IANS

Mumbai, Feb 14 : "If I fail in my examinations, I will not commit suicide, I will try harder next time, and will consider each failure as a stepping stone to success."

This was the vow by 11-year old Pooja Saxena studying in Class V at Children Welfare Centre High School & Junior College at the school's annual day celebrations, on the eve of Valentine's Day Saturday evening.

The school attempted a unique approach to drive home the message of love on the occasion - "Love Your Life" - in Maharashtra and Mumbai which have been rocked by over 50 student suicides in the past five weeks or so, principal Ajay Kaul told IANS.

"The socially relevant messages were not presented through dull sermons but by entertaining media," Kaul said.

These included a short play on student suicides entitled "Ahsaas" (experience) directed by film and theatre actor Ishrat Ali, and enacted by the school's students.

"It was complete entertainment, with the message subtly weaved in, and the play was kept light to capture the young minds," said Ali, whose son studies in the school.

Music director Jatin Pandit (of the former Jatin-Lalit duo) exhorted students to "think positively and see an opportunity in every negative development".

"Student suicides are on the rise in recent times and it is a matter of great concern for all academicians. I is very important for us to motive students by emphasizing that failure is not the end of the world," Kaul said.

The 28-year-old school has over 3,500 students drawn from the posh areas of Andheri-Vile Parle, Juhu areas of north-west Mumbai.