WHEN DWARKA CITY PAUSED TO APPLAUD ITS TORCHBEARERS

Every growing city reaches a moment when it must pause - not to admire its buildings or roads, but to honour the people, who quietly light the way forward. Dwarka experienced such a moment at the recently held Torch Bearer of Dwarka Award Ceremony, an evening that transformed applause into acknowledgement and recognition into responsibility. The awards did more than celebrate individual achievement; they reaffirmed the belief that Dwarka’s journey has been shaped by citizens who chose service over silence and commitment over convenience. The ceremony stood as a powerful tribute to those who have acted as true Torch Bearers -individuals who identified civic gaps, mobilised communities and worked relentlessly to improve the quality of life in the sub-city. Their stories served as a reminder that urban progress is not solely the result of policy or planning, but of people who take ownership of their surroundings and inspire others to do the same. Dwarka City, the oldest and most trusted newspaper of the sub city honours and felicitates a select group of people who have excelled in their fields including students, teachers, media persons and service providers. So, this year, once again, the Torch Bearers of Dwarka function was held at a fabulous and eye catching ceremony at CCRT, Sector-7 on 17th January. The hall was packed to capacity and there was cheers and applause all through. The Torch Bearer of Dwarka Award, hosted by Dwarka City is a way of appreciating all those who have worked for the betterment of Dwarka and also to motivate them to do better. Long before the 4 pm start to the gala function, people had already started coming in. The gracious hosts, Sudha and Mukesh Sinha, Mg. Editors, Dwarka City were present to warmly receive all guests and award winners. 
The 18th Dwarka City Directory was also launched on this occasion. The chief guest at this prestigious and most awaited event was  Dr. Mahesh Verma, Padam Shri Awardee and Vice Chancellor, Guru Gobind Singh IP University. The programme commenced with the traditional lighting of a lamp to mark the opening of the celebrations. There was cultural programme in the beginning. The students of Nritya Narta Dance Academy of Sruti Barua, presented a beautiful choreography describing the five elements of nature. The dances were mesmerising. This was followed by another captivating dance performance on Shiv Tandav from Vinod Thakur Dance Academy. Mukesh Sinha, Mg Editor of Dwarka City felicitated the choreographers and handed over the certificate of appreciation to performers.
Chief Guest Dr. Mahesh Verma was invited on stage and felicitated by patka, bouquet of flowers and an idol of God Ram. Mohommad Tahir, who was interestingly anchoring the programme explained about the relevance of Torch Bearer Award. He then called Mukesh Sinha, Mg Editor, Dwarka City who stated how he has seen Pappankalan catapult into beautiful and smart city Dwarka. He explained that Dwarka City was the only platform that brought people together who joined to bring basic facility in Dwarka. He further explained that there was need for Directory that had all the information, Phone numbers and addresses of essential services. So the DC Directory was launched. Mukesh Sinha said, “Having witnessed Pappankalan evolve from a sparsely developed area into today’s beautiful and smart city of Dwarka, I can say that this transformation has been driven by collective civic effort. Dwarka City has always served as a common platform where residents, RWAs, officials and stakeholders came together to raise issues and work towards securing basic amenities for the area. Over time, we realised the pressing need for a comprehensive directory that would provide residents with accurate information, phone numbers and addresses of essential services. This vision led to the launch of the Dwarka City Directory, aimed at making day-to-day life easier and strengthening community connectivity.”
It was then time to launch the 18th Edition of DC Directory. But before that jury members were invited on the stage and felicitated one by one. The jury members included- Dr. Chetna Sabharwal, Director of Partnerships at the Association of Indian Principles; Dr. Vijay Kumar Singh, Dean, Faculty of Law, SRM University; and Ms. Anuradha Singh, Head of Academic Excellence and Marketing, Headword Publishing, ABP Education. Also on the panel are Subbiah Sridhar, former Indian diplomat; Swati Khanwalkar, journalist, and Dr. Nalini Ranjan, PRO-cum-Spokesperson, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. The jury further include Rajendra Singh, Retired ACP, Delhi Police; Noorshed Khan, Founder, Kidstar Sports; Smeetha Guha, Dean, Hospitality and Business Studies, Indian School of Hospitality, Gurugram; and Ms. Sudha Srinivas, Associate Vice President, The Times of India, Ravi Jaitley, noted social activist; Monija Pasha, social worker; and Ms. Prachi Jain, Chartered Accountant.
The chief guest, Dr Mahesh Verma, Mukesh Sinha, Sudha Sinha, Bhavna Pandey and jury members unveiled the Directory amongst all the audience. The new edition of Dwarka City Directory had compilation of all the information about Dwarka. It is a compendium of all information with different categories including not only doctors, lawyers, florist, gyms, boutiques, schools, showrooms and much more covering all businesses carried out in Dwarka, but also numbers of RWAs and other social  organizations. The new edition of the directory also lists addresses and telephone numbers of emergency services like hospitals, police, doctors, as well as of services required on a day to day basis like schools, educational institutes, chemists, shops, restaurants, banks etc.
The ‘Torch Bearer of Dwarka’ awards are without doubt the benchmark for excellence. The prestigious awards is granted to the various  achievers of different fields like Best Student Boy and Girl (Academics), Best Students (Extra Co-Curricular), Best Student – Sports, Best School- social service and Best Teacher. In recognition of unwavering public service, outstanding employees from organisations such as DDA, Delhi Police,  MCD, BSES and DJB were also honoured, reinforcing the ceremony’s broader ethos of acknowledging excellence in every sphere of community life. Also, few media persons were awarded as Voice of Media Award. The huge audience cheered as awardees in various categories went on the stage to receive the awards.

