Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam left over 2,000 people comprising citizens, educationists and schoolchildren mesmerised with his impressive speech for over an hour on Wednesday evening.
He left an indelible mark with his interactive address, which was full of inspirational quotes and poems, with a stress on education at the golden jubilee function of Dharampeth Education Society's arts and commerce college and the silver jubilee of RS Mundle High School.
Though his arrival was delayed by almost an hour, the 'Missile Man' was accorded a grand welcome with a standing ovation and a deafening roar from everyone present, a rare sight for any dignitary these days. Kalam quickly took charge and gelled with the children who were anxiously waiting for him. He started with sharing his thoughts of visiting Rastrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Ashram in Amravati at midnight, to mark the centenary of the saint's birth celebrations. He praised the great saint after whom Nagpur University has been named.
The Bharat Ratna recipient called on children to become unique and pursue education as it gives them the wings to fly. "I met over 11 million youths and every one wanted to be unique, but this world will oppose and force you to stay like everyone else. You've to fight a hard battle. Display courage to think differently, to invent, and to travel down unexplored paths and combat problems, to succeed. Aim high to walk the moon or even Mars, and only then will you be successful. Be thirsty for knowledge and have righteousness in the heart along with courage," he said.
Deliberating on the role of a teacher, the author of popular books like 'Ignited Minds' and 'Vision 2020' said that they should be inspirations for their pupils. He remembered his primary teacher Subramaniam Aiyar, when Kalam was a standard V student in 1941. "My teacher taught me how a bird flies for about an hour. That one lecture changed the course of my life as I realised that it is my future," said Kalam.
Citing a poem penned by a young Chilean biologist, the former scientist added that teachers should be able to promote curiosity and creativity among children. "Whenever my teacher used to enter the classroom, he used to radiate knowledge. Just like that, a teacher should be a facilitator of new ideas and encourage innovation and imagination. He/she should understand the pain of students and make the classroom a centre of creativity."
Explaining the mission for teachers, Kalam said there are no average or bright student, everyone can be successful depending on their gurus. He said he was working with educationists to change the primary education system in India, to make it more creative and interactive.
The 13th President of India took over the role of a teacher by administering an oath to children of becoming good citizens of the country, working for its development and saving others life without discriminating between caste, creed, religion and language.
The children also asked Kalam many questions, right from those about teaching science in the mother tongue to lack of research activities in the country.
On his most memorable moment, Kalam recalled a meeting with children from the northeastern states during his presidential sojourn. A blind boy named Shrikant asked Kalam whether he can become the first disabled president of India, since he had a dream to do that. "You need to dream high and work on that facing all oddities," said Kalam.
He left an indelible mark with his interactive address, which was full of inspirational quotes and poems, with a stress on education at the golden jubilee function of Dharampeth Education Society's arts and commerce college and the silver jubilee of RS Mundle High School.
Though his arrival was delayed by almost an hour, the 'Missile Man' was accorded a grand welcome with a standing ovation and a deafening roar from everyone present, a rare sight for any dignitary these days. Kalam quickly took charge and gelled with the children who were anxiously waiting for him. He started with sharing his thoughts of visiting Rastrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Ashram in Amravati at midnight, to mark the centenary of the saint's birth celebrations. He praised the great saint after whom Nagpur University has been named.
The Bharat Ratna recipient called on children to become unique and pursue education as it gives them the wings to fly. "I met over 11 million youths and every one wanted to be unique, but this world will oppose and force you to stay like everyone else. You've to fight a hard battle. Display courage to think differently, to invent, and to travel down unexplored paths and combat problems, to succeed. Aim high to walk the moon or even Mars, and only then will you be successful. Be thirsty for knowledge and have righteousness in the heart along with courage," he said.
Deliberating on the role of a teacher, the author of popular books like 'Ignited Minds' and 'Vision 2020' said that they should be inspirations for their pupils. He remembered his primary teacher Subramaniam Aiyar, when Kalam was a standard V student in 1941. "My teacher taught me how a bird flies for about an hour. That one lecture changed the course of my life as I realised that it is my future," said Kalam.
Citing a poem penned by a young Chilean biologist, the former scientist added that teachers should be able to promote curiosity and creativity among children. "Whenever my teacher used to enter the classroom, he used to radiate knowledge. Just like that, a teacher should be a facilitator of new ideas and encourage innovation and imagination. He/she should understand the pain of students and make the classroom a centre of creativity."
Explaining the mission for teachers, Kalam said there are no average or bright student, everyone can be successful depending on their gurus. He said he was working with educationists to change the primary education system in India, to make it more creative and interactive.
The 13th President of India took over the role of a teacher by administering an oath to children of becoming good citizens of the country, working for its development and saving others life without discriminating between caste, creed, religion and language.
The children also asked Kalam many questions, right from those about teaching science in the mother tongue to lack of research activities in the country.
On his most memorable moment, Kalam recalled a meeting with children from the northeastern states during his presidential sojourn. A blind boy named Shrikant asked Kalam whether he can become the first disabled president of India, since he had a dream to do that. "You need to dream high and work on that facing all oddities," said Kalam.
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