APJ Abdul Kalam signs books he gifted to the St. Xavier’s school library on Tuesday. Picture by Arnab Mondal

Former president and scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam shared his thoughts on life, dreams and India’s future at the first of the Distinguished Lecture Series presented by Alumnorum Societas (Alsoc), the old boys’ association of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, on Tuesday.

Kalam’s speech was peppered with words of wisdom and advice for students as well as their parents and teachers. “Beauty in your character leads to harmony at home and brings order in the nation,” he said, urging parents and teachers to lead a child towards righteousness and encourage them to be unique like Wright Brothers, Graham Bell, C.V. Raman and Madame Curie.

He warned students against peers who compare them with others and “try to take away the uniqueness”. “Fight hard till you become unique.... Become the captain of your problems, defeat them and achieve success. Only then can you become unique.”

Ever a teacher, Kalam made the audience repeat Sufi poet Rumi’s famous words: “I am born with potential… I have wings, I will fly…”.

The speech was followed by an interactive session where students brought up a wide range of topics from corruption and the poor state of health care in rural areas to the rupee slide.

Kalam invited them to write to him with ideas for India’s development.