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`We felt like visiting a relative'

By Our Special Correspondent

The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, with Karthik Kailash (standing behind, to Mr. Kalam's left), and his family during his visit to Bangalore.

Bangalore, Jan. 21. Karthik Kailash, a VI standard student of Bangalore's Bethany High School is thrilled beyond words. He is still talking about his meeting with the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, during the latter's visit to Bangalore.

Last year, Karthik and his friend, Vikas, wrote to the President telling him their desire to meet him.

At that time they received an autographed photo of Dr. Kalam. This year, on January 13, Karthik and his younger brother, Shreyas, received a special invitation to meet the President on January 15.

The enthusiastic boy had surprisingly mature questions to ask the President. He wanted to know what the President was doing to stop child labour and was told about the law passed in 1994 and how as many working children as possible were being provided both work and education.

Asked how he would make India the best country in the world, Dr. Kalam replied that good teachers and good parents make good citizens of children and this would make India a great country to live in.

Karthik remembers the President telling him about his own schooldays and how his favourite subject was science and favourite sport, badminton. His advice for children was to have perseverance along with a goal and hard work. "President Kalam was warm and friendly and conversed with us in Tamil... we felt like we were visiting a relative," says Karthik.

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