NAVIGATION OF TIME

PLANT TREES :As you all know, the earth rotates on its own axis once in a day having 24 hours or 1440 minutes or 86400 seconds. Earth itself orbits around the sun. It takes nearly one year for an orbit. With the completion of one rotation of earth around the sun, your age is added by one year as you are living on planet earth. Seconds fly, minutes fly, hours fly, days fly and years fly. We have no control over it. The only thing that we can do is, while the time flies, we can navigate the time. “Let not thy winged days, be spent in vain”. Let us all make the small beginning which will create a big change as has been demonstrated by Nobel laureates. For example, as a first step, let us work on the mission of planting billion trees as a token of contribution for improving the environment.

Planting of billion trees: India has over 200 million children in the age group of 5-17 years. If each child plants five trees and nurtures, we will have one billion additional trees within five years time, which can make a big difference to the atmosphere. Hence, I would suggest that each one of you should join the mission of planting billion trees in India.

ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF OUR DEVELOPMENT TODAY

I was reading a book called “Everyday Greatness”. I would like to share one event which is essential component of our development today. Today, what we need is a leadership with compassion. Let me narrate one experience which happened in Mexico. A riot was raging in La Mesa Prison in Mexico. Twenty five hundred prisoners were packed into a compound, which had been built for only six hundred. They angrily hurled broken bottles at the police who fired back with machine guns. Then came a startling sight. A tiny five feet two inches, sixty three year old woman, calmly got into the crowd, with outstretched hands, in a simple gesture of peace. Ignoring the shower of bullets, she stood quietly and asked every one to stop. Incredibly every one did. No one else in the world, but sister Antonia could have done this. Why did the people listen to her? All because of her decades of service to the prisoners by her choice. She sacrificed all her life for the sake of prisoners lived in the midst of murderers, thieves and drug lords all of whom she called her sons. She attended their needs round the clock, procured antibiotics, distributed eyeglasses, washed bodies for the burial and counseled the suicidal. This selfless act of love and compassion generated the respect among the prisoners to control themselves and urged them to do what she wanted them to do. What a great message for humanity? We have seen a leader with compassion is there for even prisoners, but we need leaders with compassion for the voiceless people of millions in the world.

EIGHT OATH POINTS

1. Science is a life time mission. I will work, work and work and succeed.
2. Wherever I am, a thought will always come to my mind. That is what I can innovate, invent or discover.
3. I will always remember that “Let not my winged days, be spent in vain”.
4. I realize I have to set a great scientific goal that will lead me to think high, work and persevere to realize the goal.
5. My greatest friends will be great scientific minds, great teachers and great books.
6. I firmly believe that no problem can defeat me; I will become the captain of the problem, defeat the problem and succeed.
7. I will work and work for removing the problems faced by planet earth in the areas of water, energy, habitat, waste management and environment through the application of science and technology.
8. My National Flag flies in my heart and I will bring glory to my nation.

CLEAN HABITAT IS MY GOAL

The status of environmental cleanliness is one of the indicators of development of a nation. As a nation, we have to keep our environment clean and tidy and it has to start from the home. This is essential for better health conditions of all the citizens and also for presenting a wholesome and aesthetic atmosphere for us. It is essential that we keep all our places of worship and rivers clean and tidy to preserve their innate divinity. Students can promote a clean habitat movement in their home and surroundings and participate in imparting the awareness amongst the rural and urban population leading to a clean nation. Clean homes lead to clean villages, clean villages will lead to clean districts, clean districts will lead to clean states, and clean states make a clean nation.

"PURA" PROGRAMME

The development of six hundred thousand villages implies development of agricultural community, artisans and non-farm workers by development of villages.


1. The villages must be connected within themselves and with main towns and metros through by good roads and wherever needed by railway lines and bus routes. They must have other infrastructure like schools, colleges, hospitals and other amenities for the local population and the visitors. Let us call this physical connectivity.

2. In the emerging knowledge era, the native knowledge has to be preserved and enhanced with latest tools of technology, training and research. The villages have to have access to good education from best teachers wherever they are, must have the benefit of good medical treatment, must have latest information on their pursuits like agriculture, fishery, horticulture and food processing. It means, there is a need for mission and education through electronic connectivity.

3. Once the Physical and Electronic connectivity are enabled, the knowledge connectivity is enabled. That can facilitate the ability increase the productivity, the utilization of spare time, awareness of health welfare, ensuring a market for products, increasing quality conscience, interacting with partners, getting the best equipment, increasing transparency and so in general knowledge connectivity

4. Once the three connectivities viz physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity are ensured, they facilitate earning capacity. When we Provide Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA), we can lead to upliftment of rural areas, we can attract investors, we can introduce effectively useful systems like Rural BPOs, Micro Finance.


Thus if we take up PURA as a mission, we can make villages as prosperous knowledge accumulation centers leading to villagers as entrepreneurs.

POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

Political system of a democratic nation gives vision for the nation, focuses on the national development and executes various missions of federal government through the supervision of the Parliament. Similarly, at the State level, political vision drives accomplishment of missions under the supervision of the legislature. Now this process is extended to the individual districts and constituencies. Still, over the years, the political system does not enjoy the full confidence of the public. Why? How to give respect for the politics? Political system is equal to Political politics and development politics. Higher the developmental politics, it will get higher respect among the citizens. Today, what is needed for every constituency is the development politics; this will facilitate the reduction in the number of people living below poverty line; promoting literacy and transforming the employment seekers and under employed people to higher ladder of employment potential and employment generators. Fortunately I find the results of elections tending towards selection of candidates based on their performance in the development of their region. Hence the political environment has to nurture development politics throughout the nation.

