Principal K. S. Guleria Honoured with Mahatma Hansraj Award at Samarpan Diwas 2025.

Grand Celebration Held at Chaugan Maidan, Sujanpur Tihra, Himachal Pradesh. 

Hamirpur:

In a proud and momentous occasion for the DAV community and the state of Himachal Pradesh, K. S. Guleria, Principal of DAV Centenary Public School, Jawahar Nagar, Mandi, and Assistant Regional Officer of DAV Zone-C, was conferred with the prestigious Mahatma Hansraj Award during the Samarpan Diwas celebrations held at Chaugan Maidan, Sujanpur Tihra in Hamirpur district, on April 26, 2025.

This award was presented in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the field of education and his unwavering dedication to the ideals of the DAV movement. The honour was bestowed upon him by Dr. Punam Suri, President of the DAV College Managing Committee (DAV CMC), New Delhi, and recipient of the Padma Shri award.

Samarpan Diwas is an annual celebration organized by DAV CMC to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Hansraj, a towering figure in Indian education and the first principal of Dayanand Anglo-Vedic institutions. The day commemorates his life of sacrifice, dedication, and service in the cause of spreading education rooted in Vedic values.

Each year, the committee recognizes individuals from across the nation for their distinguished contributions to society through education. In 2025, three eminent educationists were honoured:

• Dr. Vikramjeet Singh, Principal, Dayanand College, Hisar (Haryana)
• K. S. Guleria, Principal-cum-ARO, DAV Centenary Public School, Mandi (Himachal Pradesh)
• Seema Maindiratta, Principal-cum-ARO, DAV International School, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra)

For the people of Mandi and the entire Himachal region, this award brought immense pride, celebrating the achievements of one of their own on a national platform. The DAV family and the local community expressed heartfelt joy and admiration on this occasion.

The event witnessed the august presence of Dr. Punam Suri, along with senior officials and members of the DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi. Over 8000 people attended the grand ceremony, including principals, AROs, teachers, Arya Samaj members, DAV students, and dignitaries from various parts of India.

The celebration commenced with a traditional Vedic Yajna and the DAV Anthem, followed by vibrant cultural performances. Students and teachers from various DAV institutions performed group songs and dances, filling the atmosphere with devotion and joy. A highlight of the event was a moving Geeta Natya titled “Ek Deepak Jo Jalta Raha”, based on the life and values of Mahatma Hansraj. The production featured around 300 students from DAV schools in Mandi, Sundernagar, Nerchowk, Alampur, Palampur, and Hamirpur, and was met with widespread appreciation.

In his keynote address, Dr. Punam Suri paid glowing tribute to Mahatma Hansraj, calling him “a living embodiment of sacrifice and dedication.” He emphasized that the flourishing tree of DAV institutions across India stands today as a testament to the vision, hard work, and spiritual strength of Mahatma Hansraj. He also acknowledged the role of Arya Samaj, DAV, and Mahatma Hansraj in realizing the dream envisioned by Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

After receiving the award, Principal K. S. Guleria expressed deep gratitude to the DAV College Managing Committee, its president, and all its members. He dedicated the honour to the entire DAV fraternity, thanking them for considering him worthy of such a prestigious recognition.

The Samarpan Diwas 2025 celebration left an indelible impression on the minds of all participants, reaffirming the enduring values of selfless service, spiritual dedication, and educational excellence that the DAV movement continues to uphold.