With the former Governor of West Bengal Gopalkrishna Gandhi underscoring the need to conserve natural resources, the curtain came down on the three-day 152nd Founder's Day celebrations of the Lawrence School at Lovedale near here on Friday.
Addressing the students, Mr.Gandhi exhorted them to ensure that they leave, “as light a footprint as possible” and added that they should make efforts to, “replenish all what you may have pulled out of the earth”.
They should always consider themselves as citizens of Planet Earth.
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Pointing out that they would be moving into a world where land is shrinking and water evaporating, he said that there was a scarcity of resources which are needed to sustain life.
Referring to the need to reduce pressure on water supply in the Nilgiris, he acknowledged the practical and imaginative approach to rain water harvesting adopted by the Lawrence School.
Deprecating the tendency to pose trivial questions to children, he said that it reflected a poverty of thought.
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What is important is that they should derive happiness from what they do.
The children should give their best in whichever field they choose honestly.
Highlighting the importance of maintaining a balance, he said that there should be balance between, “individuals and individuals, individuals and society, and society and nature”.
It will help give and get happiness. He distributed prizes to students who had excelled in various spheres. The Headmaster Y.H.V.S.Prasad welcomed the gathering.
The Deputy Headmaster T.Devarajalu proposed a vote of thanks.
Earlier, interacting with newspersons Mr.Gandhi said that it was always a pleasure to visit the Nilgiris in general and Lovedale in particular.