Education shapes minds; compassion shapes lives. The finest educators nurture both.
For more than three decades, Dr. Rashmi Vij, Founder Principal and former Principal of Police DAV Public School, Jalandhar, demonstrated that education extends far beyond textbooks and examinations. Through her enduring partnership with HelpAge India, she nurtured empathy, responsibility and respect for older persons in generations of young people.
Year after year, she encouraged her students, teachers and parents to participate in HelpAge India’s SAVE (Student Action for Value Education) programme, helping them understand not only the challenges faced by older persons, but also the power of compassion in addressing them.
For HelpAge India, her support was unwavering. For her students, it became an annual lesson in kindness. One moment, however, stands out.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought school life and with it, school-based fundraising, to an abrupt halt. Like many organisations, HelpAge India found itself wondering how programmes built on community participation could continue in an entirely virtual world.
When approached, Dr. Vij’s response reflected her characteristic optimism and determination.
“If we can conduct virtual classes, evaluate answer sheets and hold examinations online, why can’t we continue fundraising for a meaningful cause?”
It wasn’t simply about the amount raised. It was a powerful reminder that compassion does not pause during a crisis; if anything, it becomes even more important.
That same sense of commitment revealed itself once again this year. When HelpAge India received a call from Dr. Vij much earlier than usual, requesting that the annual SAVE campaign begin in April instead of its customary schedule, it seemed like an unexpected change. The reason became clear only later.
As she prepared to retire, Dr. Vij wanted to ensure that one final campaign was completed before she stepped down as Principal. She wanted the tradition to continue and she wanted to fulfil one last commitment to a cause she had championed for decades. That simple yet deeply thoughtful gesture speaks volumes about the person she is.
Throughout her distinguished career as an educator, Dr. Vij inspired thousands of students. Among her many legacies is the example she set, that success is measured not only by what we achieve for ourselves, but also by what we do for others.
At HelpAge India, we have been fortunate to work alongside thousands of educators like Dr. Rashmi Vij, who have embraced the elder cause as an extension of the values they instil in their students. Their legacy will be measured not only in the generations they educated, but also in the kindness they inspired and in the countless older persons whose lives have been touched through that compassion.
This blog has been written by:
Arti Tikoo
Deputy Director, Resource Mobilisation,
HelpAge India
