As January 2026 unfolds, the school spaces transformed into a vibrant experience of coming together to celebrate the cultural collaboration of our country.
The little ones began with celebrating Lohri, feeling the warmth of the Shikshantar family, followed by preparing their offerings for Ma Saraswati in the form of art work and free experiences around the theme of art, music, numbers and letters. The Primary School children took the festivities ahead with ‘Basant Panchami’, a festival celebrating the arrival of spring with blossoming fields of yellow flowers of marigold and mustard. They expressed their joy through songs like “आ गया बसतं देखो...”
Approaching Republic Day 2026, the spirit of ‘चल चल चल हमारे सगं चल...’ and ‘नन्हा मुन्ना रही हूँ...’ filled the ‘Hub Area’ with enjoyment and enthusiasm. Beyond the festivities, children focused on the power of the collective. They created and shared group agreements in an effort to share responsibilities with their friends to fully enjoy the classroom experience. The children formed the Ashoka Chakra creatively using blue dupattas enhancing their understanding of harmony and unity.
The spirit of patriotism resonated through the air as we gathered in the Amphitheatre to celebrate Republic Day 2026. The morning began with a soulfully worded poem by the students of Middle School ‘बात है पुरानी...,’ on the journey of India as a Republic. As the tricolour was unfurled, the Amphitheatre echoed with the National Anthem sung with gusto and pride.
The students of Middle School traced the journey of our flag since 1947, explaining the depth behind its colours, the ‘वीरता’ of saffron, the peace of white, and the green colour signifying abundance. The celebration naturally moved to the Preamble of the Constitution. The children further explored the school motto ‘I can be me...’ with their choices while acknowledging that this freedom comes with the responsibility to keep their surroundings clean and to respect every living being with care.
Creativity took center stage when students narrated their original poetry ‘मेरा प्यारा भारत देश ...’ and ‘भारत देश निराला... गणतंत्र के रूप में संभाला...’. It was a touching tribute to India’s unique identity and regional diversity full of hope for a cultural evolution toward a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Minoti Didi then took a moment to speak with children, reflecting on two of the constitutional pillars of our Republic, ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’. Didi brought to the fore the thought that while we are a land of diversity in ethnicity, we must address the reality of our privileges. To be truly secular is to move beyond theory and into practice, respecting all sacred traditions and accepting even those we may have differences with.
She concluded with a vital truth that just as there is no school without children, there can be no India without its people! Therefore, our national pride must be reflected in our daily actions and not just be called upon on national holidays. At Shikshantar, being socialist and secular is a commitment we carry in our hearts and our responsibilities every single day.