AGE did not prove a barrier to Madam Kulmeet Kaur. Even as she guided her two daughters in their undergraduate studies, she made time to pursue her educational interest.

The 50-year-old mother graduated earlier this year from the National Institute of Education with a postgraduate diploma in education.

Last month, she was among 25 Sikh graduates who received an achievement plaque from Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education.

Said Madam Kaur of her educational sojourn: "It was tough at the beginning to juggle my studies with other responsibilities. But once you prioritise, it is possible to manage.

"Now I have done it. It has shown me that it is possible to achieve success if we are determined and committed.

"Age is no barrier and time constraint is no excuse not to pursue one's goals and ambitions."

She plans to take up a job as a temporary teacher in January. She told Tamil Murasu that her decision to renew her interest in studies after 25 years would not have been possible without the constant encouragement from her family members.

Madam Kaur's effort highlighted the importance of continuous development as a valuable virtue in today's challenging and competitive environment.

The graduation ceremony at the National Library was organised by the Young Sikh Association and the Sikh Centre and was used as a platform to engage Sikh graduates and to impress upon them the need to contribute to the Sikh community and Singapore society.

Ms Fu had some words of advice for the young Sikhs.

"As a member of the community you have grown up in, you need to stay connected to the society, understand its needs and know how to respond to these needs. As more opportunities are created for you to experience the issues and needs of the society, you would be able to appreciate what is happening in the society and how you can make a difference." she said.

The Sikh community in Singapore numbers only around 12,000 but they represent a visible and significant component of the social fabric of the country.

Member of Parliament Inderjit Singh has been instrumental in the rise of entrepreneurship in Singapore. Prominent lawyer Davinder Singh is widely regarded as one of the best litigators in Singapore. Another Sikh who shone in the Singapore legal fraternity was the late Justice Choor Singh, one of the founders of the Singapore Khalsa Association.

He authored several books on Sikh history and philosophy and donated generously to the National Institute of Education and the Singapore Management University.

Another who shone in the academic field is associate professor Kirpal Singh whose works have been published in leading academic journals.

The late Professor Kernial Singh Sandhu was a distinguished social scientist who became director of the Institute of South-East Asian Studies. In business, the enterprising Kartar Singh Thakral has been instrumental in building links to several emerging markets for Singapore businesses.