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A memorable encounter in Aligarh

Parul Sharma

– PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA

ENCOUNTER IN ALIGARH: Former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam talking to a visually-impaired student during an interaction with school children at Aligarh Muslim University on Tuesday. Looking on is AMU Vice-Chancellor P. K. Abdul Azis.

ALIGARH: Tuesday turned out to be a memorable day for Abbas Raza. For none other than the former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam shook hands with this visually-impaired Class IV student of Ahmadi School for the Blind at Aligarh Muslim University here.

More than 450 students from 36 schools of Aligarh city, including eight from the University, sat captivated listening to the eminent scientist for over an hour at Kennedy House on the campus.

During the rare interaction organised by the University, the schoolchildren not only got a chance to hear Mr. Kalam’s motivating speech but also grabbed the opportunity to shoot questions at him.

As soon as he arrived, the former President walked up to the children sitting in the audience and shook hands with some of them before addressing them.

“Knowledge is the foundation for all progress. Knowledge has three components: creativity, righteousness and courage… An indomitable spirit can make you achieve a lot of things,” the former President of India told the youngsters.

He recalled the contribution of his teachers to shaping his personality: “One of my teachers in Class I took a special interest in me. He even came to my house and told my family that I was a good student. My family was filled with joy. When he noticed my handwriting was poor, he gave me a writing exercise to improve it.”

When a young boy asked the former President what inspired him to become a scientist, Mr. Kalam answered: “When I was a ten-year-old boy, I had a great teacher. When he taught me how a bird flies, a scientist entered in me. He injected into me a vision for my life.”

Asked what he enjoyed more -- being a scientist or a President? -- Dr. Kalam said: “It is important to like what one does. I loved my job as the President, a scientist and now as a teacher.”

He administered an oath to students motivating them to become great human beings and courageous in the face of any adversity.

Addressing the students, Dr. Kalam said: “It is important to first set a goal, acquire knowledge to achieve that goal, work hard and have perseverance and then you can defeat any problem.”

He also urged the students to undertake some social responsibilities and teach at least five persons to read and write before finishing Class XII.

The “missile man” maintained that once the country became economically developed by 2020, a lot of problems like poverty and unemployment could be dealt with.

The children were thrilled interacting with Mr. Kalam. “He has been the President and yet he was so down to earth. We had a great time,” said Ruchita Singh and Nida Ashhar of Senior Secondary School for Girls at AligarhMuslim University.

AMU Chancellor Justice A. M. Ahmadi and Vice-Chancellor P. K. Abdul Azis were among those present on the occasion.

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