteen participants for the project with Ms Vanessa Tait of Ivanhoe Grammar School (Australia) as the Project Leader and me as the Deputy project Leader. The Project was in partnership with the Pakanyor Foundation and the team installed two freshwater tanks of 1000 litres each in the village called Ban Huay Khanun Sam to provide fresh water to the village population of 100 people. The project was unique and first of its kind by the RSIS in the sense that it involved a parent and an offspring team as participants. We had eight such teams representing Canada, South Africa, Scotland, Denmark and Australia. The parent along with his/her son/daughter got an opportunity to work together on the project.

It was intensive labour for the participants. A typical day involved work after breakfast from 9 am to about 4:30 pm with an hour’s lunch break in between. The work involved carrying large loads of supplies like cement bags, buckets of gravel and sand, bamboo and wood to the worksite. At the worksite the job involved mixing of cement, building scaffolding and tanks, plastering etc. During the project many local Karen villagers and Thai workers worked in cooperation with the RSIS team to complete the work.

In the evenings after the working day was done, the RSIS participants spent their time interacting, playing and communicating with the villagers. After dinner, almost every day around the communal campfire the villagers and the RSIS participants came together with their musical instruments to sing and to dance late into the night.

The accommodation was probably the best part of this project. The participants lived in the village houses with the village families that allowed closer interaction and understanding between people. To be able to stay in the homes of Karens in their village was surely a once in a lifetime experience.

Over the last two days of our trip we returned to Chiang Mai where we visited the elephant sanctuary and toured the city of Chiang Mai. The whole experience was unique and every moment of it was certainly worthwhile. One of our young participants summed up the entire project so well as follows: “That is what life is all about; intelligent, caring people coming together to do something good. My mother always says leave someone better (the villagers) than when you found them. Give them love, laughter, anything. We can all leave Thailand knowing that it is better than when we found it.”

Round Square Leadership Training Project Cambodia

- Ms Stuti Kuthiala

Cambodia is rebuilding itself – literally and figuratively. Every second shop along the market streets of district towns such as Takeo, as well as the capital city, Phnom Penh, stocks building materials and equipment, and there is a busy hum of activity and a sense of renewal everywhere. Cambodia’s progress was driven back by almost three decades thanks to Pol Pot and his Khmer regime which sought forcefully and violently to establish an agro-rural economy and cultural identity for Cambodia which was already bearing the brunt of the conflict in neighbouring Vietnam. It has taken this small, peace-loving, Buddhist, landmine and poverty ridden country a long and arduous journey to begin reconstructing itself. NGOs from France, Germany, England, America, Canada, Australia – you name the country – are pouring in volunteers and resources to help in sectors like education and the rehabilitation of war victims, as well as the cottage and handicrafts industries.

I got to see all this firsthand when in December 2011, ASH and I had the opportunity to travel to Cambodia and participate in Round Square International’s Project Leader Training Programme. Twenty-two teachers from Round Square affiliated schools in nine countries attended the two-week long programme.

Through the planning and building of a schoolroom building in village Bakot, two hour’s drive from Phnom Penh into the Cambodian countryside, we were taught by our Project Leaders, Liz Gray and Rod Summerton, how RSIS projects for school children are undertaken. The logistics concerning the choice of a project site, liaising with the local community, making transport, boarding and lodging arrangements for the student group, ensuring health and safety standards, sourcing construction materials and local builders etc., were explained to us. In a neighbouring village a team of three previously trained adult Project Leaders was putting such learning to practice by conducting a RSIS project with twenty-one students from around the world, including Doon’s Aakansha Mohan. They too were building a school house for the local children, who like many in India, were walking miles each day to get to a school. Both groups finished their projects on time and had the privilege of naming them in consultation with the locals. Our school was christened ‘Happy Gecko’ (my fear of the gigantic ones that flourish in Cambodia perversely inspired my team mates!) and a wall painting of one with the alphabet and math numbers written on it was made on the outside of the toilet block to serve as the logo.

The building task was certainly an intensely physical activity – digging, ferrying bricks, rocks, cement and water, mixing cement for mortar, bricklaying, plastering and painting – all in pretty warm weather. The local builders understood not a word of English and our communication was mostly via sign language (which more often than not ended up in expansive smiles and endless, respectful nodding – a trademark of almost every Cambodian we met) or our interpreter, Om Chamnap.

If the name ‘Om’ surprises you as sounding too Indian in a foreign land, you only have to visit the temple complexes at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom and the surrounding ruin-scattered countryside to realize how much influence the Hindu dynasties that ruled the region from the 8th to the 13th century have left behind. The architectural layout of the temples resembling the Himalayas with mythical Mt. Meru at its centre, the bas reliefs of apsaras and asuras and the legends from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the Tamil script inscribed on the pillars, the Tamilian Brahmin priest family that still resides in the complex – all reveal a deeply embedded Hindu cultural legacy.

In our spare time, from weaving bracelets to cooking a Khmer meal, from distributing a hundred bicycles to the village children to teaching them dental hygiene, from being rendered speechless at Tuol Sleng Prison and the Killing Fields to dancing the ‘Macarena’ with orphans in a primary school, from eating frog to saying ‘No’ to deep fried grasshoppers and beetles, from watching the sunrise at Angkor to sipping sundowners by the Mekong on the terrace of the FCC (the Foreign Correspondents’ Club which had been the only refuge for journalists in the final weeks of the Khmer Rouge’s evacuation of the capital) – we did it all. At the end of the two weeks one could only say that any occasion to travel to a new country and to get to know its culture and its people is a special privilege, and one that makes for lasting memories.

Staff

Commerce Department

The bull or the bear

Head of Department Mr Ajit Bajaj

Sitting (L to R): Mr Sanjiv Bathla, Mr Ajit Bajaj, Mr Deepak Sharma, Mr Kamal Ahuja Standing (L to R): Mr Shadeep Adhikari, Mr Samik Das, Mr Praveen Dwivedi, Mr Istemdad Ali

English Department

No fear Shakespeare

Head of Department Mr Debasish Chakrabarty

Sitting (L to R): Mrs Jasbir Kaur Anand, Mr Debasish Chakrabarty, Mr Ashad Qezilbash Standing (L to R): Mrs Priyanka Bhattacharya, Mr John Xavier, Mr Shrey Nagalia, Ms Stuti Kuthiala

Head of Department

Hindi Department

Matri Bhasha

Dr Aravindanabha Shukla

Sitting (L to R): Dr Arvindanabha Shukla, Dr Mohan Chandra Joshi, Dr M H Farooqui Standing (L to R): Mr Vidhukesh Vimal, Mr Devendra Kumar Mishra, Mr Manoj Pandey

Head of Department

Humanities Department

Politically correct

Mr Piyush Malviya

Sitting (L to R): Mrs Purnima Dutta, Mr Prabhakaran Nair, Mr Piyush Malviya, Mr Philip Burrett Standing (L to R): Mr Skand Bali, Mr Rashid Sharfuddin, Mr K V Arjun Rao, Mr Shrey Nagalia, Ms Anamika Ghose

Mathematics Department

1/Cos C

Head of Department Mr Pankaj Joshi

Sitting (L to R): Dr Mona Khanna, Mr Pankaj Joshi, Mr Biren Kumar Chamola, Mr Rahul Luther Standing (L to R): Mr Chandan Singh Ghughtyal, Mr Anjan Chaudhary, Mr Sudhir Thapa, Mr Manu Mehrotra

Music Department

Woodstock 2011

Head of Department Mrs Priya Chaturvedi

Sitting (L to R): Mr Partho Roy Choudhury, Mrs Priya Chaturvedi, Mr Avijit Chattopadhyay, Mrs Rita Sinha

Head of Department

Science Department

Scientifically tempered

Mr Rajesh Majumdar

Sitting (L to R): Mr Ambikesh Shukla, Mr Vinay Pande, Mr Rajesh Majumdar, Mr Dinesh Chandra Bhatkoti, Mrs Malvika Bhatt Standing 1st Row (L to R): Mrs Ritu Bahl Mohan, Mr Sandeep Singh Mann, Mr Ashish Dean, Mr Anand Kumar Mandhian, Mrs Meeta Sharma Standing 2nd Row (L to R): Mr Chit Ranjan Kagdee, Mr Sandeep Khanna, Mr Srinivas Swamy, Mr Manish Pant, Mr Ramesh Kumar Bhardwaj

Counselling

The Sixth Sense

Sitting (L to R): Mr Ken McRae, Ms Anamika Ghose

Teaching Staff

Keep Calm and Teach

Sitting (L to R): Mr Vinay Pande, Mr Debasish Chakrabarty, Mr K V Arjun Rao, Mr Sanjiv Bathla, Mr Piyush Malviya, Dr M C Joshi, Mr Philip Burrett, Dr Peter McLaughlin, Mr Prabhakaran Nair, Mr Deepak Sharma, Mr Ashad Qezilbash, Mr Biren Chamola, Mr Anjan Chaudhary, Ms Stuti Kuthiala, Mr Skand Bali Standing 1st Row (L to R): Mrs Purnima Dutta, Mr D C Bhatkoti, Mrs Namrata Pandey, Mr Ashish Dean, Mr Manu Mehrotra, Mr John Xavier, Mrs Priya Chaturvedi, Mr Ajit Bajaj, Mr Pankaj Joshi, Dr Arvindanabha Shukla, Mr Rajesh Majumdar, Mr Rashid Sharfuddin, Mr Nitin Chauhan, Mr Rahul Luther, Mr M H Farooqi, Mr Kamal Ahuja, Mr Ambikesh Shukla, Mrs Anez Katre, Mrs Amrit Burrett Standing 2nd Row (L to R): Mr Manoj Pandey, Mr Devendra Kumar Mishra, Ms Prachi Nagalia, Mr Shrey Nagalia, Mr Samik Das, Mrs Malvika Bhatt, Mr Dhanesh Joshi, Mr Vishal Mohla, Mr Anand K Mandhian, Mr Sandip S Mann, Mr Sandeep Adhikari, Ms Priya Chauhan Standing 3rd Row (L to R): Mr Pankaj Das, Mr Anupam Chowdhury, Mrs Meeta Sharma, Mr Arnab Mukherjee, Mr Tapan Barui, Mr Sandeep Khanna, Mrs Jasbeer Kaur Anand, Mr Vidhukesh Vimal, Dr Ritu Bahl Mohan, Ms Anamika Ghose, Mr Chandan Singh Ghughtyal, Mr Chitranjan Kagdee, Mr Michael James, Dr Mona Khanna Standing 4th Row (L to R): Ms Banita Bhau, Mr Manish Pant, Mr A Chattopadhyay, Mr Sanjib Kalsi, Mr Partho Roy Chowdhury, Mr Praveen Dwivedi, Mr K P S Tomar, Mr Sudhir Thapa, Mr Srinivas Swamy, Mr Ramesh Bhardwaj, Mr Lawanshaiba Kharmawalong, Mr Istemdad Ali

Until we meet again...

As a true Dosco Sandip Mann aka SSM had a versatile personality and had his heart and soul in whatever he did. He taught physics, was the CAS coordinator, was the master-in-charge of the audio-visual squad and aero modeling, and above all a great son to his parents. Again as a true Dosco he excelled in all the activities that he was involved in.

As a teacher SSM was known to be sensitive, reflective, intelligent, and deeply committed to every aspect of teaching. He put in a lot effort in his classes. He was very hardworking, sincere, and a methodical teacher. His students were very fond of him. He dealt with them fairly and was particularly caring about the students who needed more help.

As a master-in-charge of the Audio-Visual squad he was efficient and expected the same kind of efficiency from his students. SSM worked hard with his squad to ensure that School functions went on smoothly. He really raised the bar for performance in the squad and as a result the boys were as dedicated to working as SSM himself was. Aeromodeling STA grew in strength and in passion under the guidance of SSM. He effectively used the STA to inspire boys to be creative and to explore and follow their thoughts. As a tutor in Foot House SSM ably aided the then Housemaster Mr. Harendra Chakhaiyar in setting up good and efficient systems in the House. As a tutor in Kashmir House ANC and I often talk that in SSM we had a very reliable tutor in the House. He could be called on any time to help us in the House. He took initiative and took rounds of the House on his own. His tutorial group was very close to him and in case of a discipline issue he would always argue the case of his tutees with us. He played his role as a tutor to perfection!

SSM was a great friend, a wonderful teacher, and a very friendly tutor. I remember when I got my new computer and had problems with it; Sandip spent hours and hours at my place and helped me. I will never forget the help that he extended not only to me but to each and everyone who ever asked for it. I wish SSM good luck in all that he does.

- Mr Manu Mehrotra

My first memory of Mr Devendra Singh (DVS) goes way back to the early 1980s when he taught me Physics at Welham Girls’ School. He was a formidable personality, practising and demanding strict discipline in and outside the classroom. If we misbehaved, we were politely requested to ‘elevate and evacuate’. Many years later, I entered the then Headmaster of the Doon School, Mr. Mason’s, office in the Main Building for an interview and found Mr. Singh also present there. He was then the Dean of Studies at Doon and on the interview panel for new teachers. I was pleasantly surprised when he remembered me from my school days (I am quite certain it was due to my poor performance in Physics!), and in his own quiet and composed manner made me less nervous during that hour.

While steering and managing the academic life at Doon, Mr Singh continued his first love, the teaching of Physics, to the boys of the School. The very impressive Physics Museum in School was his brainchild and a tribute to the subject he taught. As recognition of valuable services to the community as a teacher of outstanding merit, he was awarded the National Award For Teachers by the President of India in September, 2002.

For long, DVS was attached to Martyn House as a tutor and interacted closely with the boys. He brooked no nonsense and was dedicated to turning out young gentlemen from here. He wanted the boys to learn the value of things and appreciate simplicity. He would be as excited as any boy when midterms came around and the anecdotes from these trips are legendary. Armed with his backpack, he would look like one setting off on a crusade!

A private person, he lived on campus with Ratna, his wife, and Nikhilendra, his son, who studied in School and went on to Muskingum, USA, for further studies.

Mr. Singh was a ‘one of a kind’ schoolmaster, the likes of whom we shall see less and less of, I fear. I know he did not like a fuss to be made over anything, and so, I shall conclude by extending our collective best wishes to him and his family, and hope to see him on campus on an occasion soon.

- Ms Stuti Kuthiala

Administrative Heads and Management

From behind the scenes

Sitting (L to R): Mr Hemant K Sharma, Maj H Rautela, Mr Sanjay Makhija, Mr Sameer Katre, Mr Madan Mohan Purohit, Mr Raveesh Dogra

Administration

Free of Red-Tapism!

Sitting (L to R): Mr S P Sundrial, Mr Ram Gopal Maurya, Mr Sachin Goyal, Maj H Rautela, Mr Yusuf Khan, Mr Atul S Pundir, Mr Ajay Kumar Standing (L to R): Ms Mitali, Mr Ashish Bhatia, Mr Jagdamba Prasad, Mr Sewak Bisht, Mr S S Ale, Mr Neeraj Kumar, Mr Virendra Singh, Mr Rajinder Singh

Central Dining Hall

Incrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;edibleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Sitting (L to R): Kamal N. Kothari, Manoj, Upreti, Alibux, Vishal Anand,Mr Sanjay Makhija, Shibi, C.B.Rana, Subodh Nautiyal, Mahipal Singh, Rajendra Singh.

Standing 1st row (L to R): Dharminder Singh, Shuklanand Kothari, Meshender Kothari, Bharat Rohiyal, Ashok Kumar, Kamal Kumar, Kishorilal, Bhagvan Das, Rajendra, Surinder, Jagat Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Suvan Singh, Rambathuana, Ashok Kumar Standing 2nd Row (L to R): Kamal Singh, Chotalal,Latpat, Vinod, Mor Singh, Subhash, Survinder, Dilip, Sunir, Rasjesham, Ranbeer, Shamdev, Mahipal

Dames

The maternal touch

Sitting (L to R): Mr Sameer L Katre, Mrs Kanchan Shukla, Mrs Sarabjeet Sandhu, Mrs Meenakshi Tripathi, Mrs Neeru Vaishnav, Mrs Ranjit Kaur, Mrs Anuroop Jauhal, Mrs Priyanka Majumdar, Mr Ashad Qezilbash

Deans and Directors

Top Notch

Sitting (L to R): Mr Ashad Qezilbash, Mr Piyush Malviya, Mr Prabhakaran Nair, Dr Peter McLaughlin, Mr Philip Burrett, Mr Sameer L Katre, Mr MC Joshi, Mr Deepak Sharma

Finance

Through Booms and Depressions!

Sitting (L to R): Mr Subodh Kumar, Mr Akhilesh Upadhayay, Mr Dilip Arya, Ms Pooja Anand, Mr DK Srivastava, Mr SJ Singh, Mr Ritesh Kumar Sharma, Mr Arvind Varma, Mr Abhijeet Bagchi, Mr Pankaj Kumar Goel Standing 1st row (L to R): Brij Lal, Siya Ram, Rakesh

Engineering

Building the Future

(Sitting L to R): Mr Narendra Kumar, Mr Sanjay Kumar, Mr Raveesh Dogra, Col. K. S. Mann, Ms Suman Rawat

Fundraising

Raise the Bar!

Sitting (L to R): Ms Anupama Rawat, Dr Peter McLaughlin, Mr Manish Bhargava, Mr Rajesh Koti

Stores

From Chemistry to Colgate

Sitting (L to R): Mr Abhijeet Bagchi, Mr Y S Rawat, Mr Pankaj Kumar Standing (L to R): Mr Siya Ram Maurya

Headmasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secretariat

The Oval Office

Sitting (L to R): Mr Anand Mani, Mr Madan Lal Kothari, Mrs Jagjit Bhatia, Dr Peter McLaughlin, Retd.Wg Cdr Anupama Joshi, Ms Neema Rawat, Mr Bhupinder Singh

Hospital

Augmenting our health

Sitting (L to R): Rajinder Singh, Mr K C Tripathi, Major Amar Lanka, Ms Karma Sangmo, Mr Shivraj Negi Standing (L to R): Dinesh Mittal, Anand Mourya, Pradeep, Subhash, Praveen, Bhupinder

Housemasters

The Secret 7

Sitting (L to R): Mr K V Arjun Rao, Mr Debasish Chakrabarty, Mr Sanjiv Bathla, Mr Ashad Qezilbash, Dr Peter McLaughlin, Mr Philip Burrett, Mr Biren K Chamola, Mr Anjan Chaudhary, Ms Stuti Kuthiala, Mr Skand Bali Standing (L to R): Mr Rashid Sharfuddin, Mr Nitin Chauhan, Mr Ashish Dean, Mr John Xavier, Mr Manu Mehrotra

Human Resources

Talent Hunters

Sitting (L to R): Mrs Sampati Negi, Mrs A Sabharwal, Mr Sameer Katre, Retd.Wg Cdr Anupama Joshi, Mr Ashish Jain Standing (L to R): Rakesh, Ramesh

IB Office

Diploma Awarded!

Sitting (L to R): Mr Shrey Nagalia, Mr Pankaj Joshi, Mr Vinay Pande, Mr Biren Chamola, Mr Sandeep Singh Mann Standing (L to R): Mr Bhaskar Ojha, Mr Uday Veer Singh

Library

Silence Please!

Sitting (L to R): Ms Saira Bano, Mr Pankaj Das, Ms Seema Rathore Standing (L to R): Shyam Singh Chauhan, Subhash Chand Masand

Maintenance - Workshop

Keeping it up

Sitting (L to R): Sipcharan, Ashok Kumar, Tripatran, Azhar Khan, R.B.S. Gill, Mr MM Prohit, Parvez Iqbal, Shriram, Manohar Daniel, Om Prakash, Brij Mohan, Satpal Standing 1st row (L to R): Kanhaiya Lal, Bahadur Verma, Sanjay Kanojia, Bharat Thapa, Rakesh Powar, Om Prakash Kothari, Om Prakash Pant, Rakesh Kumar, Mukesh, Baldeev Singh, Satbir, Amit Gautum, Chandra Shekhar Standing 2nd row (L to R): Dharampal, Sanjay, Manoj Kumar, Bhadrindar, Prem Singh, Pradeep, Mahavir Singh Pundit

Ground Malis

Keep off the grass

Sitting (L-R): Hari Shankar, Dharamraj, Hridai Ram, Jaglal, Ramnaresh, Mr Sharma, Shiv Prasad, Gangadeen, Shiv Prasad, Arvind, Hari Chand Standing (L-R): Harish, Rakesh, Siyaram, Kamal, Pappu, Kuldeep, Badri Maurya, Bhagarat, Sagar, Bhola, Rajesh, Pujari, Kishan, Sandeep

Training Centre

Educating the Educators

Sitting (L to R): Mr Philip Burrett, Mrs Anez Katre Standing (L to R): Naeem Khan

Founderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Headmaster’s Speech Founder’s Day 2011

There are hard acts to follow, but His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, has to be one of the hardest speakers on earth to follow – however, we shall try manfully, in true

Dosco spirit, to rise to the occasion.

My first duty and pleasure is to introduce to you the members of the Board of Governors who have been able to join us today: Our Chairman, Mr. Analjit Singh, Mr. Vivek Pandit, Mr. Kishore Lahiri, President of the DSOBS, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. Gautam Thapar, Mr. Vikram Singh Mehta, Mr. Ravi Katari, and Mr. Sumit Bose, Secretary to the Government of India.

I should like to thank them for all the work they do for the School. As I shall allude to a little later, the face of public service often painted for us in the media today is not a pretty one, but we often forget that public service is also about the hundreds of thousands, even millions, of volunteers such as our Board members, who give their services freely and without financial compensation to advise, support and assist NGOs, trusts, charities and societies such as our own IPSS. On behalf of the boys and all the other stakeholders of The Doon School, gentlemen, thank you most sincerely. I should also like to thank the faculty for all they have done for the boys and the School over the past year. It is the teachers who make a school what it is: without teachers a school would be just a youth club with some empty classrooms attached, in the same way that, without students, it would be an empty building fit only to be turned into apartments or offices. Sadly, this year Dr. Deepak Arora retired from The Doon School. He joined us in August 1984 and left us at the end of March 2011. During over a quarter of a century of service to us, Dr. Arora was not only a teacher of German but also a great friend of The Doon School and the masters. The warmth that is palpable in his own school, Ann Mary School, he and his wife Sylvia have shown to The Doon School community, and they were always willing to admit and accommodate the children of our teachers at short notice, or no notice at all. I should like to ask Dr. Arora to come up and receive a token of our appreciation for all that he has done for The Doon School over the past quarter of a century and more.

I should also like to thank all of the Administrative, Technical and Support staff for their work throughout the year, but also in particular for all they have done to prepare the School for Founder’s Day. My thanks go to the DSOBS and all the other friends of the School, many of whom are here today as our guests, who support us and encourage us in so many different ways.

When I look at the year since DS-75 in retrospect, a huge amount has been achieved by our boys under the tutelage and guidance of their masters. It is a matter of great pride for all of us to see so many young men flourishing within these seventy acres and going out into the world confident and ready to continue lives of accomplishment and success. You can read about their many achievements under the direction and guidance of their masters in The Weekly, on our website or in the many fine publications produced by the boys for this Founder’s and in the rest of the year.

But the wider context within which the School is situated is rapidly changing. The full force of globalization has been hitting every society and economy on Earth, including India. As the Prime Minister said recently at the United Nations, the positives of globalization have been taken for granted, but now we are experiencing the less attractive aspects of it, and we find the challenges and implications overwhelming and even frightening.

In my mind, one of the greatest challenges to all of us who inhabit communities as small as this School or as large as this nation and beyond is two-fold: one is the problem of leadership, the other of citizenship.

