Kerala - Kochi   

A `dream-come-true' for many students

Staff Reporter

KOCHI : Excitement was writ on her face when Shyama, a Plus Two student of S.R.V. Higher Secondary School, asked President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam here on Tuesday to help her understand the difference between `dream' and `desire'.

Her question, "Lord Buddha had said that desire is the cause of all evil. But when I read your books and listen to your speeches, you always exhort us to dream a lot." He responded to the impromptu question with ease: "I personally believe that desire for a wrong thing is always wrong. But to dream for a good aim is always right. There is a lot of commonality between dream and desire. What is a dream? For example, a child's dream of going to Mars is not a wrong desire," he said. Mr. Kalam's interaction with students was so vivacious that he continued the session oblivious of the schedule set by the organisers. The teacher in him came alive during the interaction.

"What would you like to become?" the President asked the students. "How many of you want to become a doctor?"

While there were no takers for medicine, many raised their hands when Mr. Kalam asked: "How many of you want to become an engineer?" He was surprised to see that only a few wanted to take up teaching as a career.

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