It’s the course of life that everything has to come to an end or rather it’s a new beginning. The academic year for Class X had come to an end and it was time to come together for a jovial and memorable togetherness. Lots of efforts were taken by students of Class IX & XI for organizing the function of ‘Being Podarite’. However it would not have been possible without the kind support and guidance of the Respected Principal, Ms. Preeta Pillai, the Co – ordinator of Secondary section, Ms. Anita Tekale and all the teachers who have contributed in one way or other to make this function a great success.
The program started at 10.00 a.m by extending a warm welcome to Class X by Meesha Sharma and Raghuvir Padhiyar, the Headgirl and the Sports Captain of Class XI respectively. Then the Principal, Ms. Preeta Pillai delivered in her short speech that it is actually the beginning of a new phase for all the students of Class X and it is their ‘character’ that would determine their fate or destiny. So being a Podarite becomes the moral duty of each of the outgoing students to uphold the esteemed culture and dignified heritage of Podar which had been the firm root over which they thrived and flourished over the years. The Principal addressed the students and encouraged them as they stood at the threshold of the struggles ahead. Then the Co-ordinator Ms. Anita Tekale too advised the children to live up to the esteemed Podar. Then the class teacher Ms. Kalpana Unnikrishnan shared her views about each of the 17 students of the class and a few of her opinions are given below.
It is indeed a very difficult task to say just a few words about each of them as they had been more than just a student for a class teacher. There have been instances when as a mother, I scolded them and advised them what would be the right thing to be done, as a friend talked quite freely with them, as a sister shared even their secrets and as a teacher instructed them on the pedagogical aspects of my subjects. Yet I shall attempt to say a few words regarding each of my jewels.
Aditi Priya: I would say she is artistically inclined and a reasonably good student of Class X. But one should never make the mistake of expecting her to be as diligent as her brother Aditya Ravi who was an exceptionally good student and cumulative 10 CGPA scorer of our school. Naturally as all fingers are not same, individual differences are bound to be there.
Amruta Kohale: She is one of the shining sport stars of our school. Her swimming and cycling skills have made her a National star. Being a sports person, she possesses qualities such as endurance, tolerance, resilience and above all team-spirit. She has been out of school for her sporting activities yet has shown concern to complete all assignments, projects and has scored fairely in her subjects too.
Anuj Chavda: The tall and well built Anuj Chavda with a flair for dialogue delivery and acting talent is yet again another student inclined towards Performing Arts . He is of the go lucky nature of what you call as ‘Bindaas’. Yet he does well in studies and has the wisdom to understand each individual and indeed a peace-maker. I have often seen him trying to pacify his peers and wind up any issues without blowing them out of proportions.
Anushree Nair: The tomboy of our class. A typical specimen only in appearance but exhibits diffidence when it comes to ‘do’ any academic related activities. She is good in studies and is one of the band members of our school. She is very active and likes to perform in Indo-western dances.
Arpita Samal: She is the petite and well groomed monitor of our class. Her calm and refined demeanour was responsible for entrusting her with the responsibility and I should say that she has executed it to the best of her ability. She has acted as a buffer at many instances of difference between peer groups of her class.
Chirag Jha: He is yet another sports star of our school. He has shown considerable improvement in academics over the years. In the class civil wars and group clashes, he has maintained a distance and had never revealed if at all he knew anything.
Dhruv Mistry: He is the angry young man of Class X. Here I would like to add that just like Amitabh Bachchan, he has his own style of dancing when he comes into the mood and feels like letting loose himself in ‘Happy Time’. He is reasonably good in studies.
The students of Class X had prepared a PPT on their tenure in Class X. There were many pics which showed their appreciation for each of their teachers and those taken during the varied educational trips carried out during the year including the overnight trip to Rann of Kutch along with their students of Class VI to XI.
There were a few games that had been arranged to entertain the students. The students of Class X were divided into 4 groups under the names of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapshot and one student from each of the group were to pick up a chit and act out as one of the students of the class. Then there was a dance performance by Class IX students followed by speeches of Class X students who shared their learning experiences as well as how they enjoyed in each of the subject teacher’s class and also apologized for being mischievous and troublesome. There was a Quiz to check their knowledge about the heritage of Podar and the details of the infrasturcture, their Alma Matar all these years to which the students readily responded. Then there was the most awaited segment of the program i.e. the Fashion show where the students of Class X would ramp walk carrying a Playcard wherein they had written what they liked about the school. The student’s cat walked and having come to the front they read out what was written about Podar in those cards. The Judges for the same were the Principal Madam, Ms. Preeta Pillai and the Co-ordinator, Ms. Anita Tekale who judged the students on their style of walking and the words of appreciation shared by them about Podar World School. It was then time for refreshments and the students relished each of the food item that was served Samosas, a piece of Black Forest cake, perks and the soft drink Frooti.
Soon after the refreshments, it was time to honour the winners of the different games. The winners of the Dhamsharad and Quiz were honored with certificates and the Master Podarite (Anuj Chavda) and Miss Podarite (Amruta Kohale) for having won the position of the best ramp walkers. It was then time for the students of Class X to express their gesture of gratitude and appreciation by doing their bit towards the school. They presented a beautifully carved marble temple to the school to be installed right at the entrance close to the reception counter. It was kept covered with a cloth which the Principal unveiled. The Principal was overwhelmed by such a gesture and such a beautiful and utility gift that she said that ‘when the heart is full the words are few’. It was then carried to the platform in the reception where the idol of Goddess Saraswati was placed. The idol was removed and the temple was installed on the platform and the idol was placed inside the marble temple with a golden colored bell hung on its top. The temple formed a beautiful shrine for the Goddess. The lamp was lit and ‘Bhog ‘offered to the Goddess as our Physics Faculty Sanchit Shastri chanted a Bhajan. The Prasad of Motichur laddoo was then distributed in the whole school by one of the didis. Each of the students then offered obeisance to the Almighty Goddess and retired back to their classes. During Happy Time, Class X were on the Atelier performing to their hearts content. Thus it was a fiesta dedicated to Class X and indeed a reminiscence of their tenure at Podar.
