Meet and Greet with Dr. Sanjeev Chopra

Sanjeev Chopra is a retired IAS officer of the 1985 batch from Kapurthala, Punjab. He is a resident of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He was a Former Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration and the author of  We the People of the States of Bharat: The Making and Remaking of India's Internal Boundaries, published in 2022. He is now the patron and honorary consultant to the Valley of Words International Literary Festival, held annually in Dehradun, India.

On June 9th, we met with Dr. Sanjeev Chopra for a half-hour meet-and-greet. Dr. Chopra shared his inspirations, travels, and love for reading, making it an interactive learning session for our students and teachers. 

As the author of We the People of the States of Bharat: The Making and Remaking of India's Internal Boundaries, Dr. Sanjeev taught us about the idea behind the book and its significance. We discussed how books and language are the greatest treasures, how the Foundation of Valley Of Words came to be, and Dr. Sanjeev's life lessons and takeaways. 

Visit the Valley of Words(VOW) Foundation: https://www.valleyofwords.org

Host: Rishona Chopra, School Captain 

Some key details about his visit:

Rishona, the school captain, invited him to speak to students about valuing literature and art and working with young people. 

Dr Sanjeev Chopra was introduced as a retired IAS officer who set up the Dehradun Valley of Words Literature Festival. He discussed his background in the IAS and different postings across India over 36 years. 

Dr Chopra emphasised the importance of reading books and critically discussing them at literature festivals. He shared his love for reading and how it has sustained him throughout his career and travels. The discussion was rich and diverse, covering various topics, including his recommendations for the Bhagavad Gita, the festivals he has attended, and his work promoting literature in Dehradun through the Valley of Words organisation. 

Dr. Chopra's visit was a unique opportunity for students to gain insights from his experiences, particularly in books, reading, and using skills to positively impact society.