Achievements / Awards

Musically Inclined — Bhuvan Bhatia’s Soulful Journey

Sonia Dogra, Keekli Reporter, June, 2017, Shimla

Born in a family of musicians, fifteen year old Bhuvan Bhatia has found his calling. Little did he know, when he moved his hands on the “dholak” at the age of five that he would soon spin magic on the “tabla”, one of the most difficult musical instruments. Bhuvan is a student of Himalayan Public School, Shimla and is presently studying in class X.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/musically-inclined-bhuvan/” target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Weaving Magic with Words — Story of the Youngest Writer — Aryaman Mahajan

Sonia Dogra, Keekli Reporter, May, 2017

“Dream big!”

The adage is often repeated in books and visuals, by parents and teachers. When you are all of twelve, and you think of focussing on your dreams, they still seem farfetched. Not many a times is a twelve year old determined to fast track his ideas and turn them into the real written word. Aryaman Mahajan, who belongs to the hill town of Dharamshala and is now thirteen, turned author when he was all of twelve. Breaking barriers and records, he penned his first book “The Young Detective” to become the youngest writer in the country and also to find himself in a similar list in the world!

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/weaving-magic-words-story-youngest-writer-aryaman-mahajan” target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Talent Enthrall – Tandrima

Young and Promising! An artist at the tender age of 11 ! Bagged 2nd prize at the National Energy Conservation Painting Competition held at Delhi in 2011 and ever since has never looked back.   

Ritanjali Hastir, Associate Editor, Apr, Shimla  – Proving Stephen R. Covey, a best- seller author’s words correct; “Every human has four endowments – self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom… .

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=22897″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Shooting Way to Stars

Ritanjali Hastir, March, Shimla 2017

Born in the beauty hill state Himachal Pradesh, Vinay Gautam considers himself to be lucky as he got an opportunity to study in the famous Gurukul School Haryana where Governor Acharya was his Principal. Currently studying in first year in Jawahar Lal Nehru Govt College of Fine Arts Himachal, he considers he has a very long way to go with his passion for Shooting.

He has represented Haryana in various shooting tournaments and as time came to complete his eleventh and twelfth, he returned to his roots and joined St. Thomas’ School, Shimla.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=22301″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Vasundhara Thiara — The Quintessential Golf Champion

 Sonia Dogra, Keekli Reporter, September, 2016, Chandigarh 

If I were to draw a parallel between King Midas and Vasundhara Thiara, the girl whose golf kit has literally grown with her, I would simply say that this teenager possesses the prized golden touch. With more than a hundred championships under her belt, the girl from Chandigarh is blazing at just thirteen years of age. With her recent win in both the Individual and Team categories at Albatross, All India Inter School Golf Championship, Vasundhara is the current rage in her circle.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=19770″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

The Girl Who Dares to Dream — Harpreet Kaur

Sonia Dogra, Keekli Reporter, September, 2016

If there is grit and courage, it is definitely personified as eighteen year old Harpreet Kaur, the Karate Champion from Mansa in Punjab. Born in a family of five children, Harpreet was introduced to the Martial Arts in the year 2011 when she was thirteen years old. “It was a regular coaching session in school during which Coach Harish Sharma spotted me and told me to join his Academy”. That was the beginning of a new journey for Harpreet. That very year she participated at the district level and won the bronze medal.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=19555″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Innovative and Creative — Meet Shweta Sharma from Jallandhar

Keekli Reporter, March 2015, Jallandhar

A student of Class XII, DAV School, Jalladhar, Shweta Sharma is out to write her own story. Aspiring to be an IFS officer, she says, “You can only create glory when you yourself are the writer of the story”. Very creative and adopting innovative means to do things Shweta now has quite a few achievements under her cap. Winner of Ignite Award for three consecutive times, Shweta still has a lot of innovations and new ideas left in her and for the world to see. These awards are given by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), India working under the Department of Science and Technology at IIM-Ahemadabad. She won the Ignite Award in 2011 for her idea for an expiry indicator, for which she also holds a patent in her name. It was presented to her by the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Azad.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=13303″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Passionate Dancer but Aspires to be a Doctor — Esha Kotharkar

