Delhi World Public School, Alwar

dia, has flourished and grown in a profound manner. But as often happens in the affairs of humankind, in the pursuit of growth the essence and soul of the idea is lost: Form flourishes but substance retreats. Furthermore despite its expanse DPS found itself unable to offer space to its own children who were inevitably attracted to other platforms. Three former students and one former Principal of DPS have over the years remained in an ineffective minority on the DPS Society. The alumni of DPS Mathura Road were lucky to have their own registered Association but the other schools did not think it important that the alumni have their permanent organisation. After several decades the DPS Mathura Road Dipsites Association opened it’s portals to alumni from other DPS schools as well. Looking at the remarkable collection of talent some Dipsites felt that the Association has a limited charter that can be served well by more voluntary effort but a larger platform is needed to engage the Dipsites potential in the core competence of furthering education at all levels. Many new people are venturing into the field of education and it would be ironic if those most closely connected with it were to remain aloof. Thus was born the idea of exploring the special world of Dipsites and marshal it’s untapped energy for Gen-X education for the 21st Century. The Foundation purports to show case and advance the special cultural feel of the experience of DPS and therefore the DPS WORLD or the World of DPS-Dipsites.(DPSites)/(DPS Alumni). It draws inspiration from DPS but goes beyond that experience conceptually, physically, intellectually. In keeping with this aspiration our logo combines the laurel leaf with the light and the word. Mere light is not enough and the word in darkness is lost. As we step out towards the destination of fulfilment we record our acknowledgement and gratitude to the schools of DPS Society, particularly the Mother School, Delhi Public School, Mathura Road and wish them all well. But we hope to preserve the common heritage and legacy in a different, wholesome manner that will reinforce the dream of the Founders. The Foundation is conceived to be largely populated by Dipsites in whose definition are included spouses, parents and progeny of alumni. There will of course be included outstanding, talented non-Dipsites to add value and infuse fresh ideas. Periodic policy formulation will be done by the Core Life Members of the Foundation on the recommendation of the General Assembly of Members. We are trying to get through to outstanding Dipsites spread across the world to be able in a short while to offer a rich intellectual and professional base for our fellowship. In the years and decades ahead education will be extensively debated and recaliberated, hopefully on utilitarian and liberal perceptions but the ideological battles too could be significant. Our Foundation hopes to be at the forefront of the debate on education and to intervene with comprehensive data and research in educational methods, drawing upon the best endeavours throughout the world. Of course in the pursuit of excellence and equity we will also establish schools. It is there that we will find sustenance and fuel for challenges of the future. We cannot but recall Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore:
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake. For Dipsites of the 1960s and 70s these immortal words still ring in the ear in the voice of late Principal Din Dayal who read them to the school Assembly innumerable times. He turned a campus of a few dozen tents into the cradle of modern educational institutions. We hope to replicate his contribution in myriad innovative and enlightened ways. For the Dipsites (DPS) World these words will remain the loadstar in this unique endeavour. We recall also the words of Dr Zakir Husain: ‘Every time a child is born, hope is born afresh in the world of the mother’. This too is the birth of Hope.