A P J Abdul Kalam, former president of India, gave a four-point mantra for success to children from unprivileged class at Parikrma Centre for Learning at Jayanagar on Tuesday.

Having an aim in life, acquiring knowledge, working hard and perseverance - are the major contributors towards one’s success, Kalam said. “Dreams are the beginning to greatness,” he added. The Centre is run by Parikrma Humanity Foundation, a nonprofit organisation and the children at Parikrma come from slums and orphanages of Bangalore.

Kalam emphasised on the need to protect environment when Nikhil, student of Grade VII, asked about global warming.

Vehicles emit 30 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year and changing over to bio-fuel would be ideal for protecting our environment, he said. While Phalita, student of Grade VII asked Kalam about the project on interlinking of rivers, Selva Kumar, student of Grade IX, asked about rehabilitation of people displaced due to this project.

Kalam was asked about his childhood dream, on becoming a scientist, his love for children and his dream for India.

His dream for India is to see smiles on billion faces, Kalam answered a student. “I love teaching because when you teach you can learn more and by learning more you can teach better,” he answered another student’s query.
“Where there is righteousness in the heart there is beauty in character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home.  When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation.  When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world,” Kalam explained.