Education Awards-
Best Student in Academics 
Boy - Deepansh Gahlot  
N. K. Bagrodia Global School
Best Student in Academics 
Girl- Tanvi Rao 
N.K. Bagrodia Public School
Best Student in Extra Curricular Activities
Ms. Gourica Vij, BGSIPS
Best Student in Sports
Raechal Deep,  St. Thomas’ School
Best Teacher Award
Ms. Mamta Rana, VIS
Best Social Work Team
N.K. Badrodia Public School
Rising Star in Sports
Bhavya Bajaj 
Sri Venkateshwar International School
Pride of  Dwarka- Sports
Mayuri Singh
Bal Bhavan International School

Best Government Civic Official Award
BSES
Surender Dagar
Senior Deputy General Manager.
DDA 
Chandresh Kumar
Executive Engineer, Dwarka.
DJB
Prem Kumar
Assistant Section Officer.
MCD 
Ajay Kumar 
Joint Assessor & Collector 
in MCD/Najafgarh Zone,
Vijay Kumar
Sanitary Inspector, MCD, Najafgarh Zone.

Police Personnel
Pankaj Sharma- Head Constable
Dwarka North
Ms. Sarita Kumari- Head Constable 
Dwarka, Sector- 23, Police Station

Voice of Media Awards
Prof. Madan Mohan Goel
Subbiah Sridhar
P. Menon
Dr. Nalini Ranjan
Ms. Manjju

“The overwhelming response from residents of Dwarka has truly touched us. The affection and encouragement shown by the community reaffirm our belief in collective growth and shared responsibility. We are deeply thankful to all our guests and to those who could not be present but have consistently supported us in every initiative. We are proud to bring out more comprehensive and better edition of the Dwarka City Directory once again, and we are confident that it will serve as a valuable platform for local businesses to connect, grow and thrive.”

Mukesh Sinha

Managing Editor, Dwarka City

 “Organising such meaningful and large-scale community-driven programmes is not everyone’s cup of tea. Mukesh Sinha and Sudha Sinha deserve special appreciation for their sustained efforts in motivating students, encouraging service providers and bringing the community together on a common platform. Dwarka is definitely the gateway to western and northern parts of our country with so many infrastructural developments taking place day-in-day-out in Asia’s biggest residential cluster, the launch of the Dwarka Directory is particularly significant, as it serves as a practical and reliable medium for residents to directly connect with essential services and authorities whenever the need arises. Initiatives like these empower citizens and strengthen civic engagement. Dwarka City, through such endeavours, is doing truly commendable work. I extend my heartfelt compliments to the entire Dwarka City team for their dedication and vision.” Dr. Mahesh Verma was then presented his profile sketch made by students of Kalabhumi.

Dr Mahesh Verma, Chief Guest 

“The Directory has been compiled with great care and diligence, with every phone number and detail thoroughly verified. Compiling it has always been a challenging yet fulfilling task. The Directory is more than just an information guide - it is a strong link that connects Dwarkaites with one another and strengthens the sense of community in our sub-city.”

Sudha Sinha

Editor, Dwarka City 

Here’s their reaction on getting the reward-
Being honoured with the prestigious Torch Bearers of Dwarka Award-Best Student Academic Girl is deeply humbling and affirming. This recognition marks a cherished milestone in my academic journey. The selection process from my school’s nomination to the interview was rigorous yet enriching. It made years of discipline, consistency, late nights of studying and conscious nonconformity feel worthwhile. Witnessing the excellence of fellow nominees raised my standards and motivated me further. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who believed in me, especially during moments of self-doubt. This award is not the end; it strengthens my resolve to grow, question, contribute and inspire society through learning.

