Mr. Paramjit Singh Kalra, Principal – Guru Nanak Academy, Dehradun received a National Award on Teachers’ Day on behalf of the Council of the Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi from the Hon’ble President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee in the Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
He was also taken with the Awardee Teachers to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narender Bhai Modi’s residence for an interactive session, breakfast and photo session. He has brought great honour to the State of Uttrakhand. The award selection was done by the Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of School Education & Literacy the Govt of India, New Delhi.
Mr.Paramjit Singh Kalra Principal, Guru Nanak Academy, Raipur Road, Dehradun, was born on 30th January 1960 at Saharanpur. Mr.P.S.Kalra was educated in Public/Convent Schools from Primary level up to his ICSE (10) and ISC(12) which he completed from St.Joseph’s Academy and Cambrian Hall, Dehradun respectively. His schooling was done in various cities as his father was a Colonel in the Army.
He joined St.Stephens College, in 1978 and graduated with an Honours Degree in History. He also post graduated from St.Stephens College Delhi. He was ranked second in the order of merit in Delhi University in his B.A (Hons.) While in College he won a National Award – The All India. Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Essay Writing Competition and was awarded a trophy by the Honble Prime Minister of India Smt. Indira Gandhi on 14th April; 1982 at The Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
In 1983 he joined Cambrian Hall as a Senior teacher with subject allocations of English, History & Economics. Then the wheels of destiny took him to Dubai in 1985 and he joined Our Own English High School, Dubai one of the premier Educational Institutions in achievements and position. As Head of Social studies Department, Coordinator of Cultural Activities; Chief Laison Officer with Gulf News and Khaleej Times he performed Supervisory duties; Co-ordinated International Body Meetings and Seminars of Cambridge University as well as International Business Houses like Jacob Shugrat of Sweden. In Dubai he did his B.Ed. from the Gulf chapter of Annamalai University and he topped the University results in B.Ed. He was given commendation in the order of merit for the Gulf chapter of the University Results.
In 1992 his father’s sudden demise brought him back to India and he joined Guru Nanak Academy, Raipur Road as Headmaster in July 1993. In thirteen months he was elevated and made Principal of GNA on the 15th of August 1994. In his Twenty-two years of tenure as Principal he has put Guru Nanak Academy onto the fast lane. The School has risen in name, fame, and status under his stewardship. He has been commended by his Management and by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations Delhi which has also assigned him duties of Inspector of Schools, GNA has brought many laurels in the field of Sports and Academic standards have escalated as he leads a good battery of teachers and support staff towards betterment. On the 5th of September 1999, he was honoured and awarded a Commendation on the Teachers’ Day. Then he was awarded the “Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman” on 12th September 2010 for his contribution to the field of Education, Training and School administration. The award was given by Hon’ble Shri N.D.Tewari former Governor Andhra Pradesh & Former Chief Minister Uttarakhand, and M.P.Uttarakhand Shri.Vijay Bahuguna who is presently the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. On 23rd December 2013, P.S.Kalra was awarded the Jagadguru Shankaracharya National Award-2013 for his contribution in the field of school education and best teacher from the Uttarakhand State. On the 20th of April 2014, he was awarded the Uttarakhand Ratan by HE Lt.Gen K.M.Seth, Former Governor Chattisgarh and Hon’ble Mr. Justice R.Tandon organized by All India Conference of Intellectuals. On 17th of November 2014, he was awarded the “Rashtriya Vidhya Samman Puraskar” by Economic Growth Society of India, at the Constitution Club, New Delhi. On 12th of September 2015, he was awarded the “Rattan Jyoti Award for Education Excellence” by Former Chief Election Commissioner Dr. GVG Krishnamurthy organized by Economic Growth Society of India, at the Hotel Samrat, New Delhi.
Mr. P.S.Kalra has been assigned to conduct highly important and confidential duties on behalf of the Council for the ISC Examinations, New Delhi. He has inspected over sixty-five schools on behalf of the CISCE for grant of affiliation and Correction of scripts centers. He was on the Committee of Syllabus formulation for ICSE(10) English Literature for the year 2015-2016. He had been elected & served as Convener ICSE(10) Examinations since April 2003 to July 2016. From August 2016 he has been elected as Convener ISC(12) Examinations. At the age of Fifty-six, he has thirty-one years dedicated to the service of society in the field of education. As a freelance journalist Mr.P.S.Kalra has over fifty articles to his credit on subjects viz Religious, Social, Women Empowerment, International peace, Education, Tourism, and Personalities. He is now into Educational Consultancy and Advisory Assignments for the schools as a freelancer. Mr.P.S.Kalra’s humility, straightforwardness and down to earth approach gives him a special charm, which makes him popular with people, and especially children of all age groups. He actively teaches English to students of Standards X, XI and XII to keep in touch with his professional teaching and updates his knowledge and qualifications to keep abreast with latest methods. He held the prestigious post of Secretary-cum-Treasurer of DDCSA from 2007-2010. In 2010 he rose to the post of Vice President of the DDCSA (Dehra Dun Council Schools’ Association) and held the post till 14th August 2013 when he was elevated to the post President of the DDCSA (Dehra Dun Council Schools’ Association) up till the 6th of September 2016.
