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Youth should take initiative to root out corruption: Kalam

Special guest: The former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at St. Teresa’s College where he inaugurated the St. Teresa’s Elysium on Sunday. College Principal Sister Christabelle is with him.

KOCHI: Corruption starts at home and the resolve to root it out has to start there, the former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has said. He was addressing students at St. Teresa’s College here on Sunday. It is not the government but the people, especially the youth, who should start a movement to stop corruption and a make a difference in life, he said to an overwhelming crowd of students, teachers, parents and other guests.

Mr. Kalam also inaugurated ‘St. Teresa’s Elysium’ — the platinum jubilee complex there. And he certainly did not disappoint the students. He made them say, after him, three pledges. “I will lead an honest life, free from all corruption and set an example to adopt with a transparent way of life,” was one. He called upon the students to take a bold stand at home, if there was any corrupt practice.

He said education was important as it inculcated a value system in students. “When there is a righteous heart, there is beauty in character; when there is beauty in character there is harmony at home; when there is harmony at home, there is an order in the nation and when there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world,” he said. One can learn these values only from three people in the world — mother, father and the primary school teacher, he said to the applause of the gathering.

His elaborated on his vision about 2020 India. The non-existence of the urban-rural divide, agriculture, the nation working together in symphony, best of health care, total eradication of poverty and crimes against women and children etc were some of the ones he stressed. “It should be the best place to live in,” he said.

He said his mother and the late musician M.S. Subbulakshmi, whom he called the mother of music, were the two women who had influenced his life. He recalled his childhood; when his day used to start at 4 a.m. for tuition in Mathematics, namaz and newspaper delivery, before going to school; he said his parents had taught him the dignity of labour.

Women, he said, are the most beautiful creations of God and an empowered woman can contribute much to society. Quoting mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi, he said the poet had visualised the contribution of women to society. He recited parts of the poem exhorting women to make that difference. Mahatma Gandhi University Vice-Chancellor Jancy James presided over the function. Sister Emeline, provincial superior and manager of the St. Teresa’s College, welcomed the gathering.

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