Tanvi Rao

N.K. Bagrodia Public School, Sector-4

Receiving the Best Student in Academics  Boy at the Torch Bearers of Dwarka Awards was a deeply humbling experience. This recognition is not just a personal milestone but a reminder of the values of learning, curiosity and responsibility. For me, academics have always been more than marks; it is a journey of understanding, questioning and applying knowledge. Through debates, parliamentary simulations and innovation projects, I have learned that education becomes powerful when it shapes perspective and decision-making. This award reaffirmed that belief and motivated me to continue with purpose. I am grateful to my teachers, parents, school and the organizers for supporting and inspiring me.

Deepansh Gahlot

N.K Bagrodia Global School, Sector-17

Receiving the Torch Bearer of Dwarka  Award for Rising Star in Sports is a truly memorable moment. This honour reflects a year of dedication, hard work, sacrifices and belief in my dream. Being recognised by my city makes it even more special. Early morning training and late-night practice taught me discipline, patience and resilience, helping me grow as an athlete and individual. This award inspires me to work harder and motivate others. I am grateful to my family, coaches, mentors and supporters for their unwavering encouragement.

 Bhavya Bajaj, SVIS, Sector-18

I feel deeply honoured to receive the Torch Bearer of Dwarka Award for Best Teacher, presented by Dwarka City, a respected community organisation and newspaper. This recognition celebrates my efforts in Mathematics education, focusing on activity-based learning and AI-enabled tools. These practices align with the National Education Policy, promoting critical thinking, problem-solving and real-life application of concepts. This community honour motivates me to continue striving for excellence and innovation in teaching. I am grateful to the organisers and the visionary management of VIS for providing a supportive environment that encourages growth, leadership and meaningful exposure for both students and teachers.

 Mamta Rana, VIS, Sector-10

Through years of dedication, I have learned that hard work, balance and determination form the foundation of success. Every achievement reflects commitment, passion and the courage to push limits. As a proud student of St. Thomas’ School, Dwarka, I am grateful for the constant support that shaped my journey. I won five gold medals and the All-Round First Rank at the Delhi State School Games - Gymnastics 2024 and four golds, one silver and the All-Round First Rank at the Delhi State School Gymnastics Championship 2024. I represented India at the European Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics 2024 in Baku. At the Torch Bearers of Dwarka Award 2025, I was honoured as the Winner of Best Student in Sports, inspiring me to aim higher and strive for excellence.

Rachel Deep, St. Thomas’ School, Sector-19

My euphoria began when my school nominated me for the Torch Bearer of Dwarka Awards. During the interview, the friendly jury and talented nominees eased my nerves. On 17th January at the CCRT Auditorium, I was stunned to hear applause for me, Gourica Vij, as one of the winners. My journey began with curiosity beyond books-Kathak became my refuge, video editing a modern skill and public speaking my voice. I never imagined these passions would lead to such recognition. I am honoured as the Winner of Best Student in Extra Co-curricular Category at the Torch Bearers of Dwarka Award. I thank my parents, BGS International Public School, Dwarka and Dwarka City for this honour. P.S. Winning the lucky draw made it a truly lucky day!

Gourica Vij,  BGSIPS, Sector-5

Being honoured at the Dwarka City Torch Bearers Awards 2025 was a moment of immense pride for our school. This recognition motivates us to strengthen our commitment to social service and community welfare. For over a decade, our school has worked consistently with underprivileged communities through initiatives focused on hygiene, sanitation, food collection, and awareness on societal issues. Winning the Best School – Social Service Team award reaffirms our belief that education must extend beyond classrooms into real-life action. Our social work team’s strength lies in its sustained, community-centred approach. Campaigns like ‘Ek Mutthi Anaj’ unite students, staff and families to support food-insecure households. Our outreach programmes, in collaboration with government initiatives and NGOs, focus on peace, health, child welfare and women empowerment. Guided by social activists, students volunteer in adopted areas, promoting hygiene, waste management and behavioural change.

 Best in Social Work Team, N.K. Bagrodia Public School, Secor-4

The function drew a lot of appreciative support both from those who were honoured as well as the audience.  The awardees - modest yet visibly moved - left with a sense of fulfilment, knowing their efforts had been recognised by the community they serve. For Dwarka, it was not just an award ceremony -it was a moment of collective gratitude, inspiration and renewed civic spirit.