REMOVE "ME" AND "I"

During the year 2003, when he was visiting one of the Indian states, Arunachal Pradesh, he visited a Buddhist monastery at Tawang 3500 m. altitude. he was in the Monastery nearly for a day. he observed a unique situation in all the nearby villages, where young and experienced radiating happiness in spite of severe winter environment. Then, he visited the 400 year old Tawang monastery and there he saw monks of all age groups in a state of serenity. he was asking himself what is the unique feature of Tawang and surrounding villages which makes people and monks to be at peace with themselves. When the time came, he asked the Chief Monk, how in Tawang villages and monastery, he said "I am experiencing peace and happiness being radiated by everyone". There was a pause, the chief monk smiled. He said, "You are the President of India. You will know all about us and the whole nation.” Again, he said, "it is very important for me, please give me your thoughtful analysis".

There was a beautiful golden image of Lord Buddha radiating smile and peace. The Chief Monk assembled nearly 100 young and experienced monks. The Chief Monk and himself were sitting amidst them. The Chief Monk gave a short discourse, which he would like to share with you. Chief Monk said, "In the present world, we have a problem of distrust, unhappiness transforming into violence. This monastery spreads: when you remove “I” and “Me” from your mind, you will eliminate ego; if you get rid of ego, hatred towards fellow human beings will vanish; if the hatred goes out of our mind, the violence in thinking and action will disappear; if violence in our mind is taken away, peace springs in human minds. Then peace and peace and peace alone will blossom in the society". he realized the meaning of beautiful equation for peaceful life, but difficult mission for the individual is how to remove the ethos of “I” and “ME”. For this, we need the education inculcated in the young age as propagated by ancient philosophers.

OUR NATIONAL CHALLENGES

Today our challenge is to bring inclusive and sustainable growth of the nation especially under the present global economic turbulence and the threat of terrorism which is the greatest impediment for growth. Certainly we need innovative ideas in every sphere of our activity to overcome the challenges faced by the nation. What we need is integrated thinking, innovative ideas, integrated action and unity of minds. Let us first see what is meant by “integrated development of the nation”. It means the development of 6,00,000 villages of the nation. It means the development of the tier-two cities. It means that the infrastructure of the metro and large cities is in tune with the requirements of the time. We have to uplift the 220 million people living below the poverty line. We need to provide quality of life to all the citizens. We need to integrate the science and technology with the development process. We need to ensure that political vision, democratic process, legislation, executive actions at all levels, judiciary, media, e-governance and citizen feedback are all focused on a single goal of development of the nation. We need to gear up doubling of food production, energy independence, interlinking of rivers and nano technology revolution. In brief we all have to work in an integrated manner for sustained development. For that, what is needed today are the out-of-the-box ideas? For generating the ideas towards realizing the vision 2020, let me give my visualization of India before the year 2020.

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

a. Leader must have a vision.
b. Leader must have passion to realize the vision.
c. Leader must be able to travel into an unexplored path.
d. Leader must know how to manage a success and failure.
e. Leader must have courage to take decisions.
f. Leader should have nobility in management.
g. Leader should be transparent in every action.
h. Leader must work with integrity and succeed with integrity.

DISTINCTIVE PROFILE OF THE NATION

1. A Nation where the rural and urban divide has reduced to a thin line.
2. A Nation where there is an equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water.
3. A Nation where agriculture, industry and service sector work together in symphony.
4. A Nation where education with value system is not denied to any meritorious candidates because of societal or economic discrimination.
5. A Nation which is the best destination for the most talented scholars, scientists, and investors. 6. A Nation where the best of health care is available to all.
7. A Nation where the governance is responsive, transparent and corruption free.
8. A Nation where poverty has been totally eradicated, illiteracy removed and crimes against women and children are absent and none in the society feels alienated.
9. A Nation that is prosperous, healthy, secure, devoid of terrorism, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path.
10. A Nation that is one of the best places to live in and is proud of its leadership.

TOGETHER WE WILL WIN

Friends, I would like to share with you an inspirational experience, which I came across. At a Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100 mtr race. At the starting signal, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, others except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back......every one of them. One girl with Down's syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better" Then all nine linked their arms together and walked together and finally reached the destination. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. I would say that, you do not have to slow down. Rather by helping difficult areas, the feed back will make you go faster. If you pass this on, we may be able to change our hearts as well as someone else's. "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle".

DEFEAT THE PROBLEM AND SUCEED.

