Karnataka - Belgaum   

Kalam shares his views with college students

Staff Correspondent

He involved the youth in interactions on chosen topics

ALL SMILES: President A.P. J. Abdul Kalam shaking hands with a child during Maratha Mandal`'s Dental College's Platinum Jubilee celebration in Belgaum on Sunday. — Photo: PTI

BELGAUM: The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was in Belgaum for a little over three and a half hours on Sunday. He participated in the sixth annual convocation of Visvesvaraya Technological University and Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Maratha Mandal.

His addresses to graduates and students studying in various streams of sciences and engineering/technology, were aimed at motivating and igniting young minds. Setting aside his prepared speech, he chose to speak extempore and involved the youth in interactions on chosen topics.

Growth of youth

Kalam was apparently more concerned with the growth of the youth as useful and strong citizens who could contribute their strength to make India stronger both technologically and economically and suggested certain tools to achieve these goals. He quoted stories from his own experiences and from others.

He administered the oath of courage and wanted to know how many of them were prepared to go to planet Mars. Almost every student raised his or her hands. But, there was no response when he asked how many of them would like to become a politician. To his question on how many would like to become a politician to fight corruption, a couple of students raised their hands.

Apt example

Kalam narrated the story of G.R. Shanmugam, who started his career as a petty potter and cleaner of a truck and became the vice-president of All India Motor Transport Congress and president of Karnataka Lorry Owners Association. He also recalled how his former Chief in DRDO Satish Dhawan instilled courage in him when he was indecisive over his role in a project while working with several senior scientists.

Electrical energy

Later, in a brief interaction with students, he said about 20,000 MW of electrical energy from nuclear energy was to be added to the national grid. Since Thorium was abundant in the country, it would be utilised for production of electrical energy. India was keenly looking forward to becoming self-reliant in energy, he said.

Jayashree N. Halagekar, chairperson of the mandal, welcomed the president and other dignitaries, including D.H. Shankarmurthy, Higher Education Minister, Shashikant A. Naik, Horticulture Minister, and Suresh Angadi, MP. A life size portrait in oil paints with three-dimensional effect was presented to the President.

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