Modern School (New Delhi)
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Founded in 1920, Modern School is among the best-known public schools in India. The 25-acre main New Delhi campus is in the city center, on Barakhamba Road near Connaught Place. The junior branch on Humayun Road, and a a sister campus in Vasant Vihar constitute the family. It is also referred to as India's Eton. School alumni are known as "Modernites".
The school credo "Naimatma Balheenien Labhya" (from the Sanskrit) literally means: self-realization is only achieved by the strong. The credo does not refer to a Nietzschean "survival of the fittest", or survival at the cost of others. Instead, strength refers to the path of confidence, self-respect, and humility. Inspired by the humanist-modernist writings of Rabindranath Tagore, the school's founders envisioned combining the concept of secularism, the motivation to excel, and an environment encouraging diverse activities.
Sports and physical education are considered central to the Modern curriculum, so facilities and coaching for individual and team sports are available to all students. Excursions and educational tours are also organized as a part of the educational program. The school is co-educational and girls make up aproximately half the student numbers. Boarding for boys is available from the age of eleven.
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[edit] History
Modern School started classes in 1920 in a sprawling mansion in Daryaganj. The building was donated by Sultan Singh, a prominent Delhi businessman. Sultan Singh's son, Lala Raghubir Singh, co-founded the school with Sir Sobha Singh, a construction baron. The latter's children were among the first enrollees, and his second son Khushwant Singh went on to be counted among the best-known Modernites. The future Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, was among the first few students[1].
[edit] Principals
- Ms. Kamala Bose (1920-1947)
- Mr. M.N. Kapoor (1947-1977)
- Mr. P. C. Chowdhary (1977-81)
- Mr. S.P. Bakshi (1982 - 1996)
- Mr. R.K. Bhatia (1996 - 2000)
- Mrs. Lata Vaidyanathan (2000 - Present)
[edit] Clubs and Activity Groups
- Bits 'n' Bytes
Among its other computer-related activities, the Bits 'n' Bytes club organizes an annual inter-school computer symposium ('Access') and maintains the school's official website. Founded in 1987 to enhance the popularity and usage of computers in the educational field, the club also has a junior branch, called Nibbles.
- Debating Society
Under the guidance of English department staff, Debating Society members have won numerous debates at the city and regional level. Recent tournament victories include the Raghubir Singh Inter-school debate, the Pratap Singh Inter-school debate, the [DPS R.K.Puram] Annual Inter-school debate & the [MSOSA] Annual Inter-school debate.
- Interact
With a commitment to India's less-privileged, the Modern School Interact Club was inaugurated in 1983 by the then Vice President of India, Muhammad Hidayat Ullah. Among its activities have been donations to orphanages, recycling drives, anti piracy drives and blood donation camps. Recently the club was awarded a certificate in recognition of its services to the community by the Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dixit.
- Prakriti
The Prakriti nature club, founded in 1995, is dedicated to spreading awareness of environmental issues amongst students. Its motto - ‘Think globally, act locally’, has become a rallying cry for its members. The club aims to inculcate a sensitivity to nature by teaching students to protect and preserve the environment.
- Sandesh
This bimonthly magazine, managed by a student editorial board, covers issues of interest to the Modern School community.
- SPICMACAY
Modern School has hosted many SPICMACAY events over the years, featuring Indian Classical Music and Dance exponents such as Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Sonal Mansingh, Sitara Devi, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Birju Maharaj.
[edit] Famous Alumni
- Abhinav Chaturvedi - Actor
- Amitava Kumar - Author and critic
- Amjad Ali Khan - Musician and composer
- Amrita Singh - Actress
- Arun Shourie - Journalist, author and politician
- Bhupinder Nath Kirpal Chief Justice, Indian Supreme Court
- Barkha Dutt - Television journalist
- Daniel Chopra - Golfer
- Gaurav Ghei - Golfer
- Gauri Khan - Film producer, model and wife of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan
- Gautam Gambhir - Cricketer
- Khushwant Singh - Author and journalist
- HH Maharaja Manujendra Shah Sahib Bahadur, 7th Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal
- Kirti Azad - Cricketer
- Madhup Mudgal - Indian Classical Vocalist
- Naresh Trehan-Cardiac surgeon
- Priyanka Gandhi - Daughter of Rajiv Gandhi and granddaughter of Indira Gandhi
- Rajat Gupta - Former managing director of McKinsey & Company
- Sandeep Dikshit - Member of Parliment
- Shiv Kapur - Golfer
- Shekhar Kapur - Film Director and producer
- Shiv Khera - Motivational speaker
- S.K. Mehra - Chief of the Air Staff (India) from 1988-1991
- Lt. Col Sonam Wangchuk - Maha Vir Chakra Receipient
- Varun Gandhi - Politician, grandson of Indira Gandhi
- Vivek Bhandari - Golfer
- Yamini Reddy - Dancer
[edit] Trivia
- Rajendra theater was used for Albert Brooks' stand-up performance sequence in the film Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World.
- Perhaps due to a slight resemblance to All India Radio headquarters in New Delhi, the radio station exteriors in the film Rang De Basanti were shot at Modern School, Barakhamba Road.
- Though Rahul Gandhi attended Modern through primary school, he transferred to and graduated from The Doon School.
[edit] Official Websites
- Modern School Barakhamba Road
- Modern School Old Students Association
- Modern School Vasant Vihar
- Modern School Vasant Vihar Alumni Association
[edit] Notes
- ^ Gandhi, Indira: Anand Bhavan Memories, (Publisher/date info to be added)