In a speech in the assembly to the MLA's in bangalore he said that problems are temproary only,so we must try to remove it and suceed.When I see you all, I would like to recall my experience in Karnataka. My theatre of action started in this land. I would like to share few experiences that will be relevant to all of you today. First and foremost experience was my assignment in ADE High grounds, Bangalore where I was designing, developing and flying a Hovercraft. I used to fly the Hovercraft. This is the place where I had the fortune of coming into contact with Prof. Satish Dhawan, who was then a professor in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, popularly known as TATA institute, celebrating its centenary this week. Prof. Satish Dhawan taught me how to design the contra rotating propeller for the hovercraft. The big message he gave me was, “Kalam, if you don’t do anything, no problem. If you do a complex mission or task, problems are bound to occur. Problem shouldn’t become your captain; you should become the captain of the problem, defeat the problem and succeed.” This message I got during the 1950’s. Even now, when I have completed 77 orbits around the sun, this great advice has remained the beacon light for all my actions. Why I am saying this to you, dear Hon’ble members? First and foremost you have succeeded in getting elected . I congratulate you on your election. The citizens of your constituency have reposed faith in your leadership qualities. You will be handling hundreds of problems everyday. You should defeat the problems and succeed with integrity. I am sure, you will do it and win hearts.

ELEVATING THE YOUNG MINDS

kALAM: While I was in college, I remember the lectures given by highest authority of the Jesuit institution Rev Father Rector Kalathil of St. Joshep’s college, Trichirappalli, Tamilnadu. Every week on Monday, he will take class for an hour. He used to talk about good human beings, present and past, and what makes a good human being. In this class he used to give lectures on personalities such as Buddha, Confucius, St. Augustine, Califa Omar, Mahatma Gandhi, Einstein, Abraham Lincoln including some scientific personalities and moral stories linked to our civilizational heritage. He also used to talk about great personalities living in the father’s lodge and who had made contribution with values in the service of the people. It is essential in the secondary schools and colleges to arrange a lecture by a great teacher of the institution once in a week for one hour. This class can be called as a Moral Science Class. That will elevate the young minds to love the country, to love the other human beings and elevate the young to higher planes.

MISSION OF A TEACHER

School is the next important environment where the character is getting shaped. The prime learning period for the children is five to seventeen years of age. The student spends approximately 25,000 hours in the school campus. Of course, at home, love and affection are imparted but again most of the time of the day is spent in preparing school’s homework and study, eat, play and sleep. Hence the school hours for children are the best time for learning and need best of environment, mission oriented learning with value system. I still hear the echo from Bestolozzy, a Greek teacher’s saying, “give me a child for seven years. Afterwards, let the God or devil take the child. They cannot change the child.” That is the great confidence of the teacher. What a golden mission for the teachers of great character and value system in the schools of all the nations to inculcate value system among the youth.

NATIONAL ETHICS

While inaugurating the Symposium on “Vision for professional India and Corporate India by the year 2020” at New Delhi on 9 January 2008 and participating in the valedictory function of National Summit of Foundation for Restoration of National Values on 10 November 2008, I put forth a thought that Profit with integrity leads to sustained growth. How is it possible? We need to have National ethics for sustained growth and peace. Wherefrom it starts?

o Nation has to have ethics in all its tasks, for sustained economic prosperity and peace.
o If nation is to have ethics; society has to promote ethics and value system.
o If society is to have ethics and value system, families should adhere to ethics and value system;
o If families have to get evolved with ethics and value system, parenthood should have inbuilt ethics.
o Parental ethics come from great learning, value based education and creation of clean environment that leads to righteousness in the heart.

So friends, finally the beauty in the character, harmony in the home, order in the nation and peace in the world emanates from the righteous hearts. Righteous hearts can be evolved only by three people, who are they? They are father, mother and an enlightened primary school teacher who loves teaching and his or her life is the message to the students.

HAVE A MISSION IN LIFE

Dear friends, when I visualize the students whom you are grooming, I see in them great teachers, great principals great doctors, great engineers, great social workers, great judges, and great political leaders. Let me share with you, what are the traits needed to accomplish these goals based on my experience.
I have seen three dreams which have taken shape as vision, mission and realization. Firstly, space programme of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), AGNI programme of DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) becoming the National Mission. Of course these three programmes succeeded in the midst of many challenges and problems. I have worked in these areas. I want to convey to you what I have learnt from these three programmes based on my personal experience.

a. Wherever there is a dream in life, that transforms into a vision and vision takes shape as many missions.

b. The necessity of high level thinking to transform the Vision into Missions.

c. Acquisition of knowledge from all sources.

d. Working and working without boundary conditions till the realization of the mission.

e. Leader absorbs the failure and takes the responsibility and gives the credit for success to his team while executing the Mission.

DYANAMICS OF SMILE

On a speech about the school and the teachers Dr kalam said"When we see a child, we see the innocent smile of the child. When we come across, the child in the Primary School, the smile is reduced, since the child has to carry a heavy school bag. When we see the child in their teens, their smile slowly fades away and the sign of concern appears. This is because of the anxiety about the future. When they complete their education, the question uppermost in their mind is, what will I do after my education? Will I get an employment? Will I get a proper employment? Can the Principals see this dynamics of smiles of the child and preserve the smile in their faces when they complete their school education. The Student should be confident that “he can do it”, he should have the self esteem and the capability to become an employment generator rather being an employment seeker. This transformation can only be brought about by a Principal who has a vision to transform, who has the ability to take risk against all challenges, who is a good listener, who is a good innovator, who maintains a cordial inter-personal or intrapersonal relationship and who has the ability to carry the parents, community, media and the teachers for accomplishing the vision of generating an enlightened citizen for the nation. Now let me share my views of an ideal principal. An ideal principal
Some time back, I met a principal who have become a role model to all his students. I asked the Principal what was the secret of his success. He told me the following:

a) He has been able to adopt himself to the age of the student.

b) As a principal, he makes sure that he takes two to three classes per week.

c) He considers that he is a teacher first and a principal later.

d) He practices everything he expects his students to do.

e) He ensures transparency in all his transactions and treats all students alike, irrespective of their religion, caste, language and economic status.

f) He has a foresight and visualizes the student’s growth in long term perspective.

g) During the 11 years of his tenure, he has ensured that at least 2000 students who were average performers have been groomed to excel in their studies.

