Principal, Bal Bhavan Public School, Mayur Vihar-II, Delhi, India
For Vividh Gupta, sustainability is not simply an environmental objective; it is a leadership responsibility. As Principal of Bal Bhavan Public School, Mayur Vihar-II, Delhi, he has sought to translate this conviction into everyday practices that encourage students and staff to conserve resources, rethink waste and recognise their responsibilities towards the wider community.
His approach is rooted in the belief that education must shape not only what young people know, but also how they act. Guided by the school’s motto, “Goodness Before Greatness,” Vividh Gupta champions an educational philosophy in which environmental consciousness goes hand in hand with compassion, civic responsibility and practical problem-solving.
This philosophy finds particular expression in #MainBhiGandhi, an initiative that promotes waste segregation, creative reuse and community service. Alongside initiatives involving solar energy, rainwater harvesting and organic gardening, it illustrates his emphasis on learning through participation.
#MainBhiGandhi: Making Responsibility Everyone’s Business: One of Vividh Gupta’s significant contributions to environmental awareness is #MainBhiGandhi, which encourages the school community to treat cleanliness and responsible waste management as shared responsibilities.
The initiative combines practical training with student participation. School support staff receive training in waste segregation, while students learn to use colour-coded bins, with blue designated for dry waste and green for wet waste. By making segregation part of everyday routines, the project connects environmental awareness with individual accountability.
Vividh Gupta’s approach extends beyond disposal to finding value in discarded materials. Suitable organic waste is composted to produce manure, while reusable materials are transformed into useful articles. Students display and sell these products to parents during parent-teacher meetings, with the proceeds directed towards NGOs supporting orphaned children and children of ragpickers.
Paper waste is processed through the school’s recycling unit for use in art activities and invitation preparation.
By connecting resource conservation with creativity and charitable giving, #MainBhiGandhi demonstrates how environmental initiatives can also cultivate empathy and social responsibility. Students learn that waste can be a resource and that thoughtful choices can generate benefits beyond the immediate task.
Leading Through Sustainable Practices: For Vividh Gupta, environmental responsibility must be reflected in how an institution operates. His sustainability vision finds practical expression in the school’s approach to energy, water and green spaces.
The school’s solar power installation generates approximately 80% of its electricity consumption. It has also shared surplus solar power with the electricity grid, demonstrating the potential of renewable energy to support institutional needs while reducing dependence on conventional electricity sources.
Water conservation is another part of this approach. The school’s rainwater harvesting system allows rainwater to percolate into the ground, supporting groundwater replenishment. Meanwhile, the organic terrace garden gives students opportunities to observe plant growth, understand natural cycles and appreciate biodiversity.
The garden’s connection with composting and manure production further illustrates how different environmental practices can complement one another. Organic waste supports cultivation, while hands-on gardening helps students understand the relationship between soil health, plants and natural resources.
These initiatives reflect Vividh Gupta’s emphasis on making sustainability tangible. Rather than leaving environmental concepts confined to textbooks, he encourages an approach in which students can observe how responsible resource management works in practice.
Recognition and Educational Leadership: Bal Bhavan Public School’s environmental initiatives have received several recognitions. The institution has earned an IGBC Platinum rating from the Indian Green Building Council, with its green school building recognised for exemplary environmental performance.
It has also received a Gold-category award from The Climate Reality Project for promoting green and sustainable practices, as well as the Vivekananda Sustainability Award for its green campus and curriculum.
These institutional recognitions provide context for the sustainability practices promoted under Vividh Gupta’s leadership. They highlight the importance of connecting infrastructure with educational objectives and encouraging environmental responsibility across the school community.
His own professional achievements include the Delhi State Teachers Award 2022, the Education Times Leadership Excellence Award and recognition for innovation and educational leadership. These honours reflect his wider contribution to education and institutional development, of which sustainability is an important dimension.
Extending Environmental Awareness Beyond the Campus: Vividh Gupta’s approach recognises that environmental responsibility becomes more meaningful when students carry it into their homes and communities. The school’s Eco Club supports this objective through rallies, Van Mahotsav celebrations, video presentations and social media campaigns.
Such activities encourage students to communicate environmental messages, participate in conservation efforts and influence everyday behaviour. They also provide opportunities to develop confidence and understand the role individuals can play in promoting collective action.
This reflects a broader philosophy of education in which sustainability is not limited to conserving resources. It also involves nurturing thoughtful citizens who understand their obligations towards society and are prepared to act on them.
Goodness Before Greatness: A Lasting Leadership Philosophy: Vividh Vividh Gupta’s sustainability leadership demonstrates how educational values can be translated into everyday action. Through participatory waste management, renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, organic gardening and environmental outreach, he has helped connect sustainability with the practical experience of learning.
The significance of his approach lies in encouraging students to take ownership of their choices, discover creative solutions and recognise the social consequences of their actions. These lessons extend beyond the school environment, shaping attitudes towards consumption, conservation and community service.
Ultimately, Vividh Gupta’s leadership gives practical meaning to “Goodness Before Greatness.” It reinforces the idea that educational success is not measured by achievement alone, but also by the ability to make a positive difference to people and the planet. By placing responsibility, participation and compassion at the heart of sustainability education, he champions a vision of leadership that prepares young people not merely to understand environmental challenges, but to become active contributors to a greener and more responsible future.