China invites India’s ‘missile man’ to teach at Peking varsity

China has invited India’s “missile man” and former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to teach at the prestigious Peking University here, offering him a lab of his choice to work with the students.

On his first-ever visit to China at the invitation of the reputed Beijing Forum, a Chinese government-backed intellectual body, Kalam appeared happy to receive the offer to teach but said it all depends on his schedule.

Asked whether he would be visiting Beijing often to teach, 82-year-old Kalam told PTI, “I am a teacher. I teach in US and as a Professor wherever the knowledge takes me I go and share it. Particularly, I like meeting young people and I would like to contribute to their knowledge.”

The invitation to teach at the Peking University was extended to Kalam by its Chairman Zhu Shanlu when he met the former Indian president last night.

He was invited to teach once a year, the subject of his choice and stay as long as he want. The subject could be science and technology or humanities, Kalam’s secretary H Sheridon said, adding that the offer included setting up Laboratory of Kalam’s choice.

Kalam began his career as an Aerospace engineer and later became India’s top guided missile scientist heading the DRDO, which recently has come up with 5,000 km Agni V missile which brought a number of Chinese cities within its range.

Significantly, China has organsied a special visit for Kalam to Chinese academy of aerospace technology today altering its earlier plans to take him on tour of its top aeronautical plant which manufacture its fighter planes.

Kalam himself said he is interested in teaching sustainable development and praised Peking University’s recent move to open ethics department which he said is a “beautiful idea“.

He is scheduled to formally address students of Peking University tomorrow and interact with the Chinese and Indian professionals at the Indian Embassy here.