Inspiring meet: Green Valley students interact with President, Sonia Gandhi

Media Release

Kundapur, Nov 21: It is not every day you get to live an experience you would remember for the rest of your life. For the students of Green Valley National School and PU College, Shiroor, interacting with the President of the nation and also with one of the most powerful ladies in the world was indeed a dream come true.

It was an unforgettable day for Green Valley National School and PU College students when they were invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 16. Seventeen students and five staff led by the managing trustee Syed Abdul Khader and principal John Mathew were received to the special conference room at Rashtrapati Bhavan by the personal staff of President Pranab Mukherjee.

The President arrived at 12 noon and was welcomed with a bouquet of red roses by Syed Abdul Khader. The President was briefed by principal John Mathew on the work done by the school management to enhance good education at a remote place like Shiroor and highlighted the quality of educational opportunities available for students. The President was invited to Green Valley by the principal.

The President appreciated the efforts of the management and appraised the students on the need to harness their potential for the benefit of society and mother country. He also highlighted the need for students to learn from the history of our country and advised them to uphold the richness of our heritage while visiting historical places in and around Delhi. President Mukherjee spent time with the students interacting and obliging for a group photo session. It was followed by high tea and a guided tour of the Mughal Gardens and Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The unique opportunity will remain indelible in the hearts and minds of the Green Valley students, who were beaming with pride that they were one of the few who could get such an opportunity to be at Rashtrapati Bhavan with the President.

Meeting with Sonia Gandhi

That's not all. The students of Green Valley National School and PU College also got the rare opportunity to meet India's most powerful woman, president of Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi at her residence.

It was a dream come true and a rare honour for the group of seventeen students and five staff under the leadership of managing trustee Syed Abdul Khader and principal John Mathew to be invited to 10 Janpath, the official residence of Sonia Ghandhi on November 16.

The students and staff were received by the personal staff of 10 Janpath and were ushered into the sprawling lawns of the residence where Sonia Ghandhi met the students and the staff. She was received with a bouquet of red roses by Syed Abdul Khader and the principal. She interacted with the students and enquired about the school and studies. She also advised the students to benefit from opportunities to learn more through opportunities at their disposal and gladly accepted the invitation to Green Valley from the principal John Mathew. Students were mesmerized by the simplicity, gracefulness, charm and warmth with which Sonia Gandhi interacted with each one of them. The reception was followed by a group photograph.

It was a tryst with history and a golden day which will be cherished forever by students and staff of Green Valley National School and PU College who were privileged to have this rare opportunity.

Green Valley students and teachers were on a nine day visit to Delhi from November 13 to November 21.

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