Ved Vyas, first principal of Modern School Vasant Vihar, passes away

Many remembered him as a young teacher who first reached Delhi from Lahore. After reaching Delhi in 1948, it took Vyas almost a year to sum up the courage to speak to the then principal of Modern School, Barakhamba Road, M L Kapur.

Finally, in the summer of 1949, Vyas spoke to Kapur. The rest, as Vyas said in his own words, was destiny.

[related-post]

Starting out as a Hindi teacher and sports instructor in the school, Vyas went on to become the first principal of Modern School, Vasant Vihar when it was opened. He became the principal in 1975 and continued to lead the institution for the next decade.

Vyas also left his mark in the field of theatre — directing and producing plays.

His body was cremated at the Lodhi crematorium on Wednesday and the ceremony was attended by Modern School alumni, family and friends.

“It’s important to remember that Modern School Barakhamba Road was established in the 1920s as a response to the need of raising national pride and dignity among Indians. M L Kapur wasn’t just looking to hiring someone who could teach a subject, but someone who brought something more to the table. Vyas started out as a Hindi teacher and sports instructor, but because of his command over the language, he went on to write and direct songs and plays as well,” Lata Vaidyanathan, former principal of Modern School, Barakhamba Road, said.

Students remembered him as a “teacher who brought out a little more in them”. “Unlike many others, his role wasn’t just confined to the classroom. All I can say is I owe a lot more than my marks to him,” an alumni of the school said.

Perhaps, the greatest legacy of the teacher is Rupak — a theatrical expression of mime, acting and action rolled into one — that students perform every year during the Independence Day celebrations. Rupak is based on themes from the Independence movement.