It was the winter of 1982 when around 300 students of all the senior classes of the school gathered in the Fatima Hall, O.L.F. Aligarh. It was that much-anticipated farewell day at school when the principal declared the ‘ Student of the Year’. It is the event of the year for which everyone waits. A few students sang a beautiful song, “ Chalat Musafir Moh liyo re”, which I still remember after 42 years. We were all dancing and having a lot of fun. 

Then, the time came when our principal climbed the stage and took the mic in her hands to declare this one name as the ‘Student of the Year’. All my friends started pushing me to get up, as I was already a house captain, TT school captain, member of the school basketball team, academically good (class ranked 1st to 5th), active on the stage and a very active all-arounder of the school. 

The principal announced the name, BUT! Another name was called out. I almost fell on the chair as I was half standing. But that is life… Yes, we all went to the principal the next day and asked the reason and got to know, which I will share later with you all. 

The school completed its 50th year, and they wanted all the “ Student of the Year” awardees to be present for the event. I got a call from one of our teachers, Chatterjee sir. He said “Deepak”, I said” ji sir namaste !” We exchanged greetings, and then he invited me to the function, as even the teachers were sure that I was the one. Then I told him the other person’s name and the story, which actually shocked him. 

We all know that following systems and rules are very important, and that was the reason for my losing that recognition. After a cricket match in school, the whole class decided to bunk school the next day. Except for one child, no one went to school. Yes, you are right, and this boy was given the ”Student of the Year” recognition ( Deserving or not is a question mark?). Yes, it is not fair and unleashes many emotions. 

Over the years, I have realised one thing that the decision / assessment / exam result / match winning and losing should be on various parameters and factors, evaluated for a period of time and not on one exam, one run, one goal and one day performance. In 2003, when I started my own Sunshine Worldwide school with the Vision and Philosophy on the one learning that I had in 1982. I don’t know how it happened, but I realised only when I reflected during the course of the last 21 years. 

Our school has worked on CCE right from 2003, building learners to be competent rather than competitive. Our educators are trained to assess on a regular basis and not on the basis of one exam. I am very strongly promoting this philosophy to the parent community and the world around me. 

I have been instrumental in promoting this philosophy even to the examination boards like CBSE and IB. Yes, IB has stopped the summative assessments totally in the last 3 years. CBSE has done away with ranking, and now, even with marks, it will be only grades. 

I know some universities and colleges will lose their ego of having 99% cut off for admissions. So, when we move away from comparison, competition and ranking, we become a happy being, as now the remote control of our lives is in our hands. Then we perform each task to excel without the fear of losing or winning, the best way to do things in life. 

I have been living my life on this principle. When realisation happened, and I reflected back to find that even my parents lived their lives unconditionally happy! I suggest that this is the only way of living life – Unconditionally Happy! 

Thank you – Deepak Khaitan