12.

Children Ask Kalam

1. President Dr. Shri A.P.J. Abdul kalam spends hours every week connected
with children across the nation, thinking about their future and thinking through their issues. 2. Here are Dr. Kalam s answers to the question that some children have asked him. Dhanraj, Std. VIII, City kasargod. Question: Kalam: What is your full name and who was your best friend in school? My full name is avul pakir jainulabdeen abdul kalam. During my school days Pakshi Ramanatha Sastry was my best friend. Joshi Bhoomi, Std Xi, Institution Kotak Kanya Vinay Mandir, ity Rajkot Question: Kalam: How for is the favout of fortune necessary? Harr work comes first. Fortune will favour you if you are persistent in hard work. There is a famous saying. God helps those who help themselves. There is another saying, thar is takes many years of hard work to make an overnight success. Devesh Ranjan, Institution NIC, City New Delhi Question : please tell me, who would have been the first scientist in the world ?

Kalam:

Science was born and survives only by questions. The whole foundation of science is questioning. And as parents and teachers know well, children are the source of unending questions, Hence, child is the first scientist.

B.Ishita, Std.VI, Institution St Bedes School , City Chennai Question : What is the secret behind remembering various formulas of science & maths. Kalam: By constant application one can remember various formulas of science and maths.

Umang Dave, Std. IX, Institution Silken Academy, City Mumbai Question : Which has been the happiest day of your life? Kalam: I was once working with doctors to get light weight Floor Reaction Orthosis(FROs)for polio affected persons. After taking the measurement, when the children were fitted with it, weighing 1/10th of the original weight which they were carrying, the children started running. Walking and pedaling cycles. Their mobility brought tears of joy in the eyes of their parents. The sight of happiness on their faces was bliss to me. R. Arovindh, Std.III, Institution St. Bedes school, City Chennai Question : Cay your tell us any unforgettable incident from your childhood: Kalam: I am reminded of my class V teacher, Shri Sivasubramania 1yer.

He taught us in his lectures how birds fly. He showed us real life examples at the seashore of Rameswaram. It is an unforgettable occasion which etched in my memory forever. It helped me to take up the study of science. Abhilash Verma, Std, VIII, Institution Police Modern School, City Etawash Question: You are an ideal man. Please give us your suggestions to became good human beings. Kalam: Hard work and scientific temper combined with spirituality will make you a good human being. Try to find good things in others. Harsh Chandak, Std, VII, Dr.S.Radha krishanan Vidyalaya, City Malad, Mumbai. Question: You give away bravery awards every year. What is your definition of courage? Kalam: Saving others from disaster withour minding about your own safety is courage.

Master Rahul Mehta, Ste. VIII, City Ahmedabad Tajas Sawant, Std, IX, Institution Bambay Cambridge, City Andheri Question: What is your message to the citizens of India?

Kalam:

My message to the youth is given in the 10 point oath,which I normally administer, and is as follows1. I will pursue my education or the work with dedication and I will excel in it. 2. From now onwards, I will teach at least 10 persons to read and write, those who can not read and write. 3. I will plant at least 10 saplings and shall ensure their growth though constant care. 4. I will visit rural and urban areas and permanently wean away at least five persons from addiction and gambling. 5. I will constantly endeavour to remove the pain of my suffering brethren. 6. I will not support and religious, caste and language differentiation. 7. I will be honest and endeavour to make a corruption free society. 8. I will work for becoming an enlightened citizen and make my family righteous. 9. 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. 10. I will proudly celebrate the success of my country and my people.

18. Dancing On Alarippu, shabdam, varnam, padam-these were strange words for the audience in the packed auditorium in Washington. But as the young dancer from India, looking splendid in her traditional costume, explained each item before she began her dance, they began to understand the bhave(emotion), raga (melody) and tala (rhythm) of Bharatanatyam. About ten years ago, sudha was a promising 17-year-old dancer with more than 80 performances behind her. And then one day, she was injured in a road accident about 25 kilometers from Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, where the family had gone for their annual pilgrimage. Perhaps she was not treated properly at the local hospital where she was rushed. In and case, her injuries resulted in a gangrenous infection. When she was taken to Chennai, the doctors there tried hard to stop the growth of the infection. But finally they were forced to amputate her right leg from about eight centimeters below the knee. In the terrible months that followed, Sudha s search began to find a way of dancing again. The day I met Dr. Pramod Sethi, I knew that my dream would come true, She says.

Dr. Sethi had won the Magsaysay Award for his development of the Jaipur Foot an artificial limb made form vulcanized rubber filled with sponge. Sudha acquired a jaipur Foor and began her determined journey back to the world of bharatanatyam, learnig to balance, bend, stretch, walk ,twist, turn and finally, dance. Her doctors, her physiotherapist, her parents and her guru were all a part of her passionate effort. On October 27, 1982, she gave a Gurudakshina (a traditional thanks giving recital) at the residence of the guru. It was truly a miracle. On January 28,1984, Sudha made a historic comeback by fiving a public recital in Bombay (Mumbai). The performance was notable for its classical quality. Everyone warmly welcomed the return of the talented dancer. Her father K.D. chandran say, After every performance, Sudha used to ask, How was it, Daddy ? and I used to tell her that she still had to improve a lot. But on January 28, when she asked me the usual question, I didn t say anything. I just touched her feet. It was my tribute to great artist.

Sudha s amazing success story took an interesting turn when a hyderabed film producer decided to make a Telugu film not just based on her story but with her in the main lead. mayuri s success encouraged him to dub the film in Tamil and maluyalam and remake it in Hindi as Nache mayuri - and sudha chandran had yet another birth. As a film star. She has since acted in some three dozen films in several languages, and has also just completed producing a kannada film Kalabhimani based on the true life of Balanna, a deaf artist who went on to become a great character actor. (Balanna, 74, has 400 Kannada films to his credit and is still in demand.) Sudha says, if Helen keller could overcome her handicap so con I, is what I have always told myself That, Sudh remarks, is what she replied to her Indian fans who wrote to her in the thousands after the release of her films. people wrote to say that the were inspired by my story and that it had given them new hope. I do feel thrilled that my message has got across. And what is that message? The seed of achievement lies in the human mind. When this realization comes, there is no looking back. Once I decided that my handicap was not going to stop me from dancing, that was it.