THREE DREAMS

I have seen three dreams which have taken shape as vision, mission and realization. Firstly, space programme of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), AGNI programme of DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) becoming the National Mission. Of course these three programmes succeeded in the midst of many challenges and problems. I have worked in these areas. I want to convey to you what I have learnt from these three programmes based on my personal experience.

a. Wherever there is a dream in life, that transforms into a vision and vision takes shape as many missions.
b. The necessity of high level thinking to transform the Vision into Missions.
c. Acquisition of knowledge from all sources.
d. Working and working without boundary conditions till the realization of the mission.
e. Leader absorbs the failure and takes the responsibility and gives the credit for success to his team while executing the Mission.

FIVE MINDS

a) The disciplinary mind: mastery of mind in different schools of thought including science mathematics and history and proficiency in at least one professional craft.
b) The synthesizing mind: ability to integrate ideas from different disciplines or spheres into a coherent whole and to communicate to others.
c) The creative mind: capacity to uncover and clarify new problems, questions and phenomenon.
d) The respectful mind: awareness of and application for differences among human beings.
e) The ethical mind: fulfillment of one’s responsibility as a worker and a citizen.

TEACHERS WHO LIKE TEACHING

Dr kalam in a speech on the teachers and the facts he said :I just see a scene in a school having about 50 teachers and 750 students headed by a Principal. It is simply a place of beauty for creativity and learning. How is it possible? It is because the school management and the Principal selected the teachers who love teaching, who treat the students as their sons, grand sons or grand daughters. The children see the teacher, as a role model in teaching and how always they look pious through their daily way of life. Above all I see an environment in which there is nothing like a good student, average student or poor student. The whole school and teacher system is involved in generating students who perform the best. As an example, I recall my teacher Shri Sivasubramania Iyer who taught me, when I was ten year old boy, how the birds fly, in the class room and later by taking us to the sea shore to give practical example. The way he taught, gave me what to dream in life and what should be the pattern of education which I have to follow. And above all what should be the traits I should possess based on teachers life both inside the class room and in the village. This race of teachers and teacher of teachers should multiply.

POEMS ON COURAGE,RIGHTEOUSNESS,KNOWLEDGE:

Courage:
"Courage to think different,
Courage to invent,
Courage to travel into an unexplored path,
Courage to discover the impossible,
Courage to combat the problems
And Succeed,
Are the unique qualities of the youth.

Righteousness:
Where there is righteousness in the heart
There is beauty in the character.
When there is beauty in the character,
There is harmony in the home.
When there is harmony in the home.
There is order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation,
There is peace in the world."

knowledge:
Learning gives creativity
Creativity leads to thinking
Thinking provides knowledge
Knowledge makes you great

INDOMITABLE SPIRIT

ONCE in a gathering Dr kalam said: I would like to recall a great clarion call of indomitable spirit, which was given by Sir C V Raman, at the age of 82. The message is still reverberating in my mind: “I would like to tell the young men and women before me not to lose hope and courage. Success can only come to you by courageous devotion to the task lying in front of you. I can assert without fear of contradiction that the quality of the Indian mind is equal to the quality of any Teutonic, Nordic or Anglo-Saxon mind. What we lack is perhaps courage, what we lack is perhaps driving force, which takes one anywhere. We have, I think, developed an inferiority complex. I think what is needed in India today is the destruction of that defeatist spirit. We need a spirit of victory, a spirit that will carry us to our rightful place under the sun, a spirit, which will recognize that we, as inheritors of a proud civilization, are entitled to a rightful place on this planet. If that indomitable spirit were to arise, nothing can hold us from achieving our rightful destiny." Hence friends, now you realize, knowledge is equal to the equation: Knowledge = creativity + righteousness+ Courage+ indomitable spirit. Now the teachers and educators may like to see the real knowledge can be imparted to the students.

PROF KALAM'S CLASS ENDS.

Students are set to close their books for Kalam ki paathshala', as the former president's course ended on Tuesday. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) for concluding session of the course on Tuesday.
Dr Kalam had given sessions on September 13 and October 24 for the course Globalising and Resurgent India through Innovative Transformation' (GRIT). The topic of the concluding day was Creative Leadership'. Interestingly, the class comprised not only of the second-year Post Graduate Programme (PGP) students, who had opted for the course, but also first year students who wanted to hear Dr Kalam.
The ex-president reached the institute on Monday night and met student representatives. He took a synopsis about their progress and asked what the class expected in Tuesday's session.
"Creative leadership can't be defined to one sphere or aspect of governance. Creative leadership can happen anywhere in science, business, education, government, corporations, institutions or any other field," Kalam during the morning session said.
For the first time, students also got to interact with Dr Kalam's team. The members said that they really appreciated students' enthusiasm and were amazed by their response.
"I was really excited to meet him," said a girl as she was coming out of Class Room-2, where Dr Kalam conducted his sessions. The afternoon session was dedicated to students' presentations based on the 10 pillars, which the former president had discussed before the course started. Students will show the remaining half of presentations on Wednesday.

