DAV bracing up for producing Olympic gold medallists: J P Shoor

Hyderabad: JP Shoor, Director, Public Schools (PS-1) DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, was in Hyderabad on Monday to participate in DAV's 'National Sports Meet South Zone (girls)'.

During his visit, JP Shoor stated that the institution aims to produce Olympic gold medallists in the near future. "DAV is doing its bit preparing students for the Olympics. We have decided to identify the best sporting talent that excels in DAV National Sports meet and forms a best team (from students studying in whichever DAV school from any Zone) and provide the best of facilities and coaching so that they could go on to represent the country and win gold in Olympics in the coming years," he said.

He informed that the students of DAV institutions won 18 medals in National School Games conducted by School Games Federation of India (SGFI). "Our achievements speak of our talent pool and sporting capabilities. DAV's goal is to discover talent and encourage them," he said.

The 132-year-old DAV has 900 plus institutions scattered all over India. About one lakh teachers are guiding 34 lakh students to pursue education. It is the largest non-governmental educational institution in India. The institutions focus on giving students a balance of academics and sports.

JP Shoor lauded Swami Dayanand (founder of the Arya Samaj, a reform movement of the Vedic dharma) and Mahatama Hans Raj (follower of Swami Dayanand and founder of DAV), who dedicated their lives to the upliftment of the masses at a time when society was reeling under superstitions and social evils.

He said that the institutions President Dr Punam Suri's main aim is to achieve the objectives set by founders. "Suri has a vast knowledge of Vedas and has been striving for the holistic development of students," he said and added, "Principals should be role models for the staff. They should be academically inclined and infused with energy to motivate the learners to scale greater heights. One should be able to balance tradition and modernity to remain rooted in culture and at the same time cope up with the changing times."

JP Shoor informed that the motto of DAV since its inception is to produce globally competent professionals who are aware of environmental issues and help in eradication social evils. "A nation could be built in classrooms. Teachers should inculcate the value of respect towards all religions among students," he concluded.