Newsfeed

One would be forgiven for the frisson of pure intellectual joy upon walking into the senior school library on 20th May, 2024, and being met with the TOK SAMVAAD banner.  

There is, inevitably, one event in the life of every senior school student that moulds them into an evolved student and launches them onto a path of success. Following the testimonials many a DP1 student gave following the Theory Of Knowledge Exhibition, it may not be a stretch to claim that it is the key point of our DP journeys.  

The TOK Exhibition – or TOK Samvaad, as it is fondly referred to within the student body –is merely an event; its rich history exceeds itself and has comfortably cemented itself as a tradition, or even a rite of passage, in the PSG IBDP1 progression. What started out as a word vomit of our TOK ideas onto a trifold later amalgamated into thought-provoking conversations within our peers and a showcase of our knowledge and understanding of Theory of Knowledge.  

While some students preferred to describe the 2024 TOK Samvaad as “exhausting” & “climactic” –completely understandable, indubitably – yet others chose to recall the event as “borderline electrifying” and “invigorating.” For truly, naught is better than participating in stimulating discussions regarding the nature of knowledge alongside the same people one discusses trivial matters with! Eyes were opened and minds were no longer narrowed as the lively babel of visitors from nearby schools intermingled with the chorus of IBDP TOK knowledge espoused by our very own DP1 students.  

The day unfolded with the highly anticipated inaugural ceremony’s satirical play entitled Andheri Nagri Chaupat Raja, centred around an allegorical ancient king who would suddenly ‘hiccup’ when faced with the questions of his subjects.  It set the tone of the day as casual yet provocative, effectively ensuring that the day would synthesise fruitful and prolific debates around the nature of knowledge and its manifestation in our daily lives. Following succinct introductory (and appreciative) notes from Capt. Bajaj, Ms. Nag, and student body president Adhiveer Kapuria, TOK Samvaad was in motion.  

The flexible venue planning allowed visitors and parents to choose which area of TOK they wished to focus on for the day – those in the mood for Knowledge and Language or Indigenous Societies could head to room 204, and get a front-row seat to the engaging debates about knowledge and its dissemination as well as its preservation. Others wanting a more laser-focused understanding of TOK headed towards room 208, where students and teachers were rife with commentary about Knowledge and Technology, and their intersection. It was in this manner each spectator of the day gained a valuable insight into (nearly) all areas of TOK.  

Students did more than just present their own ideations: interacting and questioning their peer’s line of thinking aided the metamorphose into IB thinkers and knowers.  

Why this object? Why this theme? Why this avenue of knowledge in the first place? Question everything. Leave nothing to be fleshed out. Almost bloodthirsty in our pursuit of knowledge, the TOK Samvaad was clearly more multifaceted, more layered than a mere exhibition of our IBDP progress. Akin to the subject itself, our TOK Samvaad indeed uncovered more facets to ourselves as knowers and prepared us accordingly into becoming the knowers of tomorrow.  

All in all, the TOK Samvaad proved to be a hub of accessible intellectuality that will leave indelible marks on each of us, without a shadow of doubt.  

-Zitien Tickoo