KALAM CALLS FOR ERADICATION OF TERRORISM

Highlighting the urgency to fight terrorism, the President said, "when evil minds combine, good minds have to work together and combat."
"While we have the basic structure in the form of law, police cadres, intelligence agencies and judicial system, we need to reinforce them with required updates with a code of conduct."
"Every citizen, every group, every religion and every political and executive system should allow the law to function without interference," the President said.
Referring to the threat of extremists groups in the north-east, he said this required immediate, coordinated counter measures including effective negotiations for restoring normalcy coupled with economic development within the next three to five years.
Kalam, who visited some of the Mumbai blast victims in hospital, said he felt the pain of many who lost their hearing ability, their limbs fractured and amputated and spinal injuries leading to permanent disability. He complemented the Maharashtra government which rose to the occasion to provide financial relief for medical support obtained from private hospital.

ROPE IN PEOPLE TO FIGHT TERROR:KALAM

The former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on Saturday advocated a stringent law to fight terrorism.
Answering questions at a media conference at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, he called for developing a “national consensus,” involving the people at large, for the eradication of terrorism.
Commending a four-pronged attack, he said when “evil minds” combined to unleash terror, “good minds” could not simply watch.
People in general should be made a willing partner in the fight against terrorism. If the people were involved, it would not be difficult to monitor terrorists’ activities. They should be told to inform the law enforcing agencies of any doubtful activity or peculiar incident in their neighbourhood.

WORLD PEACE MANTRA-NEPAL

KATHMANDU: The father of India’s missile technology and former president APJ Abdul Kalam was given a reverential welcome in Nepal on Monday as he arrived on a two-day visit crammed with programmes. The scholar-scientist, whose books are well known in the Himalayan republic, visited a Buddhist monastery soon after his arrival in Kathmandu and followed it with an address on the dynamics of societal transformation.
Drawing upon personal anecdotes, tales from the life of Mahatma Gandhi and his conversations with the monks on Monday, Kalam held the audience spellbound as he uttered his mantra for peace in the world: harmony in the home, which would lead to order in the nation and subsequently, peace in the world.
Kalam said he had asked the monks the secret behind their ever-smiling demeanour. In answer, they told him one should be calm and have kindness and clarity of thought. Nepal, he said, had taught him the way to peace and happiness.
The much-awaited visit culminates in Kalam addressing the 14th convocation of Kathmandu University .
Close on the heels of the former president, Nepal would receive a visit from foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee.
The Indian embassy in Kathmandu said Mukherjee will pay an official visit from Nov 24-26 at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Upendra Yadav.
“The visit is part of ongoing high-level bilateral interaction between the two countries,” the embassy said. “It will provide an opportunity to discuss the entire gamut of our extensive bilateral relationship with Nepal.”
This will be Mukherjee’s second visit to Nepal after the fall of the royal government of Gyanendra. His last visit was on the eve of the April election when he urged the then Girija Prasad Koirala government to hold the polls in time.

ABDUL KALAM PRAISES POLICE FORCE

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has said that the police force was doing a splendid job in containing insurgency and militancy across the country, particularly Assam. 

Releasing a book titled “The Folds of Insurgency” authored by senior Indian Police Service officer A.P. Maheshwari in the Capital on Tuesday, Dr. Kalam said the book was full of contemporary experiences of the police force.

The book presents a moving picture of life in times of insurgency.

It ends with “Reflections of a Cop” – a delineation of inner conflicts and external pulls and pressures a policeman suffers while carrying out his duty.

KALAM HAILS ISRO SCIENTISTS' ACHIEVEMENT

CHANDIGARH: As Chandrayan-1, India's first unmanned lunar mission, will embrace the moon today, former President A P J Abdul Kalam on Friday said that it will inspire the youth of the country.
Hailing the achievement of ISRO scientists, he told reporters here that “they (ISRO scientists) have two major characteristics that is excellence in technology and creative leadership.''
“It's an inspiration for the country,'' he said, adding that “ignited youth mind is the most powerful resource on the earth.'' He said that the Chandrayan-1 is expected to land on Moon at 8 PM .
“It will provide a lot of data...there are 11 experiments and the scientists will benefit from it,'' he said. The Chandarayan had already reached its intended operational orbit at a height of about 100 km from the Lunar surface. Kalam, who had himself c losely associated with the Chandrayan, said that his dream was that atronauts walk on land of Moon and Mars.

DISTRIBUTION OF LIGHT WEIGHT CALLIPERS

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will distribute light-weight callipers to 75 people, including 36 women, on Sunday at K.A.P. Viswanatham Higher Secondary School.

Over 150 people with physical disability were screened at a camp conducted last month and 66 people from Tiruchi and nine from Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ariyalur and Perambalur were identified as beneficiaries.

Orthopaedic surgeons V. J. Senthil from GVN Hospital and Tirunelveli-based Francis Roy assessed the degree of disabilities at the camp.

The callipers, jointly fabricated by Ministry of Defence and Nizam’s Institute of Medical Science, Hyderabad, have been sourced from Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India, Kanpur.

Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, V. Jayapal, Chairman of GVN Hospital, said officials at District Disabled Rehabilitation Office were trained to assemble the parts of callipers of different measurements in accordance with the individual needs. Ninety-one callipers have been assembled at the office, said the District Disabled Rehabilitation Officer R. Shyamala. Lions Club of Thanjavur Victory, Srirangam, Kadayanallur Golden Breeze and Courtalam Victory will distribute sports shoes to the beneficiaries.

ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS OF INDIA

The Knowledge Management (KM) India, the knowledge summit of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is going to be held on November 5-7, 2008 in Mumbai with the theme of 'Enhancing Competitiveness of India through Knowledge Management'.Former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam will deliver the Keynote Address at the summit. MBAUniverse.com is the Official Management Portal of this summit.

WEBCAST OF LECTURES

As part of the Institute Lecture Series 2008-09, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India will be delivering a lecture on the topic “Nation, Challenges and Leadership” at the Louis Kahn Plaza, IIMA main campus, Ahmedabad. This is the second lecture in the IIMA Lecture Series 2008-09. The first lecture was delivered by Mr. Gopalakrishnan, Exe Dir, Tata Sons on October 14, 2008.
Dr. Kalam who will be at IIMA, will be taking sessions with IIMA students early during the day, as a part of the Globalizing and Resurgent India through Innovative Transformation course (GRIT).

MOON MISSION IS A GREAT EVENT IN INDIA : KALAM

Hyderabad: Former president A P J Abdul Kalam the launch of India's maiden unmanned Moon Mission was a great event for the country.
"What I am looking for is a great event. It is a very important day. India lacks payload and it is going to land its payload on the moon," he said during a brief chat with reporters on the sidelines of the first world congress on disaster management here.

"It will take eight to 10 days (for landing of payload on moon)," he added.
He said earth, moon and mars would be considered as a single complex in future. "It has economic importance and strategic importance," he said.

The spacecraft carries11 scientific payloads, weighing 80 kg. It was at the instance of Abdul Kalam that a 29 kg moon impact probe, an Indian payload, was loaded. The probe is expected to identify future landing sites and explore the moon from close range.
Chandrayaan-1 was launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on Wednesday.

KALAM TO VISIT FLOOD AFFECTED BIHAR

Patna: Former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam with a team of experts will visit the flood hit areas in Bihar shortly.After reviewing flood situation in Bihar in a meeting with top officials of the state government on Sunday, the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that he wanted a permanent solution to the flood problem which was a recurring phenomenon in the state."Inviting Kalam was a part of the move of the state government to find a technically feasible solution for this problem," Kumar said.After a fresh flow of 172,500 cusecs water following incessant rains in Nepal, on Sunday morning, flood situation in the state worsened further. It has now spread into new areas of Purnea and Madhepura districts.Rescue and relief operations were speeded up following arrival of Indian Navy in the flood hit area of Kosi. People were being evacuated to safer places by 14 columns of the navy."Besides army, 355 soldiers of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) have already been deployed with well equipped motor boats," the Disaster Management Department Additional Commissioner Amrit Pratyay said.Pratyay added that 172 relief centres, 86 medical camps and 61 animal camps were functioning in flooded areas in full swing.Chief Minister Neetish Kumar has requested the Members of Parliament to give Rs 10 lakh each from their MP local area development scheme (MPLADS) fund for the rehabilitation of affected and renovation of Kosi embankment.Meanwhile, a criminal case was lodged against state Water Resources Minister Vijendra Yadav and other officials by a flood victim in the in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate at Saharsa on saturday.In a letter to Union Water Resources State Minister Jay Prakash Yadav, Veejendra clarified that as soon as he got the information about flood water rushing into the area on August 16, a team was sent to repair, but the Nepalese criminals created hindrance.In addition to this, a team carrying repairing materials was delayed unnecessarily by Nepali customs at Sunsary in Nepal. Later an SOS was sent to the government of Nepal, seeking help at the breach point.The Chief Minister further urged Vice President Hamid Ansari and the Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to extend cooperation at this critical moment.

11 POINT OATH FOR TEACHERS

1. First and foremost, I will love teaching. Teaching will be my soul.
2. I realize that I am responsible for shaping not just students but ignited youths who are the most powerful resource under the earth, on the earth and above the earth. I will be fully committed for the great mission of teaching.
3. As a teacher, it will give me great happiness, if I can transform, an average student of the class to performance exceedingly well.
4. All my actions with my students will be with kindness and affection like a mother, sister, father or brother.
5. I will organize and conduct my life, in such a way that my life itself is a message for my students.
6. I will encourage my students and children to ask questions and develop the spirit of enquiry, so that they blossom into creative enlightened citizens.
7. I will treat all the students equally and will not support any differentiation on account of religion,
community or language.
8. I will continuously build the capacities in teaching so that I can impart quality education to my students.
9. I will celebrate the success of my students.
10. I realize by being a teacher, I am making an important contribution to all the national development initiatives.
11. I will constantly endeavour to fill my mind, with great thoughts and spread the nobility in thinking and action among my students.