Keekli Reporter, February, 2015, Wardha, Maharashtra

“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor, it is to enjoy each step along the way” — these words by Wayne Dyer truly reflects upon 12 year old Esha who enjoys each and every moment of her performance as a dancer. Winner of the Chairman Award for Solo Cuttack Odisha 2013 and Late Shri Navin Manghrani Award 2013 Guwahati, Assam, Esha is now making her names as a prominent dancer in the Bharat Natyam dance form. What made her choose this field at such tender age she smilingly says, “It is my passion, and I just love dancing”.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=13302″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It — Hemanshi Sharma

Keekli Reporter, February, 2015, Shimla

“The roots of true achievement lie in the will to become the best, that you can become.” — Harold Taylor.

There is no substitute for hard work. The road to success comes through hard work, determination and sacrifice. Winner of “All Rounder of the Year” Hemanshi Sharma has proved this quote to be quite true. Hemanshi, a student of Class IX from Auckland House School, Shimla, was awarded the Excellence in Sports Certificate for her outstanding performances in different sporting events during the current academic year. She is also the lead guitarist of her school band — SHELZ — and above all scored a distinction, bagging the 5th position in her class. She hails from a family of sportsmen as her grandfather Des Raj Sharma, a retired S.P. was a famous volleyball player. He made India proud by getting the first ever silver medal in volleyball in Fourth Asian Games hosted at Jakarta, Indonesia in 1962. She adds, “My grandfather is my role model. I have been inspired by him, since as a child I have seen him playing, hence my interest towards sports was quite natural”.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?page_id=12521″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Lighting the Path with Music — Chirag

Ritanjali Hastir, Keekli Reporter, February, 2015

Believing music to be magic that can transform lives we have a young aspiring musician Chirag Saraswati who is a fine example of passion for music amalgamate with a professional academic degree. He is a living exemplar that when one is determined then anything is possible.  

Born and brought up in the luscious hills of Shimla, Chirag is an engineer by profession and musician by heart. He did his schooling from St. Edwards School, Shimla and completed his Bachelor’s in Technology in Electronics and Communications from Jaypee University of Information and Technology, Waknaghat.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=12432″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

I Want to Join Politics and Work for the Country: Alisha

Ashima Sharma, October, 2014, Shimla

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. For the youth of today education in schools has a burden, mainly due to the increasing difficulty level but this does not defy the fact that education is an integral part of a child’s life. There are very few students who trust the power of education and find joy in studying and one such student is Alisha Malhotra of Loreto Convent Tara Hall School for whom studies are a device through which one gets to learn something new every day.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=12426″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Sparsh Kuthiala — Promising Basketball Player

Ashima Sharma, Keekli Reporter, September, 2014, Shimla

 I Aspire to Play for the Country Someday !!!

A very well-known personality, Bill Gates once said, “Everyone needs a coach. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a basketball player, a tennis player, a gymnast or a bridge player”, but Sparsh Kuthiala from St Thomas School, Shimla has proved that a person can become his/her own coach with sheer dedication, perseverance and hard work.

Sparsh Kuthiala, a state level basketball player started playing the sport at the age of 13. Talking about his inspiration he says, “My biggest inspiration has always been my mother. She is the one who got me interested in sports at a very young age and has always been very encouraging me”.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?page_id=12456″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Happy Feet — Dance Till I Die: Kunal Zac Neo

Ritanjali Hastir, Keekli Reporter, September 2014, Shimla

Kunal Zac Neo a young hip hop dancer seems to have decided to bring change in the dance culture with his talent. He is confident enough to compete for face off challenge and simultaneously is open to teach interested needy students without any fee in his academy. “It is only with the help of YouTube that I finally learnt dance after lots of hard work, resilience and zeal”– Kunal

