Awards

Mr. R. N. Zutshi was the first Indian to be appointed as the Principal of The Daly College (DC). When he took over from D. F. Jack in 1956, he had already served at DC for thirty four years. A student of  St. John’s School and St. John’s College, Agra, he was appointed Assistant Master in 1922. He was promoted to Housemaster in 1943 and to Headmaster in 1948. He was well travelled, having visited China, Japan, Malaysia, Europe including England, was a good sportsman, and was known for his great energy and sense of humour !

Mr. Zutshi was not only involved in his work at the DC, but also found time for public work. He was, in 1958, nominated as a member of the newly formed Municipal Corporation of Indore. From 1960 to 1962, he served as Deputy Mayor, and in 1963, was elected as the Mayor of Indore. 

Simultaneously, in 1957, he was involved in the selection of Government of India Merit Scholars. He also played a significant role in the formation of India's most prominent Board of Education for public and private schools - the Central Board of Secondary Education (C. B. S. E.) and, as he encouraged the foundation of a University in Indore, he was nominated on the Court of the University in 1964. In the same year, he became President of the Indian Public Schools' Conference (I. P. S. C.). 

Looking at his selfless service in building the foundation blocks of the society in newly independent India, he was awarded with one of India's most coveted civilian honours - the Padma Shri - at the hands of the President of India in 1965. 

Mr. Zutshi passed away on the last day of term in April of 1968.

His daughter, Old Dalian Sulekha Zutshi, instituted the Padma Shri RN Zutshi Memorial Medal in 1997 in the memory of her late father. The Committee, comprising of the President Board of Governors, Principal, President ODA, and Secretary ODA, decides every year to confer the medal to an Old Dalian for outstanding contribution in any field of activity such as industry, business, management, Public life, social service, diplomacy, defence services, medicine, science, research, education, engineering, sports, visual & performing arts, media, etc.

Recipients of Padma Shri RN Zutshi Memorial Medal: