Former president APJ Abdul Kalam interacts with students of Sai International School in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 15: Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who arrived in the capital last night, interacted with school and college students here today.

“When you leave your school, a great friend accompanies you. Who is that friend? That friend is knowledge — a combination of creativity, righteousness and courage,” said Kalam while addressing a gathering of more than 1,200 students at the Sai International School.

Stressing on the need for a knowledge-based society in an era of globalisation, Kalam said: “Education gives you wings to fly. Achievement comes out of fire in our sub-conscious mind that ‘I will win’. So, each one of you will have ‘Wings of Fire’ which will indeed lead to knowledge and enable you to fly.”

He spoke about empowering the youth in development of the nation. “My young friends, in a decade, I have met more than 11 million children and youth from all parts of the country and world — developed and developing. I believe ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful source on Earth. The energy and enthusiasm of the youth give the experienced, a vision for life and a responsibility to leave a legacy that they can be proud of,” said Kalam.

The school auditorium erupted in applause and cheers as the “missile man” read out interesting quotes on the secrets to success and asked the students to repeat after him. “Courage to invent, to travel into an unexplored path, to discover the impossible, to combat the problems and succeed are the unique qualities of the youth.

“As a youth of my nation, I will work and work with courage to achieve success in all the missions,” the students hollered in unison.

Kalam urged the young audience to work hard, read more books to enrich their knowledge base and plant trees for a greener and cleaner earth. He asked the children what they would do if they join politics and the students questioned him about his personal experiences and vision for India.

He inaugurated the new Senior Secondary block of the school and planted a sandalwood sapling in its garden.

His next stop was the Bhubaneswar centre of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan where he unveiled the plaque of Ramakrishnan Block and K.M. Munshi Hall. Here too, he interacted with management students. “Why don’t you come closer to the dais and sit on the floor?” he asked the students, who were standing in the last rows of the jam-packed auditorium. The excited students jostled each other to grab the first row seats. Cracking another of his witty one-liners, he said: “You all are good guys. Don’t forget to wash those clothes after you get home.”

He cited some examples of successful personalities across the world and called for transparency, efficiency and creativity at work. “As MBAs you are not employment seekers but employment generators. Work with integrity and succeed with dignity. Even though the world will try to make you like everybody else, you have to carve a niche for yourself and be unique,” advised Kalam.

Students posed a volley of questions at him regarding failure of satellite technology, economic development and so on. “For a nation progressing from developing to developed status, we not only need a consistent growth rate of 10 per cent for a decade, but also a parallel growth of good citizens,” he asserted.

Later, in the evening, Kalam visited the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute. He inaugurated the Dalmia Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory and delivered the first Bijayananda Patnaik Memorial lecture.

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 15: “When you leave your school, a great friend is accompanying you. Who is that friend? That friend is knowledge – a combination of creativity, righteousness and courage,” said former President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, while addressing a gathering of more than 1200 students at the Sai International School here on Saturday.

Kalam, who arrived in the capital city last night, interacted with school and college students today. The former President, well known for his love for children, first visited the School. Stressing on need for a knowledge-based society in an era of globalisation, Kalam said, “Education gives you wings to fly. Achievement comes out of fire in our sub-conscious mind that ‘I will win’. So, each one of you will have ‘Wings of Fire’ which will indeed lead to knowledge and enable you to fly.”

He spoke about empowering the youth in development of the nation. “My young friends, in a decade, I have met more than 11 million children and youth from all parts of the country and world – developed and developing. I believe ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful source on the earth. The energy and enthusiasm of the youth give the experienced, a vision for life and a responsibility to leave a legacy that they can be proud of,” asserted Kalam.

The school auditorium erupted in applause and cheers as the “missile man” read out interesting quotes on the secrets to success and asked the students to repeat after him. “Courage to invent, to travel into an unexplored path, to discover the impossible, to combat the problems and succeed are the unique qualities of the youth. As a youth of my nation, I will work and work with courage to achieve success in all the missions,” the students hollered in unison.

Kalam urged the young audience to work hard, read more books to enrich their knowledge base and plant trees for a greener, cleaner earth. He asked the children what they would do if they join politics and the students questioned him about his personal experiences and his vision for India.

He inaugurated the new Senior Secondary block of the school and planted a sandalwood sapling in its garden.

His next stop was the Bhubaneswar centre of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and unveiled the plaque of Ramakrishnan Block and K. M. Munshi Hall. Here too, he interacted with management students. “Why don’t you come closer to the dais and sit on the floor?” he asked the students, who were standing in the last rows of the jam-packed auditorium. The excited students jostled each other, to grab the first row seats. Cracking another of his witty one-liners, he reamrked, “You all are good guys. Don’t forget to wash those clothes after you get home.”

He cited some examples of successful personalities across the world and called for transparency, efficiency and creativity at work. “As MBAs you are not employment seekers but employment generators. Work with integrity and succeed with dignity. Even though the world will try to make you like everybody else, you have to carve a niche for yourself and be unique,” advised Kalam.

Students posed a volley of questions at him regarding failure of satellite technology, economic development and so on. “For a nation progressing from developing to developed status, we not just need a consistent growth rate of 10 percent for a decade but also a parallel growth of good citizens,” he asserted.

In the later evening, Kalam visited the L. V. Prasad Eye Institute. He inaugurated the Dalmia Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory and delivered the first Bijayananda Patnaik Memorial lecture.