Strangely, as more and more is written about leadership – airport bookshops are full of books with titles such as How to Become a World Class Leader in Five-anda-half Minutes a Day – the question has arisen as to how relevant it still is to educate ‘leaders’, in the broadest and most genuine sense, in boarding schools such as The Doon School. Should we not, the question is asked, all just become examination factories dedicated to attaining the best possible percentages for our boys and girls – and what used to be called education can fly out of the window and take care of itself somehow and somewhere else? Contrary to the emerging spirit of the times, I would argue that an all-round education for leadership has never been more relevant because the world is no longer a simple place: the art of leadership has become so taxing and so complex, especially with the huge power we have given to the old media and the new social media, that we need far more, and far deeper, leadership education. Note that I have used the word ‘education’ and not ‘training’. We live in the age of the half-day or one-day workshop: all across the world training companies and organizations are coming into schools, giving a lecture or two, conducting a few team-building exercises and then handing out certificates proving that the boy or girl is now a “world class leader”. Regrettably, such quick fixes do not work; if they did, the world would be a very different place from the one that we see and experience around us.

Our children do need training days, but above all else they need immersion over time in the experiences that forge good leaders - and I would argue that, as more and more schools become grades factories or places you go to before you head for your tuition sessions later in the day, so the deficit in leadership will become more acute and our troubles will multiply. As yet another crisis of leadership erupts across the globe – from Gaddafi’s murderous last stand to Obama’s slick but ineffective tele-prompted speeches, to Syria to the Yemen, to the irresponsible actions of many of our banks and corporations – everywhere we look children grasping their certificates of ‘world class leadership’ are not actually being given the opportunity through a proper, sustained all-round education to become qualified, intelligent, responsible, dutiful – and above all, effective, leaders.

And I think the reason we have this crisis in leadership is not because we do not have enough lectures or books or podcasts about leadership, it is because we are missing the fundamental point. The foundation of all good leadership is good citizenship: to be a good leader you have to be first and foremost a good citizen.

Hitler was an extraordinary leader by any standards, but he was one of the worst citizens Germany has ever had the misfortune to produce, and led his own country, as well as a large part of the globe, into utter desolation and mass death. When we all end up as “leaders”, who will be the followers, the dutiful citizens?

We hear a great deal about our rights and other humans’ rights today, and that is a good thing because so many are still denied them everywhere we look. But we often overlook the duties of the citizen. We do not hear a great deal about ‘duty’ these days - unless it is the ‘duty free’ zone of airports, which is a rather apt metaphor for where we find ourselves today; consumer society encourages us to think of ourselves as shoppers first and citizens second. The mantra is, if it feels good, do it; if it looks good, buy it. My rights as a consumer of goods and services overshadow my duties, responsibilities and accountability. The whole of life becomes ‘duty free’ in this consumer paradise. It is not surprising therefore that the Gaddafis of this world see themselves as entitled consumers of their nations’ wealth. It is remarkable how many luxury goods are found in the trashed palaces of former dictators of poor countries – just look at Imelda Marcos’s shoe collection in the Philippines or Saddam Hussein’s palaces stuffed with luxury. Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo seem to rule the world. (I apologize to anyone here today who is holding or wearing anything from their ranges, or has the franchise for those brands – I am just trying to make a point and there is nothing personal in it!)

The Doon School is renowned for producing leaders in many fields and will continue to do so in the decades ahead. But we also need to ensure that our boys are schooled in citizenship and the values that underpin it so that they form just, decent and principled foundations for the exercise of their talents.

So what are the duties of the citizen? First and foremost, if he goes on to marry after he leaves School (this is not compulsory and Old Boys will be relieved to hear that boys are still not allowed to get married in School; it is an automatic YC offence if they do!) – and I hope most will marry because regrettably marriage is dying out in some parts of the world – a Dosco must be a good husband and a good father. The values he transmits at home will either make the job of his children’s teachers easier or harder once they go to school, especially in their teenage years, and the values some children are taught at home and on TV are so bad these days that schools can no longer cope, especially day schools. The foundations of good citizenship and a sound education are laid down in the home – and that is fact, not opinion.

Furthermore, a boy must be taught at school to be courageous, honest, straightforward and manly, which means not strutting and posturing like Hollywood and Bollywood stars, unshaven and scowling, but facing up to his responsibilities for himself and his community.

He must learn to be loyal to something bigger than himself, whether it is the team, his House, or his school and its values. He must not see himself just as a passive consumer of educational services or fun or entertainment or school experience, but as part of a community of common interest and service to one another that must be supported and preserved. So many people talk patriotically but for so many of what we call ‘global citizens’ their country is just a place where they live – for the time being – and their school was just a place they went to to hang out with their friends. A boy who leaves The Doon School must be prepared to lay his life on the line when his country calls him to defend it. If he is not prepared to defend his country, then he should either go into exile or help to fix it. He should not take what he pleases from living in his country and give nothing back. It is worrying how few young people in the wealthier, educated, urban classes around the world are prepared to vote in local, state or national elections. All those leadership workshops cannot persuade them to carry out one of the fundamental acts of citizenship, voting. It may be our right not to vote, but perhaps it is our duty, and if we feel that our vote is useless, we have the education, the talent, the wealth and connections to start to fix it so that it does count. Everywhere, except in newly liberated countries, young educated people are opting out of the political process: cynicism and apathy prevail. Everywhere in the world our forefathers fought and died for the right to vote, whether it was under colonial oppression or within our own countries – several hundred years ago almost no-one on earth had a vote; today too many will not even get out of bed to use that vote so hard won by our ancestors to shape the political process, even though they will spring out of bed to hurry to a shopping mall.

It is the duty of the citizen to treat his fellow citizens with respect and consideration and to see the world through their eyes. A Dosco should not leave here convinced that might is right and that power and authority is best used for his own advancement. He should not believe that being wicked and cruel is manly and the foundation of effective leadership. Gaddafi was often called Libya’s ‘strong man’, and posed and postured as such, but he did not look very strong when the mob murdered him. Our founding Headmaster was very clear on these matters and it is well on Founder’s Day to remember the words cast in stone at the foot of the stairs in Main Building. A Dosco is only strong if he respects others and does good work amongst them. He must not only understand the difference between right and wrong, but also understand the consequences on others, his family and his community of his doing wrong. The strengths he develops here, whether they are physical strength, mental resilience or intellectual prowess, are only worth anything if they are deployed on the side of what is right, decent, honourable and just. A boy’s bravery should extend beyond the playing fields or the highest reaches of a mid-term trek to supporting, encouraging and developing those who are weaker than he is, and to standing up to injustice and evil. We cannot have freedom and justice and prosperity for all in the world without striving and even suffering for it. We can no more win these prizes than we can become a superb sportsman or win success as a soldier, a civil servant, a businessman, an academic, a banker or a lawyer without labour and effort and sacrifices made when we are young and at school.

Fortunately, as the record of the past year demonstrates our boys do have myriad opportunities inside and outside the classroom not only to enjoy success for themselves, their team, their House, their School and even their state and country, but also to become fine citizens of India and the world, and therefore to take up a rightful place in leading us on towards new horizons and new worlds of possibility in the decades ahead. And if we become fine citizens of our own countries, we shall become good citizens of the world. By daring to be great in spirit as well as accomplishment, and by being exemplary citizens in School and after they leave us, the boys who are sitting here today will, in my firm opinion, become great leaders and great men.

School Captain’s Speech Founder’s Day 2011

Parents, Guests, Old Boys, and Members of the Board of Governors, welcome to The Doon School.

I visited the School for the first time as a 10-year-old, faced with the prospect of leaving life in the United States. Having a rather vague knowledge of Doon, I naively expected to be whisked on a tour of fancy classrooms and luxurious boarding houses. But quite to my surprise, I was left in the hands of my soon-to-be seniors: D-formers, eager to befriend (or possibly torment) the prospective Dosco with the Yankee twang. On a muggy, August day when all I wanted was an ice cream, I was dragged to witness the Inter-House Swimming Competition. I was baffled to see over a hundred boys sitting on the cement steps, cheering wildly for their houses. As alien as this sight seemed, I felt instinctively comfortable, even shouting a cheer or two for H House, the house of many members of my family. I noticed that my escorts were arguing amongst themselves: mentioning house positions and tactics and School teamers. I asked bewilderedly if all competitions were treated so seriously, and those around me gave me this look like “You’re kidding, right?” And then it hit me; I had found my new home - The Doon School.

The Shatabdi was my Hogwarts Express, and Hyderabad House was my Gryffindor.

Let me tell you why this School is special. The pressure placed on students nowadays is great: there is a growing emphasis on specialization and high marks. But Doon provides a solution. Here you are encouraged to broaden your horizons rather than narrow them. Doscos are playing sports, learning instruments, debating, and even building wooden tables, all in a single day. In a way, Doon, like other great schools, is providing all the pieces to the puzzle of education. But unlike the rest, Doon leaves it to the Dosco to piece it together.

People ask, “Can Doon do all that its alumni boasts of ? Here within just 70 acres of quiet campus that seems far from the din of major metropolitans?” Yes, Doon can.

Doon has historically always placed immense faith in its boys to exercise their autonomy. It’s Doscos who help decide the way the School is run in the School Council, it’s Doscos who act, produce, and direct the various Inter-House plays, and it’s Doscos who as Prefects mentor and look after younger boys. Doon’s ‘dowhat-you-dream-of’ attitude is simple: if mountaineering is your passion, then trek Kilimanjaro, if you’re interested in space then go visit NASA, if you wish to start a Social Service project, go adopt a village.

In Doon it doesn’t matter who you were before School, or where you came from. With a simple 3-digit number attached indelibly to your name, the only thing that matters is what you do. The highest awards – the Colours in sports, music, art, debating, dramatics, and the School Colours are given to boys who are not only talented and hardworking, but also exemplary role models who serve the team, the activity, and the School. That exemplifies camaraderie, knowing that whether you’re a D-former, SC, or Master, you are part of The Doon School. In Doon the House Spirit and teamwork are omnipresent. Whether it’s setting up them gamewinning goal, or sneaking tuck past the School guards, Doscos never fail to use their greatest asset: each other.

The Doon School seemed at first an anomaly to me. In the middle of the dusty buzz of Dehradun one had the tranquillity of Chandbagh. Then there was the School itself, with its unique dialect, its innumerable traditions, and the incomprehensible nicknames its students bestowed on one another. Some would say that this makes Doon different; I would say that Doon is exceptional. Exceptional because in just 76 years a School with simple teaching facilities and less than 100 students in each graduating class has been able to have a global impact. Doscos from different geographies and different religions have gone onto be successful in many walks of life – in politics, government, the media, the environment, wild-life preservation, literature, the armed forces, and business, to name a few.

In a country as diverse and complex as India, Doon is a treasure. That is because at The Doon School everyone has an equal opportunity. By working on the individual growth and development of young leaders in a close-knit community, Doon produces students who impact larger communities later on in life.

Chandbagh for all of us becomes a home. A home where after fifteen or twenty, or even thirty years, we all enter to become Doscos once more. Doon is a funny place. We cry the day we enter School as D-formers, and we cry the day we leave School as Scs. It’s what happens in between that makes Doon special.

Having spent six years in School I’ve seen that Doscos are susceptible to one thing: worrying too much. We often are looking so far ahead that we are blind to what we’ve already accomplished. As a D-former we are scared of Scs, as A-formers we are scared of Board Exams, and as Scs we are scared of college admissions. Sure,

the uncertainty of the future is intimidating; but that doesn’t mean we ignore the beauty of the present.

At the end of the day, a Doon School education can give you much more than just a great college placement. Thinking back on the day I first visited School, I now realize the significance of the swimming competition, the reason why a boy would cheer, sweat, shout, and push himself to the limit. It is the desire to compete with one’s self - and do it for the team – that puts a Dosco ahead.

As said in Chapter 3 Verse 21 of the Bhagvad Gita, yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janah sa yat pramanam kurute okas tad anuvartate Meaning “Whatever standard a great man sets by exemplary acts, the world follows.” It is my hope that in the years to come Doon is not only an exception to the world, but also a model to be emulated.

On that note, I would like to wish you all a Happy Founder’s Day.

His Holiness: The Dalai Lama’s Founder’s Day Address Founder’s Day 2011

The leaders of the School, the famous School, The Doon School, professors and guests and students; usually I prefer referring to you as human brothers and

sisters. On a secondary level, there are differences. But from the real level, we are all the same human being, just human brothers and sisters. Differences of nationalities, races, religion, and culture – these are secondary. This is why I call you my human brothers and sisters, preferably, young brothers and young sisters.

Firstly, you invited me, thank you so much. I had the opportunity to visit here, Dehra Dun earlier. 1959, March I left Lhasa. The situation was very difficult. So things became out of my control. So April 5, I reached Mussoorie. So one year I stayed in Mussoorie and on few occasions I visited here, Dehra Dun. It is a very nice place.

So that was the beginning of my refugee life after serious difficulties. And I really enjoyed India’s freedom, so one year I remember I stayed in Mussoorie. I had a really happy moment. Then in 1960, I shifted to Himachal, in Dharamsala. At that time, Dharamsala was quite isolated, in the early 60s, so we prefer to stay here.

But this was my temporary settlement and my long term place was in Dharamsala. So there also, one advantage is that it is just behind the snow mountain. So in a way the last 52 years I have been a refugee in a way. With me, I got 100,000 Tibetan refugee communities in this country.

Initially, there were a lot of differences. The local people had very good relations with the people. Many of my friends say that the Tibetan community is one of the most successful. In education, Pandit Nehru really showed genuine concern for the community. So I am extremely happy to have come to this place along with my experiences, so I am very happy. Then after I came to India, what I learnt beside many other things, one important thing is that there is a thousand year old concept of ahimsa and religious tolerance. So, I was very impressed with non violence and religious harmony. So eventually when I saw a different part of the world where there was too much violence. So I really felt that India’s traditions of ahimsa are really relevant in today’s world. Also, I have been a few times to visit one of the people who follow Jesus Christ and reading the Bible– same people, but in the name of Protestants and Catholics. Then our Muslim brothers and sisters, in the name of Sunni and Shia, killing. Then I really feel that now India’s thousand year old traditions must reach more people. So wherever I go, I tell people about ahimsa. Ahimsa means you are very active in the face of difficulties, but to deal with the problems in a non-violent way. Use of weapons, use of force, especially in the modern world has immense destructive power. A lot of innocent people suffer– women and children. And in today’s reality, the global economy– continent to continent is interlinked, so the destruction of neighbour is your destruction. We must find ways of reconciliation via non-violence. I always try to propagate India’s thousand year old tradition. Out of sincere motivation and compassion, sense of concern of others’ well being.The desire to cheat, bully, exploit or take advantage of other people is a kind of violence. There must be a clear demarcation of violence and non-violence. Firstly, our common experience, all of us came from our mother and grew up in our mothers’ care, as soon as we born the child had no idea who the person is, but biologically, totally relying on the person and so is the mother totally committed. That experience is deeply ingrained in our blood. Naturally, some are very smart and some are a little less. I think that those who received maximum affection from their mothers are very happy and calm inside. Those who received less or were abused have some sense of insecurity. I think if you look carefully, into those neighbours, those families who really enjoy human affection without any respect to economic conditions only because of trust. However, other families may be very rich, even powerful, but those members are not happy because of lack of trust. We can see these things. If we use common sense, we can see this. Then the third point, according to modern medical science for physical health, healthy mind is important. Calm mind helps to sustain a healthy body. In that respect, I want to show my face. My age is nearly 77 years. My close friend, my doctor, did a gall bladder operation. So now I am the same body, same person but an important organ is missing. My doctor had earlier told me to remove my bladder because it had enlarged two times. First, I was hesitant but when I looked at his sincere face, I trusted him. After the surgery, although the surgery was quite serious, I recovered quite rapidly. Nothing special, but I think my mental state is quite peaceful. And for the doctor, his wife later told me that after my operation her husband became much more calm.

Perhaps that means that before he had got some problems. So, the calm mind, peaceful mind, really makes your health good, constant anger out of much greed, ambitions and too much worry transforms anger to hatred, which is very bad for health.

All religious traditions talk of the practice of tolerance, compassion and also contentment, self discipline and honesty. Why? Because all these are human religions.

This is why all religions carry the same message. However, I always tell people that no matter which religion, it can be universal. The question of the ultimate source

of peace and comfort is within you. That education should be universal. Therefore I tried to make it clear that we need education through a secular way. Wherever I go I make these values clear through common sense and scientific findings. Then, second, my lifelong commitment is the promotion of religious harmony. I have many friends like some Christianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. In Australia, before a talk once, a minister introduced me as a good Christian. So jokingly, I said that I consider you as a good Buddhist. Of course, both of us practise the same values. On a philosophical field there are differences, but that is necessary for different people who have different mental dispositions, need different approaches for the same purpose. I tell people, particularly the students here, who belong to the 21st century. My generation belongs to the twentieth century. Those people whose age is below 20, 30, 50, you really belong to this century. Look back in the 20th century, in spite of scientific advancements it was the century of violence. According to some historians in the 20th century, over 200 million people were killed. If this kind of violence transformed the world, there would have been some justification. So, for a better world, peaceful world, you should try to create a better world.

Education combined with warm heartedness ensures that your knowledge becomes useful. While you must keep a good heart, learn new things. This is what I wanted to share with you, how you can make this world a more peaceful place. Sometimes, I used to tell you that a peaceful world may not materialize in my lifetime, but there is a real possibility to change the world for the better. To create a healthier environment, possible. Our generation may not see these things.

After 20-30 years, I may be in heaven or hell, I will be watching you- if you are building a nice world or a mess. Therefore, if we keep optimism with a vision and our method is a realistic method, then there is a real possibility of changing the world.

The Making of Jesus Christ Superstar - Mrs Priya Chaturvedi When KAR shared with me his dream of producing Jesus Christ Superstar in School , I was both delighted and daunted by the prospect. Over sessions of listening to the music that had captivated us both---- he , from his own school days; I from when, as a music student, I had seen one of the first performances in London----- and discussions of how we would `pull it off`, the dream began to take the shape of reality and then, conviction, that we could indeed make it happen.

The first step was, naturally, to put it before the Headmaster, and his instant go-ahead was the most heartening gesture and one that set the seal on Arjun`s determination .

We knew we had the talent available in plenty; training that talent and finding the time to do so was another matter altogether! Auditions began in the spring of 2011 and while Arjun assessed histrionic potential, I sat at the piano and checked pitch accuracy and voice ranges. The Music School corridors were thronged with eager Doscos across all year groups and slowly, but surely, acting and singing ability were identified and the Director began casting while I put the choir and orchestra together.

Through the long , hot summer afternoons, the actors and choir faced the music, literally.

The Lloyd-Webber-Rice rock opera that spans the period from Jesus` entry into Jerusalem( to face hostile priests, a Judas corroded with hatred and, paradoxically , consumed with love, a mob that is hostile and adulatory in turns and a weary, cynical Pontius Pilate), till the time of his crucifixion, uses the Passion story to stunning effect.

Every human emotion is portrayed in sound and action, with the character of Jesus as the still eye in the centre of a storm. It is little wonder, then, that it has become one of the most-performed operas in the world, acknowledged as high art as well as entertainment.

The autumn term saw work begin in earnest. Over 5 days during midterms, the orchestra learnt, then rehearsed their music: much of the instrumentation was rearranged to suit the violins , pianos, xylophone, harmonica and santoor that were not part of the original orchestra. By the time an anxious Director had returned, the music was ready for him and his cast.

The School Dance Coordinator, Anmol Jamwal choreographed the steps for the School Dance Troupe and for Herod`s boogie-woogie style solo; the Director and Producer (AAQ) swung into high gear; and the Workshop began constructing the cross and working out how to `plant` it securely in the Rose Bowl. The choir, most of whom were D and C formers, lent their voices with clarity, passion and precision to the drama unfolding on stage and we were into performance mode on a crisp October evening.

With the first ominous notes of the Overture played on a single guitar, gathering momentum as the driving rhythm propelled the music forward to the main theme and the arrival of a haunted , brooding Judas (Raghav Puri) on stage, the Rose Bowl`s unique magic took over. The Director and producer had wisely left it uncluttered with props to lend its versatility to the Garden of Gethsemane, the High Priest`s Temple, the teeming marketplace of Jerusalem, and the crucifixion site. Here it was that a mob, alternately adulatory and bloodthirsty hailed, then reviled their `superstar`; it was here that Mary Magdalene( Malini Malaviya) sang a tender love song, and Pilate ( Dhruv Sirohi) his hushed and fearful vision of the future. The Kidney was a jeering Herod`s ( Pranoy Bohara) dance floor , a grieving apostles` meeting place and where Jesus ( Karan Singh), a “ man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” went forward with grace and dignity to meet his lonely fate.. The singer-actors matched the setting: there were many memorable scenes---- the lepers sliding and crawling on stage, a blustering Pilate ordering 39 lashes, the scheming priests, a passionate Simon ( Vigya Dhiman, who doubled as the orchestra`s drummer) appealing to Jesus---- too many to write about here. The orchestra, led magnificently by Yuv Vir Khosla, played their hearts out till the very last quiet note of the Coda.

With four shows and the standing ovations behind us, we found ourselves suddenly at a loss, post-Founder`s. As KAR put it “ What? No crises, no one to yell at, no one to praise, no after-show discussions to fine-tune the next one…. life is dull.”Until the next time….

Sports

Athletics

Captain Udai Bothra

Master In-Charge Mr Mohammad Istemdad Ali

Full Colours

Adhiraj Thakran, Aditya Gupta Re-awarded : Tushar Gupta, Virein Chabra

Half Colours Sitting 1st Row (L to R): Adhiraj Singh, Vigya Singh Dhiman, Rahil Badhwar, Adhiraj Thakran, Virein Chabra, Mr Istemdad Ali, Udai Bothra, Tushar Gupta, Arjun Midha, Vikram Singh Gill, Prahlad Singh, Sharan Seth Sitting 2nd Row (L to R): Madhavan Saklani, Agastya Bellad, Banda Maan Singh Lamba, Khalid Alawneh, Karan Shinghal, Neelansh Khurana, Satvik Narain, Arjun Parmar, Vedant Khanna, Shivaan Seth, Karmanya Malhotra, Siddharth Sethi Sitting 3rd Row (L to R): Siddharth Sarin, Yasser Iqbal, Rakshit Sinha, Rishavraj Das, Angad Shergill, Arunabh Uttkarsh, Kartikay Garg, Pranjal Bhatt, Marut Garg, Nakul Talwar, Nipurn Datta Sitting 4th Row (L to R): Aditya Bhardwaj, Shashwat Agarwal, Nachiket Jain

Khalid Alawneh Re-awarded : Arjun Midha, Adhiraj Singh, Vigya Singh Dhiman

The athletics season this year was a fairly successful one. With very little time to practise for the Inter-House Athletics Competition, one could see Doscos practising on the main-field from the very first day itself. The Inter-House Competition showcased some brilliant talent in the forms of Angad Shergill, Kartikeya Kardam, Rishav Raj Das, Rohan Chaudhary, Nakul Talwar, Shivan Seth and Karan Shingal. The highlight of this competition was Tushar Gupta, the jumper, who broke his own record of 1.76 meters quite effortlessly by 9 centimetres. He also kept many hearts at bay in the Broad Jump event in which he almost equaled the record. At the house level, Hyderabad House won the Junior Cup, while Oberoi House, with their formidable talent on the field, won the Mediums Cup. Keeping in tune with their winning streak in Athletics, Kashmir House went on to win the Seniors Cup for the sixth consecutive year. Tata House tasted the Marching Cake and also walked away with the House Cup this year.

