Jleeb, May 30, 2021: The Investiture Ceremony of Bhavans Indian Education School, Kuwait, for the academic session 2021-2022 was held in the Zoom auditorium on 29 May, 2021. The school invested the insignia of authority and power with 19 virtually selected members designated as the Student Parliament members for the new session. The Chief Guest for the day was a former fighter pilot of Indian Air Force and a renowned flying instructor, Squadron Leader Lancelot Cutinha, whose charismatic presence brightened up the solemn occasion.
The Chief Guest was given a reverential salute and a guard of honour by the cadets of the Bhavans Service Scheme and the members of the Student Parliament, and ceremoniously welcomed to the virtual auditorium in the presence of Mr. N.K. Ramachandran Menon, Chairman, Bhavans Middle East, CA Divya Rajesh Ramachandran, Director, Bhavans Middle East, Mr. P.B Krishnadas Menon, Director, Bhavans Kuwait, Mr. T. Premkumar, Principal, Indian Educational School, Mr. Mahesh Iyer, Principal, Smart Indian School, Ms. Albin Daisy, Vice Principal, Smart Indian School, Ms. Anselma Tessy Judeson, Vice Principal, Senior Wing, IES, Ms. Meenakshi Nayyar, Vice Principal, Middle Wing, IES and Ms. Lalitha Premkumar, Vice Principal, Primary and Kindergarten, IES.
The awe-inspiring Investiture Ceremony of the academic year 2021-2022 unfurled at 9 a.m. with the recital of the verses from the Holy Quran by Sahal Ansar of 11B along with its translation by Fatinah Ameerudeen of 12D followed by Kuwait National Anthem. The melodious flow of the prayer song and Bhavans Anthem sung by the school choir heightened the spirit of the glorious occasion. A short video of the glimpses of the Investiture Ceremonies of yesteryears was played to take Bhavanites and its well-wishers down the memory lane.
Farah Noorjahan Sahim of 11C delivered the welcome speech. Mr. T.Premkumar, Principal, IES, gave the rationale behind the transformation of student council to student parliament.
The ceremony was attended by the members of Bhavans family comprising of the teachers, BSS cadets parents of the members of Student Parliament and well-wishers of Bhavans Kuwait. The parents bespangled their proud children with their insignias while the Zoom auditorium pulsated with thunderous applause. It was indeed an emotional moment to see the young leaders of the school parliament receiving their badges and sashes from their parents, offering the reverential salute to their first teachers.
The oath of allegiance for the newly selected student parliament was administered by the head of the institution, Mr. T. Premkumar. The virtuous and dynamic leaders with an unswerving sense of responsibility swore in by taking the oath of office. Donning the mantle of leadership and accountability, the Vice Presidents of student parliament, Srihari Badrinarayanan (11A) and Lakshmi Sahiti Vallabhaneni (11A) delivered their acceptance speeches infused with devotion to the institution and duteousness towards the student community of IES.
The Chief Guest, Squadron Leader Lancelot Cutinha, in his address, reminisced about his school days, career, and life at large. He appreciated Bhavanites for their efforts and creativity, paraded on the virtual dais with certainties in the time of uncertainty. Squadron Leader Cutinha then spoke about the importance of values to be inculcated in one’s life. He described the relevance of imbibing the core value of self-discipline combined with dedication and determination to achieve success. He further briefed the necessity to uphold the slogan “Play the Game” meaning doing ones best by abiding by the rules, displaying fairness and integrity, and devouring every moment of the game of life. He also added that winning should not be one’s sole target as obsession with winning would let one break the rules following unfair means to win the game. The message also reminded the students to offer their time and talents to their friends, family, and community unconditionally. The Squadron Leader Lancelot wrapped up his speech in a poetic fashion by quoting his favourite lines from the poem, A Psalm of Life, written by H.W. Longfellow.
The event also had the privilege of receiving the blessings of Mr. N.K Ramachandran Menon, Chairman, Bhavans Middle East, who nurtures the dreams of thousands of youngsters in Bhavans. CA Sooraj Ramachandran, Vice Chairman, Bhavans Middle East, conveyed his best wishes to the newly appointed members of the parliament.
CA Divya Rajesh Ramachandran, Director, Bhavans Middle East, while delivering her closing thoughts, appreciated all the parliament members and the school authority under the captaincy of Mr. T Premkumar for successfully conducting the long selection process that culminated in yet another majestic event of the Investiture. She praised the unique concept of parliamentary board introduced in IES this year and motivated the student leaders to adhere to values. She requested the parents of the Student Parliament members to enjoy the red-letter day to the fullest as their children are chosen to be groomed as leaders, to have the skills for life honed and sharpened.
Mr. T. Premkumar appreciated the emcees of the day, Jerome John Thomas (12 D) and Vaishnavi Pai (12 B), for their indomitable passion and relentless hard work as the Head Boy and the Head Girl of the virtual academic year 2020-21. Ananthapadmanabhan Sajeevkumar of 11A proposed the vote of thanks. The Senior Leadership Team wholeheartedly extolled the entire team for their persistent efforts in making the virtual investiture a grand success. The Indian National Anthem marked a graceful end to an eventful virtual day. The team left the zoom auditorium after a photo session of the new parliament members with the dignitaries.