JOIN USKnowledge= Creativity + Courage + Righteousness, says Kalam
Knowledge= Creativity +Righteousness + courage. This simple knowledge equation was former president of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam’s message to the future citizens of Dakshina Kannada.
Addressing a mammoth gathering of students at a Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme organised by the district administration to create awareness among young voters on the need for exercising franchise here on Tuesday, he was the cynosure of all eyes as the crowd responded with loud cheers and thunderous applauses to every remark made by him.
He spoke to them on the importance of righteousness, which he considers is the primary resource for a peaceful world. “It is the father, mother in a spiritual environment and primary school teachers who play a vital role in the life of an individual,” he said while remembering his primary school teacher Shiva Subramanya Iyer. Ignited mind of youth are best powerful resources of a country.
The former President said four steps for success in life are great aim in life, acquired knowledge, hard work and perseverance. “The need of the hour is good leaders for the State of Karnataka and India, who should not be afraid of any problem,” he said.
Quoting a poem ‘I will fly,’ Dr Kalam said “education provides wings to fly. Each one has wings of fire which will lead to knowledge, and will make one to fly to become what ever one wants to be in life.”
He called upon the students to develop courage to think different, to invent, to travel into unexplored parts of the world, design impossible and to combat problems to be a successful in life.
“He said a democratic country like India gives an opportunity for its citizens to grow with capacity to perform. Every citizen has a right to live with dignity and exercise franchise judiciously without any fear for the future of the country. The road map of the country depends on education and values. The forthcoming Lok Sabha polls will be the largest electoral process in the world and will define the future of democracy. The election will see 150 million first time voters exercising their franchise.”
He called upon the first time voters to ensure that they exercise their franchise judiciously and motivate others to cast vote. He explained the need for exercising franchise and urged the students to repeat while he administered an oath for the youth to elect a good leader, to lead India on the path of development. “I will vote for a person of integrity, performance and free from corruption.”
To a query by a student of NITK on if there are no worth candidate in a constituency to elect, Dr Kalam said “I have exercised my franchise number of times. Data of the candidates are available in newspapers and online. Before exercising franchise, analyse the candidate and cast your vote judiciously. Remaining absent from exercising franchise is worthless.”
When Mazan from Sahyadri Institute of Engineering and Management asked why can’t there be a system where 100 per cent voting can be achieved, former President said “in a democratic set up, the government can not force its citizens to vote. It is the duty of every citizen to cast vote.”
DC A B Ibrahim welcomed the gathering while ZP CEO Thulasi Maddineni proposed a vote of thanks.