Like previous years, this year also City Montessori School (CMS), Lucknow, India successfully organized Commonwealth Day Celebrations 2009 on 18 March 2009 at CMS Gomti Nagar Campus, Lucknow, India. CMS also held a Commonwealth Youth Conference and a Poster Making Competition on the theme 'Serving A New Generation' to mark the CMS Commonwealth Day 2009. This year's theme – 'The Commonwealth@60 - Serving A New Generation' is the most burning topic of the world and is just in keeping with our firm belief that education must be concerned with the affairs of the age.

The proceedings

The proceedings of the day commenced with a brilliant introductory talk on genesis and development of modern commonwealth organization, given by one of the students, Ms Vasundhara Gaur of CMS Gomti Nagar Campus who compered in tandem with her colleague Ms Rupal Srivastava. They together very effectively and efficiently controlled entire conduct of various events with apt introductions and thought provoking quotes.

The second compere, Ms Rupal opined that a thing well begun is half done and therefore there could be no better way to start the function than by paying obeisance to the Almighty in the form of a school prayer. The school prayer, "I bear witness….." was rendered with full devotion by these two girls and entire audience joined them in paying obeisance to Almighty God.

Welcome of the Chief Guest

Ms. Manji Batra, Principal, CMS Gomti Nagar Campus, Lucknow, India as Convener of Conference and Principal of the campus extended a warm welcome to Chief Guest Mr R K Mittal, Senior IAS, Principal Secretary and Commissioner, Social Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ms. Manji Batra, Principal thanked Mr R K Mittal profusely for sparing his time from busy schedule to have graced the occasion. Ms Batra announced the theme of his years Commonwealth Conference – ' The commonwealth@60 – Serving A New Generation' and in briefly touched upon the purpose of celebration of the day. She conveyed the audience that the purpose of celebrating the day was to promote understanding about global issues, international cooperation and the work of modern commonwealth.

Offering all religion prayer

Offering all religion prayer in our traditional manner was done superbly by Primary Section children of CMS. A group of music teachers sang different prayer songs, in a sequential order. To melody of the songs, groups of children representing as Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Bahais, Sikhs and Christians performed gracefully their ritual of worshiping Almighty God in their unique manners. Further oneness of God, though worshipped in different forms, was excellently signified by the group of teachers of , City Montessori School as they mellifluously sang the song and culminated the all religion prayer. This was followed up with a scintillating prayer dance performed by cute children as they danced with sublime perfection to tune of song.

Introduction of the Chief Guest

Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, Founder-Manager, City Montessori School, Lucknow, India introduced the chief guest to the audience. A brief resume of Chief guest, Mr R K Mittal, Senior IAS officer, Principal Secretary and Commissioner, Social Welfare, Government of UP, India was given by Mr. Jagdish Gandhi to the audience. Mr Mittal’s excellent academic achievements like topping in all semesters including final and bagging chancellor's gold medals during his bachelor of Engineering course from a prestigious Engineering College, his genuine versatility in creative writing, working for cause of social upliftment, his representation at UNO and various prestigious assignments and appointments and conferring of UP Ratna on him, etc were highlighted by Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, Founder-Manager, City Montessori School. Citing example of Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, an Indian who is presently Secretary General of Commonwealth, Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, Founder-Manager, City Montessori School, exhorted the young students to aspire to become world leaders and strive hard to bring world unity and ultimately a world government. Efforts of last fifty years of CMS, its drive to have a new world order, a new world economic order and a world without veto power, and hurdles faced by us were highlighted and children were urged to continue relentlessly in the direction of unification of world as envisaged by their institution-CMS.

Lighting the lamp and other proceedings

Chief Guest Sri R K Mittal, was ushered on the stage and he did the honour of lighting the lamp as the song, "May this light spread afar all over the world…." was being sung melodiously by a teacher. Portrait of Head of Commonwealth Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II was garlanded by him amidst loud cheers.
It was now the turn of Pre-primary students of CMS Gomti Nagar Campus to celebrate Commonwealth day as they thoroughly enjoying dancing themselves to the glory. They in colourful attractive costumes rhythmically danced to tune of a foot tapping melodious number in most uninhibited manner and mesmerized the audience.

Continuing with Commonwealth day celebration, junior section of CMS Gomti Nagar Campus, presented an exhilarating world Peace Prayer. A tall girl representing as a world citizen, in world citizens costume; prayed for happiness of all nations of world and wished that all people in the world live in peace. Next, a contingent representing continent of South Africa prayed for peace in the world and for peace in all Commonwealth countries of South Africa. Likewise, contingents of children in colourful attires and flags of representative countries of Africa, Oceania, Europe and Asia prayed for peace in the world and in different commonwealth countries of their respective continents. Finally UNO rep appeared on the stage, duly escorted, and prayed for peace in all the Commonwealth countries of the world. World Unity song, "One song let all the world sing…", was sung by all the participants, with vocal support from a teacher, reverberated the auditorium with message of unification of humankind. On culmination of song, peace pals with flags marched past from left and right flanks of auditorium, marched across, in front of audience and finally retreated from the central aisle of the hall, spreading the message of world unity, peace and harmony.

