South Point students get recognition for their efforts

All eyes were on Adrija Mukherjee (Class II) of South Point School on July 4, 2019, when she received the 'Priyamvada Birla Brave Hearts Award' from Janab Firhad Hakim, Mayor of Kolkata and Minister-in-Charge, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal, at the Annual Prize Distribution Ceremony of the School at Nazrul Mancha.

Adrija, who is fighting congenital scoliosis – a rare spinal disorder, entailing a painful vertebral malfunction - has to wear a hard brace from her chest to her abdomen. The award (Rs 9,000 and a certificate), introduced by the M P Birla Smarak Kosh in 2006, was given to her, which salutes differently-abled students coping with academics despite challenges.

At the event, Janab Firhad Hakim lauded the indomitable spirit and quest for knowledge of South Pointers, not only in the field of education but also sports and cultural activities - all that it takes to make a complete human being of tomorrow.

H V Lodha, Chairman, MP Birla Group, and President, South Point Education Society, thanked Janab Firhad Hakim for his august presence, despite his busy schedule.

Lodha said that work on the 'Priyamvada Birla Campus of South Point' at Mukundapur is in its full swing. Adding, that it will be a unique education campus, second to none in the world, meant for more than 12,000 students. "With a built-up area in excess of 7.50 lac sq.ft., the campus will have more than 280 classrooms, 36 laboratories, and many sports and co-curricular facilities," Lodha revealed. The campus, which has been recognized by UNDP as an 'Energy Efficient Model Building Project', will get completed by the end of 2021.

He said South Point School received the Daan Utsav Kalyan Samman in 2018 for its contribution to the community. In 2017 too, it got the Daan Utsav Shiksha Samman for its strong commitment to giving back to society in the field of education.

Every year, the M P Birla Smarak Kosh (South Point) sponsors the passage of deserving students of the Institute for pursuing higher studies abroad. The recipient this year is Anchita Addhya. The student will pursue Ph.D. in Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago. Other awards presented in the ceremony were The 'Satikanta Guha Memorial' Award (Founder's Medal) was given to Shalini Bhattacharya (Class V), Abdhi Das (Class X), and Angikar Ghosal and Adrita Das (both Class XII), to name a few.

'The M P Birla Memorial Awards' consisting of a cheque worth Rs 9000, a medal and certificate will be given to the school toppers at the All India Secondary School Examination and the All India Senior School Certificate Examination.

Under the aegis of the Kosh, awards were handed over to winners of inter-school competitions hosted by South Point, which included a quiz, one-act play, chess, singing, essay writing, and debate. The prestigious Puja Utkarsh Samman 2018 awards for the Best Durga Idol, Best Pandal, Best Ambience and 'Puja with a Heart' were also given away.

ASPEXS (South Point Ex-Students' Association) conferred the ASPEXS Award for Excellence to Hemant Khandelia (Class XII), a star pupil of AISSCE, 2019 Batch, and the West Bengal topper in NEET, this year.

The students of South Point School also presented a dance drama, 'Happy Hues of Childhood' at the event.