Wizard’s Wisdom

Appearing in his elements while interacting with kids,Dr Kalam did what comes naturally to him—teach them about values and vision statements.

“You should become the captain of the problem,” he said while exhorting students to identify an “impossible mission” and strive to attain it.

Asking students to take the oath: “I can do it,we can do it,India can do it,” Kalam exhorted kids to plant saplings. “A billion trees can bring about a smile on faces of billions of Indians,” he said as he answered the question: “Have you done everything you wanted to do as President?”. “My purpose of becoming the President was to work for the India 2020 vision and hopefully by 2020 when India becomes self-reliant,my dream would be fulfilled,” he said taking another question from the audience: “What should we do to make India a global power?”

Asking students to identify aim of life,acquire knowledge and work hard,Kalam encouraged students to join politics too. “India is in need of leaders with compassion,” he said,narrating the story of a visually challenged man who wishes to become the President of India. “To aim small aim is crime,” he said asking students to excel in every activity.

The interaction proved to be a learning experience for students as Dr Kalam spoke about dealing with failure,owning responsibility,sharing success.

Calling himself a teacher,Kalam persuaded students to repeat after him another success formula: “Knowledge = creativity+ righteousness of the heart+ courage.”

Earlier,the interaction started with the prayer,the request posed as a pre-condition by Kalam for agreeing to grace the occasion. Principal Farida Abraham presented the vote of thanks as Justice Vishnu Sahai rightly dubbed Kalam as a learned man who would be worshipped everywhere and for all times.