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Be unique and think big: APJ Kalam tells students
Former president APJ Abdul Kalam on Wednesday appealed school children to be unique, think big and work dedicatedly in the field of science and technology.
Former president APJ Abdul Kalam on Wednesday appealed school children to be unique, think big and work dedicatedly in the field of science and technology.
“The young and ignited minds should dream big and not be dictated by failures,” Kalam said while inaugurating the Children Science Congress at the 99th Indian Science Congress at KIIT University campus here.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the 99th Indian Science Congress on Tuesday. More than 15,000 delegates including Nobel laureates, scientists from abroad and students are participating in the five-day event, which will conclude on January 7.
Kalam’s address to 15,000-odd school children was more of an interaction than speech. He talked extempore, gave gems of advice to the children and fielded questions from them with aplomb.
Telling them that each of them should think he was unique, he made them recite: “I’m born with potential. I’m born with greatness. I’m born with wings. So I’m not meant for crawling. I’ll fly, I’ll fly, I’ll fly.”
He said the young students should work on their dreams and take calculated risks in life. The coming generation would have great aim in life, acquire knowledge continuously, work hard and be the captain of all problems, he said. “Make great books, great human beings and great teachers as your friends,” he advised the children.
Replying to a question how he managed to balance science and politics when he was president, the missile man said: “Science needs lots of money and money comes from politicians.”
To another question on space science and missile technology, he said: “Earth, Moon and Mars will become economic entity in the next three decades and we will be seeking lots of things from there.”
Kalam said imagination was the beginning of creation and young students should imagine what they desired. Knowledge of science could give one better eyes and solve sea of problems, he said.
