Work for society, Abu Dhabi Indian School pupils told

Abu Dhabi: Indian President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday reminded Abu Dhabi Indian School (Adis) pupils of how fortunate they were to receive an education while emphasising the need to be socially committed.

"You are fortunate to receive education in this school. The purpose of giving you education is not merely to put you in a profession so that you live well, but it is an investment for the future," Patil said.

"You are the future of India and the leaders of tomorrow," she said.

Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, and B.R. Shetty, the chairman of Adis, and several other dignitaries attended the function.

The president praised the growth of the school from a small institution with three teachers and 53 elementary level pupils 35 years ago to a leading school with more than 5,000 pupils and 450 staff today.

Education should help appreciate the underlying commonality of the future of the earth. Hence, an essential objective of education must be to create individuals who are sensitive to their environment, and to the needs of fellow human beings, she said.