The School Athletics Team then went on to participate in the 65th Annual Districts Championship held at the Maharana Pratap Sports College in Raipur. The School Team put up a fine show winning a total of 26 medals and coming second by a very narrow margin in the Under-20 championship. Aditya Gupta, for his performances in the 100 and the 200 metres dash was adjudged the Best Athlete in the Under-20 Section.

All in all, Athletics in 2011 continued to involve large numbers of our school community from students to masters to the support staff. It was heartening to see so many boys on the fields cheering their form-mates, masters joking around with each other and the officials, shuttling from one venue to the other in great enthusiasm.

Badminton

Captain

Vaibhav Gupta

Master In-Charge Mr Chandan Singh Ghughtyal

Full Colours Abhishek Parasrampuria

Half Colours Vidit Sidana, Kabir Sethi Re-awarded : Arjun Khaitan

Sitting (L to R): Arjun Khaitan, Mr Chandan Singh Ghugtyal, Vaibhav Gupta, Mr Deepak Sharma, Abhishek Parasrampuria, Vidit Sidana Standing (L to R): Nayan Manchanda, Siddharth Sethi, Shashwat Agarwal, Aditya Gandhi, Kabir Sethi, Vansh Agarwal

Over the course of the year, the School Badminton Team participated in many competitions. In the IPSC Tournament, we stood first in the overall medal tally. In the team events, the Under-14 team bagged Gold by beating DPS Mathura Road; the Under-17 team got Silver, losing to Modern School; the Under-19 team also got Silver, losing to Lawrence School, Lovedale. In the Individual Category, Kabir Sethi got the Under-17 Silver while Abhishek Parasrampuria bagged Gold in the Under-19 Category.

Towards the end of August, the team participated in the District’s Meet where new talent was seen in the inspired performances of Vansh Agarwal, Ashish Pande, Akarsh Tibrewal. Abhishek Parasrampuria was awarded a Silver Medal in his category. The school’s performance this year was the best ever at the Districts Meet.

Towards the end of the season, we participated in the Councils Tournament. With some gritty performances, we managed to lift the trophy by beating St. Joseph’s Academy in a well contested match that tested the best of our abilities.

After many years, the School has been able to witness such a magnificent performance by the School Badminton Team. Such success could not have been tasted without the aid of some key players. Kabir Sethi, Vidit Sidana and Arjun Khaitan delivered some vital performances and were of great assistance in the team’s success this year. Abhishek Parasrampuria was our knight in shining armor with consistent performances that always proved to be exceptional and motivational for everyone around.

This year Badminton continued to be a sport which gave the School plenty of laurels and success. Although badminton is not a very popular sport in School today, our repeated success has ensured its rising popularity amongst students, especially the juniors. The School Badminton Team today can boast of plenty of promising talent that will definitely prove its mettle when the time comes, given the right nurturing and encouragement. To conclude, Badminton in School is on an upward swing and the coming success will only reinforce my point.

Basketball

Captain Tushar Gupta

Master-in-Charge Mr Ashish Dean

Full Colours Sharan Seth, Anmol Jamwal, Adhiraj Thakran, Vikram Singh Gill

Half Colours Siddhant Dixit, Arjun Midha Sitting (L to R): Vikram Singh Gill, Anmol Singh Jamwal, Mr Ashish Dean, Tushar Gupta, Sharan Seth, Adhiraj Thakran Standing (L to R): Waseefullah Khan Sherwani, Vihan Khanna, Siddhant Dixit, Raghav Puri, Arjun Midha, Shivaan Seth, Kushagr Singh

This year the Basketball season started with the Win Mumby Basketball Tournament at the Woodstock School, Mussoorie. We reached the semi-finals of the Win Mumby Tournament where we lost to the Modern School, New Delhi. The next challenge for us was our own Afzal Khan Basketball Tournament. As usual, fellow Doscos were always there on the courts to cheer the team up. We were eliminated from the tournament by Delhi Public School, Mathura Road in the quarter-final round, where we lost after losing the lead in the 3rd quarter. Sharan Seth was adjudged the Most Promising Player of the tournament. We marched on to play the Golden Jubilee Tournament in the Welham Boys’ School, where we reached the semi-final and lost to Woodstock School after putting up a very close fight.

Following this was the last tournament of the season, the District’s Basketball Championship. We were undefeated throughout the tournament and beat the Hilton School in the finals to claim the championship.

Vikram Singh Gill and Sharan Seth were selected to represent Dehradun in the States’ Championship where they defeated Roorki in the finals. Vikram Singh Gill went on to represent Uttarakhand at the National level.

With very little time in hand and the new courts under renovation it was very difficult to organize practices. In both the junior and senior category Jaipur House dominated winning all the basketball trophies this year. Khalid Alawneh and Suhel Karara surprised everyone with outstanding performances. Arjun Midha and Shivaan Seth seemed unstoppable on offence while Vihan Khanna and Raghav Puri’s defense was impenetrable.

A very high standard has been set in Basketball by the School this year, although we hope that the coming years bring in even more success.

Boxing

Captain

Vigya Singh Dhiman

Master-in-Charge Mr Sudhir Thapa

Full Colours Nivit Kochhar, Vikram Kejariwal, Pranoy Bohara, Aditya Gupta, Raghav Chandra

Half Colours Tanmay Kapoor, Yuv Vir Khosla, Siddharth Dhanda

Sitting 1st row (L to R): Yuv Vir Khosla, Raghav Chandra, Saptarishi Biswas, Vikram Kejariwal, Mr. Sudhir Thapa, Vigya Singh Dhiman, Pranoy Bohara, Siddharth Dhanda, Nivit Kochhar Sitting 2nd row (L to R): Ritzy Rajaswi, Rakshit Sinha, Anshul Tibrewal, Tanishq Agarwal, Durgesh Agarwal, Kartikeya Kardam, Karan Shinghal, Tanmay Kapoor

Boxing, despite being an individual sport, is one that is appreciated and looked forward to by the entire Doon School community. It is dangerous and risky, but year in and year out, boys have continued to sign up in large numbers in the hope of fighting under the lights with the colours of their houses. This year was no exception. The practices began early, along with the football season during August. Under our new Master -in-Charge, Mr Sudhir Thapa, and of course the extremely enthusiastic boxers, the rigorous practice sessions were constant and were taken at an entirely different level.

Considering the high fitness levels needed for the sport, practices were a gruelling affair. However, this deterred no one and day by day one could see the overall standard of boxing taking small but important steps towards some high quality boxing. The seniors were seen coaching the juniors and pushing them to work harder, improving their technique and consequently motivating them to work harder. The high attendance in juniors was instrumental in raising the standard higher in the junior category as well. Such dedicated effort from juniors as well as their magnificent delivery in the Inter- House Competition ensures that the standard of boxing in School for the coming years will continue to be high and extremely proficient.

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inter-House Competition saw a lot of polished boxing in the senior categories as well as some new talent and extreme enthusiasm among the juniors.

The performances of Prannoy Bohara, Aditya Gupta, Vikram Kejriwal, Siddharth Dhanda, Yuv Vir Khosla and Nivit Kocchar were commendable. Budding talent was seen in the form of Ritzy Rajaswi and Daksh Bhatia.

In a well contested competition, Tata House walked away with both the junior and senior cups, thus taking the House cup as well. Nivit Kochhar was awarded the Most Scientific Boxer and Ritzy Rajaswi walked away with the Best Loser trophy.

All in all, boxing developed and was conducted at an unprecedented level and a fruitful boxing season, thus went by.

Cricket

Captain Rohan Gupta

Master-in-Charge Mr Manish Pant

Full Colours Ashwin Dokania, Sumaer Sandhu

Half Colours

Adhiraj Singh, Dhruv Aggarwal, Siddhant Sachdev, Anmol Jamwal Sitting 1st Row (L to R): Vihan Khanna, Mr Vidhukesh Vimal, Sumaer Sandhu, Mr Deepak Sharma, Ashwin Dokania, Mr Manish Pant, Virein Chabra, Anmol Singh Jamwal Sitting 2nd Row (L to R): Prahlad Singh, Vigya Dhiman, Dhruv Agarwal, Kabir Sethi, Siddhant Sachdev, Arjun Midha, Waseefullah Khan Sherwani, Adhiraj Singh, Siddharth Sethi

2011 was a very successful year for Cricket in School. Out of the 11 matches played by the School Cricket Team, seven matches ended in our favour. The season kicked off by the School Team winning its first match against the Rao Cricket Academy by 94 runs. In the subsequent matches against local teams the School Team cruised along, winning five matches in a row before losing a match to Abhimanyu Cricket Academy by a close margin. Simultaneously, the team was preparing for a cricket tour to Pilibhit to play matches against the LHSF Cricket Team, Pilibhit. The 5 day tour consisted of three matches. Though the School Team failed to win any match on the tour, it proved to be a great learning experience, witnessing some fabulous performances from the captain Rohan Gupta who claimed six wickets in a match. Great batting prowess was displayed by Ashwin Dokania and Sumaer Sandhu.

The Inter-House Cricket Competition too proved to be a great success with Jaipur House winning the cup in style. The team, led by Ashwin Dokania, displayed true mettle, chasing scores of 220 and 240 in 35 overs. Ashwin scored two centuries in the competition, single handedly guiding his team past the finishing line.

In the Junior matches, talent was discovered in the form of Arjun Khanna, Akhil Ranjan, Rishav Raj Das and Aditya Vir Roy. The School Team went on to win the Annual Abdul Majeed Quereshi Memorial Cricket Match against the Old Boys in a comfortable manner. Siddhant Sachdev, Dhruv Agarwal, Adhiraj Singh and Anmol Jamwal were awarded Half Colours for their consistent performances throughout the season. Ashwin Dokania and Sumaer Sandhu were awarded Full Colours for their match changing performances and dominating batting skills.

Cricket, which in India is another religion, reigned high throughout the year.

Football

Captain

Anmol Singh Jamwal

Master-in-Charge

Mr Michael James

Full Colours

Sharan Seth, Tushar Gupta, Dhruv Aggarwal, Shivaan Seth

Half Colours Ayush Tripathi, Arjun Parmar, Rahil Badhwar, Aahan Menon, Aaryaman Scindia,Ashish Rao Re-awarded : Yuv Vir Khosla, Udai Bothra

Sitting 1st Row (L to R): Aahan Menon, Shivaan Seth, Dhruv Agarwal, Sharan Seth, Mr Michael James, Anmol Singh Jamwal, Tushar Gupta, Rahil Badhwar, Udai Bothra, Vikram Singh Gill Sitting 2nd Row (L to R): Mahanaaryaman J Scindia, Siddhant Sachdev, Aayush Tripathi, Arjun Midha, Arjun Parmar, Yuv Vir Khosla, Nikhil Bhushan, Ashish Rao, Jai Khanna

The School Football Team had a lot of expectations to live up to in 2011. With only one loss in the RIMC Tournament in 2010, the Football team this year started the season with intense practices for the upcoming tournaments. The Football team had a completely new defence line-up this year and because of this, it had to experiment with its formations against various teams. Practices were carried out regularly in order to keep the team fit and prepared for the much awaited RIMC Tournament. With consecutive wins in the friendly fixtures held on our home ground, the team was extremely confident for the upcoming tournament. The problem we faced in the tournament was our lack of experience of playing on the ground which was entirely different from what we were used to. Consequently, we struggled in the initial stages of the tournament. Eventually, we lost to The Shriram School, New Delhi, 4-3 in penalties.

However, we did not lose hope after this loss in the tournament and carried out regular practices for upcoming matches. The team was hesitant to play more friendly fixtures and wanted to eagerly take part in a competitive tournament. The School took the decision of making the School participate for the first time in the IPSC Football Tournament at Raipur.

We soon qualified to the final, where we were to play Lawrence School, Lovedale. Throughout the match, the team showed courage, composure and every member of the team was committed to giving his best performance. Our hard work finally paid off, and we eked out a victory 1-0.

The School saw Football at a different plane and this year was a very successful one for Football in the School. Hopefully, performances in School will escalate to much higher levels in the years to come.

Golf Master-in-Charge Mr Sanjiv Bathla

Sitting 1st Row (L to R): Anirudh Popli, Varun Sehgal, Ranveer Modi, Yash Dhandhania Sitting 2nd Row (L to R): Gopal Singh Mann, Karan Shinghal, Shashvat Dhandhania, Prahlad Singh, Mr Sanjiv Bathla, Shivam Goyal, Adit Handa, Aditya Vikram Gupta Sitting 3rd Row (L to R): Sartaj Singh Sidhu, Devansh Agarwal, Anant Singh Mann, Alawi Singh, Jai Pratap Singh Kairon, Zahaan Qureshi, Jaiveer Puri, Divij Kapoor Sitting 4th Row (L to R): Dhruv Johri, Sumer Sehgal, Siddharth Popli, Vivek Vishwanathan, Vivaan Sharma, Jayadityaveer Singh, Arnav Jain

The Doon School Trophy Golf tournament at Hong Kong from June 12th to 14th, 2011 was played against King George School V and The French International School.The boys were able to tour Hong Kong and also visit and interact with the faculty and students of the Hong Kong University.

The spring term the School was able to acquire a limited number of golf memberships at the Defense Service Officers Institute where the boys can benefit from regular practice and expenses of escalating green fee can be saved. In addition to the master in charge, the School has been able to appoint a golf coach at the DSOI and the boys go and fine tune techniques on Sunday mornings and play the course on Wednesdays.

Four boys participated in the Albatross Junior Golf Championships at the Classic Golf Course, Gurgaon in September, 2011.

In December 2011, seven boys and I were able to take up training and were able to attend an advanced Golf clinic at the Butch Harmon Academy of Golf in Dubai.

Now about 40 students are showing a keen interest to learn and the sport is gaining momentum and popularity. The practice is time consuming and we hope more are able to join in.

A proposal to create a driving range and putting greens with sand bunkers is in the pipeline. Proposals have also been collected for having a golf curriculum at School to learn and enhance skills.

Hockey Captain Pranoy Bohara

Master-in-Charge Mr Arvindnabha Shukla

Full Colours Aditya Gupta, Prabhjot Singh, Lakshit Joshi, Rahil Badhwar

Half Colours Adhiraj Singh, Dhruv Aggarwal, Tushar Khurana Sitting 1st Row (L to R): Dhruv Agarwal, Tushar Khurana, Aditya Gupta, Pranoy Bohara, Dr Arvindanabha Shukla, Rahil Badhwar, Lakshit Joshi, Prabhjot Singh, Adhiraj Singh Sitting 2nd Row (L to R) Dhruv Prasad, Shivaan Seth, Saud Amin Khan, Ashwin Dokania, Sharan Seth, Dhruv Sawhney, Vaibhav Gupta, Ashish Rao

The year 2011, was a successful one for the school hockey team. The actual year for them began with the appointment of their new School Hockey Captain, Pranoy Bohara. The team was trained by a new national level coach, Mr Aftab. With the combination of his experience, resourceful guidance from Dr. Shukla and our silent leader, the team began with rigorous fitness and practices began early, by the end of March.

As the practices convened, the team was guided through various dribbling skills; followed by a strenuous fitness regime and practice matches, until they were ready to play their first match. The first match was against the Old Boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Team. The extremely thrilling match ended with the team emerging victorious and a final score of 4-2. Next, the team took part in the Kandhari Tournament. There, they made their way through some extremely tough teams, and managed to reach the semi- finals. Unfortunately, losing to RIMC in the semi-finals by a close margin of 2-1. Dhruv Agarwal was the highest scorer in the tournament from the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standpoint, scoring a goal almost every match. Next came the Inter House Hockey Competition. Some amazing hockey was displayed throughout the competition in both the seniors and juniors category. Emerging talent was seen in the form of Shivaan Seth, Kabir Sethi, Anubhav Agarwal and Rakshit Sinha. Experienced members such as Aditya Gupta, Lakshit Joshi, Prabhjot Singh and Dhruv Agarwal showcased excellent performances. The results for the competition were not finalized until the very last match between Jaipur House emerged victorious claiming both the junior and senior cups, along with the house cup. The teams final tournament of the season was the Oakgrove Tournament. They performed extraordinary well and reached the final stage of the tournament. They made it till the penalties and lost there.

Over all, I think Hockey remains to be an integral sport in School and its standards will go higher in the near future.

Physical Training

Senior PT Leader Prabhjot Singh

Master-in-Charge Mr Michael James

Sitting 1st Row (L to R): Saptarishi Biswas, Ashwin Dokania, Udai Bothra, Virein Chabra, Mr Michael James, Prabhjot Singh, Raghav Puri, Rahil Badhwar, Pranoy Bohara Sitting 2nd Row (L to R): Tushar Khurana, Dhruv Sawhney, Sambuddha Naha, Karmanya Malhotra, Lakshit Joshi, Raghav Chandra, Aditya Gupta

Many say PT should be cancelled. Many say it is redundant. But everyone who makes such suggestions is either myopic or narrow-minded. I have often been asked what purpose PT serves. Personally, I believe it serves the same purpose as any sport or even simple formalities such as being punctual for meals serves – bringing about a sense of discipline and order.

It is for this reason that certain people, such as myself, insist on preserving this activity’s importance at School. With the growing resistance to compulsory activities, I believe that PT fared admirably under the circumstances. SC formers, despite the growing pressure of college planning, attended PT regularly. I must specially congratulate Hyderabad House as they boasted of 100% attendance this season. In the end, everyone will agree that the activity brought the School together, as it has over the past 75 years.

This year’s PT Competition, being the highlight of the activity, was as taxing as any other year’s. Boys had to learn a number of new, complicated exercises that required time and patience. It must also be noted that one of the squads even had a Marker from Sc-form. Through my years in School, I have noted that the PT Gong is the most elusive trophy, the most desired accolade available to the House. For months, boys attempted to synchronize themselves with their housemates.

Day in and day out, often under the intolerable afternoon sun, boys toiled it out in order to secure the PT Gong. PT leaders yelled, screamed and hollered at their squads to approach perfection. Finally, fortunately for a few and unfortunately for most, Jaipur House won the competition for the fourth consecutive time.

As a PT leader, it was a pleasure to see so many boys merging into one entity and put up a spectacular display. In the end, this gruesome activity to many is still one of the standing pillars of this institution. It would be disastrous to discontinue it, and I’m sure Old Boys, masters and even some students will find it unimaginable to think of School life without PT. An activity such as PT is essential exercise to start the day not to forget the way it lights up the eyes of boys when their common room houses that elusive prize, which is the PT Gong.

Squash

Captain

Sumaer Sandhu

Master-in-Charge Mr Sandip Singh Mann

Full Colours Vihan Khanna, Ishaan Sandhu

Half Colours Siddharth Sethi, Kabir Sethi

Sitting (L to R): Vaibhav Gupta, Sumaer Sandhu, Mr Sandip Singh Mann, Vihan Khanna, Dhruv Mahajan Standing (L to R): Siddharth Sethi, Ishaan Sandhu, Madhavan Saklani, Kabir Sethi, Sudhansh Agarwal

The year 2011 was a very fruitful year for the Doon School Squash Team. The year started with the practices starting in full bloom. Madhavan Saklani and Tanmay Kapoor showed immense dedication both on and off the courts and hence were valuable assets to the team. Spring term saw the individual tournaments which ultimately resulted in favour of the Sandhu brothers. Though there were very few fixtures played in the first term, the team was coached and well prepared.

Autumn Term came and the real Squash season began with fixtures with local schools such as RIMC and Welham Boys School and outstation institutions such as Khelshala from Chandigarh and Assam Valley School. The U15 team also went to Chandigarh and played fixtures with St. John’s School and won 4-0. In the IPSC tournament, the Team secured a respectable 3rd position. Outstanding performances were displayed by Sidharth Sethi and Vihan Khanna. Soon after Founders’ the School Team went for the Junior Nationals held in Jodhpur. Vaibhav Gupta and Ishaan Sandhu performed exceptionally well by reaching the third round of the competition. Also a lot of budding talent was seen in the form of Jai Ahuja and Sudhansh Agarwal who won matches in their categories. The Nationals Meet acted as a medium for exposure not only for the juniors, but also for the senior lot. Towards the end of the year, the School Team won the title of State Champion after shining at the State Tournament held in Haridwar. Ishaan Sandhu secured a very well deserved 2nd position in the Men’s Category while Sumaer Sandhu came third. Special mention has to be made of our coach Mr Baghel who always motivated us when we were down and helped us persevere through thick and thin.

However, in spite of all the achievements the year ended on a sentimental note with our master-in-charge, Mr Sandip Singh Mann, leaving the School.

In essence, 2011 saw the Doon School at its very best in the field of Squash. Skills were developed, goals were achieved, and most importantly, all played the sport with passion. Interestingly, this year more and more juniors started taking interest in the sport which definitely is a positive sign for the sport’s future. Dhruv Ahuja and Nikhil Fatehpuria represented the School in various U- 13 matches and hence gained a lot of experience and exposure. All in all, this year was by far one of the best years the Doon School Squash team has ever had.

Swimming

Captain Angad Singh

Master-in-Charge Mr Samik Das

Full Colours Aditya Vikram Gupta, Charlie Fry, Jaiveer Jhakar, Sambuddha Naha, Rana Chowgule

Half Colours Sitting 1st Row (L to R): Aditya Vikram Gupta, Rana Chowgule, Jai Veer Jakhar, Mr Samik Das, Angad Singh, Sambuddha Naha Sitting 2nd Row (L to R): Nikhil Chauhan, Siddharth Sarin, Animesh Jain, Raj Surana, Zorawar Whig, Pranjal Bhatt, Vinayak Chaudhary Sitting 3rd Row (L to R): Nihal S Mann, Pratyaksh Parmar, Anvay Grover, Sumer Sehgal, Varun Sehgal, Rohan Agarwal, Josh Pasricha, Rakshit Sinha, Abhishek Pai

Re-awarded: Zorawar Whig, Apurv Aggarwal

The season kicked off with the tournament held in St. George’s School, Musoorie. Inspite of the tough competition, the School grabbed an impressive tally of 27 medals. The School emerged victorious in both the relays and Charlie Fry, an exchange student from Ballarat Grammar School, won all his events. The next upcoming event was the Councils’ Tournament in which the team did not fail to prove their might and dominance. The School accomplished second position overall and impressive performances were showcased by Angad Singh and Charlie Fry, who were also adjudged the Best Swimmers of the Tournament.

The much-awaited Inter-House Competition did not fail to live up to everybody’s expectations. People witnessed exhilarating performances from Oberoi and Jaipur houses. Yet again, this year, the boys did not disappoint to smash records. Charlie Fry broke quite a few records with his dominating presence in the pool.

In the end, after a very good level of competition, Jaipur House bagged the House cup with Oberoi House coming a close second. Unfortunately, the School was unable to participate in the IPSC tournament, as it wasn’t held this year.

After witnessing some remarkable performances in the various competitions, emerging talent was seen in the junior category in the form of Nihal Singh Maan, Varun Sehgal, Rohan Agarwal and Shourya Kishorepuria. The senior category saw commendable performances by Apurv Agarwal, Jaiveer Jakhar, Sambudha Naha, Rana Chowgule, Raj Surana, Zorawar Whig, Animesh Jain, Charlie Fry and Aditya Vikram Gupta. This year’s performance could not have been up to the mark without the undying guidance of the master-in-charge Mr Samik Das and the constant help of Mrs Anez Katre.

Overall this year the Swimming team showcased immense dedication and hard work. The presence of promising juniors and experienced seniors ensures the prospect of having successful years ahead.

