Sunday, Dec 15, 2002
Sunday, Dec 15, 2002 |
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Tamil Nadu-Chennai
By K.Ramachandran
After the initial protocol-led ceremony, Dr. Kalam came to the podium for his address around 12-15 p.m. Although he had a prepared text, Dr. Kalam started off with his experience of working nearly seven months at the University as Professor of Technology and Societal Transformation, after an offer made by the previous Vice-Chancellor (Dr. A. Kalanidhi). "I used to walk around the campus, interacted with students and led some research groups," he said, sounding nostalgic. During the speech, he recalled how he was moved by the plight of some mentally challenged children he had met at Thiruvananthapuram. "I looked at their suffering and wanted to work for a possible solution to mitigate the suffering," Dr. Kalam said. He had composed a poem, imagining a situation of the children asking God to give them "Arivoli" (the light of knowledge). Stating that the song had been translated into Malayalam, Dr. Kalam stopped and in a surprising moment or two, the Malayalam song was played in the background. Instantly, the entire atmosphere in the hall having several hundreds in the audience, relaxed. He then launched into this favourite oratory, urging youngsters to "dream and make the dreams come true". Later, Dr. Kalam launched the "knowledge connectivity" from the University to half a dozen colleges. He tested the first line with Noorul Islam College in Nagercoil. After some initial problems, he asked to speak to the students. He then assumed the role of a teacher telling the students that he would first ask them a question. He asked, "Thinking gives knowledge... Thinking is progress. What do these sentences mean to you?" After some moments, Ms. Asha from the Nagercoil end responded with her views. Dr. Kalam supplemented her reply, saying thinking should lead to useful action, for which youngsters should model themselves after noble persons and teachers. The entire situation was shorn of the rigidities of protocol that is demanded in every moment of a President's function. There was a buzz among the young students in the audience each time the President directly addressed them with pointed advice. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, who was on the dais, applauded many of the remarks made by the First Citizen, especially when he asked students of Tirunelveli Government Engineering College to repeat his phrase "Dream, dreams transform into thoughts, Thoughts result in action... " After he concluded his speech and returned to his seat, Ms Jayalalithaa was seen taking a sheet or two from Dr. Kalam's speech, displaying her interest in some of his quotes. Later, Dr. Kalam and his entourage visited the bio-process laboratory of the Anna University Department of Bio-Technology at Taramani where he was given a briefing by the director of the CBT, Arul Balakrishnan. Our Nagercoil Staff Reporter reports: It was altogether an exhilarating experience for the students of the Noorul Islam College of Engineering at Kumarakoil near here in interacting with Dr. Kalam at the inaugural of the electronic connectivity between the Anna University and the affiliate engineering colleges today. Though the college is situated in a far corner of the State, an opportunity to communicate with the President was considered by the students and faculty of the college, which has about 2,600 students, as a privilege. "The technology has bridged the gap and we are able to see and converse with you Sir, despite our college being situated in a remote corner of the State", said Asha, a student. "Thinking gave a simulation to the capabilities that God gave us and, in fact, this was the reason for the progress of mankind and also the tremendous revolution in science and technology, she said. The college chairman, A. Majid Khan, was present on the occasion.
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