Commonwealth Song

Commonwealth song titled – 'serving a new generation' was mellifluously presented by a school choir. They sang the song spiritually and echoed the need of bringing about positive changes in the world of today to have a peaceful coexistence with justice, democracy and equality, and world without terrorism, hunger and pollution. Mr Leslie Scot, Music teacher, Mahanagar (III) campus, excellently composed the lyrics and music of the song and he himself lent his melodious voice and enhanced the sweetness and impactfulness of this song presented by choir of CMS Gomti Nagar Campus, Lucknow, India. Mr. Jagdsih Gandhi commend the efforts of Mr Leslie Scot and all the teachers who contributed in composition and presentation of the song.

Role of Commonwealth in new generation

'Role of Commonwealth in new generation' was the topic of group discussions by children of class XI of CMS Gomti Nagar Campus. A total of six students of the class deliberated hotly various issues pertaining to role of commonwealth. The syndicate had a student as a moderator and another student keeping the time. The whole discussion was segregated in three distinct phases comprising of speaking on a topic by a candidate, cross examination by other members and finally summing up on the spoken agenda by each candidate. Specific time slots were allotted for each phase. This format enabled through brainstorming on various burning issues – role of commonwealth on economic development, empowerment of women, human rights, education, health and environment, and changes brought in by commonwealth. It was indeed a pleasure to listen to the views of the speakers. They all have thorough knowledge, on functioning, efficacy and effectiveness of commonwealth in achieving its desired goals. Such breed of young and enthusiastic children would inherit the legacy of commonwealth from their predecessors and would strive hard to change the world to make it a better place to live for entire human race.

Address by the Chief Guest

Chief Guest, Sri R K Mittal, Senior IAS, Principal Secretary and Commissioner, Social Welfare, Government of UP, India while addressing the gathering, congratulated CMS for organizing the event so well. He humbly conveyed that he himself learnt many things from the proceedings presented by children. He said that he was more than optimistic about the future by seeing the young people like City Montessori School children in field of education and profusely praised them for their performance. He commended children of CMS for being full of enthusiasm and ideas. He further quipped that an idea is a great wealth and idea of creating commonwealth was a far sighted step. He cited example of Nelson Mandela, who had been mercilessly tortuned in the initial years of 30 years long imprisonment and yet did not loose his mental balance and never developed hatred for his captors. He in fact forgave them and with such virtues he got freedom for his country. Coming back to topic of commonwealth, he said that though per capita income of various countries have increased but there has not been equity in capital income. He lamented that for greed of a fews many are deprived. He opined that science and technology was at its zenith, which brought prosperity. But, it was equally a curse for mankind, as 20th century was most cruel century with world wars and nuclear destructions. He professed that 21st century should concentrate on education of higher sciences, that is spiritual education. With such educations, higher virtues developed would counteract the evil of society and establish true peace on earth with equity and equality. He lauded the efforts of CMS in imparting such a kind of education and spreading such valuable message to society who needs it today.

Prize Distribution

Winners of poster making competition were felicitated on the stage and the Chief Guest, Mr R K Mittal, awarded the prizes to them. Winners of junior section were, Sharad Arora, Jai Singh and Deepshika who won 1st, 2nd and consolation prizes respectively. Winners of senior section were Sanchi and Salini, who won 1st and 2nd prizes respectively.

Vote of thanks

Ms. Manji Batra, Principal, CMS Gomti Nagar Campus, Lucknow as Convener and Principal, proposed the vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to Mr R K Mittal, Chief Guest, to Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, Founder-Manager, City Montessori School, Lucknow, to other guests and to the teachers of CMS Gomti Nagar Campus. Ms Batra praised her students for their outstanding conduct.

Heartiest congratulations! by Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, Founder-Manager, City Montessori School, Lucknow
Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, Founder-Manager, City Montessori School, Lucknow, India extended his heartiest congratulations to all the children who participated and performed outstandingly well in various activities of the day. Their spirits were high despite their pre-occupation with final exams. Mr. Gandhi congratulated all the winners of poster competition. He admired the spirits of all the students who participated in the competition and made it a grand success.

He also expressed gratitude to Mr Leslie Scot, music teacher Mahanagar branch for composing a most befitting commonwealth theme song.