Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam held on 03.10.2013

3rd Oct, 2013

Have a goal to soar high

The former President of India, His Excellency, Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam visited Paavai Institutions on 03.10.2013 and enthusiastically addressed the young minds and aspiring community of Engineers, researchers and students on the topic “What I will be remembered for”. He cheerfully began his address by quoting the lines from the poem ‘I will fly’ by the Persian poet Jalaluddin Rumi. To start with, Dr.Kalam mentioned about the relativity in the scientific triangle of Sir Hamphrey Davy, Michael Faraday and Thomas Alva Edison and he stated, “every successful person has a mentor who could be either a teacher or a library of great books”.

Citing the uniqueness of a long list of scientists like Edison, Wright Brothers, Graham Bell, Sir C.V.Raman, Srinivasa Ramanjuan, Chandrasekar and Madam Curie, he emphasized that one is always remembered for one’s unique solution to the world in terms of intellectual supremacy and ingenuity of skills. So, he advised every youth of India to be unique in their endeavor and to achieve uniqueness they have to have a great aim, continuous acquisition of knowledge, hard work and perseverance. He said, “ The challenge, my friends, is that you have to fight the hardest battle, which human being can ever imagine to fight and never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place, thus, a UNIQUE YOU”

Dr.Kalam also focused on the importance of Research and Development for it enhances the quality of teaching and learning. He made an appeal to the staff and students of Paavai Institutions to remember the significance of Research in Higher Education. He continued, “Unique innovative activities symbolize how the research tasks at the undergraduate level education in association with industry and academia enriches the engineering education as a whole”.

He interacted with the students and answered befittingly the queries posed by them. A few of them are:
1. What is required of the youth of today?
There are 60 millions of youth in India. They have to progress in life by setting a definite goal. “The height of the flower depends on the depth of water” as said in Thirukural. So you must have a definite determination to achieve your goal.

2. Which phase of your tenure do you cherish most – as scientist at ISRO, as a teacher or as the President of India?
Amidst the various positions I held as a scientist, as a first citizen of India and as a teacher, what I cherish most is my role as a teacher.

3. What would be your guidance and advice to those youth who emotionally and inadvertently plunge into rash decisions?
One can lead a life in the manner one likes. However, the youth have to remember the following guidelines a) deciding upon a goal before the age of 20. b) continuously acquiring knowledge c) hard work and d) perseverance

4. What has to be done to the devaluation of Indian Rupee?
Focus must be given to agriculture and small scale industry using new technologies to improve productivity leading to an increase in exports so that the total production of our nation would increase and consequently the value of national currency would also improve.

Dr.Kalam concluded his speech that every youth is expected to write a page in the history of the nation either through invention, innovation, discovery, creating societal change, removing poverty, fighting injustice or planning and executing networking of rivers. This being the goal – post for every youth they should undertake a systematic work for the realization of the goal.
Dr.Kalam presented a few of his books to the college library. In memory of his visit to Paavai Institutions Dr.Kalam also planted a sapling.
Shri.CA.N.V.Natarajan, Chairman, Paavai Institutions welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries. Smt.Mangai Natarajan, Correspondent, Secretary Shri.T.R.Palanivel, Vice-Chairman Shri.T.R.Manisekaran, Treasurer Dr.M.Ramakrishnan, Joint Secretary Shri.N.Palanivel, District Sub Collector Mr.Ajay Yadav, Director (Admissions) Shri.K.Senthil, Director (Administration) Dr.K.K.Ramasamy, Director (Schools) C.Sathish graced the occasion.
R.S.Monica, Paavai Vidhyashram, proposed the vote of thanks.

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