The desire to be accepted by the society is the most common human instinct and in its pursuit many of us do give up on following our heart but there are very few people like Kunal Shrivastav popularly known as Kunal Zac Neo, who dares to swim against the tide and keep their passion burning.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=12513″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Exquisite Photographic Visionist: Siddharth Pandey

Ashima Sharma, Keekli Reporter, September, 2014, Shimla

“The Earth is Art, The Photographer is only a witness” — a famous quote by Yann Arthus-Bertrand perfectly describes the stunning and rapturous work of Siddharth, a photographer who uses camera as a tool for exploration and imagination !!!

A landscape photographer, independent researcher, writer, curator and a PhD Scholar in Education from the University of Cambridge, UK, he has done it all. He did his Bachelors, Masters and MPhil in English Literature and in Education (Children’s Literature)from Delhi University.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=13329″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Hard Work is the Key to Success in Any Field: Neha

Ashima Sharma, 15th August, 2014, Shimla

Academician !!! Sports Star !!! Musician !!! You name is and Neha excels in all !!! She is Living all her Dreams !

There is a famous saying, “The power you have is to be the best version of yourself you can be, so you can create a better world”. The best example which can completely define this quote is a student of Loreto Convent Tara Hall, Neha Sharma.  She has declined to be defined by a particular field. She denies accepting the famous saying that we have been hearing from our childhood “Jack of all trades, master of none”.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?page_id=12483″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Explore Life in its Truest Essence: Says Scuba Diver Hardik

Ashima Sharma, Keekli Reporter, 20th July, 2014, Shimla 

 A budding scuba diver who aspires to represent his country one day !!!

‘We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them’, a famous quote by Christian Nestell Bovee perfectly describes one of rising scuba diving stars of Bishop Cotton School, Shimla — Hardik Goyal. Talking about his hydrophobia he says, “SCUBA (self contained underwater breathing apparatus) diving training course was recently introduced as part of the Bishop Cotton School’s adventure activities curriculum. I had hydrophobia at that time but somehow I gathered my strength and explored the striking world of Scuba Diving in 2013. Since then marine life has fascinated me more and more every day. It is a very strange thing that my strength and inspiration is not a person but a TV show called Marine Life aired on National Geographic channel. I got spell bounded by the marvellous under water life and when my school introduced scuba diving as a sport, I felt it was an opportunity of a lifetime and decided to be part of it”.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?page_id=12466″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Aadil Bags State’s Sports Achievement Award in Golf

Keekli Reporter, 8th May, 2014, Chandigarh

An enthusiastic and passionate golfer, starting at a tender age of four, Aadil Bedi, now 13 years old was awarded the Best Achievement Sports Award in Golf by the Governor of Punjab, Shiv Raj Patil on 8th May at Hotel Mount View Chandigarh, which was sponsored by the Bhaskar Group. Aadil was ecstatic on receiving the awards. He said, “I have been playing golf since last nine years. I think whatever I have achieved so far it is just a journey I have to travel to achieve the Grand Slam in Golf. I wish I am able to play all the big tournaments until I am in my twenties and wish to win the Grand Slam for India. All these achievements are part of a journey toward my final goal. This is the reason I am very particular about my diet, fitness and regimental structured practice sessions with experts only”.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=13317″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Karate Kid Samriti Thakur — Best Foot Forward

Ritanjali Hastir, Keekli Reporter, January, 2014, Shimla

“Parents should encourage and train their daughters in self defense from a young age considering the rise in crime against women” – Samriti. With the fast changing times when women no longer feel safe Samriti insists on getting trained in self defense so that when crucial times hit she is all set to face it.