OATH ON BIRTHDAY OF Dr.A.P.J.A.K

take this opportunity to wish the only People’s President of India Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, who is celebrating his 77th birthday today. Let’s feel proud to have this great human being, who led our nation with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology Vision 2020 giving a road map for transforming India from the present developing status to a developed nation.
Let’s salute the Missile Man of India, who have proved us that the dreams can be chased to reality by his hard work, intelligence and desire.
Lets pray the God for our Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam to live a long healthy thousand years to ignite the young minds of India.

AT WHARTON

Question: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?

Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's "Rohini" satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal. By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure. That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization. The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, "You conduct the press conference today." I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.

REFLECTION OF SIMPLICITY

This happened when Dr.A.P.J.A.KALAM visited Madurai last week.Actualy the arrival time of his fight was scheduled at 3.25 pm.He came in paramount airways.But the flight came ahead 25 minutes of its scheduled time.The collector ,MLA ,big persons planned to come at arround 3.15 pm for receiving our former president. Because of the early arrival there was no one to receive him or to give any protection.He saw around the airport.There was no one to receive him.So,casually he started to walk out of the air port to the guest room.Actually there is a seperate passage for the VIP's,but he did not take that way.He took the passengers way out.While moving out, the people saw him and got excited that such a great personality coming in a passenger's way showing his simpilicity.They got autographs from him.By this time the security force came for prottection and the passengers were cleared from that area.then he proceeded for the ceremony.
such a great person -such a great simplicity.

INSPIRATIONAL STORY

There were about 70 scientists working on a very hectic project. All of them were really frustrated due to the pressure of work and the demands of their boss but everyone was loyal to him and did not think of quitting the job.

One day, one scientist came to his boss and told him - Sir, I have promised to my children that I will take them to the exhibition going on in our township. So I want to leave the office at 5 30 pm. His boss replied "OK, You're permitted to leave the office early today". The Scientist started working. He continued his work after lunch. As usual he got involved to such an extent that he looked at his watch when he felt he was close to completion. The time was 8.30 PM. Suddenly he remembered of the promise he had given to his children.

He looked for his boss, He was not there. Having told him in the morning itself, he closed everything and left for home.

Deep within himself, he was feeling guilty for having disappointed his children. He reached home. Children were not there. His wife alone was sitting in the hall and reading magazines.

The situation was explosive, any talk would boomerang on him. His wife asked him "Would you like to have coffee or shall I straight away serve dinner if you are hungry.

The man replied "If you would like to have coffee, I too will have but what about Children ??" .Wife replied "You don't know?? , Your manager came here at 5.15 PM and has taken the children to the exhibition ".

What had really happened was .... The boss who granted him permission was observing him working seriously at 5.00 PM. He thought to himself, this person will not leave the work, but if he has promised his children they should enjoy the visit to exhibition. So he took the lead in taking them to exhibition The boss does not have to do it every time. But once it is done, loyalty is established.

That is why all the scientists at Thumba continued to work under their boss even though the stress was tremendous.

By the way, can you hazard a guess as to who the boss was ????????

He was none other than Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam . .

KALAM INSPIRES STREET CHILDREN.

Former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam launched the initiative to formalize education for street children. Kalam, who is known to have a soft corner for children, conferred awards to child performers and inspired the little hearts of 750 street children to work hard and "reach for the stars". He also reasserted the need for educating children - as they were the key to a truly developed nation.

"The children can not be branded as street children any longer. This programme instigates hope for less fortunate children. Knowledge brings with it the ability to imagine, which in turn brings in new thoughts. The circle continues when these new thoughts provoke new ideas and knowledge and that is what leads to a great nation," Kalam maintained.

The former president, who has also authored thought provoking books like 'Ignited Minds' and 'Wings of Fire', in his classic story-telling manner enchanted his young audience with an anecdote on Nobel laureate Mario Capecchi, who although a street child, evolved into a brilliant scientist and transformed the foundation of gene mutation.

FAVOURITE ICON OF TODAY’S YOUTH.

On a recent survey conducted it was found out that Dr.A.P.J.ABDUL KALAM was the icon of today’s youth.Kalam was loved because of his simplicity.


A larger section of the youth choose their "icons" based on the character of the person and not blindly as, perhaps, an older generation did.

When asked, most of them, college students and young professionals alike, said that President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was their favourite icon. They looked up to him because of his simplicity. Rohan, a college student, said: "Despite being the first citizen of the country, he is more humble than many other citizens."

Not too far behind Dr. Kalam is former South African President Nelson Mandela. People chose him as their idol for his selfless fight against racial discrimination. Pooja, a student, admires him because "he moves with the times and sensitises the world through media."

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS-part-2

QUESTION:Sir, you recently supported the India-US Nuclear Agreement, which many don't know if it is good or not for India. Could you explain why it is good and what will India get if this deal is passed?

ANSWERS:Passage of this deal will enable India to get uranium from many countries for the existing uranium-based power plants. It will also accelerate the pace of development of thorium-based reactors using the fast breeder system which will eventually make India self-reliant. It will definitely be useful in our energy independence mission.

QUESTION:How do you view the debate over the nuclear deal which you have endorsed? Does the deal have the potential to emasculate indigenous science and technology efforts, as some critics fear?

ANSWER:The deal has nothing to do with Indian science. Definitely, this deal will put pressure on nuclear scientists and India to become self-reliant in thorium-based nuclear reactors.