Table Tennis

Captain

Ujjwal Singhal

Masters-in-Charge Mr Anand Kumar Mandhian, Mr Chitranjan Kagdee

Full Colours Raghav Kothiwal

Half Colours

Rishabh Chadda, Rishabh Kothari, Abhinav Mittal

Sitting (L to R) : Raghav Kothiwal, Abhinav Mittal, Mr Chitranjan Kagdee, Ujjwal Singhal, Mr Anand Kumar Mandhian, Spandan Gopal Agarwal, Rishabh Kothari Standing (L to R): Kanav Agarwal, Shrey Raj Kapoor, Siddhant Gupta, Raghav Gupta, Nachiket Jain, Shikher Chawcharia, Rishabh Chaddha, Arjun Kapur,Chaitanya Agarwal, Rishabh Sharma

2011 was a special and prosperous year for the Table Tennis team. The year started with the juniors coaching camp in which the team found some talented junior players. Apart from this the team played a few friendly inter- school matches in which the team put up a good show and gained some experience. As all the major tournaments were to be held in the latter part of the year, the starting months were crucial for practices.

In the local Wasu Memorial Tournament very competitive matches were played by the U-17 and U-19 teams. This year the team was determined to put up a good performance in the IPSC tournament and practised very hard. Their hard work paid off as we won two team Silvers and one Bronze medal in the U-14, U-17 and U-19 categories respectively. It was not a surprise for the team when, two of our team mates even managed a position in the School Nationals. Great nail biting matches featured Abhinav Mittal and Ujjwal Singhal in the U-19 category.

After having performed extremely well outside School, the annual Intra-School Individual Tournament began. After some excellent performances by Raghav Kothiwal and Shrey Raj Kapoor, both managed to win their respective categories. Noteworthy performances were put up by Rishabh Chaddha and Shivan Tandon throughout the year.

With so many excellent players still in School the team will definitely continue to excel in the coming years.

Tennis

Captain Divij Budhraja

Master-in-Charge Mr Vishal Mohla

Full Colours Raghav Nath, Arush Sood

Half Colours Sitting (L to R): Shivaan Tandon, Raghav Nath, Mr Piyush Bhardwaj, Divij Budhraja, Mr Vishal Mohla, Yash Jalan, Siddharth Bhardwaj Standing (L to R): Devang Mehra, Akhil Ranjan, Ruhaan Tyagi, Arush Sood, Rohan Chaudhari

Shivan Tandon, Siddharth Bharadwaj Re-awarded : Yash Jalan

There is really no time to “look before you leap” on court. Every action must be instinctive and involuntary; every movement choreographed a gazillion times until it has been ingrained in muscle memory. Tennis represents a time when you are perpetually innovating without conscious reasoning.

This year the Tennis team’s performance was exemplary. After playing a few friendly fixtures with Welham Boys, ONGC, and Kasiga School, the School Team went on to play the Uttrakhand State Championship where Devang Mehra and Yuvraj Nathani reached the semi-finals in the junior doubles category and Divij Budhraja bagged the title in the senior category. In the I.P.S.C Tournament our team’s performance was laudable with Rohan Chaudhuri , Akhil Ranjan and Ruhaan Tyagi winning Bronze in the U-14 team event and Arush Sood winning Gold in the U-17 individuals’ event. In the Sardar Mohamadd Senior Tennis Individuals Divij Budhraja won a closely contested final against Raghav Nath to bag the trophy whereas in juniors, Arush Sood emerged the victor. The team even had a very successful Tennis Gala during Founders but unfortunately due to lack of time the Inter-House Tournament was not held this year.

All in all this was a very successful year for the Tennis team and it was an honour to lead such a talented group of individuals. Siddharth Bhardwaj, Shivan Tandon and Yash Jalan served the School with some exceptional performances. Arush Sood was a stand out player, recording victories throughout the season.

To conclude, Tennis as a sport progressed by leaps and bounds this year. A lot of promising talent surfaced which I’m sure will continue to provide us with an ample number of trophies and victories in the years to come.

House Reports

Hyderabad House

Housemaster Assistant Housemaster

Mr Biren Chamola Mr John Xavier

House Captain Prefects

Virein Chabra Saib Ahmad, Rohan Shriram, Aashray Batra

Sitting (L to R): Raghav Dhanda, Mr Sandeep Khanna, Raghav Chandra, Mr Kamal Ahuja, Rahil Badhwar, Dr M H Farooqi, Aashray Batra, Mr John Xavier, Virein Chabra, Mr Biren Chamola, Vihan Khanna, Mrs Meenakshi Tripathi, Rohan Shriram, Mr Prabhakaran Nair, Saib Ahmad, Mr K P S Tomar, Karan Gulati, Mrs Meeta Sharma, Ayush Agarwal, Mr Rahul Luther, Mrs Amrit Burrett Standing 1st Row (L to R): Sarvashrest Singh, Aditeya Lochan Singh, Raghav Nath, Ujjwal Dahuja, Mukund Nyati, Saransh Seth, Kumar Sambhav, Abhishek Bansal, Ishaan Khanna, Anshuman Bhargava, Siddharth Dhanda, Shreshtha Verma, Devesh Sharma, Agni Raj Singh, Arnav Joshi, Imaan Pariat Mehta Standing 2nd Row (L to R): Yash Jalan, Shivam Goyal, Satvik Narain, Sanat Verma, Rahul Srivastava, Nabeel Shah, Vedant Khanna, Suyash Bishnoi, Varun Sinha, Neelansh Khurana, Yuvraj Nathani, Navraaj Randhawa, Divyank Sharma, Eeshat Tiwary, Shantanu, Fateh Phoolka, Palash Kanwar, Dhruv Prasad, Durgesh Agarwal, Sookrit Malik Standing 3rd Row (L to R): Devang Mehra, Sartaj Sidhu, D Prasanna Rajan, Abhayraj Jain, Yashraj Agarwal, Chirag Mittal, Rishabh Nautiyal, Siddhant Sachdev, Jaskrit Singh, Kismat Chopra, M Preetham, Daksh Bhatia, Syed Mohammad Amaan Kazmi, Rajkumar Vijay, Akarsh Tibrewal, Udayan Sinha, Aamir Shah, Kabir Sethi, Pritika Sandhu, Pranay Raj Kapoor, Divyansh Goel, Sajal Bansal, Arush Sood, Parth Vohra, Guruansh Singh Standing 4th Row (L to R): Sharat Nambiar, Yash Dhandhania, Uday Rathore, Rahil Arora, Udhbhav Agarwal, Madhav Mundra, Yash Mishra, Krishna Bhargava, Yasharth Goyal, Kartikay Garg, Vireshwar Sidhu, Pulkit Agarwal, Rohan Chaudhari, Aarya Tamrakar, Siddhant Gupta, Shikha Kothari, Vibhav Gupta, Vivek Sinha, Shlok Jain, Nayan Manchanda, Arnav Jain, Manan Dadhania, Rishab Badhwar, Kanav Gupta Standing 5th Row (L to R): Harshmani, Vipin

I

t’s important to leave the past behind, no matter the success, no matter the failure. As the dust settled after the rather illustrious Platinum Jubilee year, Hyderabad House was optimistic about the forthcoming year. The talent cards were on the table and our throats were longing for that pouring of victory just as a bottle of iced tea after a hockey game. Academically, we knew we were headed in the right direction with some heavyweight performances expected from a few of our boys.

On the first day of the year itself, we managed to elect one of our very own as School Captain, Vihan Khanna. Along with that, our House Captain for the year was Virein Chabra with his team of prefects comprising Saib Ahmed, Rohan Shriram and Aashray Batra. The monitors chosen were Siddharth Dhanda and Saransh Seth.

With the appointments in place, we began practising for various inter-house competitions in full earnest. Unfortunately, our performances in cricket and hockey were not up to the mark, landing us in the bottom rungs of the house positions. Shedding the disappointment in a jiffy, we drove forward full throttle and managed to defend our trophy in the inter-house one-act play competition by sweeping most categories, including the Best Play, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Technical Director, Best Stage set-up and Best Brochure awards. Quite obviously, it was a Gone with the Wind-like experience at our own Oscars! In PT, something the Nizams don’t boast too much of, we managed to secure a not so distant 3rd.

Academically, we progressed by leaps and bounds as a Nizam, Ujjwal Dahuja, topped the School in the ICSE examinations with a whopping 97.2%. The ISC and IB boys of the previous year also secured similar marks, setting an inspirational benchmark for the junior boys.

After another hectic Spring Term, the breezier weather helped us in putting long hours of toil, be it in the toyes or on the football field. Preparations started for Founders, where this time we were to be hosts of the Pagal Gymkhana, a gala where nothing short of excellence was expected. Meanwhile, we sweated it out during our football practices. In the Inter-House football competition, we made an unforgettable comeback from 2-1 down to a 3-2 victory in the closing minutes.

Unfortunately, despite having victory in sight, we came short in the competition as a whole.

We managed to secure promising performances in swimming and athletics. To complement that, as heavy underdogs in basketball, we were involved in a few nail biting finishes that regrettably didn’t end in our favour.

However, the highlight of the year was the Pagal Gymkhana. Months of preparation had gone into the event, with logistics and organization that needed to be done to perfection. Credit must be awarded to the boys and masters for pulling off the gala with fortitude as well as magnificence. We raised approximately 800,000 for our House funds, which included 150,000 from a bat that was signed by the World-Cup winning Indian cricket team.

2011 was a remarkable year for the world as a whole. It was synonymous with revolution, liberty and freedom. The Class of 2012, carried their responsibilities for the House not with glittering trophies in their hands, but with a temperament that continues to help the boys in their endeavours, not just in competitions, but on life as a whole. It was remarkable how they shouldered everyone’s mistakes, corrected flaws and provided an opportunity for boys to grow into better human beings. It’s no wonder that they are studying in some of the best universities in the world. From them, the words ‘tenacity’ and ‘inspiration’ radiate subliminally.

- Mr Biren Chamola

House Colours

Virein Chabra Saransh Seth Karan Gulati Raghav Chandra Aashray Batra Saib Ahmed Vihan Khanna Siddhant Sachdev Ujjwal Dahuja

Jaipur House

Housemaster Assistant Housemaster

Mr Sanjiv Bathla Mr Rashid Sharfuddin

House Captain Prefects

Sharan Seth Ashwin Dokania, Varun Gupta, Raghav Puri

Sitting ( L to R ): Akshay Sharan, Mr Pankaj Joshi, Yashasvi Havelia, Mr Srinivas Swamy, Dhruv Sawhney, Mrs Priya Chauhan, Ashwin Dokania, Mr Rashid Sharfuddin, Sharan Seth, Mr Sanjiv Bathla, Varun Gupta, Dr M C Joshi, Raghav Puri, Mr Chandan Singh Ghughtyal, Nipun Batra, Mr Arnab Mukherjee, Prabal Jindal, Angad Singh, Rana Chowgule Standing 1st Row ( L to R ): Shubham Khemka, Shantanu Seth, Aayush Tripathi, Uday Vir Lakhanpal, Madhavan Saklani, Varun Malhotra, Jai Pratap Singh Kairon, Khalid Alawneh, Karan Singh, Karan Pratap Singh Kairon, Zorawar Whig, Gaurav Garg, Divij Batra, Yash Upadhyay, Siddharth Kaul, Saif Ali, Karan Shinghal Standing 2nd Row (L to R): Marut Garg, Waseefullah Khan Sherwani, Raniz Bordoloi, Arnav Matta,Dhruv Singhal, Gopal Singh Mann, Hamza Khan, Shivaan Seth, Dhruv Agarwal, Ritesh Shinde, Saket Golyan, Gaurav Kothari, Arjun Kapur, Saumil Agarwal, Aditya Bhardwaj, Suryansh Nevatia, Kanav Ghai, Harshvardhan Bansal, Sumer Sehgal Standing 3rd Row(L to R): Ritzy Rajaswi, Sahir Chaudhary, Uday Goyal, Mahanaaryaman J Scindia, Rakshit, Shashwat Agarwal,Nihal Dhillon, Varun Gupta, Dilsher Brar, Josh Parsicha, Zahaan Qureshi, Rohan Agarwal, Abhinav Kejriwal, Arjun Singh Mann, Ayush Tripathi, Ritvik Khare,Vrishankaditya Parmar, Suyash Raj Shivam, Govind Sandhu, Anandita Luther, Arth Gupta, Umang Gupta Standing 4th Row: Bipasha, Tanmay Gupta, Avanish Agarwal , Chaitanya Agarwal, Aditya Maheshwari, Sachin Mehra, Aditya Jha, Zayaan Khodaiji, Samrat Rawat, Anirudh Gupta, Anubhav Agarwal, Atharva Matta, Viren Agarwal

Jaipur House has had a tremendously good year! 2011 began with the House winning the Academic Cup, the PT Gong, the Cricket Cup and the Hockey Cup. As

the year began, we gave our vote of thanks to the leaving House authorities. Arnav Sahu, the School captain, Kartic Sharma our House captain and the Prefects Bharat Ganju, Hemang Agarwal and Trivikram Singh. They did a fabulous job in motivating and inspiring the entire House.

The House captain for this year Sharan Seth and the team of Prefects; Raghav Puri, Ashwin Dokania and Varun Gupta are doing extremely good work and handling their positions with responsibility.

We won the prestigious PT Gong for the fourth year in a row making the highest tally of 22 out of 75 years. Raghav Puri was awarded the Best PT Leader.

Hockey was another game at which Jaipur House emerged winners in all categories. Thanks to the fabulous coordination between Dhruv Aggarwal and the Seth brothers, Jaipur remained on top. In the junior section, Aditya Roy emerged the highest scorer under the able leadership of Anubhav Agarwal.

The Swimming cup was ours too. Rana Chowgule and Angad Singh, have to be credited too for the achievement.

Soccer gave the House a grand win. We won the Junior, Senior and the House shield, making Jaipur House the winners of all the major sports. The junior teams won all their matches thanks to Rakshit Sinha and Anant Singh Mann. This victory made Jaipur House the winners of The Grand Slam. The last time any House won the Grand Slam was over a decade ago.

Abhishek Parasrampuria played badminton at the national level at Cochin and Goa and reached the 4th round. He also bagged the Gold Medal at the under 19 boys’ singles at the IPSC. At the District level he won the under 19 boys’ Gold in the Doubles. He has now been selected to play seed one at SGFI National this winter.

Gopal Singh Maan, Zahaan Qureshi and Anant Singh Maan played The Doon School Golf trophy tournament against The French International School and the King George V School in Hong Kong while Sumer,Anant,Jayaditya and Varun Sehgal participated in the Albatross and the Golden Greens Inter School Golf tournaments in Delhi.

In drama, Akshay Sharan was awarded the Best Supporting Actor, in the Hindi One Act Play Competition.

Raghav Puri won the Vikram Seth Junior-Statesman Poetry Recitation contest. Utkarsh Jha was adjudged the Best Interlocutor at the Miss Saroj Srivastava Memorial Debates held at Welham Girls’ School.

Dhruv Sawhney and Nipun Batra bagged the Gold IAYP Award and the IAYP Blazer. The Eagles are doing good work at community and social work under the direction of Prabal Jindal. In collaboration with an NGO called Khelshala, nine of our boys collected old clothes, sports equipments, and musical instruments in Chandigarh and taught underprivileged children. Jaipur House stood first in the Choir section of the Inter House western music competition. Dhruv Singhal and Suyash Raj Shivam bagged a trophy for Hindustani vocal. Jaipur House came second in the Inter house dance, and an overall second at the competition. Chess is another area where Jaipur House has shown good talent with Gopal Singh Mann.

I would like to thank the House Captain and his team of prefects, the assistant Housemaster, tutors and the Dame for pushing the House in the right direction. The emblem of Jaipur House, the Eagle is soaring!

- Mr Sanjiv Bathla

House Colours

Raghav Puri Ashwin Dokania Nipun Batra Sharan Seth Rana Chowgule Dhruv Sawhney Varun Gupta Prabal Jindal Akshay Sharan

Kashmir House

Housemaster Assistant Housemaster

Mr Anjan Chaudhary Mr Manu Mehrotra

House Captain Prefects

Udai Bothra Anmol Singh Jamwal, Tushar Gupta, Kanishka Malik

Sitting (L to R): Mrs Ritu Bahl Mohan, Mr Manoj Pandey, Prahlad Singh, Mr Ambikesh Shukla, Kanishka Malik, Mr Manu Mehrotra, Udai Bothra, Mr Anjan Choudhary, Anmol Singh Jamwal, Mr Deepak Sharma, Tushar Gupta, Mrs Sarabjeet Sandhu, Dhruv Sirohi, Mr Vishal Mohla, Vigya Singh Dhiman, Mr Manish Pant, Prabhjot Singh, Mrs Purnima Dutta Standing 1st row (L to R): Aditya Vikram Gupta, Arjun Khaitan, Shaurya Sinha , Sachit Taneja, Rohan Nath Behl, Utkarsh Garg, Rishi Agarwal, Vaibhav Bahadur, Piroune Balachandran, Nivit Kochhar, Alawi Singh Standing 2nd row (L to R): Arnav Goyal, Ishu Lather, Madhav Dutt, Tushar Mohan, Devesh Sahai, Raghav Bansal, Abhishek Kakkar, Tushar Mohan, Rishabh Tusnial, Shrish Srivastav, Shreyas Keyal, Aahan Menon, Suhel Karara, Pratyush Bharti, Kunal Kanodia, Namanshree Jain, Raghuraj Rathi, Vatsal Agarwal, Anmol Jain, Shrey Aryan Standing 3rd row (L to R): Saksham Garg, Orijit Chatterjee, Rishabh Agarwal, Pranjalya Shukla, Aditya Bhattacharya, Siddharth Suri, Jai Ahuja, Kunal Srivastava, Abhishek Pande, Pulkit Bansal, Yash Mall, Sabhya Katia, Akhil Ranjan, Azan Brar, Avik Gugalia, Apekshit Goel, Nakul Jaidka, Amal Agarwal, Ishmaam Choudhary, Harshil Agarwal Standing 4th row (L to R): Tanay Agarwal, Shivam Sharma, Ayuushman Aroraa, Aviral Garg, Nikunj Agarwal, Devansh Agarwal, Diksha Makhija, Laksh Sharaf, Naman Lodha, Aashim Bansal, Jai Singh Yadav, Shubham Agarwal, Yash Malhotra, Shubham Sikaria, Saarthak Gupta, Arnaav Bhavanani, Malini Malaviya, Vivek Vishwanathan, Mihir Kiran, Sanjeet Suhag, Aditya Maheshwari, Ashwin Solanki

The year began with the appointment of the new prefectorial body; Udai Bothra(House Captain),Anmol Singh Jamwal, Tushar Gupta and Kanishka Malik. All

these boys went on to head various other key responsibilities of the school as well as the house. The strength of a House lies in its objectives and I must add that the current team of senior boys focused a lot on the process; be it senior-junior relationship, providing direction or innovative ideas. The “House of Gentlemen” got the perfect combination and I am sure that the generations to follow will work on the efforts of this year’s boys. Our juniors performed brilliantly in all sports and came second in cricket, hockey and basketball. The fantastic chemistry between the juniors and seniors was back!

I would like to talk about some of the highlights of the year. The senior Athletics team was special and they won the cup for the record 6th time in a row which was a fantastic display of their dominance. I would like to take this opportunity to mention about Tushar Gupta. He was out of school on IPSC soccer duty. He returned one day before the Inter-House Athletics Competition and went on to break his own record which was set up by him last year in High Jump. He went on create a new record of 1.85 m which was 0.9m more than the record set by him last year. Debating has been a key activity of the school and Kashmir House performed brilliantly winning the Senior cup in English. The same boys made us proud by winning back our very own Chuckerbutty Debates and other inter-school debates.

Sarthak Gupta won all his matches in the Inter School Chess Tournament which is a tremendous achievement. Tushar Gupta and Aahan Menon were selected for the Nationals after the IPSC soccer triumph and Aahan played in the Nationals. Samarjit Singh performed brilliantly in shooting and is currently ranked 4th in the U-18 shooting team. He won two silver medals at the Nationals in Pune. The Social service wing of the House rose to the occasion and they have taken up two projects; the weekend project at Kunjagrant as well as the local project in Bal Mandir School. The involvement of a number of students of Kashmir House in the Founder’s Musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” was a breath taking experience. The C form moved into the Main House in March and we have fantastic talent in the junior level in all fields which clearly indicates a good future of the House.

I regret to inform you about the sad demise of Mr Lakhi Ram, our House Bearer. He joined the school on 1st January, 1984, as a House Bearer and worked in Kashmir House. He was born on 20th January, 1959, and passed away on 4th December, 2011. He served Kashmir House for 28 Years. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rameshwari Devi, two daughters and a son.

We had a grand opening of the House Photograph Gallery on Founder’s this term and we had the oldest Old Boy, Mr Anant Ram Iyer, as the Chief Guest for the event. This programme marked the beginning of our platinum jubilee celebrations. His presence made the programme truly special with his speech which had unique anecdotes of his time in Doon. I want to thank all boys, parents and Old Boys for coming in large numbers and making it a huge success.

Finally, I would like to add that winning is not the only aim. The objective of comradeship among the boys has to be nurtured and to “value the process more than the result” has to be encouraged. This was noticed and good direction was observed from the senior boys. Hard work with fun but discipline has to be given top priority. The environment holds the key to success and I am happy that the boys played a significant role in this endeavour. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Mr Mehrotra, the Assistant Housemaster, who has worked tirelessly for the success of the boys. The Dame, along with her team has played a pivotal role in pastoral care and house-keeping. I was privileged to have such a wonderful team of prefects this time and this was my first chance in the capacity of a Housemaster to work with them for a full year. The tutors of the House play a significant role and I want to thank them for all their efforts. Finally, I want to acknowledge the efforts of the boys who are the heart and soul of the House and go about their duties with such diligence. Kashmir House had a wonderful year and I wish that the “House of Gentlemen”, always moves on stronger with the right intent.

