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Nalandans show the way
"I will teach children of the slums to read and write," says P. Saikrishna, a student of Nalanda Junior College, without mincing words when asked as to how he would implement the oath he had taken a short while earlier for implementing the Ten Principles enunciated by the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
"My ambition is to do engineering and I am optimistic about getting a seat by topping in the examinations. However, I will not pay donation, even if it meant losing the seat," he asserts.
About 1,000 students of the college took out an impressive rally from Siripuram junction to Asilametta carrying banners and placards asking the public to make the dreams of Dr. Kalam a reality. The Police Commissioner, B. Prasada Rao, impressed on the children how the President had taken the nation on the path of progress as a scientist and how he went on to occupy the country's highest office.
"This was despite the fact that he came from a poor family. His courage and determination in the face of adversity had helped achieve great milestones in his career," Mr. Prasada Rao said.
The Regional Inspection Officer of the Board of Intermediate Education, A. Krishna Murthy, released a copy of the pledge. The students took an oath to uphold the principles and later formed into groups, fanned out in different directions and visited different educational institutions and offices. They administered the oath to the children of various schools and displayed the message of Dr. Kalam at prominent places in the offices. "We have got very good response and people are impressed by the `ten commandments'. On my part, I have decided to visit some of the villages and wean away at least a few persons from vices like alcohol. I will teach my maidservant to read and write," says Sri Divya.
"I will visit the poor in slums and impress upon them as to how they could come up in life like Dr. Kalam by their grit and determination," said Asha Kiranmai. T. Madhuri, says: "I will first find myself a good job, earn enough money and contribute funds for education of poor children."
The staff members of the institute, accompanying the student groups, got the shock of their life when the Administrative Officer of the District Medical and Health Office, V. Gopalakrishna Murthy, quipped, "Why do you waste the precious time of the children?" They replied that it all depended on the attitude of an individual, and were relieved when Mr. Murthy, satisfied with their answer, assured them of all help in their endeavour.
Only time can tell what would be the impact of the programme, but one thing is certain: Nalanda Institutions have set the ball rolling and it is high time others caught up with it.
B. MADHU GOPAL
Photo - K.R. Deepak
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