The Hindu Business Line : Children promise President a corruption-free India

Mr Kalam said parents and teachers played a great role in evolving children. It is not just education. Values too should be inculcated in the first 17 years.

The President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, with students of Jubilee Hills Public School in Hyderabad on Friday. - P.V. Sivakumar

Hyderabad , Aug. 5

A THOUSAND tiny hands rose to say `yes' to a question by the President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, whether they can make a corruption-free India.

Impressed by their spontaneous response, Mr Kalam said they could make a big brigade to fight corruption when they grew old.

Interacting with students belonging to different schools here on Friday, he took an oath from the students. In one voice students repeated the oath: "I will not support any religious, caste or language differentiation. I will be honest and endeavour to make a corruption-free society."

"Is it possible?" he asked them. The students raised their hands, saying "yes."

He then asked the students to have a clear vision of their own future. "What I will be remembered for," should be the touchstone of that vision.

"Vision is the life of the nation," he said, giving the examples of late Vikram Sarabhai, C.V. Raman, Subramanyam Chandrasekhar and Homi Bhaba. India has become a leader in space research thanks to Sarabhai's vision, the President said.

A student wanted to know which part of Mr Kalam's life was more worthy to the nation, the days as a scientist or the office of the President.

The President said life for him was a continuous process. "As a scientist and teacher, I was involved in the development of space launch vehicles, missiles and also preparing a road map for transforming India into a developed nation. Now, as President of India, I am marketing the concept so that our vision of developed India can be fulfilled," he said.

On a question on how to face failure, he said one should not allow the problem to become the master.

"When you encounter a problem, don't allow it to be your master. You should become the master of the problem," he said.

Mr Kalam said parents and teachers played a great role in evolving children.

It is not just education. Values too should be inculcated in the first 17 years.

He explained his own experience where his schoolteacher Sivasubramanya Iyer inspired him.

On UN Council membership: Mr Kalam asserted that India has a right to become a permanent member of the United Nation's Security Council.

"We are a nation of one billion people, forming one-fifth of world population," he said.

Answering a question by a student as to why India's pleas for a permanent membership on the Council had not been successful, the President said India had a right to get membership. "We will get it one day," he said.

On facing natural calamities, he said a global forum could be floated to predict earthquakes.

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