Former President APJ Abdul Kalam interacts with students of Free English Medium Residential School in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Nov. 15: Free English Medium Residential School run by Shoshit Seva Sangh, a non-government organisa-tion on Ambedkar Path, Khajpura, was buzzing with activities today.

The excitement was understandable: former President APJ Abdul Kalam visited the school in the course of his Bihar tour.

On other days, the 250 students from Musahar community at the school are engrossed in studies under the guidance of teachers. Today, the classes were suspended. The students as well as the faculty members were anxiously waiting for the scientist they consider their role model.

After attending a session in the Vidhan Sabha, Kalam headed directly to this school and spent around an hour interacting with the students.

Kalam reached the school half-an-hour late. As soon as he entered the tent put up on the roof of the building in which school is run, loud cheer and applause charged the atmosphere.

Kalam won the hearts of students with his big, bright smile. He waved to the students seated on the red carpet on the ground.

Cameras kept flashing till Kalam got uncomfortable and said: “I have come to see the children here. Media saheb, please change your direction,” requesting the mediapersons to let him see the children properly. Immediately, a loud round of applause by the students followed.

Kalam gave students a four-point success mantra. “First, you should dream high. Second, you should acquire knowledge, for which you need to read a lot. The third necessary quality is hard work and the fourth is perseverance,” he said.

Green missile

A Class VIII student of the school, Swati, stumped Kalam by asking him if missiles the former President had invented were eco-friendly.

Kalam paused for a moment and then replied that missiles did pollute the environment.