Blessed are people when their passion becomes a resourceful skill. One such lucky girl is Samriti Thakur, a class seven student of Loreto Convent Tara Hall School who has attained her Black Belt Degree and still practices hard daily. Born and brought up in the Queen of Hills, Shimla City, Samriti had a strong impulse to learn Karate after seeing her seniors in school. Sharing her journey towards achieving her goal she say, “It has been four years since I started learning Karate as a hobby. At first in school it was a compulsory class but ultimately I started enjoying it and then decided to take up a full-fledged training course”.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=12508″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Indomitable Spirits Can Never Be Subdued

As told to Keekli Reporter, October, 2013, Shimla

Story of Visually Impaired Muskan Who Dares To Dream: Portmore School

Young, brilliant, visually impaired Muskan fought against all odds to prove that despite being differently-abled, life could be equally fulfilling and she too was capable of achieving miracles. She actually did so, when she won the Second Prize in Voice of Himalaya’s during Summer Festival – 2013. Music is her passion, and she has been singing since the age of eight when she first realised that she had the talent for singing. Her melodious voice has stirred and moved many a mortal soul.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?page_id=2803″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Shubhank Sharma — MTV Roots Rising Star from Rohru

Ritanjali Hastir, Freelance Writer, October, 2013, Shimla

Born to inspire while expressing shades of life through his music, Shubhank Sharma, a rising star from Rohru, Shimla District has finally made a mark as his new video Yeh kya jageh hai dosto released on 2nd August, 2013, the MTV Roots music show. Considering silence as a unique form of music in itself, Shubhank is of the opinion that in the pristine and magnificent Himalayas, he has discovered music as well as his soul. This upcoming talented young star from Himachal says that this beauty has touched him and now it flows through him.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?p=12500″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Spirit of a Sportsman and Dream of an Educationist!

Ritanjali Hastir, Freelance Writer, 23rd August, 2013, Shimla

A power girl with a statement ‘catch me if you can’ — as this super teenage girl dances to the tunes of Enrique and runs like the wind when she puts on her sports shoes. Shayra Bhardwaj, a bronze medalist at the Himachal Pradesh Athletic Championship held at Dharamshala in May 2013 is a proud athlete and her parents are equally thrilled that despite being parents of a girl they hold their heads high.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?page_id=959″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

From Sketch Artist to Being a Doctor!

Keekli Reporter, 15th August, 2013

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up,” as once Pablo Picasso said. Well soon to be a Doctor, Shivam Sharma still finds time to return to his passion, that is, drawing and sketching.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?page_id=792″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Passionate Artists but Aspires to be an IAS!

Ashima Sharma, Keekli Reporter, Hainault Public School, Shimla

Dashmesh Singh, a budding artist and a student of class 10, Hainault Public School, Shimla, absolutely justifies the saying “If you’re young and talented, it’s like you have wings,” by Haruki Murakami, a well known Japanese writer. His flair for painting gives his imagination wings and confidence to achieve big things in life.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?page_id=729″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

Rijul Sharma – Bright and Young Musician

Ritanjali Hastir (Freelance Writer)

A student of class five, this ten year old budding musician from St. Edwards School, Shimla perfectly fits into the saying quoted by Eric Anderson, ‘It is only by introducing the young to great literature, drama and music, and to the excitement of great science that we open to them the possibilities that lie within the human spirit—enable them to see visions and dream dreams’. Rijul has been among the few lucky ones for whom new avenue doors leading to his musical journey were flung open by his own parents.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?page_id=390″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]

The Decade of Daanish

Richa Sharma, Desh Bhagat Radio

It is early days yet, but creativity certainly appears to be his calling. At 10, his toys include a Fuji Film camera that he uses with élan, models of cars from around the globe that are the envy of the world, a Rubik’s cube, a string guitar that he strums with guffaw to rasp octaves of the universal birthday ditty, a loaded Sony Play Station with megaton woofers, and a touch-screen Apple IPad with loads of geeky-gawky gaming apps.

[btn_arrow_yellow url=”http://www.keekli.in/?page_id=606″ target=”_blank” position=”left”] Read more [/btn_arrow_yellow]

[line]