- Mr Anjan Chaudhary

House Colours

Udai Bothra Prabhjot Singh Apurv Agarwal Tushar Gupta Anmol Singh Jamwal Vigya Singh Dhiman Prahlad Singh Vaibhav Bahadur Shubham Agarwal Utkarsh Garg Rishi Agarwal Sachit Taneja Piroune Balachandran Dhruv Sirohi Shaurya Sinha Aditya Vikram Gupta Nivit Kochhar

Oberoi House

Housemaster Assistant Housemaster

Mr K V Arjun Rao Mr Nitin Chauhan

House Captain Prefects

Tushar Khurana Karmanya Malhotra, Gaurang Ahuja, Vikram Singh Gill

Sitting (L to R): Mr Ramesh Bhardwaj, Mr Mohammed Istemdad Ali, Mr Dinesh Chandra Bhatkoti, Mrs Anuroop Jouhal, Gaurang Ahuja, Mr Piyush Malviya, Mr K V Arjun Rao, Tushar Khurana, Mr Nitin Chauhan, Dr Mona Khanna, Vikram Gill, Mr Anand Kumar Mandhian, Mr Samik Das, Karmanya Malhotra, Mr Partho Roy Chowdhury, Mr D K Mishra Standing 1st Row (L to R): Yash Madhav Johri, Nipurn Dutta, Pranjal Varshney, Vatsal Modi, Spandan Agarwal, Dhruv Mahajan, Uma Shankar Goswami, Abhinav Mittal, Ujjwal Singhal, Siddhant Dixit, Saud Amin Khan, Sambuddha Naha, Tarang Saxena, Jaiveer Jhakar, Vaibhav Gupta, Ateendra Pande, Shreyansh Chedda, Ritesh Devnani, Vinayak Chowdhary Standing 2nd Row (L to R): Tanmay Kapoor, Rishabh Chadda, Arunabh Uttkarsh, Sabharsh Singh Sidhu, Prabnur Bal, Suraj Bishnoi, Armaan Imam, Shreshta Khetan, Kartikey Jain, Varun Vasudev, Lakshya Kothari, Rohil Mehrotra, Pranjal Bhatt, Arihant Arora, Kanishka Dev Tyagi, Adhiraj Singh, Arjun Kamdar, Aakanksha Mohan, Harshvardhan Singh, Ruhaan Dev Tyagi, Sarthak Srijan Katyar, Himanshu Poddar, Divyant Sapra Standing 3rd row (L to R): Abhijit Kejriwal, Ashish Verma, Tanishq Agarwal, Aditya Malik, Vedant Agarwal, Manas Poddar, Nakul Talwar, Anshul Tibrewal, Nachiket Jain, Shikhar Chawchharia, Yash Agarwal, Animesh Jain, Yuv Vir Khosla, Rayhaan Imam, Mudit Agarwal, Raj Surana, Shourya Kishorepuria, Siddharth Bhardwaj, Parth Khanna, Sudhansh Agarwal, Vishal Tummala, Sai Swayam Samal Standing 4th row (L to R): Veerbhan, Anvay Grover, Kunal Verma, Madhav Goel, Hritihik Shukla, Saamarth Juneja, Agasthya Shetty, Lakshya Varshney, Vatsal Goenka, Siddharth Pahuja, Deepchand, Manan Pradhan, Rishith Agarwal, Karan Sethy, Varun Michael Pais, Pranav Agarwal, Vidit Sadana, Vrindam Nagpal, Yogesh Agarwal, Varun Singh, Vallavi Shukla, Aditya Gupta, Parth Agrawal, Lanka Adarsh, Mahavir

What defines a good year? If you study the creation of wine, a good year is probably one in which a wine was produced, one whose legend survived beyond the

year and decade of its production and is now found in only the most exclusive locations in the world. Its taste has not diminished and remains full-bodied, its colour as brilliant as the day it entered a bottle and its bouquet refreshing.

Last year in Oberoi House, a very peculiar thing happened. The Class of 2012 entered their final year at Doon and immediately went about trying to establish a good year. They fought hard on the sports fields, finding themselves just behind the eventual winners of the Grand Slam trophy on most occasions. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve heard it say that no one remembers who comes in second but you only have to ask those who have come second how easy it is to forget. And it happened again and again.

Music, drama, all the writing competitions, the debates, the declamations, none seemed to go the way of Oberoi House. We stood first in the Hindi Debate Competition and then went back to coming second. Something seemed to have gone wrong. People spoke of curses, jinxes and hexes and nothing that we seemed to do could help us rid ourselves of this accursed luck we seemed to have acquired this year.

The Class of 2012 was in a slump. They wanted to lead the House and every proud march out onto the various battlefields ended in stooped shoulders and broken spirits. But then, they would wake up every morning believing that this was the day things would change. Every single day. And they took the rest of the House along. Hope was all we had and we clung to it with dear life.

And then suddenly, in the midst of this, a vintage was noticed. A new method of doing things emerged, one that was thought possible in the most remote circumstances. And as this process fermented and became entrenched, the Class of 2012 poured their thoughts and souls into aged oaken casks. The House became a sanctuary, one in which a very conscious decision to change became apparent to all willing to look. The world spoke of grand slams and it hurt but went straight into the casks, waiting its turn to be poured with no preservatives added.

As you walk around Oberoi House, you will see a change. It is there in the air; that fine bouquet matured and blended by the Class of 2012. It is one that will live on long after memories of grand slams, house colours, matches lost and won, tests maxed and failed, causes of fights and quarrels, all are long forgotten. It is the aroma of honour, integrity, the belief in the ability of each other and the belief that nothing can come in the way of your principles if you allow it. A legacy, indeed.

And a fine, fine year.

- Mr K V Arjun Rao

Tushar Khurana Spandan Agarwal Gaurang Ahuja Vikram Singh Gill Karmanya Malhotra Saud Khan Abhinav Mittal Dhruv Mahajan

House Colours

House Colours

Tata House

Housemaster Assistant Housemaster

Mr Skand Bali Mr Ashish Dean

House Captain Prefects

Avanindra Singh Vikram Kejariwal, Sagar Karnawat, Sumaer Sandhu

Sitting 1st row (L to R): Mr Sudhir Thapa, Mrs Anez Katre, Mohit Seth, Mrs Malvika Bhatt, Udit Kapur, Mr Ashad Qezilbash, Sagar Karnavat, Mrs Ranjit Kaur, Sumaer Sandhu, Mr Skand Bali, Avanindra Singh, Mr Ashish Dean, Vikram Kejariwal, Dr Arvindanabha Shukla, Pranoy Bohara, Mr Shadeep Adhikari, Gursehej Singh Oberoi, Mr Rajesh Majumdar, Mohit Gupta, Mr Shrey Nagalia, Mr Chitranjan Kagdee Standing 1st row (L to R): Arjun Parmar, Revant Nayar, Vinayak Bansal, Divij Budhraja, Nikhil Bhushan, Saptarishi Biswas, Suyash Agarwal, Adhiraj Thakran, Yashvardhan Singhania, Aditya Gupta, Abhijeet Nagar, Arjun Midha, Aviral Gupta, Siddhant Gupta, Mahak Sharma Standing 2nd row (L to R): Shawn Kapur, Himanshu Todi, Shashvat Dhandhania, Raghav Kothiwal, Kartikey Luthra, Farhan Anis, Ashish Rao, Adit Handa, Dhairik Fuletra, Banda Maan Singh Lamba, Parth Gupta, Zorawar Singh, Sanat Kumar Thakur, Raghav Gupta, Kushagr Singh, Ishan Sandhu, Shivank Singh, Karan Chabra, Siddhant Gupta, Mahak Sharma Standing 3rd row (L to R): Kartikey Kardam, Amartya Bhowmick, Shivinderjit Cheema, Shourya Agarwal, Shivaan Tandon, Udbhav Agarwal, Abhishek Pai, Siddharth Sarin, Jairaj Singh Sadana, Jai Khanna, Deepanshu Upadhyay, Nadir Singh, Agastya Bellad, Kartikey Pandey, Arjun Sharma, Vikramaditya Kapur, Chaitanya Fatehpuria, Nitin Sardana, Krishna Lohiya, Sidharth Sethi Standing 4th row (L to R): Akshaj Garg, Yuvan Kumar, Aditya Dhingra, Shashank Mittal, Yash Meel, Nikhil Saraf, Shrey Raj Kapoor, Rishabh Sharma, Sayuj Dhandhania, Nirvan Dogra, Eshaan Bhardwaj, Mrigank Khemka, Yaseer Iqbal, Husain Haider, Dhananjaya Bansal, Ashutosh Goyal, Rishikant Sharma, Rishi Raj Khan, Paramdeep Singh, Samarth Makhija, Jai Lanba, Aryaman Panwar, Pranav Kothiwal, Arnav Kumar

True as Steel. This phrase means a lot to those who have been associated with this great House, ‘TATA’. The most important thing which separates Tata House boys

from the rest of the School is the spirit with which they face challenges, the spirit of camaraderie, the spirit of caring, the spirit of belongingness, the spirit of fighting like a warrior and getting up every time they fall, with the same force and energy which describes a true sportsman and a warrior.

The year started with the appointments of the new Prefectorial team. Avanindra Singh was appointed as the House Captain and Sagar Karnawat, Sumaer Sandhu and Vikram Kejriwal were appointed as the School Prefects.

Like in the past, this year has also brought laurels for the House. Our warriors have excelled in almost every field. Their performance on and off the field has been commendable. Boys have done very well in sports, co curricular activities, Music, Social Service, Exchange, etc. The House got first position in Boxing- seniors as well as juniors, first position in Chess- seniors as well as juniors, first in juniors Debating, first in junior Athletics, second in Cricket seniors, second in Hockey seniors as well as juniors, second in Soccer seniors as well as juniors, second in Athletics seniors as well as mediums, second in Swimming mediums, second in Basketball seniors, second in juniors PT and also second in seniors Debating. This year we hosted exchange students, Michael Van Zyl from Bridgehouse, Vishal Tulsiani from St. Edward’s and Tristram Coates from Eton College. The year gone by was also very special for us because Tata House celebrated its 75th year with a bang. Old Boys, led by Mr Gurmeet Singh, Mr Donny Singh and Mr Sameer Dhingra, put up a fabulous show during the 75th Year Celebrations.

It was in the summer holidays that my predecessor Mr Harendra Chakhaiyar left for his new assignment and I took over the House. It was a challenge to step into the shoes of someone who kept the welfare of his House and boys above his own family. I want to thank Mr Chakhiayar for all the hard work and tireless effort he put into the House. I wish him all success in his new assignment as the Principal of G. D. Goenka International School, Surat. In the month of November Mr Ashish Dean, Physics Master at School, joined us as the new Assistant Housemaster. I wish Mr. Dean a fruitful and very successful tenure in Tata House. It is my duty to mention our House Dame, Mrs Ranjit Kaur. She has been a mother away from home for these boys. She is the first person they see in the morning and also the first one they approach late in the night for help. Mrs Kaur’s efforts in the smooth running of the House cannot be explained in words. We are all indebted to her for all her support and care. The tutors of the House have been a great support throughout the year. I have no hesitation in saying that our tutors are putting in tireless effort in grooming these young and energetic warriors into true gentlemen and true Tata House boys. I have always found them standing by me and the boys in every hour of need. Thank you all for all that you are doing.

Last, but by no means the least, I want to appreciate all the boys of the House.They all have made me proud as the Housemaster of this great House. They have all put in a great effort in making this year a memorable one for the House. I want to tell all my boys that as Housemaster I am proud of them and I can say with great belief that our House will move from strength to strength and touch greater heights in the years to come.

- Mr Skand Bali

House Colours

Pranoy Bohara Sumaer Sandhu Divij Budhraja Mohit Gupta Suyash Agarwal Nikhil Bhushan Avanindra Singh Yash Singhania Udit Kapur Aditya Gupta Gursehej Oberoi Arjun Midha Arjun Parmar

Foot House

Housemaster

Mr Debasish Chakrabarty

Sitting(L to R): Ms Anamika Ghose, Chaitanya Kediyal, Mr Vinay Pande, Tushaar Sharma, Mr Debasish Chakrabarty, Kanav Agarwal, Mrs Namrata Pandey, Mrs Shukla, Vineet Puri, Mrs Abia Qezilbash Standing 1st Row(L to R): Rahil Chamola, Ajiitesh Gupta, Bhuvan Verma, Leonardo Pamei, Mayank Agarwal, Karan Dhillon, Smrithi nair, Pratyaksh Singh parmar, Suryansh Agarwal, Madhav Nath Gurtoo, Priyanshu Raj, Vaibhav Chandak, Nalini Malviya Standing 2nd Row(L to R): Madhav Khirwar, Sakcham Bhalotia, Arya Bhadra Khannal, Tanmay Nautiyal, Samarth Bhardwaj, Amol Pajni, Siddarth Jain, Shreyash Agarwal, Kartavya Nagpal Standing 3rd Row(L to R): Hamza Khan, Prabsharan Singh Mamik, Dhruv Kharabanda, Angad Shergill, Jaivir Puri, Codanda Cariappa Chengappa, Divij Kapoor Standing 4th Row(L to R): Rahul Garg, Mr Kishan Lal, Raghav Kumar, Mr Sheesh Pal, Smayan Sahni, Yash Killa, Mr Rajendra Prasad, Madhav Mall

‘Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was.’

- R L Stevenson

Truer words were never spoken. At The Doon School, the proverbial journey of a thousand miles begins at either the Foot or the Martyn House. The boys who

joined in 2011 were mentored by Mr Vinay Pande, Ms Namrata Pandey, Ms Abia Qezilbash, Ms Anamika Ghosh and Ms Prachi Nagalia. Ms Kanchan Shukla joined full-time as the Dame of the House. 38 students joined the House in April 2011—16 boys and two girls (Nalini Malviya and Smrithi Nair). Rahil Chamola was also a day scholar, however, he spent so much time at the House that he was often considered a part-time boarder! The boys went for their mid-terms to Kalsi, in the Spring term. In the Autumn mid-term, the entire House was hosted by the B Company of the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre [GRRC] Lansdowne, who kept our boys actively involved in a well planned routine each day. The activities included early morning fitness programmes, rappelling in the rock climbing area, slithering down a helicopter, and shooting with .22 rifles. The crowning glory was the evening spent in the Garhwali mess, which is not merely a mess, but showcases the history and the achievements of the Garhwal Rifles. The boys also visited GRRC museum, St. Mary’s Church and Tarkeshwar temple. The boys were also exposed to the challenges of the obstacle course, a fortuitous close look at the MI-26 helicopter that landed near the PT grounds and a rather engaging interaction with Col. Soumendra Pandey and other officers at the presentation on the Army, the challenges and glory of the Army way of life and its recruitment policies. On the academic front, Angad Shergill stunned the school by scoring the highest marks in General Knowledge test for which he got the Ravindra Dhawal prize. Madhav Gurtoo topped the school in the Asset Test 2011. Chaitanya Kediyal was shortlisted for his performance in the Asset Test and went on to take the Asset Test Part 2.

Due to his top percentile performance at that level he was asked to attend the Duke of Edinbugh’s TIP programme. Rahil Chamola was awarded the Raman Cup for English, Tanmay Nautiyal and Rahul Garg were awarded the V N Kapur Cup for Mathematics, Chaitanya Kediyal was awarded the Headmaster’s Cup for History, Priyanshu Raj was awarded the Headmaster’s Cup for Sanskrit and Amol Pajni was awarded the Effort Prize for D Form.

In the sports arena, Kanav Agarwal was the first Footie of the year to bring back laurels from the IPSC Table Tennis. Angad Shergill qualified for the School Junior teams of Cricket and Football. Mayank Agarwal, Suryansh Agarwal and Divij Kapoor made it to the School Junior Cricket team. Tushaar Sharma and Siddharth Jain made it to the School Junior Football team. Arya Bhadra Khanal and Madhav Khirwar were chosen for the School Junior Basketball team. Arya went on to be selected for the Nationals in his age category for Basketball. Pratyaksh Parmar headed the House’s swimming efforts, while Rahil Chamola made his mark in tennis, squash and basketball. 2011 was particularly sweet on the sporting front as the House remained virtually undefeated in all sporting competitions with its sole rival except for swimming. The House continues with its efforts at developing the House Library with magazine subscriptions. As a token of appreciation for the work done by the Foot House boys for the H-House pagal gymkhana in 2011, the House master of Hyderabad House, Mr Biren Chamola, made a generous monetary gift to the House Common Room.

The year also saw a lot of initiatives being taken by the House management and the School. For the first time ever, Foot House started the wall magazine for the Founder’s Day. Since the House wanted to actively participate in the cost cutting exercise, they continued the Foot Prints as a wall magazine and also started The Foot House Weekly on the active insistence of Smayan Sahni, Madhav Mall and Arya Bhadra Khanal under the able guidance of Ms Ghosh. Ms Qezilbash helped the House set up its Housemaster’s Gallery for the first time.

2011 had other new beginnings, for instance the movie and dinner outing of the entire C-Form with the new entrants in March as also the Parting Feast. The generous gift of Mr Chamola allowed the House to start the Parting Feast in March 2012,where each student’s contribution and achievements were recalled over dinner in the quadrangle, in the presence of all tutors, and each student was gifted a commemorative Foot House tie.

In a boarding school where esprit d’corps is everything, the Foot House tutors seek to be mindful of what Friedrich Nietzsche had said: “The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.” As always, Foot House sought hard to make the journey from the herd to the individual for each child a little easier.

- Mr Debasish Chakrabarty

Martyn House

Housemaster

Ms Stuti Kuthiala

Sitting (L to R): Mr Avijit Chattopadhyay, Mrs Priyanka Bhattacharya, Ashish Pande, Mr Devendra Singh, Saksham Goel, Ms Stuti Kuthiala, Varun Sehgal, Mrs Priya Chaturvedi, Rudra Nagalia, Mrs Priya Majumdar, Mr Dhanesh Joshi Standing 1st Row (L to R): Aniruddh Popli, Savar Khanna, Ranveer Modi, Nikhil Fatehpuria, Atharva Shukla, Ujjwal Maheshwari, Rohan Anand Hundia, Jagjit Singh, Chinmaya Sharma, Prakhar Dwivedi, Ananay Sethi, Tejit Pabari, Nikhil Chauhan Standing 2nd Row (L to R): Rahul Das, Anant Mohan, Kanav Agarwal, Nasir Iqbal, Yajawin Tandon, Mukul Goyal, Dhruv Madhav Johri, Dhruv Ahuja, Jayadityavir Singh, Yasir Nizam, Anirudh Batra, Rahul Agarwal, Nihal Mann Standing 3rd Row (L to R): Mohan Bhaiyya, Vivaan Sharma, Vansh Agarwal, Sikandar Suri, Rudra Srivastava, Raj Singh, Shyamu, Madhav Agarwal, Vishesh Khaitan, Atrey Bhargava, Rohan Agarwal, Ravi

Although all the boys in School are birds of passage, spending six very formative years here and then taking flight for further destinations, it is a unique feature

of a Holding House that they spend but one of those years in it. Yet, what a year it is! They arrive as fledglings, fresh out of their comfortable nests, largely dependent on Mama and Papa birds to take care of their every need. Literally overnight, they are encouraged to spread their wings and make their individual test flights. Of course, there are a few painful nosedives and bumpy take-offs in the beginning, but on the whole, they find their balance and start to chart a steady flight plan. For the caretakers of Martyn House, it is a phenomenon that never ceases to amaze us, even though it recurs every year!

The Martynis who spent April 2011-March 2012 in the House, had an action-packed year, indeed. Beginning with the orientation on the School campus and the ice-breaking workshop with INME, the first week also included a three day midterm trip to the Himalayan Adventure Institute, Mussoorie. The many outdoor activities that the boys did revealed latent sporting and leadership talents which were an eye-opener for themselves as well as for others. Predictably, it was here that new friendships were forged and respect and admiration earned.

The month that followed, undisturbed by visits or outings, allowed the boys to ease into the rhythm of the quotidian life of a boarding school. A full day’s routine –ranging from PT and academics, sports and STAs to toyes and Common Rooms – kept homesickness at bay. The first PTM and Night Out followed, as did the May Trials, and the first term for the D formers came to a happy close.

On their return in the Autumn term, the boys threw themselves headlong into the School’s activities, gaining experience and recognition in Music (Vishesh Khetan, Dhruv Johri, Rudra Srivastava, Anant Mohan, Atrey Bhargava), Sports(Yasir Nizam, Rahul Das, Vansh Aggarwal, Rudra Srivastava, Ashish Pande, Sikander Suri, Nikhil Chauhan, Nihal Mann),and Academics (Kanav Agarwal, Vansh Agarwal, Rudra Srivastava, Tejit Pabari, Mukul Goyal, Rohan Hundia). Saksham Goel, Anirudh Popli and Rohan Hundia represented the School at the Junior Round Square Conferences held in Pathways, Gurgaon, while Dhruv Ahuja, Vishesh Khetan, Atharva Shukla and Jagjit Singh travelled to Dubai for a similar conference.The Founder’s Day production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar included Rudra Srivastava, Atrey Bhargava and Chinmaya Sharma in its choir.

Life in the House was teaching the boys some important lessons, too. Being part of a community requires adjustments on many levels. One must learn to look beyond one’s personal needs, to share, communicate, be patient and understanding, strong yet compassionate, and above all, be inclusive and not exclusive in one’s behaviour towards all members of the House. All this was not learned overnight. The tutors,Avijit Chattopadhyaya, Priya Chaturvedi, Priyanka Bhattacharya, Dhanesh Joshi and Mona Khanna, along with the Dame, Priyanka Majumdar, had to constantly act as guides and counselors and sort out problems as and when they cropped up. The tutorial meetings, day and night outs, toyes, and the daily meetings at meal times played an essential part in this instructive/ constructive interaction.

Even as I write this report, this batch has moved on to their respective Main Houses. I meet them around the campus and I watch them on the Games’ fields and the School stage on various occasions, and they seem to be holding their own and progressing well. All of us at Martyn wish them clear skies and safe flying!

- Ms Stuti Kuthiala

S PA

S N O S

is e s l e g n i h t y r e v E . o dg

D

n a e m o c s o c s o

. n o d passe

F

or a Dosco, traditions stand at the centre of school life.

Every person who has entered these walls, student or master, has learnt many a lesson. Something indelible. Something unforgettable. The whole essence of this campus stands on the fact that apart from scholastic learning, each individual leaves behind a tradition of something genuine for everyone to learn. Though Chandbagh has seen many come and go, the values each person absorbs and gives back to the school remain, either as memories, or as physical manifestations of those memories. A tradition may be 26 years old or may have just started today, but what matters behind the tradition are the values and the true meaning that the tradition carries.

A Dosco Tradition never dies and evidence to this fact is an integral part of our school life- ‘Pass-On’s.´ A Pass-On is something handed down by the captain, leader or in-charge of any activity, sport or post on this campus, to the next student head of the same. By writing on a Pass-On, a person is enshrined physically and will exist as a memory till the time the Pass-On exists. It may be a poster, a flag, a carpet, a mirror or even a stack of Blue Cards. The significance that each Pass-On carries is different and unique in its own way.

From games captaincies to council secretaries to the school captain, almost every post in school carries with it a Pass-On. The prestige of being a part of this legacy and the honour of scribbling one’s name on a Pass-On is what truly gives it the Dosco touch!

Michael Phelps Poster School Swimming Captain

Doon School Flag, Prefects Tie and Blue Card Collection School Captain

R K Laxman Cartoon Editor-in-Chief The Doon School Weekly

I enter my new room in college. It is bare. I feel out of place. After living in what felt like home

for 6 years, it is an odd feeling. It takes me to a poster shop where I purchase my first piece of dĂŠcor for my room: a black and white poster of Marilyn Monroe standing near a subway vent as her skirt flies everywhere. I buy it because it is a copy of the poster that I inherited for a year from the previous House Captain of Hyderabad House. I buy it because it makes me feel at home. I frame it and hang it, just like I did for my last year as a Dosco.

The pass-on became a part of my life at school. I saw it throughout my six years, first in awe of the House Captains that owned it, and then with pride because it resided in my room. It became an everyday object, something that I constantly saw in the background in my room, but never really noticed until it was gone. The poster represents a small slice of history. It was my little membership card to a legacy, the sort of legacy that cannot be represented by just a name on a board. It is personal. For sixteen years it has lived in the same house, in the same room. It represents stillness in the ever changing environment in the house. It carries with it the values of the house, passed on from one leader to the next.

Along with the pass-on, come stories, some from my Linen Room Bearer and some from exDoscos that come to point their name out on the poster. You realize the history that is attached with just that small one foot by three feet piece of paper. At the end of the year, signing it is a privilege and passing it on, bittersweet.

Jayant Mukhopadhayay ex- 367 H Batch of 2011

Steven Gerard Poster School Football Captain

Boxing Gloves House Boxing Captain Tata House

Marilyn Monroe Poster House Captain Hyderabad House

Slash Poster School Music Captain

Full Colours Badge School Table Tennis Captain New York Construction Poster House Captain Kashmir House

Boxing Ring Mat Boxing Captain Jaipur House

Mess Committee Register Secretary Mess Committee

Door Placards Room Pass-on Tata House

Kaka Poster Football Captain Jaipur House

Mirror House Captain Jaipur House

Rocky Balboa Poster School Boxing Captain

Sc Leavers

VIHAN KHANNA 450 HYDERABAD HOUSE

“To do some things you shouldn’t, some things you should, and many things that you never knew you could.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Scholar’s Blazer, the Games’ Blazer and Full Colours in squash. He was placed first in the English Literary Society Short Story Competition and was the runner up in the Bakhle Essay Competition and in the Vikram Seth Poetry Recitation competition. He was awarded a distinction in the Grade 8 LAMDA Examination.

