Interview with the Principal - Mr. G.S Negi On Monday 7th Feb. “Basant Panchami” Day we interviewed our Principal for the School Magazine. Though we covered a broad spectrum of areas a few of the important parts of our conversation with Principal is given hereunder. The interaction was informative and interesting. I do hope you would enjoy reading it as much as we did while doing it.
Student: How do you feel coming back to Bhimavaram for your second inning as Principal.
Principal: I feel extremely happy to be back here in the country side location of the school in Bhimavaram. The surrounding of lush green paddy fields bordered by coconut palms and our green campus full with mango and coconut trees are just enchanting. Natures beauty and bounty here is only matched by parents warmth and students deep love and respect. I am indeed enjoying to be the Principal in my 2nd inning here.
Student: Please tell us about your schooling.
Principal: My schooling in fifties at Primary level was in a village school. For Upper Primary I went to a boarding school at the height of 5000 feet which would be full with snow during winter. My High School and Inter was from Jodhpur, Rajasthan and collegiate Education from St. John’s college, Agra University. The most exciting and adventurous period was when I was in the boarding school, at Upper Primary stage. It was a close knit family of boys with teachers taking great care in academics, going for trekking, playing football together and working on school’s Potato farm and vegetable garden. On weekends, boys would gather dry wood from forest for hostel kitchen very much like Krishna and Sudama of Sandeepani Ashram. Being in the boarding school it was a wholesome life and wholesome education.
Student: What would you have been if not a teacher?
Principal: Two career fields fascinated me the most during my school days, Army and Academics. I was captivated by the demeanour and the well creased olive green dress of Army soldiers and officers. I enrolled myself as NCC cadet and attended two campus. I would have surely gone for the Army. But as I moved to college, world of Academics overwhelmed me. Thereafter becoming a teacher was a natural choice.
Student: who is your role model?
Principal: Swami Vivekananda – who was a Sanyasi (monk) expected to pray and meditate for his own liberation, but made service to the poor and the sick and awakening of masses his mission of life. He truly lived what he preached “service to man is service to God, he said, and added - so long even one person in my country is without food my whole religion in to feed him”. Swamiji’s infinite compassion and his practical spiritualism made him my hero and role model.
Student: What do you feel about the bond between teachers and students.
Principal: It is a bond that is deep and divine. Its impact is far reaching and over powering than that of the bond of friendship. It shapes and transforms you Remember the teachers and the disciple duo –Socrates and Plato, Swami Ramananda and Kabir, Sri Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo and Dr. K.M. Munshi.
Student: Do you think CCE will do justice to students?
Principal: Yes of course, if it is implemented in letter and spirit. CCE i.e. Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation should not be taken just as an evaluation tool. It is the whole process of education that involves, redesigning of a comprehensive curriculum imaginative and transformational transaction of curriculum and then a comprehensive evaluation of the concepts, skills, perspectives and attitudes learnt and behaviour changed. It leads to holistic education of a child which was missing in schools.
Student: In the modern scenario there is a fall in discipline of the students. What is the remedy for the same ?
Principal: I do not totally agree with you that there is a fall in discipline. Yes, to certain extent due to TV, social (peer) engagement, and other exposures they are less focused on studies or tasks at hand. Their attention span is less and they feel restless. If a sense of commitment is generated in them by involving them in activities and in their personality development processes they will become the most disciplined. I have seen boys not so attentive in class but wonderful with their quick reflexes on basket ball field or in horse riding. It is only a question of his / her just getting interested in studies, and the discipline will follow.
Student: What are the interesting things you found here after your coming back to the school?
Principal: Many. The schools’ vast spread, the mango gardens, sprawling playfield area bound by rows of coconut palms, and the best of all the ample facilities that school provides for children’s development: the swimming pool, horse riding, skating rink, indoor stadium with badminton courts, table Tennis and billiard tables, number of outdoor courts, Smart class rooms, a wonderful library and a teachers centre. The best of all are its brilliant and versatile students drawn from different parts of the country i.e. Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Manipur, Orissa and almost all districts of Andhra Pradesh. I am impressed by the dedication and commitment of our teachers and the staff here.
Students: What is your futuristic projection (image) of the school?
Principal: Vidyashram here has a great potential and future. It can grow into a big league school of all India level. Best of the Board Result, Winning of All India championship in CBSE Hockey under 14 last year and in rope skipping this year, second and third position in South Zone Hockey and Badminton this year, publication of a novel by a young child of VI class, highly acclaimed project works in Science are some of the strides that the school has already taken. In its cultural ethos this school strives to grow on the line of Rishi valley and Shantiniketan and in its Academics it will provide the best of the competitive edge to it students. It is, within a short span of time, going to be a great school.
Students: Thank you sir. – Kum R. Sai Hanisha Kum. I. Sri Vidya Student Editors Mas. A.V.V.N.S. Pavan Kumar Mas. V. Sriram Naidu & & & & & & & &
G.S. NEGI, Principal – Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s International Residential Public School Vidyashram, Bhimavaram Director (Education) Bhavan’s Schools Bhimavaram, Tadepalligudem and Palakol Qualification: M.A. (Geo), B.Ed. Experience:: PGT (Geo) - 1970 – 1977 - Bhavan’s Mehta Vidyalaya, New Delhi Vice Principal - 1977 – 1981 - --- do --- Principal - 1981 – 1984 - Bhavan’s Public School, BHEL Township R.C. Puram, Hyderabad - 1984 – 1991 - Bhavan’s International Res. Pub. School Vidyashram, Bhimavaram and Tadepalligudem - 1991 – 2009 - Bhavan’s Mehta Vidyalaya, New Delhi Principal and Director (Edn), Bhavan’s Schools, W.G.Dt. - 2010 - - Bhavan;s International Res. Pub. School, Bhimavaram Awards - 2002 - National Award for Best Teacher (Principal)- Received from President, Shri APJ.Abdul Kalam Institutional Association & Responsibilities: Chairman - 1999 - 2001 - National Progressive Schools conference (NPSC), New Delhi. (An academic body of over110 public schools from Delhi and neighbouring states) Former Member - Governing council – NCERT – Executive Committee, NCERT Former Member - Governing council, CBSE Affiliation Committee CBSE Member - Curricular Committee, CBSE Examination Committee, CBSE Convener - Social Science Course Committee, CBSE Ex. Convener - Bhavan’s Dr. K.M. Munshi Institute of Educational Leadership and Management – New Delhi