Celebrating 125 Years of Excellence at Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Dalhousie
A Grand Celebration of Legacy
Subhash Mahajan
Dalhousie
The 125th Annual Day celebration of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Dalhousie took place with immense enthusiasm, featuring Education Minister Rohit Thakur as the Chief Guest.
During his address, the Education Minister praised the school’s impressive 125-year history, calling it a beacon of educational excellence, discipline, and community service. He acknowledged the institution's vital role in shaping countless students and maintaining high academic standards.
Thakur conveyed to students, alumni, and parents that the Himachal Pradesh Government is dedicated to enhancing the education system by focusing on quality. He pointed out the state's remarkable improvement in the National Achievement Survey rankings, climbing from 21st in 2021 to fifth in 2025. Furthermore, he highlighted Himachal Pradesh's near-complete literacy achievement, boasting a literacy rate of 99.55 percent.
The Minister also mentioned various scholarship initiatives aimed at supporting talented students. He emphasized that both students and teachers would benefit from international educational experiences through overseas visits.
Discussing welfare programs, he introduced the Chief Minister Sukh-Aashray Yojana, designed to provide education and self-reliance opportunities for orphaned and underprivileged children, helping them secure a dignified future.
Encouraging students to strive for excellence, Thakur stressed that hard work, dedication, and self-belief are essential for success. He inspired them to dream big, nurture their talents, and confront challenges with resilience. He reiterated that education's true purpose extends beyond knowledge acquisition to fostering values and contributing positively to society and nation-building.
Reflecting on the school's history, he noted that Sacred Heart School was founded on February 20, 1901, with only five students and has now evolved into a leading educational institution with approximately 950 students. He regarded this growth as a testament to the school’s vision and commitment.
At the ceremony, the Education Minister honored students who excelled in academics, culture, and extracurricular activities. He congratulated the school community, including management, teachers, parents, alumni, and students, on reaching this significant milestone and wished them ongoing success.
Notable attendees included former minister Asha Kumari, senior officials from the Indian Army and Air Force, former IAS officer Kiran Chaddha, SDM Anil Bhardwaj, Bharmaur SDM Ajay Kumar Singh, DSP Mayank Sharma, Superintending Engineer (Electricity) Rajiv Thakur, DFO Dr. Kuldeep Jamwal, Deputy Director (Higher Education) Vikas Mahajan, former CMO Dr. Vipin Thakur, Delhi Province Superior Sister Lucy Emmanuel, Diocese of Jalandhar priest Father Jose Sebastian, Principal Sister Molly Cherian, Municipal Council Chairperson Vandana Chaddha, former Chairperson Manoj Chaddha, and Dalhousie Public School Chairman Dr. Capt. G.S. Dhillon, along with parents and other esteemed guests.