He was the School captain. He was the Secretary of the Games’ Committee, the editor-in-chief of The Nizam and a senior editor for the Echo and The Doon School Information Review. He was also the House squash and basketball captain.

REPRESENTATIONS

“Talented and multifaceted, one could only look at Vihan’s achievements during his School life in awe. He was outstanding in every way and was remarkably involved across the full spectrum of School life. A thorough gentleman and an extremely good soul I shall miss my time spent with him.”

He represented the School in cricket, basketball, athletics and squash. He represented the House in debating, western band, cricket, hockey, football, athletics and squash. He was also a part of the cast for the Inter House one-act-play.

COLLEGE DESTINATION

-BKC

Stanford University,USA

VIREIN CHABRA 485 HYDERABAD HOUSE

“The Dosco Experience: ‘One of the 10 things to do before you die.’”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Games’ Blazer. He was re-awarded Full Colours in athletics. He was awarded the trophy for the Best PT Leader as well as the PT Jersey. He was also awarded the First Aid Label. He was also awarded House Colours, the award for the Best Stage Manager and won 1 Gold and 3 Silver medals in the District’s athletics meet.

He was the House captain. He was boy-in-charge of Paper Recycling, House cricket and athletics captain, House Junior PT Leader. He was also the Stage Manager for the Inter House one-act-play.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in cricket and athletics. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, basketball and athletics. He also represented the House in First Aid and the Shanti Swarup Essay Competition.

COLLEGE DESTINATION University of Toronto , Canada

“The Rock -The man who could never go wrong. A man of few words and lots of action, I was fortunate to have him as one of the most efficient House Captains I have had in recent years.”

-BKC

SAIB “Being a Dosco means being someone special. It means being a AHMAD part of an experience where after six years I am not going to cry 443 because it’s over but smile because it happened.”

HYDERABAD HOUSE AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded House Colours and was also a qualified RLSS Life Guard.

He was a School Prefect. He was boy-incharge of Photography, Paper Recycling and RLSS. He was also the House swimming captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in swimming. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football and swimming. He was also a part of the House Debating and quiz teams.

“Saib was one of those steady, balanced, good-humoured individuals who earned the respect and admiration of both the faculty and his peers.”

-BKC

COLLEGE DESTINATION New York University, USA

“To take a 75 year old legacy forward with a lot of responsibility and honour.”

ASHWIN DOKANIA 441 JAIPUR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Games’ Blazer. He was also awarded Full Colours in cricket and the Man of the Match award in the Abdul Majeed Qureshi Cricket Match.

He was a School Prefect. He was the House cricket and hockey captain, the House Senior PT leader and House Art Secretary.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in cricket, hockey and boxing and his House in cricket, hockey, PT, football, basketball and athletics.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Hong Kong University, Hong Kong

“Ashwin personified coolness and sincerity. He is a living example of hard work and leading from the front. He had the Midas touch that turned everything to gold for Jaipur House last year. All the Best!!!”

-RSF

UDAI “I see it as gross injustice to have to sum up the plethora of emotions Doon BOTHRA arouses within me with as much as its mention. To sum this up in a life-time would also be less. That is what it means to be a Dosco. “ 460 KASHMIR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

Udai was awarded School Colours, the Games’ Blazer and Full Colours in athletics and football. He was also awarded the Kunwar Taara Devi Award for Community Service. Udai achieved merits in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Trinity Guildhall Examinations and was the runner-up of the Historical Circle Essay competition. He was also awarded the Markers’ Cup for GK and various prizes at the district level in athletics.

Udai was the House captain and also led the School in athletics. He was the cofounder of The Doon School Microfinance Initiative and the School Social Service Secretary. He was the editor-in-chief of The Yearbook and a senior editor of The Circle and The Econocrat. Udai also was boy-in-charge of the Business Club and the Virtual Stock Exchange. Udai also led his House in football and PT.

REPRESENTATIONS Udai was the Indian Ambassador for the 2012 London Olympics (BBC World Olympic Dreams, London). He represented the School in athletics, football and basketball.

Udai also represented the School at Regents School, Thailand for student exchange and at RSC Dubai. He also represented the School in various social service projects and in quiz competitions. Udai represented his House in cricket, hockey, football, athletics and tennis.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Harvard University,USA

“A ‘Dosco’ to me is someone who everybody looks up to; someone who comes up with a solution which, although may not be the best but definitely effective for any problem. He is self-sufficient.”

“Gentleman of the Year is an epithet that is inadequate; Udai is one person who could safely be awarded Gentleman of the Decade, or maybe, even Gentleman of the Century. All those who know him well will always be proud of him!”

-PDT

TUSHAR GUPTA 481 KASHMIR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded School Colours. He was awarded the Games’ Blazer. He was re-awarded Full Colours in athletics and awarded Full Colours in basketball and football. He was awarded the Mumtaz Ahmed Trophy for the Best Athlete and was adjudged as the Most Promising Player award in the Afzal Khan basketball tournament.

He was a School Prefect. He was School basketball captain. He was House athletics captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in cricket, basketball, football and athletics. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, basketball, athletics, one-act-play and dance.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Georgia Institute of Technology, USA

“An excellent athlete, skilled cricketer, game changer on the basketball court, and a quiet, but utterly effective leader.

What else could one aspire to become in School? I am pleased with the way Tushar kept a clear sight of his priorities and then worked towards getting his goals in various spheres of life at Doon.

In my interactions with Tushar, I found him to be an honest and well brought up individual with absolutely clear thoughts.

I admire him for his great achievements, many of them , I know, were attained under termedous pressure, anxiety and apprehension.”

-ASH

PIROUNE BALACHANDRAN 526 KASHMIR HOUSE

“It means juggling multiple responsibilities and constraints yet managing to get the better of them, each time.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

Piroune was awarded the Scholar’s Blazer and Debating Colours. He won best speaker awards at Chuckerbutty, Oliphant and Shriram Debates in 2011. He also won Best Delegate at DSMUN 2010 and WEMUN 2011. Piroune achieved Merit in LAMDA Grade 8 and won the Nikhil Gupta Scholarship for English and Markers’ Cup for English.

He was the editor-in-chief of The Doon School Information Review. He was the House tennis and Shanti Swarup captain.

REPRESENTATIONS

“Piroune and his crazy jokes and ideas will always be a part of my fond memories about him. An extremely talented and quick-witted young man, I am sure he will go places in life.”

-BKC

Piroune represented India at the WIDPSC Debates. He represented the School in tennis, debating and MUN. He represented the House in tennis, cricket, squash, debating, one-act-play, football, basketball, chess and Shanti Swarup.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Williams College, USA

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them. DOON was the greatness thrust upon me.”

AWARDS & HONOURS He was awarded the IAYP Blazer. He was awarded the First Aid Label and also came 2nd in the Senior Maths Colloquium.

PRAHLAD SINGH 488 KASHMIR HOUSE RESPONSIBILITIES He was the boy-in-charge of the AV Squad and the aero-modeling STA. He was also the House chess captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in cricket, athletics, and boxing.

He also represented the School at RSIS Pathways and expeditions to Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, athletics, boxing, chess, First Aid, basketball and dance.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Drexel University, USA

“A thorough gentleman, Prahlad had a fruitful stint at Doon. I was fortunate to receive him as his housemaster in Kashmir House, to see him grow into what he is. He is one of the few people responsible for taking AV to new heights.

I regard him for his sheer politeness, genuinely affectionate behaviour and strong value system.”

-ASH

ADITYA GUPTA 496 TATA HOUSE

“A Dosco is someone who knows right from wrong and stands up for what is right.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Games’ Blazer. He received Full Colours in boxing, hockey and athletics and he received Half Colours for swimming. He also received the award for the Best Athlete at the District’s athletics Meet.

He was the House athletics, hockey and quiz captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in athletics, swimming, boxing, hockey and quiz. He also represented the School at the RSIS in Thailand. Aditya represented the House in athletics, boxing, hockey, swimming, basketball and cricket.

“Aditya is a boy possessing high talent and stable temperament who was socially very well adjusted in School. His helpful nature, hardcore ‘Tata House force’ and never give-up attitude made him a special person who deserves to be remembered forever. His uncomplicated thinking and behaviour impressed me the most and I always felt that interactions with him were very soothing and comforting. I would like to take this opportunity to commend him for showing great skills, speed and enthusiasm on the hockey field.”

-ASH

COLLEGE DESTINATION Hong Kong University, Hong Kong

ROHAN SHRIRAM 435 HYDERABAD HOUSE

“Doon has been the most enthralling roller coaster ride of my life”.

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded School Music, School Dramatics, as well as House Colours. He won the award for Best First Aider in his S-Form. He also won the award for the Best Director in the Inter House one-act-play in his SC-form.

He was a School Prefect, the School First Aid captain, as well as the School Western Band Leader. He was the House Western Band Leader as well as the director of the Inter House one-act-play. He was also a senior editor of The Yearbook.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in MUN, music, and was also part of the cast of various Founder’s day drama productions.

He represented the House in cricket, hockey, music, dance, dramatics, and debating.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Wesleyan University, USA

“He has always been somebody you feel really comfortable with. With his sharp intellect and great sense of humour. I know Rohan will go a long way in life.”

-BKC

GURSEHEJ SINGH OBEROI 504 TATA HOUSE

“For me, it’s been a question all along. A question to which the answer was uncertain, but a question time answered for me. “Yes, we were meant to be here.””

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded School Art Colours, the Banalita Das Salim Ali Trophy for the Best Artist Of the Year, the Ravindra Dhawal Trophy for general knowledge and various art prizes. He was also adjudged as the Most Outstanding Delegate at the Berkeley MUN in Beijing and the Most Distinguished Delegate at the Woodstock School MUN.

He was the School Art secretary, School choir leader, House dance and music captain.

REPRESENTATIONS

“Gursehej Singh Oberoi had a natural talent for art and craft and he was always regular to the art School. His dedication for whatever activity he pursued was commendable and I hope he goes on to do great things in the future.”

He represented the School in art, music, dance, MUN and Round Square. He represented the House in art, music, dance, debating, drama, football, athletics, hockey, athletics and PT.

-ATB

COLLEGE DESTINATION FLAME University, Pune

“From a simple three digit number, Doon has metamorphosed me into a young man, ready for the world outside the red brick walls.”

VARUN GUPTA 430 JAIPUR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Scholar’s Blazer. He completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of the IAYP award and was awarded the IAYP Blazer. He was awarded School Dramatics Colours, House Colours and the First Aid Label. He was adjudged the Best Supporting Actor in 2010 and was awarded the award for the Best Speaker in the Hindi debating competition. He completed the Silver and Gold levels of the LAMDA examinations.

He was a School Prefect. He was the director of the Inter House one-act-play and the House Hindi Debating captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School at the CMUN, WEMUN and the DSMUN. He represented his House in music, dramatics, English and Hindi debating, basketball, hockey and football.

COLLEGE DESTINATION University of Pennsylvania, USA

“I have had the opportunity to interact with Varun as a subject teacher, play director, and as the debating master in charge. I have also been his tutor and assistant housemaster and I can say that he is the perfect example of a confident Dosco whose ability to persuade you is impressive. His confidence sees him through even when he is not prepared well enough. He has a mature head on young shoulders. He has the sensibilities and courage to accept his mistakes.”

-VKL

RAGHAV PURI 444 JAIPUR HOUSE

“To be a Dosco is to stand up for what you believe in. It means to trust yourself when everyone else doubts you.

It means to lead and not be led.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

He was a School Prefect. He was the boy-in-charge of English Dramatics and LAMDA. He was also the Senior Editor for The Weekly, The Echo and The Doon School Information Review, the House music and English debating captain as well as the House Junior PT leader.

“I met Raghav for the first time back stage during the production of one of the original BHKBC’s shows. I wondered why this boy (who was in C Form, perhaps) wanted to work backstage in a show. He assured me he didn’t want to act, never would and he preferred being behind the scenes. Of course, as things would have it, destiny had chosen a very different path for him. He ended by supporting two substantial casts and finally led, debatably, this School’s finest dramatic production. To see him today, larger than life (literally and metaphorically!), ready to take on the world, is heartening indeed.”

-KAR

REPRESENTATIONS

COLLEGE DESTINATION

He represented the School in basketball. He was a part of the Founders’ Day Plays in 2009, 2010 and 2011. He represented his House in basketball, football, hockey and cricket.

Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University

He was awarded the School Colours, Scholar’s Blazer, School Dramatics Colours, House Colours and the award for the best PT leader. He was the winner of the Vikram Seth Poetry Recitation Contest. He also completed the Bronze level of the IAYP award and passed the LAMDA Gold examination with a distinction.

RESPONSIBILITIES

“…for the hand grasp of a friend.”

ANMOL JAMWAL 519 KASHMIR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Games’ Blazer and Full Colours in basketball. He won a Bronze medal in District’s athletics Meet, Gold medal in IPSC football and won the Gold medal in District’s basketball Tournament. He was also awarded the Marker Cup in Economics and the John Martyn’s Cup in B-Form.

He was a School Prefect. He was the School football captain and School Dance coordinator. He was the boy-incharge of the Stage Committee. He was the House basketball captain. He was the editor-in-chief of The Yearbook.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in cricket, football, basketball, athletics and dance. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, basketball, athletics, dance, debating and one-act-play.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Hans Raj College, Delhi University

“He achieved so much, so quietly! Inspirational dancer, creative choreographer, fine sportsman, dedicated editor-inchief, Anmol was generous with his time and his talent. A gallant gentleman, whose gentleness won him friends and admirers.”

-PCH

AVANINDRA SINGH 428 TATA HOUSE

“A person who has the ability to change any situation in his favour and someone who can get along and adapt anywhere.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded House Colours and the First Aid Label.

He was the House captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in MUN. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, athletics, basketball and swimming. He also represented the House in the one-act play, First Aid, debating and was an editor of the House magazine.

“Avanindra is perhaps the ideal boy. He has all the qualities that one would desire. He is polite, courteous and a true gentleman. What I am most pleased about is his honesty. This is quite a rare virtue. Avanindra has been a good leader, especially his performance as the House Captain has been commendable. His legacy in many areas shall remain in the House for a long time.”

-SBL

COLLEGE DESTINATION Northeastern University, USA

“To not to try to fit in- we were born to stand out; to do our best and have the rest and to cherish every moment in every friendship.”

SHARAN SETH 437 JAIPUR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Games’ Blazer. He was also awarded Full Colours in football,basketball and was adjudged the most promising player of the Afzal Khan Memorial basketball Tournament.

He was the House captain. He was also the House basketball captain and the boy-in-charge of the Stage Committee.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in football, hockey, athletics and basketball. He represented his House in football, hockey, basketball, athletics, swimming and dance.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Claremont McKenna College, USA

“Sharan has earned his name in the annals of Jaipur House and The Doon School for being the most successful House captain ever by leading the House to its first Grand Slam as well as a host of other trophies. A boy with a very strong sense of duty and values, Sharan exemplified leadership by his actions and leading from the front. I look forward to hearing wonderful things about him in the future and I am sure he will do all of us proud.”

-RSF

NIKHIL BHUSHAN 299 TATA HOUSE

“When it comes down to doing something for The Doon School, there are no senior-junior boundaries. At the end of the day, the Dosco spirit is what spurs you to give in your life and soul for the School.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded a Gold medal in the IPSC football tournament.

He was the House Social Service Secretary.

REPRESENTATIONS

“Nikhil is a very fine sportsman. His love for football is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations on and off the field. He thinks quite deeply about many things other then football and has some really good ideas. He may not be the most daunting senior boy but he is definitely the most approachable. People can always talk to him and he is always there for them.”

He represented the School in football. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, basketball and swimming.

COLLEGE DESTINATION

-SBL

Union College, USA

“It is a lifetime experience. Had I not been in Doon I would have missed out on something I could have never got back.”

UDIT KAPUR 508 TATA HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded House Colours. He was also awarded the First Aid Label and the IAYP Bronze award.

He was the Secretary of the School Council. He was also the House football and badminton captain.

REPRESENTATIONS Udit represented the School in cricket, badminton, swimming and football. He also represented the School at the Round Square Conference held in Jordan. Udit represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, badminton, swimming, boxing, athletics, drama and First Aid.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Northeastern University, USA

“Udit has developed a sense of direction in his life and is no longer wandering about trying new things.”

-SBL

VIKRAM KEJARIWAL 492 TATA HOUSE

“A Dosco is a boy who builds his own bridge above conformist societies, and achieves greatness through passion and focus, always smiling and laughing.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Scholar’s Blazer. He won his category in the Inter House boxing competition and was also awarded Full colours for boxing, House Colours, Best Delegate and Best Delegation awards at various MUN’s, the First Aid Label, the Marker Cup for Economics, the Bronze and Silver IAYP awards and distinctions in Grades 7 and 8 of the LAMDA Examinations.

He was a School Prefect. He was the boyin-charge of the Historical Circle, the cofounder and head of the social service initiative, Nijaat, and the President of the Security Council in the DSMUN. He was also House Debating and boxing captain.

REPRESENTATIONS

“Vikram has very high levels of discipline, punctuality and respect for others and he carries himself with utmost dignity.

He is a very responsible and dependable boy and can always be relied upon to get tasks done very satisfactorily. What has really struck me is his love and care for the good of everyone around him.”

-SBL

He represented the School in MUN, debating, boxing and also at the Round Square Conference in Dubai. He represented the House in boxing, swimming, football, cricket, hockey, First Aid, debating, chess and drama.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Cornell University, USA

“To me, being a Dosco is all about friendship.”

MOHIT SETH 484 TATA HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He won various prizes in Art.

He was the Secretary of the Mess Committee. He was also the House basketball captain and House athletics captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the House at cricket, hockey, football, athletics and basketball. He was also a part of the cast of the Inter-House one-act play.

COLLEGE DESTINATION University of St. Andrews, UK

“He has a great sense of humour; he is genuinely caring, a pleasant, happy go lucky boy with the broadest smile. He is carefree and affable.”

-MLB

SUMAER SANDHU 489 TATA HOUSE

“All good things come to an end but the best things remain with you forever.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received the Games’ Blazer. He was the winner of the Individual State squash Championship and he was awarded Full Colours for cricket and squash.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in squash, cricket, hockey, golf, athletics, MUN and debating. He represented the House in squash, cricket, hockey, football and athletics.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Claremont McKenna College, USA

“It is a lifetime experience. Had I not been in Doon I would have missed out on something I could have never got back.”

He was a School Prefect. He was the Secretary General and the boy-in-charge of the DSMUN, School squash captain, House cricket and squash captain.

“For me, Sumaer was the epitome of the Dosco gentleman. I shall always remember his tall, dignified demeanour when he opened DSMUN 2011; he made me proud of this great School. He was a true ambassador for The Doon School and a fine role model for the juniors – a fine intellect, a sportsman, a diplomat, ever-courteous, accomplished in a number of fields. He showed the real strength of his character when he put his House and the School before himself.”

-PMC

ABHIJEET NAGAR 497 TATA HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was a part of the winning teams at the Inter-School Aqua Regia Quiz and the District’s basketball Championship.

He was the director of the Inter- House one-act play and the House First Aid captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in art, chess, quiz, dramatics, music and basketball. He represented the House in art, chess, music, dramatics, basketball, cricket, swimming and football.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Gap Year

“Your hard work and your desire to excel is admirable. We will remember the work that you put in for the House swimming team and towards your own academics. Your jolly and happy-golucky nature will surely be missed.

Wish you all the luck!”

-PRC

DIVIJ BUDHRAJA 449 TATA HOUSE

“Being a Dosco is what survives when everything learnt has been forgotten.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded Full Colours in tennis. He was the Uttrakhand State Champion in doubles tennis as well as the Uttrakhand State Champion in singles tennis. He also won the S.R. Vohra and the Sardar Mohammad trophies for tennis.

He was the School tennis captain. He was also the House tennis and Table tennis captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in an International Round Square conference in (where). He also represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, athletics, badminton, tennis and table tennis.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Franklin and Marshall College, USA

“It was so wonderful to learn tennis under Divij’s guidance. And, I am sure that this is the time when I can apologize to him for hitting his numerous tennis balls into the swimming pool while trying to hit the tennis balls hard. It was always a great pleasure to visit him in his study, the messiest place on this entire planet (of course, Sumaer’s area was always spick and span). I am going to remember him for his open behaviour, charming smile and friendliness.”

-ASH

“To be a Dosco is to be hard, soft, fighting and helping at the same time.”

PRANOY BOHARA 501 TATA HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS He was awarded the Games’ Blazer. He received a PT Jersey, Full Colours in cricket and boxing, School Music Colours, awards for the Best Musician and Best Vocalist and a scholarship for securing the highest marks in English in the ICSE Examinations.

RESPONSIBILITIES He was the School hockey captain, School Orchestra leader, School Western Band leader, House music, cricket, hockey and Hindi captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in cricket, hockey, boxing, and music. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, basketball, boxing and music.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Sydenham College, Mumbai

“Pranoy had a very eventful and successful tenure at Doon. His involvement in music and dramatics remained outstanding. His vigour on the games field made him a very special sportsman. He is very close to me and I know that he faced many ups and downs in his life during his stay in School but never gave up. Failure made him even stronger. Every time he fought back and emerged as a winner. His enthusiasm and leadership as the School hockey captain gave well deserved popularity to this sport in School. Thank you, Pranoy, for everything you did for this sport which is very close to my heart!”

-ASH

SARANSH SETH 507 HYDERABAD HOUSE

“An individual with the greatest of values embedded in him.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Bronze, Silver and Gold IAYP awards and the IAYP Blazer, House Colours, the Ishwar Chand Memorial Trophy for the Best Carpenter of the Year and the award for the Best Producer in the Inter House one-act-play competition. He was also an RLSS Life Guard.

He was the boy-in-charge of Design and Technology. He was a House monitor, the House Council Secretary and the House Social Service Secretary. He was the producer of the House one-act-play.

REPRESENTATIONS

“An epitome of simplicity and discipline.

He was one of those people you could always rely on. A steady fellow and a great soul, he will be missed in School.”

He represented the House in basketball, swimming, boxing and athletics.

-BKC

COLLEGE DESTINATION Sushant College of Architecture, Gurgaon

“In School, either be good, or be good at it.”

RAHIL BADHWAR 434 HYDERABAD HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Games’ Blazer. He received Full Colours in hockey, Half Colours in football and athletics, and the PT Jersey. He was awarded School Music Colours. He received the award for the Best Actor in the Inter-House one-act-play.

He was awarded the Gold Medal in the IPSC football meet, 2011.

He was the boy-in-charge of the Entertainment Committee. He was the senior producer of the DS-75 Hindi play.

He was the House football, athletics and gymnastics captain. He was also the House Senior PT leader.

REPRESENTATIONS

“A charming, exuberant young man with a lot of positive energy around him.

Oozing with confidence, a man who always loved the centrestage, Rahil has been a crowd puller. Wherever he goes, he will always have lots of friends and admirers around him.”

He was in the School football, hockey, athletics and gymnastics teams. He was also in the School Dance troupe. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, gymnastics, athletics, basketball, and swimming. He was also in the cast of the House one-act-play.

