Dr Sharad S Chauhan IPS
DGP and Managing Director, Punjab Police Housing Corporation
Every year, school halls fill with applause as toppers are called to the stage. The medals glint under the lights, cameras flash, and proud parents beam from the audience. These moments are beautiful, and they should be. Excellence deserves recognition. But as someone who has watched life unfold on the streets for decades, there is another truth worth sharing: beyond the spotlight sits a much larger world of quiet achievers who rarely hear their names announced.
In every classroom, office, or team, there are people who work hard, keep their heads down, and do what is right without expecting applause. They are not the highest scorers or the loudest voices. They are the ones who hold things together. Yet we often forget them because our eyes are fixed on the trophies. As a society, we have come to believe that celebrating the few at the top automatically inspires the many below. It seems logical, but real life does not always work that way. The child who sees the same faces on stage year after year often stops believing the system has a place for him. The employee who does his best but is never noticed eventually stops trying as hard. The sportsperson who trains every morning but never gets picked may wonder why effort matters at all.
The idea of honouring toppers is not wrong. What is wrong is believing that recognition is a limited resource, reserved for a select few. Motivation does not grow from comparison; it grows from inclusion. When people feel that their contribution is seen and valued, they begin to give their best. When only a handful are celebrated, the rest begin to disappear quietly inside.In the police service, life provides its own kind of report card. The toppers of training academies may begin their careers with medals and attention, but once the uniform meets the street, a different test begins. Out there, it is not about scores; it is about stability, patience, and compassion. The officers who make the biggest difference are often not the ones who topped the class, but those who show up every day with humility and strength.
The same is true everywhere. Schools, offices, neighbourhoods, and families survive because of the dependable middle. These are people who may never make headlines but are always present when needed. They are the ones who hold the line, who continue working when enthusiasm fades, who carry responsibility without seeking reward. They are the backbone of every system.Perhaps it is time to rethink how we define excellence. True excellence is not just about being ahead; it is about bringing others along. A society grows not when it celebrates its best alone, but when it lifts its average. The measure of progress is not how brightly the top shines, but how steadily the base stands.
Imagine a school function where awards are given not only for marks but also for perseverance, teamwork, and kindness. Imagine an office where quiet consistency is recognised alongside innovation. Imagine a neighbourhood that honours the citizen who helps others without being asked. These gestures may seem small, but they change how people feel about belonging. When recognition spreads wider, effort deepens everywhere. Parents too can play a role in reshaping this thinking. Every report card should come with two conversations. One about marks, and another about character. If a child learns how to handle failure with dignity, how to help a friend in need, or how to keep trying after disappointment, then that child is already ahead in the only race that matters the race of life.
Even in sports, this principle applies. Every team has a few stars, but victory depends on the entire unit. The runner who sets the pace, the player who passes rather than scores, the substitute who trains as hard as the captain — these are the people who turn skill into success. If we celebrate only the medals, we forget the meaning of teamwork.
Recognition has power. It can build or break. When it is shared wisely, it strengthens the fabric of society. When it becomes exclusive, it divides. The toppers will always inspire by their excellence, but it is the encouragement of the many that sustains a healthy, confident community. Perhaps this new year, schools, organisations, and families can add one more category to their awards — the award for consistency, kindness, or courage. Let it remind everyone that effort, not only outcome, is worth celebrating. Let us begin to see achievement not as a ladder with space for only a few, but as a circle that includes everyone willing to try.Life, after all, does not give prizes for the highest marks. It rewards perseverance, empathy, and strength of character. The street teaches this lesson daily. Success may stand on a stage, but dignity walks quietly among the crowd.
The Gyan: “A society grows not when it rewards the best alone, but when it recognises the worth in everyone who tries.”