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Excerpt from Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's talk to our University Students
I am indeed delighted
to be with the student community belonging to engineering, dental,
physiotherapy, fashion technology and catering/hotel management.
The topic I have selected for this interaction is: “Enlightened
Citizens”. All of you provide yeoman service in the mission of
transforming India into a developing nation with innovation,
creativity, human intelligence and patience. “Service to human
being is Service to God”.
As society transforms itself through education, health-care,
agriculture and good governance, it has now to focus on resolving
impending major crisis in the areas of energy, environment,
ecology, water and mineral resources. While opportunities exist for
markets up to 80 billion dollars by 2008 for knowledge-based
products for India, by a careful planning it is possible to touch a
target of even 150 B$ by 2010.
India, has the core competence in ICT, Biotechnology, nano-technology,
and also in the newer areas that arise due to the convergence
between all of theses, such as Integrated Intelligent Systems. With
your specialization in different areas, how you can contribute for
the nation building?
There are five areas for simultaneous development: Agriculture and
Food processing, Education and healthcare, Information and
Communication Technology, Infrastructure development - including
River network and self reliance in critical technologies.
For achieving the above mission, the capacities required in
educational institutions are: The capacity for research or inquiry,
the capacity for Creativity and Innovation, particularly the
creative transfer of knowledge, the capacity to use high
technology, the capacity for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the
capacity for Moral Leadership.
Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's Address
“BE JOB
PROVIDERS, RATHER THAN JOB SEEKERS,” urged the former President of
India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in his address to the students of Dr.
M.G.R. University on February 6th 2004. Talking about the value of
youth in contributing to the country's glory, he emphasised the
need for the students' commitment and hard work.
He believes that India has great competence and potential in
emerging areas like Information Technology, Biotechnology and
Nanotechnology. By 2020 he wants India to become a developed
nation. To achieve this, he said, it is necessary to develop the
capacity for research, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurial
leadership and above all moral leadership.
He also emphasised the fact that the Engineering, Science and
Humanities graduates passing out of Dr. M.G.R. University should
dedicate themselves to contribute to the mission of Developed India
2020 by working in the PURA Programme, which envisages creation of
rural wealth and prosperity. He concluded by asking the student
community to seek wisdom from the Almighty to help lead them in the
path of righteousness through education.
PLEDGE BY STUDENTS
I will pursue my
education or the work with dedication and I will excel in it.
From now onwards, I
will teach at least 10 persons to read and write for those who
cannot read and write I will plant at least 10 saplings and shall
ensure their growth through constant care.
I will visit rural and
urban areas and permanently wean away at least 5 persons from
addiction and gambling.
I will constantly
endeavor to remove the pain of my suffering brethren.
I will not support any
religious, caste or language discrimination.
I will be honest and
endeavor to make a corruption-free society.
I will work for
becoming an enlightened citizen and make my family righteous.
I will always be a
friend of the mentally and physically challenged and will work hard
to make them feel normal, like the rest of us.
I will proudly
celebrate the success of my country and my people.
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