COLLEGE DESTINATION HR College of Commerce, Mumbai

-BKC

PRABHJOT SINGH 482 KASHMIR HOUSE

“The greatest roller coaster ride of my life”

RESPONSIBILITIES

AWARDS & HONOURS He was awarded the Games’ Blazer and Full Colours in hockey.

He also came third in the Inter-House poetry competition.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in hockey and athletics. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, basketball, athletics, debating and in the one-act-play.

COLLEGE DESTINATION

He was the School Senior PT Leader. He was a House Monitor and was also House hockey and Hindi Debating captain. He was also the House one-act-play director.

“A friendly and upright young man, Prabhjot was clearly known to be a hard taskmaster. His efforts in PT and sports can not be easily forgotten. I saw his real character on the hockey field. I have no doubt in stating that he was not one of the most skilful defenders in the hockey field but, at the same time his spirit, enthusiasm, fearlessness and never say die attitude made him as effective as the best in the business at this level.”

Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College, Delhi University

“A Dosco is one who is ready to face anything. A Dosco always has a plan B for everything.”

AWARDS & HONOURS He was awarded Full Colours in hockey and the PT Jersey. He was also awarded Half Colours in athletics. He was awarded the Bronze and Silver awards in IAYP. He was also awarded the First Aid Label.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in hockey and the House in cricket, hockey, football, swimming, athletics, boxing and music.

RESPONSIBILITIES He was the House athletics, cricket, music and boxing captain.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Hotel Management, Oberoi Hotel, Delhi

LAKSHIT JOSHI 431 KASHMIR HOUSE “It was an absolute pleasure to interact with Lakshit on the games field, House or academics area at Doon. I must also admit that somce encounters were not as polite and courteous as they should have been. I kept expressing my disappointment for his performance in various activities plainly because I knew that he had a lot of potential. I am glad that he proved me right. He developed himself as a complete all-rounderamazing musician, stunning swimmer, talented athlete, avid cricketer, skilled boxer and great game planner in the hockey field. Above all, I am going to remember him for his unconditional affection and loyalty.”

-ASH

-ASH

SIDDHARTH DHANDA 438 HYDERABAD HOUSE

“To me being a Dosco means to not only be a part of one of the most elegant and elite people in society, but also to find a family amongst friends.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He won his category in boxing in 2009.

He was a House monitor. He was also the House Dance Coordinator and First Aid captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the House in football, hockey, boxing, basketball and dance.

“The gentleman of the House. Always carried himself with poise and dignity.

An extremely good soul who will be missed by everyone here.”

-BKC

COLLEGE DESTINATION VS Dental College, Bangalore

“To be a Dosco means to form lifelong relationships and strong bonds and have fun in life!”

AYUSH AGARWAL 512 HYDERABAD HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Bronze and Silver IAYP awards and received various certificates for photography.

He was the House badminton captain.

REPRESENTATIONS

“Popular amongst his friends, quiet in nature Ayush has a good heart. He loves living for the day. Amongst all the fun and fights he would leave his touch of care for others.”

He represented the House in cricket, hockey, badminton, basketball, boxing swimming and dance.

-SKD

COLLEGE DESTINATION Amity University, Noida

KARAN GULATI 493 HYDERABAD HOUSE

“To me, being a Dosco, means being a smarter, well groomed individual, who is ambitious and cultured at the same time.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded House Colours, the First Aid Label and the IAYP Bronze award. He received various declamation awards and he completed Grades 6 and 7 of the LAMDA Examinations.

He was the House hockey captain.

REPRESENTATIONS “A smooth operator, Karan’s sense of humour and ability to see the lighter side of an argument amused me, as well as left me exasperated many a time. May you find success in all your aspirations.”

He represented the House in hockey, football, cricket, chess, basketball, athletics and dance.

-JKA

COLLEGE DESTINATION Kirori Mal College, Delhi University

“To be a part of a fraternity, most elite.”

RAGHAV CHANDRA 498 HYDERABAD HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded Full Colours in boxing and House Colours.

He was the House boxing captain and a House PT Leader.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in boxing and was a part of the School Orchestra. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, basketball, swimming, athletics, boxing and PT. He also represented the House in music.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Amity University, Noida

“Raghav has been a cheerful presence in the House. He is a warm and friendly pupil who got along well with his form mates and was always accessible to junior pupils. I found him to be an articulate and thoughtful pupil. I am confident that he will do us proud in the years to come and wish him luck for the future.”

-KLA

RAGHAV DHANDA 499 HYDERABAD HOUSE

“To be a Dosco means to live life King Size.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the First Aid Label. He received the LAMDA Silver and Gold medals as well as the IAYP Bronze award.

He was the House Common Room incharge.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the House in hockey and chess. He was also in the House Dance Troupe.

“A cheerful boy with a compassionate heart is what Raghav means to me. I am sure, Raghav will not spend a day without having fun and making people laugh.

The heart of this fun loving boy is full of compassion, love and respect for others.”

-SKD

COLLEGE DESTINATION Amity University, Noida

MUKUND NYATI 455 HYDERABAD HOUSE

“Being a part of a rich legacy and cherishing every moment of life.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded School Chess Colours. He was the runner up in the Council’s Chess Tournament and was placed third in the IPSC badminton Tournament. He won the Kanwar Rani Hindi Essay Contest and was runner up in the Hindi Short Story Contest and the individual badminton tournament. He also completed Grades 7 and 8 of the LAMDA Eaminations.

He was the House chess captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in badminton and chess.

He represented the House in badminton, chess, cricket, hockey, football and basketball.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong

“Mukund is an interesting young man who always made his presence felt in his characteristically understated ways. My good wishes are with him for his life and career after School.”

-BKC

REVANT NAYAR 429 TATA HOUSE

“A curious blend of agony and ecstasy; of tumult and tranquility; of frustration and triumph; in totality, a cathartic experience that chiselled me into the individual I am, propelling me on the road to self-discovery.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded School Colours, the Scholar’s Blazer, , the Mahindra Scholarship and various Marker Cups. He stood first in the Bakhle Essay Writing Competition, the Bakhle Literature Contest, the Historical Circle Essay contest, the English Literary Society Short Story Writing Contest, the Kanwar Rani Tara Devi Hindi Essay Contest and the BP Chandola Writing contest.

He was the editor-in-chief of The Infinity and The Echo.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School at the Harvard MUN, DSMUN, SPEAC, ESA Research Competition, IISPSC Debates and WIDPSC Debates. He represented the House in Shanti Swaroop, Quiz and Inter House debating in English and Hindi.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Princeton University, USA

“I feel delighted to write for Revant who always posed convoluted academic challenges to me. I have no hesitation to say that in my 19 years of teaching career in premiere residential schools he stands alone as an extraordinary boy who is original and creative in whatever he did, genuine in his passion and individualistic to the core. I will always recall my inability to extend myself in explaining concepts of particle physics and astrophysics to him as a hallmark of my association. I wish him all success in life.”

-RMR

“Everything you would never expect yourself to be.”

SAGAR KARNAVAT 511 TATA HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded Half Colours for gymnastics, the Gulab Ramchandani Sculpture Trophy of the Year, the IAYP Bronze award, various Marker Cups and the First Aid Label.

He completed the RLSS Life Guard Examination and also completed the LAMDA Examinations for Grades 6, 7 and 8.

He was a School Prefect. He was the boyin-charge of the Nature Club and Art and was the House gymnastics captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in DSMUN, gymnastics and art and he represented the House in swimming, gymnastics, boxing, chess, dramatics, dance and art.

“With his cheerful disposition and unassuming nature he has made many lifelong friends in Chandbagh.”

-AAQ

COLLEGE DESTINATION Cornell University, USA

DHRUV SAWHNEY 464 JAIPUR HOUSE

“Being a Dosco and part of this community has been an honour for me. I always wanted to be a Dosco and am privileged to call myself one. It is one of the greatest achievements of my life”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of the IAYP award and was awarded the IAYP Blazer.

He was also awarded Half Colours in football.

He was the House football and athletics captain.

REPRESENTATIONS

“A passionate boy who did everything he loved without looking at the reward.”

-AAQ

He represented the School and House in hockey, football and athletics.

COLLEGE DESTINATION St. Xaviers College, Mumbai

“A few crazy experiences, some great friends, and a big name to live up to.”

JAI VEER JAKHAR 486 OBEROI HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received Full Colours in swimming, the First Aid Label, and qualified as an RLSS Lifeguard. He also completed various stages of the LAMDA examinations.

He was the boy-in-charge of the RLSS, and also led the House quiz team.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School at an RSIS in Ladakh, and in SciencePo Europe-Asia conference. He was in the School quiz and swimming teams. He was also in the House hockey, athletics, basketball, and English debating teams.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Jai Hind College, Mumbai

“The ’couldn’t-care-less’ Jaiveer is one of the most caring and lovable persons I have come across. His impish smile can melt even hearts of steel and warm up the severest of Arctic winters.”

-PDT

RANA CHOWGULE 459 JAIPUR HOUSE

“Even Jagger’s moves can’t outdo a Dosco’s.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded Full Colours in swimming and House Colours.

He was a House Monitor. He was the House swimming and squash captain.

REPRESENTATIONS

“Rana‘s contribution in training the House football team at the expense of spoiling the quad will not be forgotten by me for at least some time. I will always remember his smiling face, his never ending explanations about an issue and his passion for football. I look forward to hearing wonderful things about Rana in the coming years as well.”

He represented the School in swimming and his House in cricket, hockey, football, basketball, swimming and PT.

COLLEGE DESTINATION HR College of Commerce, Mumbai

“It means to have experienced the most memorable bittersweet concoction of times one can never get.”

-RSF

ANGAD SINGH 442 JAIPUR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded Full Colours in swimming, the award for the Best Swimmer in the Councils’ Tournament, the Marker Cup for Psychology in S Form and the cup for the Best Actor in 2010. He was also awarded the First Aid Label and completed the IAYP Bronze standard as well as the RLSS Life Guard Examination.

He was the School swimming captain, House boxing captain and the editor-inchief of the Jaipur House magazine, Where Eagles Dare.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in swimming and boxing and he represented his House in cricket, hockey, swimming, boxing and was also in the cast of the Inter House one-act-play.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Hindu College, Delhi University

“His pen is mightier than the sword of Alexander and his mind sharper than Damascus steel. But if he counts you as a friend, there are few who can be more lovable or loyal than Angad. Those who became helpless subjects of his pen apart, he will be missed by many.”

-PDT

SPARSH BATRA 436 KASHMIR HOUSE

“Brotherhood. Legacy. True Grit. Doscos forever.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded School Art Colours.

He was boy-in-charge of Photography.

He was chief-of-design of The Doon School Art Magazine.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in the Kanpur IT Fest, Hopetown Girls’ School Cultural Fest and Multimedia Competition, Vasant Valley School. He represented the House in marching and PT.

“I have seen Sparsh’s interest in photography for five years. His work has been outstanding and Sparsh has been able to take his excellent work to various exhibitions and has been awarded accolades throughout various categories over the years. Sparsh has not only shown excellent photography skills at School but also at a national level.”

-SJB

COLLEGE DESTINATION La Salle College of Arts, Singapore

“A gleaming ray of the sun which can be spotted even amongst millions of stars!”

UTKARSH GARG 479 KASHMIR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded House Colours. He was also awarded the Bronze and Silver IAYP awards and the First Aid Label.

He was the boy-in-charge of the Astronomical Society and the Electronics Club. He was the editor-in-chief of the Kashmir House magazine, Chinar.

REPRESENTATIONS

“Utkarsh has been an excellent member of the community and I always valued him for his team spirit. He was a good leader and performed his responsibilities by listening as well as providing direction to his teammates. He had an excellent disciplinary record in School and was a good role model for his juniors. I thank him for all his efforts in raising the bar for the House publication. I wish him all the best for his future endeavours.”

He represented the School in the International RSC held in Thailand and in athletics. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, athletics, one-act-play, First Aid and chess.

COLLEGE DESTINATION University of Waterloo, Canada

-ANC

APURV AGARWAL 465 KASHMIR HOUSE

“A world in itself. A place that moulds you into a gentleman.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Bronze, Silver and Gold IAYP awards and the IAYP Blazer. He was also awarded Half Colours in swimming, the Headmaster’s Cup for Commercial Applications in B-form and various Art prizes.

He was boy-in-charge of Archives and HAM Radio. He was a House monitor and was also House swimming and Art captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in swimming and art. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, athletics, swimming, boxing and art.

“Apurv’s hard work and desire to excel is admirable. We will remember the work that he had put in for the House swimming team and towards his own academics. His jolly and happy-go-lucky nature will surely be missed. We wish him all the luck!”

COLLEGE DESTINATION

-MMR

Georgia Institute of Technology, USA

“A Dosco is one who can combat every situation, one who can stand up against wrong, one who will never back down and will always reach out to his fellow Doscos and brothers.”

RISHI AGARWAL 474 KASHMIR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded House Colours.

He was the Boy-in-Charge of Archives and Business Club. He was the House Social Service Secretary.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in the RSC Junior Conference, Dubai and RSIC, Thailand. He represented the House in hockey, swimming, one-act-play, dance and poetry recitation.

COLLEGE DESTINATION HR College of Commerce, Mumbai

“Rishi is a sincere and dedicated pupil.

He has shown a lot of initiative in various activities especially in the Business Club, Doon Stock Exchange and a microfinance project undertaken by the School, aimed at helping certain sections of the local community. He has made a positive contribution by mentoring a number of junior pupils under his care. He is a good team worker and has led by example.”

-KLA

KANISHKA MALIK 475 KASHMIR HOUSE

“While at Doon, one is toughened by the rough circumstances at School. Despite all the troubles I have been through, I believe the greatest lessons for a Dosco lie in the problems he faces as a member of this clan.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded Debating Colours. He was also awarded the Best Delegate award in DSMUN 2010.

He was a School Prefect. He was the editor-in-chief of The Doon School Weekly and The Econocrat. He was also Senior Editor of The Doon School Information Review and Chinar. He was a Chairperson in DSMUN 2011.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in debating. He represented the House in debating, one-act-play and PT.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Williams College, USA

“Kanishka never ceased to surprise with the many, seemingly contradictory facets to his personality: under the serious economist lurked a sensitive poet; the stolid demeanour hid a wonderfully quirky sense of humour, and behind the always-correct manner was a restless and questioning mind. May you always, Kanishka, be relied upon to do the unexpected and the unusual!”

-PCH

“Being a Dosco is like being a part of a great Bollywood saga. Doon makes you laugh, cry, make friends, enemies and before you know it, it’s over. It’s the perfect happy ending to a great film.”

DHRUV SIROHI 456 KASHMIR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Kendell’s Trophy for Best Actor and Dramatics Colours.

He was the House one-act-play producer.

He was also JEDS secretary in B-form.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented School in RSIS Kenya and various Founder’s plays. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, athletics, basketball, one-act-play and quiz.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Ramjas College, Delhi University

“How does one even begin to write something about Dhruv that will ever match up to his expectations of something hilarious and witty? He tells me he wants to be an actor, suitable option naturally, but if he ever wants to play a lead, he needs to get rid of Raghav and their competition over who can eat more butter chicken. Good luck in New York (whenever you do get there) and remember, it’s much harder to perform in The Rose Bowl than on Broadway (the directors are usually much nicer and far less talented!).”

-KAR

VAIBHAV BAHADUR 506 KASHMIR HOUSE

“To return to School after a long time and narrate to the students…..”This is how we used to get things done in School!”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Bronze and Silver IAYP awards, Gold and Silver Reading Awards and he was also awarded the First Aid Label.

He was the boy-in-charge of the AV Squad, Astronomical Society and the Electronics Club. He was the Secretary of the Library Council, the House First Aid captain and chief-of-production of the Kashmir House magazine, Chinar.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the House in cricket, hockey and football.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Hong Kong University, Hong Kong

“To have the greatest, to be the greatest, and to live like the greatest”

“Honest, dedicated, veracious, capable; the list would go on and on if I were to get down to penning down my thoughts about Vaibhav. “A little, quiet and serious fellow” would also qualify to describe him. In short a splendid lad destined to do well in life. God bless and good luck.

May God be with you always!”

-SSM

SACHIT TANEJA 478 KASHMIR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Scholar’s Blazer and School Debating Colours. He was awarded the Best Delegate award in DSMUN 2010.

He was editor-in-chief of The Echo. He was the chief-of-production of The Circle. He was also senior editor of The Yearbook and The Doon School Information Review. He was a Chairperson in DSMUN 2011. He was the House English Debating captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in debating and MUN. He represented the House in hockey, football, boxing, swimming and debating.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Pomona College, USA

“Sachit. How does one even begin to describe someone like him? There are so many things I could say and I can almost imagine that wry smile curling his lip, tilting towards the left and, just as he used to in class, raise both hands objecting vociferously! There is so much I could say to embarrass him but I won’t. Whoever he does eventually show this to will need to track me down for those stories! Good luck, Sachit and remember: Winter is Coming.”

-KAR

AASHRAY BATRA 439 HYDERABAD HOUSE

“Doon is like Hugh Hefner, 75+ and still going strong.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the Scholar’s Blazer, IAYP Blazer and the House Colours. He won Best Musician in A-Form and the Drum Solo in 2010 and 2011. He also won the Vikram Seth Poetry competition and Best Delegate Nomination in DSMUN 2010. He was also awarded the Nikhil Gupta Scholarship for Highest Marks in English, ICSE, the Marker Cup for Hindi, and the Bronze and Silver awards in the LAMDA examination.

He was a School Prefect, boy-in-charge of Model United Nations and Secretary of the School Music Society. He was Chief Editor of The Doon School List, boy-incharge of the Implement Store and Chairperson of UNEP in DSMUN 2011. He was the House Music captain and the House Debating captain. He was a Senior Editor of Echo, Yuv Arpan and Associate Editor of The Yearbook.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in MUN, music, Hindi debating and Round Square. He also represented his House in cricket, hockey, music, dance, one-act-play, debating and chess.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Hindu College, Delhi University

“Aashray has been an outstanding academic who also made a huge contribution to the School in many other ways. He was a deep thinker and mature beyond his years. My good wishes are with him for his future.”

-BKC

To live by these words:“Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, It is measured by the moments that take your breath away” AWARDS & HONOURS He was awarded the Headmaster’s Cup for Economics and House Colours.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School at a Round Square Conference in Pathways, India. He represented the House in hockey, football, athletics, boxing and PT. He also represented the House in Chess, One-Act play and Shanti Swaroop Science Essay Contest.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Syracuse University, USA

MOHIT GUPTA 476 TATA HOUSE RESPONSIBILITIES

He was boy-in-charge of Weather Reporting. He was a House monitor and the House Chess captain.

“A quiet, sincere and conscientious lad with a clear focus on his goals - these are words which very aptly describe Mohit.

An unassuming boy, with an incredible strength of conviction, he worked untiringly at improving his linguistic skills. I am yet to see a boy with such dedication and commitment. All the best, Mohit. May good luck and success follow you in your endeavours!”

-JKA

ISHAAN “To be a Dosco means to be prepared. Prepared for the future and KHANNA prepared for the outside world.’

463 HYDERABAD HOUSE AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received the award for the Best Aeromodeller and the Bronze award of the IAYP.

He was the boy-in-charge of Aeromodelling and the House Shanti Swarup captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School at the ONGC Tech Quiz and the Kanpur IT Fest. He represented the House in athletics and football.

“Ishaan’s transformation from a shy and reticent little boy to an articulate and deep thinking young man has been a happy one. The Great Fixer- he had a solution to everyone’s IT woes. He will be sorely missed.”

-BKC

COLLEGE DESTINATION Loyola Marymount College, USA

“Doon was the best thing that ever happened to me!”

SUYASH AGARWAL 470 TATA HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded House Colours.

He was the House swimming captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented his House in cricket, hockey, football, swimming, and music.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Hong Kong University, Hong Kong

“Suyash did fairly well throughout his School life. I know that Suyash has the capability of living up to the highest of standards. I want to see him do well and make us all proud of him. He is a polite and well behaved boy who has shown a lot of determination.”

-SBL

SAPTARSHI BISWAS 467 TATA HOUSE

“A Dosco is a boy who has a strong sense of integrity, who can differentiate between right and wrong and choose the right over the wrong, and who can jump up and fight back when fallen and defeated.”

RESPONSIBILITIES

AWARDS & HONOURS He was awarded School Art Colours and the PT Jersey.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, PT, athletics, basketball and boxing. He also represented the House in Debating and Art.

COLLEGE DESTINATION

YASHVARDHAN SINGHANIA 457 TATA HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the IAYP Blazer and House Colours. He was the winner of the Senior Math Colloquium in his SC-form.

He was the boy-in-charge of the IAYP. He was also a representative in the Technology Council.

REPRESENTATIONS

“One always gets positive vibes with Yash Vardhan. He is a sincere and hard working boy. As an individual, he is a reliable young man who contributes in a positive manner. He is soft spoken and obedient.”

-SBL

He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, athletics, basketball, table tennis, swimming, PT. He was also part of the House Dance Troupe.

COLLEGE DESTINATION University of Texas at Austin, USA

“Saptarshi has pushed himself to the limit and has done well in many areas. What really strikes me about Saptarishi is his love and care for the good of the House.

He is determined to make his mark in life.

I have very high expectations of him and I am certain that he will live up to them.”

-SBL

Symbiosis College, Pune

“Being a Dosco, being a WARRIOR, has converted me into a true fighter and prepared me to face any battle or challenge that comes my way in the future.”

He was the chief of production of The Doon School Art Magazine and the Motor Mechanics boy-in-charge. He was the House junior PT leader, the House Art captain.

ANSHUMAN BHARGAVA 440 HYDERABAD HOUSE

“To be a “Dosco” is to be a part of the most noble fraternity.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded School Art Colours and the IAYP Blazer. He completed Grades 5, 6 and 7 of the LAMDA examinations.

He was the boy-in-charge of the Trophy Squad and the editor-in-chief of The Doon School Art Magazine.

REPRESENTATIONS

“I remember Anshuman as a reserved C former with a ready smile. He remained the same throughout his years at Doon.

Behind a fragile appearance lies an enormous strength of character. Sincere and committed, Anshuman has an artistic flair and his work is always a pleasure.”

He represented the School at the UNESCO conference in Jerusalem and he represented the House in swimming.

COLLEGE DESTINATION -RBM

London School of Economics, UK

“A self-disciplined person.”

VINAYAK BANSAL 520 TATA HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He won various Literary awards and art prizes.

He was the editor-in-chief of The Infinity and The House of Steel. He was also the House Shanti Swarup captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He was part of the House Shanti Swarup, hockey and football teams.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Christ University, Bangalore

“Vinayak has been true to his values. and was one who you could depend on. A silent worker, whose deep sense of providing direction will be remembered. I will always remember that he kept his focus on what he liked and he worked with commitment. I wish him all the best.”

-ANC

ROHAN NATH BEHL 447 KASHMIR HOUSE

“It’s an offer you can’t refuse”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He won various art and photography prizes.

He was the Chief-of-Production of The Yearbook.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in expeditions to Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc and also represented the School in RSIS, Pathways School and RSIS, Peru.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Carleton University, Canada

“I cannot think of someone who lived and still does in a fantasy world more than Rohan! I can’t wait to read about those fantastic worlds he is eventually going to create; vicious kings, glamorous and cruel queens, knights waiting for their chance, pages with nothing but their wits about them and ancient prophecies wreaking havoc all around. But for heaven’s sake, please don’t make it a video game!”

-KAR

“To adapt and thrive. To outshine. To live.”

SHAURYA SINHA 458 KASHMIR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded honourable mention in WEMUN 2011 and special mention in DSMUN 2011. He was awarded House Colours.