QUESTION:Indians recently saw bribe money being brandished in Parliament. All this takes hope away from the people and results in a lack of faith in government. Why has governance taken a backseat? Why has politics fallen to such depths?

ANSWER:People have the responsibility to elect the right type of members of legislative assemblies and Parliament. There is no point showing helplessness after electing the members. Always remember, elect the representative who will work for development politics -- that is national economic development with a value system as the primary goal.

QUESTION:2020, when you had said India will become a developed nation, is now not very far away. What do you see as hurdles in our path? How can they be overcome?

ANSWER:I believe it is essential that economic prosperity has to reach 700 million people who are in the rural areas.The solution is establishment of 7,000 PURAs (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) across the country and graduating our economic development measure from growth in GDP to growth in National Prosperity Index, NPI.

QUESTION:After your term as President has ended, you continue to criss-cross the nation. Do you find any change in the popular mood from the time you were Rashtrapati to now?

ANSWER:What I see is that the youth is restless. They want to contribute to make India great.
The time has come to launch a youth movement for national development. This, I am progressing.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Former President Dr.A P J Abdul Kalam kindly answered some questions for an exclusive interview.

QUESTION:What are the top most recent achievements that India has reason to be proud of?

ANSWER:The Indian economy is in an ascent phase. Particularly, our economy is growing at 8% to 9% per annum for the last four years. However, there is a need to control inflation by increasing productivity, particularly in the consumer sector.

There is a marked improvement in our infrastructure such as roads, particularly rural roads, tele-density, international airports, metro-rail connectivity.In the agricultural sector, our food production has increased to 237 million tonnes. It is essential to give highest priority for agro-food processing. This will enhance earning capacity of farmers.

In the automobile sector, India has become a leading manufacturer of cars, commercial vehicles and components. The Nano car is an important milestone in the small car segment. Work is also on to convert the automobile to run with emulsified fuel having 75% fuel and 25% water.
The PSLV C9 mission launching precisely ten satellites, including eight satellites for international customers.

QUESTION:And where have we failed? What have been our greatest failures and where have we failed our people?

ANSWER:While there has been all-round growth in many sectors during the last 60 years, the fact that there are still 220 million people living below the poverty line shows the failure of our system. Hence, connectivity and working with integrity are the immediate solutions. Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) which gives physical connectivity, electronic connectivity and knowledge connectivity leading to economic connectivity in rural areas is the possible solution. We need 7000 PURA complexes for covering 600,000 villages in the country.

CHANCELLOR-IIST.

The former President and India’s rocket-missile technologist, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has been appointed Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram. The IIST was established by the Department of Space in 2007.

Mr. Kalam was the project director of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) first two SLV-3 (Satellite Launch Vehicles) flights in 1979 and 1980 from Sriharikota. The SLV-3 flight in 1980 was a big success, with the rocket putting the Rohini satellite in orbit. He was also the architect of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme under which Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul and Nag missiles were developed.

The IIST, a deemed university, is the world’s first space university to offer undergraduate programmes. It offers two four-year B.Tech programmes in Avionics and Aerospace, and a five-year integrated post-graduate programme in Applied Sciences.

About other heads:

G. Madhavan Nair, Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space, said on Monday evening: “I just talked to Mr. Kalam on the phone and he told me that he would like to be a different kind of Chancellor. He will do research on futuristic space technologies.” Mr. Nair said he was “really excited” over the development because Mr. Kalam “is the country’s topmost rocket scientist and to have him as Chancellor of the IIST is a blessing.”

B.N. Suresh, Director, IIST, said: “I am sure with Mr. Kalam as the Chancellor, the IIST will scale great heights.”

A PROFESSOR IN IIM-A

AHMEDABAD: For the first time in the history of Indian Institute of Management , Ahmedabad (IIM-A ), a former President of India has agreed to take not just a session but a whole semester for the students. That too, not the students of one course, but across all courses.

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, one of the architects of the country's space programme and ex-President, will take sessions for students of Post Graduate Programme (PGP), Post Graduate Programme - Agri Business Management (PGP-ABM ), Public Management and Policy (PMP) and Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) from the mid of September.

What is bringing Kalam to the IIM-A campus is the course offered by Professor Anil Gupta, called Globalising Resurgent India through Innovative Transformation (GRIT). The courses were traditionally offered to the PGP-II semester students in the fifth term. A total of 70 students have been selected for this course from across the batches. During the course, Kalam will visit IIM-A thrice and address eight of the 20 sessions in this course.

"The format of this course is somewhat different from the usual courses. Here, the students are going to work on 10 topics which will help us comprehend Vision 2020. These 10 topics are what Kalam calls - 10 pillars - and cover various issues that rural as well as urban India face today," said Srijan Pal Singh, the general secretary of the Student Council.

The students will work in teams on one topic and at the end of the semester, they will have to submit a project report as the course does not have an examination system of evaluation. Some foreign students, who are at IIM-A as a part of a student exchange programme, have opted for the course.

KASI VISWANATHAN - MOTIVATED FAN

"Dream is not the one we get during sleep, it is the one which destroys our sleep." - Abdul Kalam

I am Kasi viswanathan, studying in Mepco Schlenk Engineering college. An ardent fan of Dr.A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM.

I post lot of information regarding my mentor's ideas.

"Drive myself and drive others" - the objective of my blog.

Great thoughts create great men and great men create great thoughts.