He was the House Council Secretary and the House squash captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in dance. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, swimming, squash, dance, art and debating.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Singapore Management University, Singapore

“Your hard work and commitment will take you far in life. We will remember you for your dancing, your simple nature, and your sporting spirit. You gave your best to whatever you did.”

-MMR

VIGYA SINGH DHIMAN 500 KASHMIR HOUSE

“To make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

Vigya received the Games’ Blazer. He was also awarded School Music Colours and House Colours. Vigya achieved the Gold Level in LAMDA. He was awarded Full Colours in gymnastics and Half Colours in athletics and boxing. Vigya also received the King Constantine Award.

Vigya was the School boxing captain, the School Social Service Secretary and the School Choir Leader. He was also a House monitor and the House music and gymnastics captain.

REPRESENTATIONS

“He pursued excellence with passion, never stopping to appreciate his many achievements. Drummer extraordinary, singer, sportsman, dedicated social worker, Vigya “fill(ed) the unforgiving minute/ With sixty seconds` worth of distance run”. Truly, a Dosco who lived the Dosco ideal of service.”

-PCH

Vigya represented the School in cricket, athletics, gymnastics, boxing, music, art and Round Square projects and conferences. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, gymnastics, athletics, boxing, music and art. He also represented the House in one-act-plays.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Drexel University, USA

“It’s like a train journey which starts slowly... Catches up…And ends before you know it.”

SHUBHAM AGRAWAL 522 KASHMIR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded the IAYP Blazer. He was awarded House colours and Quiz colours.

He was the School Quiz Secretary. He was Boy-in-Charge of The Boys Bank and Tuck Shop. He was the House Quiz captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in quiz and for an expedition to Mont Blanc. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, basketball, debating, First Aid, quiz and one-actplay.

COLLEGE DESTINATION St. Xaviers College, Mumbai

“Friendly, soft-spoken and ever smiling, Shubham reminded you of Indian fast bowler R.P. Singh. As Secretary of the Quiz Society, he worked very hard to improve the quizzing standard in the School and particularly in Kashmir House. I will always remember Shubham as a highly efficient quiz secretary and sports and current affairs quiz specialist. Above all these qualities, he was modest, humble and unassuming. He truly is a thorough gentleman.”

-JNX

YASHASVI HAVELIA 514 JAIPUR HOUSE

“A place hard to find, harder to leave and impossible to forget.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of the IAYP award and was awarded the IAYP Blazer.

He was the House badminton and Chess captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He was in the School badminton and quiz teams and he represented his House in cricket, hockey, football, chess and quiz.

“Yash was a happy go lucky boy with strengths in academics and sports. He took his risks and was a champion goal keeper for hockey House XI. He was the House badminton captain and one can see that Jaipur House has gained momentum to fabricate high level players even though Yash remained confined to the net.”

COLLEGE DESTINATION -SJB

Sri Venkateshwara College, Delhi University

“The best place to discover yourself.”

PRABAL JINDAL 494 JAIPUR HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded House Colours, the Marker Cup for Mathematics, the First Aid Label and was also adjudged runner-up in the Hindi Declamation contest. He successfully completed the Bronze and Silver levels of the IAYP award.

He was the House athletics captain and the House Social Service Secretary.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in athletics and basketball and he represented his House in athletics, basketball, debating, dance, cricket, football, hockey and badminton. He also represented his House in Hindi declamation and was in the cast of the Inter House one-act-play.

COLLEGE DESTINATION University of Washington at St. Louis, USA

“Pintal, as he was popularly known, was one of my brightest prospects for a grade 7 in IB HL Math for the two years that I taught him. He endeared everyone around him by his simplicity. I am sure he will do great in life.”

-BKC

AKSHAY SHARAN 451 JAIPUR HOUSE

“Being a Dosco is like an eclectic musical composition. By the end, all you want to do is play it again.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded School Music and Dramatics Colours. He was adjudged as the best supporting actor for the year 2010 and received the Best Musician award in his B and S Forms He was also awarded the Reading Gold award in the senior category.

He completed the Bronze and Silver standards in the IAYP award and Grades 6, 7 and 8 in the LAMDA examinations.

He was the School Music captain and the House Quiz captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He was a part of the School orchestra and the cast of the Founder’s Day Play, 2010. He represented his House in music and dramatics.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Kings’ College, London

“A roller coaster ride with its ups and downs but, just like the end of any ride, you want a go at it again.”

AWARDS & HONOURS He completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of the IAYP award and was awarded the IAYP Blazer. He was awarded the Marker Cup for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, the DN Verma Cup for Chemistry, the Mahindra Search for Talent scholarship and the Jaidev Singh Memorial scholarship. He was also awarded the First Aid Label and was adjudged the runner-up in the English Literary Society Short Story Writing Contest.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in quiz and at the RSIS 2010. He represented his House in swimming, debating, art, First Aid and was a part of the House Shanti Swarup team.

COLLEGE DESTINATION National University of Singapore, Singapore

“By far the most emotional student I have ever encountered. Akshay always wears his heart on his sleeve and ignores every conventional response to historiography, dumping objectivity for emotion and passion on every occasion. I will never forget, during DS 75, on the night the sky burst, walking into the green room of The Rose Bowl and seeing Akshay standing in the rain, his hair and makeup ruined, tears streaming down his face.

I knew then that just that moment made all the ones that don’t work, worthwhile.”

-KAR

NIPUN BATRA 445 JAIPUR HOUSE RESPONSIBILITIES He was the Secretary of the School Technology Council, the editor of The Doon School Art Magazine and the senior editor of The Echo and The Infinity. He was also the House Art Secretary as well as the House Shanti Swarup and First Aid captain.

“Nipun had his head right on his shoulders.

Academically very strong, he achieved the highest marks in Sciences, for which he was awarded the Government University Scholarship for Natural Sciences 2012, which he very well deserved. He was rather helpful with various responsibilities of the House and motivated juniors to achieve better academic performances.”

-SJB

SAUD AMIN KHAN 505 OBEROI HOUSE

“My friends, my YCs, my matches, my fights, my mistakes, my apologies, my teachers, my juniors AND My School- The Doon School!”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received School Dramatics Colours, the Superama scholarship for theatre, and a distinction in the LAMDA Silver examination. He also received the award for the best Script for the Inter House one-act-play.

He was the boy-in-charge of the School Hindi Dramatics society and led the House in football, dramatics, and dance.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in hockey and dance. He also represented his House in football, hockey, cricket, and basketball.

COLLEGE DESTINATION HR College of Commerce, Mumbai

“Having lived a ‘life’ of six years, I have made friends for life, had some unforgettable experiences and acquired some memories which I will cherish forever.”

GAURANG AHUJA 446 OBEROI HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received House Colours.

He was a School Prefect. He was also the editor of The Oberoi, as well as the House hockey captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in quiz, MUN, and Round Square social service. He represented his House in football, cricket, hockey, basketball, athletics, PT, tennis, debating, and dramatics.

COLLEGE DESTINATION University of Waterloo, Canada

“Gaurang, the Grand Old Man of Oberoi House! Beneath that serious facade lurks a great sense of humour and a love for the finer things of life. The House will miss him, as will all others who were fortunate to know him closely enough.”

-PDT

“Singing, laughing, dancing and making childish mischief is what Saud will be remembered for. More than that, he will be missed for his joie de vivre and his skills as an artist and an actor.”

-PDT

DHRUV MAHAJAN 462 OBEROI HOUSE

“Being a Dosco, now I know that even in the worst of times, I’ll have my friends standing by me (and even in the good times!).”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He led the winning band in the Battle of the Bands competition. He also received the IAYP Bronze award.

He was the House squash and music captain. He also led the House western band.

REPRESENTATIONS

“Bright and enthusiastic. He always made his presence felt, gave his best for the House and had an identity of his own. He made many friends due to his gregarious nature.”

He was in the School squash, boxing, and quiz teams. He was also a part the School western band. He also represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, basketball, athletics, and dramatics.

-NTC

COLLEGE DESTINATION Jai Hind College, Mumbai

“Getting accustomed to the School bell, hoping that the end would still be far and knowing that you’ll never walk alone.”

ABHINAV MITTAL 452 OBEROI HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was adjudged the runner up in the Vikram Seth poetry recitation competition and the Gombar Speech Trophy. He received the award for best delegate at DSMUN. He also completed various grades of the LAMDA.

He was the chief-of-production of The Circle, the editor-in-chief of The Oberoi, and was also his House’s representative in the School Council. He led the House table tennis and English debating teams as well.

REPRESENTATIONS He was in the School table tennis, English debating, quiz, and MUN teams. He was in the cast of the Founder’s Hindi Play, 2009. He represented his House in cricket, football, hockey, table tennis, badminton, tennis, debating, quiz, Shanti Swarup and dramatics.

COLLEGE DESTINATION New York University, USA

“The smartest young man I know. Enjoy the future and allow yourself to have fun. Continue to play football; like you Doscos, even the Yanks call it football, so you should fit right in!”

-KAR

KARMANYA MALHOTRA 513 OBEROI HOUSE

“Move, Drop, Shake and Rise.”

AWARDS & HONOURS He received House Colours, the First Aid Label, the IAYP Bronze award, and completed the LAMDA Bronze and Silver examinations.

RESPONSIBILITIES He was a School Prefect, the senior editor of The Echo, and led his House in PT, athletics, and dance.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in dance, athletics, Round Square, as well as in the annual NASA trip. He went on a Student Exchange to Australia. He was in the House cricket, hockey, football, basketball, and badminton teams.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Hong Kong University, Hong Kong

“In-house crooner, dancer and patron saint of the juniors in the House, Karmanya always has a smile on his lips and a sparkle in his eyes. He will be missed for his readiness to help and his commitment to the House.”

-PDT

“A lot of crazy here. A lot of crazy there. A little bit crazy everywhere!”

SAMBUDDHA NAHA 495 OBEROI HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received Full Colours in swimming, the PT commendation award, the First Aid Label, and House Colours. He also qualified as an RLSS Life Guard as well as Life Saver.

He led the House in PT and swimming.

REPRESENTATIONS

“There is no one more passionate about Oberoi House than Sambuddha. He’s already started talking about having sons whom he will train and send to the House in the future to win the Grand Slam! If you, who happen to be reading this, are his future spouse, good luck to you!”

He was in the School swimming and boxing teams. He represented the School in DSMUN, in various Round Square initiatives, and was also part of the Mess Committee and School council. He represented his House in athletics, boxing, basketball, chess, dance, Hindi debating, dramatics, and was also part of the House Council.

COLLEGE DESTINATION University of Rochester, USA

-KAR

PRANJAL VARSHNEY 471 OBEROI HOUSE

“Crying the day you enter School and crying the day you leave it.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received awards in art.

He was the boy-in-charge of the cycling STA, and was also the producer of the Inter House one-act-play.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in Round Square, and was in the House football, hockey, swimming, dramatics, athletics, dance, and First Aid teams.

COLLEGE DESTINATION

“Pranjal, the way you have worked to raise the level of your performance will put most grown men to shame! You have worked harder than anyone I know and I am certain it will all pay off as we head into the next couple of months. And now that you have discovered the secret of success, just don’t let go!”

-KAR

University of Waterloo, Canada

“Being a Dosco means spending 6 glorious years in beautiful Chandbagh amongst 20 similar clowns, leaving with bonds that can never be broken; forever feeling nostalgic and never regretting a moment spent in School.”

SIDDHANT DIXIT 503 OBEROI HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received the Silver award in the junior reading category, the Bronze and Silver IAYP awards, and was qualified as a First Aider. He also completed the Bronze, Silver, and Gold standards of the LAMDA examinations.

He led the House in athletics.

REPRESENTATIONS

“If I ever have to think about how to deal with adversity and come out on top, I will always remember Siddhant. I cannot think of a more mature and sophisticated 17-year old and yet, one who is willing (sometimes, more than willing) to have a blast. Keep going, Siddhant, just keep going.”

-KAR

He represented the School at the annual NASA trip, in Round Square, as well as on the Mount Blanc and Mount Grand Paradiso expeditions. He was in the School basketball team, and represented his House in football, hockey, basketball, cricket, athletics, music, and badminton.

COLLEGE DESTINATION University of Toronto, Canada

SPANDAN AGARWAL 472 OBEROI HOUSE

“A person who, after every experience in life, is confident enough to say “Veni, Vidi, Vici.”

AWARDS & HONOURS He was awarded the Scholar’s Blazer, the IAYP Blazer for completing all standards of the IAYP, School Music Colours and House Colours. He completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold LAMDA examinations. He also won the Senior Maths Colloquium and Marker Cup for Computer Applications.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in badminton, table tennis, Round Square, debating, quiz, dance, and MUN. He also represented the School on the Exchange program. He represented the House in cricket, hockey, football, dance, basketball, table tennis, badminton, chess, debating and dramatics.

COLLEGE DESTINATION

RESPONSIBILITIES He was the Secretary of the House Council and the English literary society, the boy-in-charge of the LAMDA society, the chief-of-production of The Infinity and The Echo, and the editor-in-chief of The Oberoi. He led his House in badminton, dance, and Shanti Swarup.

“Spandan was known as the jack of all trades along with being a true gentleman who not only took disappointment in his stride but also learnt a great deal from it. I will always miss Spandan, the computer genius, whenever I encounter any problems with my laptop, as he was always there to clear the problem if there was any.”

Cornell University, USA

“Six years in which I lived my life to the fullest and six years which I will miss the most.”

AWARDS & HONOURS He received Half Colours in hockey, House Colours, the PT commendation award, and the Mahindra Scholarship for achieving the highest grades in S-form.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School in hockey, and the House in football, cricket, dance, and PT.

RESPONSIBILITIES He was the House captain, and also led his House in cricket and PT.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University

-MAK

TUSHAR KHURANA 433 OBEROI HOUSE “Did I think Tushar would become House captain the first time I met him? I wish I could say yes. Appointing him has been one of the smartest decisions I have ever made. He led from the front, yet allowed others around him to grow and develop their styles of leadership as well.

But if I only talk about this, it will end up sounding much like an obituary. There is a far more interesting side to Tushar, one that prompted him to smuggle phones onto campus, take long walks in the sweltering heat in Dalanwala and, twice a term, on Socials’ night, to spend an inordinate time in front of the mirror.

But then, maybe I have said too much already!”

-KAR

TARANG SAXENA 468 OBEROI HOUSE

“Never Back Down.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received the award for the best actor, and the best speaker in a Hindi recitation contest.

He led the House in boxing and Hindi debating.

“My first memory of Tarang, was when I walked into the Oberoi House courtyard and heard him singing to full pitch a song from a recent Bollywood movie!

This indeed was rather symbolic of this cheerful young man, who was always smiling. A great student and a great student to talk to, Tarang was ever so helpful not only to me but to his other form mates as well. I wish Tarang the best for his future.”

-MAK

REPRESENTATIONS He was in the House boxing, hockey, football, dramatics, athletics and debating teams.

COLLEGE DESTINATION University of Melbourne, Australia

“It was just like a stepping-stone which prepares us for the real world with experiences and memories, which I will cherish my whole life.”

UJJWAL SINGHAL 448 OBEROI HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received Full Colours in table tennis as well as various awards in the same.

He was the School Table tennis captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the House in table tennis, PT, athletics, music, dance, basketball and was also a part of the School choir.

COLLEGE DESTINATION St. Xaviers College, Mumbai

“Ujjwal was popular amongst his peers and juniors alike for his cheerful demeanour, his stock of jokes and his friendliness. He will be remembered as the boy who always remained a D-former at heart - always carefree and happy and whom very few, if any at all, would have ever seen with a frown.”

-PDT

ATEENDRA PANDE 487 OBEROI HOUSE

“Knowing that the world might end tomorrow, I’m glad that I lived the life of a Dosco”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He was awarded Art Colours and received various Art prizes.

He was the editor of The Doon School Art Magazine.

“A lovable and affectionate young man, Ateendra was very close to me throughout his stay in School as a student. I am a proud teacher and mentor to say that he made a mark for himself in the fields of music, drama and dance. It was an absolute pleasure, seeing him acting in school plays. Drumming was another activity which he enjoyed a lot.

I can never forget his more than genuine effort to improve his timing in 110m hurdles. I wish him all the best for the life lying ahead of him. “

REPRESENTATIONS He represented his House in football, hockey, and athletics.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Distance Learning Course from Global Open University, Nagaland

“Managing all situations or making excuses to get out of them.”

-ASH

VATSAL MODI 461 OBEROI HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received the Markers Cup for Mathematics in his D-form, the Bronze, Silver, and Gold standards of the IAYP, and also completed the Bronze and Silver standards of the LAMDA examinations.

He was the House First Aid captain, and also the boy-in-charge of the Boys’ Bank and the Tuckshop.

REPRESENTATIONS He represented the School at RSIS Thailand, at the IPSC swimming Competition and at the Aqua Regia Science Quiz Contest, He was in the House PT, cricket, swimming, athletics, First Aid, and dramatics teams.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Indiana University- Bloomington, USA

“Metamorphosed from a shy little Mumbaikar into a confident, self-assured young Dosco, Vatsal’s achievements in diverse fields – from swimming to painting and in academics – has earned him the appreciation of all those who have known him in School.”

-PDT

VAIBHAV GUPTA 509 OBEROI HOUSE

“Six years of Life.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received the Games’ Blazer, the IAYP blazer for completing all three standards of the IAYP, School Art Colours, and Silver in IPSC badminton and at the State’s tournament in squash.

He also won the individual badminton competition for seniors.

He was the School badminton captain, the boy-in-charge of the art STA, as well as the editor of the Doon School Art Magazine. He led his House in art and badminton.

REPRESENTATIONS

“Vaibhav‘s strength lies in his ability to set priorities and manage his time effectively. As an individual he gets along well with his form mates. He is sensitive to persons and situations. He has a passion for art, is a well travelled and thoughtful young man.“

He represented the School in badminton, squash, hockey, athletics and quiz. He was in the House hockey, athletics, cricket, squash, badminton, art, and dramatics teams.

-KLA

COLLEGE DESTINATION HR College of Commerce, Mumbai

“Opportunity to be the best.”

VIKRAM GILL 453 OBEROI HOUSE

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He received the Games’ Blazer, House Colours, the First Aid Label, and basketball Full Colours. He also received various awards in basketball and athletics at the Inter School level.

He was a School Prefect, as well as the House basketball and chess captain.

REPRESENTATIONS He was in the School basketball, football, and athletics teams. He represented his House in cricket, hockey, football, basketball, athletics, and chess.

COLLEGE DESTINATION Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University

“Vikram has been the greatest of gentlemen both on court and off court. His presence on the basketball court has given a huge boost to the team. He has not only been respected for his game but also for his leadership qualities.

His sense of humour is great and will always be remembered. I wish him all the best for his future. May you always achieve your goal as you achieve baskets with your lay-ups in the game.”

-ADN

UMA SHANKER GOSWAMI 510 OBEROI HOUSE

“Being a Dosco for me is to believe in myself and to be free from any pressure. It makes me oblivious to any kind of judgement passed on me, to be strong in spirit and to never back down.”

AWARDS & HONOURS

RESPONSIBILITIES

He won the Shivendu Mehta award for the Best Assembly talk in Hindi, the Naveen Chandra award for being adjudged the best Hindi debator, and second prize in the Hindi poetry writing competition. He also won the third prize in the crayon category of art.

He was the editor-in-chief of The Yuv Arpan and The Srijan Prayas. He was also the boy-in-charge of the public speaking society, the Bharatvani, and the senior Hindi debating society. He led his House in hindi debating and social service.

REPRESENTATIONS He was in the School and House Hindi debating teams.

“Uma Shanker was an unsung hero but a real achiever in creative writing in Hindi.”

-MHF

COLLEGE DESTINATION Hindu College, Delhi University

In The Making

AAQ sets sail Stocking it up Taste the Thunder!

Marketing Strategy

Bags first!

Brook and the bone

Out of focus

Dabangg!

Peek-a-boo!

Here, there, everywhere

Precision counts Nervous-in-Chief Eye of the Tiger

Nothings but the Beat

Been there, done that Keep calm and wear your pants!

Intellectualising

Cameravatti

Hold it against me

Harold and Kumar

Scholarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blazer

The Illuminati

Sitting (L to R): Vikram Kejariwal, Piroune Balachandran, Mr Prabhakaran Nair, Revant Nayar, Raghav Puri Standing (L to R): Shivam Goyal, Varun Gupta, Vihan Khanna, Spandan Gopal Agarwal, Sachit Taneja

Gamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Blazer

Out of the Blue!

Sitting (L to R): Vigya Singh Dhiman, Sharan Seth, Tushar Gupta, Anmol Singh Jamwal, Vihan Khanna, Mr Deepak Sharma, Sumaer Sandhu, Aditya Gupta, Rahil Badhwar, Ashwin Dokania, Prabhjot Singh Standing (L to R): Pranoy Bohara, Shivaan Seth, Virein Chhabra, Arjun Midha, Vikram Singh Gill, Adhiraj Thakran, Udai Bothra, Vaibhav Gupta, Dhruv Agarwal

School Council

Point of Personal Privilege!

Sitting (L to R): Prabhjot Singh, Mrs Anuroop Jouhal, Sumaer Sandhu, Mr Ashad Qezilbash, Dr Mohan Chandra Joshi, Dr Peter McLaughlin, Udit Kapur, Mr Philip Burrett, Mr Deepak Sharma, Mr Piyush Malviya, Vihan Khanna, Mr Biren Chamola, Vikram Kejariwal Standing (L to R): Arth Gupta, Abhinav Mittal, Rahil Badhwar, Yuv Vir Khosla, Raghav Chandra, Daksh Bhatia, Dhruv Sirohi, Angad Singh, Raniz Bordoloi, Arjun Kamdar, Ritvik Kar, Husain Haider, Vrindam Nagpal, Guruansh Singh

Prefectorial Body

DSPD

Vihan Khanna

Ashwin Dokania

Avanindra Singh

Tushar Khurana

Virein Chabra

Udai Bothra

Sharan Seth

Anmol Singh Jamwal

Sumaer Sandhu

Karmanya Malhotra

Kanishka Malik

Saib M Ahmad

Tushar Gupta

Gaurang Ahuja

Raghav Puri

Vikram Singh Gill

Vikram Kejriwal

Aashray Batra

Sagar Karnavat

School Colours Kanishka Mallik

Anmol Singh Jamwal

Prahlad Singh

Vaibhav Bahadur

Sharan Seth

Raghav Puri

Revant Nayar

Tushar Gupta

Pranoy Bohara

Rohil Mehrotra

A New Step

Editorial Board

Editors-in-Chief

Associate Editors

Photography

Graphic Designers

Arjun Khaitan

Jai Ahuja

Abhishek Pande

Mr Arnab Mukherjee

Eeshat Tiwary

Suhel Karara

Shreshtha Verma

Nivit Kochhar

Editors

Correspondants

Utkarsh Jha

Raghuraj Rathi

Agni Raj Singh

Akarsh Tibrewal

Special Thanks

Faculty Advisors

Devesh Sharma

Arjun Kapur

Amal Agarwal

Mrs Elizabeth McLaughlin

Rahul Srivastava

Ashvin Solanki

Jayant Mukhopadhaya

Md Hammad Farooqui

Rishabh Tusnial

Chief-of-Production

Madhav Dutt

Ms Purnima Dutta

Senior Editors

Siddhant Sachdev

Orijit Chatterjee

Mr Skand Bali

Mr Sanjiv Bathla

Ms Stuti Kuthiala

Divyansh Goel Guruansh Singh Ritvik Kar