27th Jan, 2012.
2.00 p.m.
I stepped off the car at school. I met three of my friends there, shook hands with the principal, wished all the teachers and then joined my friends in a regular conversation. In ten minutes we would be leaving for OIL Higher Secondary school, Duliajan to attend an interaction session with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of The Republic of India.
2.30 p.m.
Seated up front, just below the stage, in the box meant for students with questions to ask Dr. Kalam, the four of us joined the buzz. All that everybody had on their mind was "Oh my God! I'm actually going to talk to Dr.Kalam! I can't believe it!!!" He was scheduled to arrive at 4.30 p.m. . Everything in order, we waited.
4.30 p.m.
NCC cadets stood in a file on both sides of the red carpet,which flowed all the way from the main gate to the stage. The audience clapped and cheered as Dr. Kalam walked through the entrance and on to the stage. There, placed specially for him, was a couch that was decorated with red and gold cushions and flowers. But he would have none of it. He would keep it simple. He would sit only on the metal chairs that were positioned beside the couch. That was the first gesture that touched my heart. Being a man of his stature, he chose to push aside all the comforts and facilities that were readily fed to him and tried to live the life of a common man as best as he could. He did not crave for power nor did he crave for comfort. He dedicated his life to his work and to motivating the youth to work for a better India.
When the formalities were done with, he began his speech. He asked if we knew what golden jubilee meant. He explained, it meant that the school had completed 50years of its functioning since its inception. The school is on the earth and the earth revolves once around the sun in a year.So the school has revolved around the sun 50 times! What a good way to look at it! It makes one feel grand!
He then talked about his school life and how he was inspired to "do" in life and how he believed that "giving" and "enjoying others' pleasure" were the key to being a good human being. He taught us how to be successful rather than just preaching about it. However, the most beautiful thing he said was that all of us could "fly if you willed to because you have wings of fire". He made us repeat a poem " I can fly" after him. Believe it or not, it made me stronger and more confident. If you repeat its lines, It will do you good too. " I am born with wings. I am not meant to crawl. I will fly. I can fly. I can fly......"
He told us never to give up because nothing is impossible. We must not fail to grab every opportunity we get. We repeated in unison, "I can do it. We can do it. India can do it."
In the end, we took an oath that, honestly, made me rethink my abilities and my attitude. I know now that I can be a unique person.
6.00 p.m.
He walked out of the school gate in his usual crisp manner. But the people around made it seem like a victory march. He is a true Hero, isn't he?
11.30 p.m.
I have tucked myself cozily in bed and am dreaming of the evening.................................
28th Jan, 2012.
7.30 p.m.
As if meeting Dr. Kalam once wasn't luck enough, I had the privilege of listening to two of his speeches. He was to address a gathering at Delhi Public School, Duliajan ( i.e. my school). How was I not to be there? I sneaked into the group of students who would be putting up questions and this time he instructed us to come out of our enclosure and settle ourselves closer to the stage so he might interact more comfortably. His address on this day and the previous were as different as ice is from fire. He spent most of his time explaining an equation; Knowledge = Creativity + Righteousness in the heart + Courage. The thing that touched my heart this morning was his answer to the question, "Can corruption be eradicated from our country?" He said, " There are 1 billion people in the country. Considering 5 members per family, there are 200 million homes. In each home there are three children - two daughters and a son or two sons and a daughter- the father and the mother. Children aren't born corrupt so this virus must spread from the seniors of the family. Supposing that the father is corrupt, if the daughter goes up to him and tells him, 'It is a sin to be corrupt', will it not touch his heart? Will it not change him if he sees that his children would find it difficult to love him if he were corrupt?"
Before leaving, he consented to take a picture of himself with the faculty of the institution. It made me proud to think that he had enjoyed the interaction with the students when in our school. He is such a great person. He is the kind of person who answers every letter he gets from the people. Why isn't everybody like him?
2.00 p.m.
I stepped off the car at school. I met three of my friends there, shook hands with the principal, wished all the teachers and then joined my friends in a regular conversation. In ten minutes we would be leaving for OIL Higher Secondary school, Duliajan to attend an interaction session with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of The Republic of India.
2.30 p.m.
Seated up front, just below the stage, in the box meant for students with questions to ask Dr. Kalam, the four of us joined the buzz. All that everybody had on their mind was "Oh my God! I'm actually going to talk to Dr.Kalam! I can't believe it!!!" He was scheduled to arrive at 4.30 p.m. . Everything in order, we waited.
4.30 p.m.
NCC cadets stood in a file on both sides of the red carpet,which flowed all the way from the main gate to the stage. The audience clapped and cheered as Dr. Kalam walked through the entrance and on to the stage. There, placed specially for him, was a couch that was decorated with red and gold cushions and flowers. But he would have none of it. He would keep it simple. He would sit only on the metal chairs that were positioned beside the couch. That was the first gesture that touched my heart. Being a man of his stature, he chose to push aside all the comforts and facilities that were readily fed to him and tried to live the life of a common man as best as he could. He did not crave for power nor did he crave for comfort. He dedicated his life to his work and to motivating the youth to work for a better India.
When the formalities were done with, he began his speech. He asked if we knew what golden jubilee meant. He explained, it meant that the school had completed 50years of its functioning since its inception. The school is on the earth and the earth revolves once around the sun in a year.So the school has revolved around the sun 50 times! What a good way to look at it! It makes one feel grand!
He then talked about his school life and how he was inspired to "do" in life and how he believed that "giving" and "enjoying others' pleasure" were the key to being a good human being. He taught us how to be successful rather than just preaching about it. However, the most beautiful thing he said was that all of us could "fly if you willed to because you have wings of fire". He made us repeat a poem " I can fly" after him. Believe it or not, it made me stronger and more confident. If you repeat its lines, It will do you good too. " I am born with wings. I am not meant to crawl. I will fly. I can fly. I can fly......"
He told us never to give up because nothing is impossible. We must not fail to grab every opportunity we get. We repeated in unison, "I can do it. We can do it. India can do it."
In the end, we took an oath that, honestly, made me rethink my abilities and my attitude. I know now that I can be a unique person.
6.00 p.m.
He walked out of the school gate in his usual crisp manner. But the people around made it seem like a victory march. He is a true Hero, isn't he?
11.30 p.m.
I have tucked myself cozily in bed and am dreaming of the evening.................................
28th Jan, 2012.
7.30 p.m.
As if meeting Dr. Kalam once wasn't luck enough, I had the privilege of listening to two of his speeches. He was to address a gathering at Delhi Public School, Duliajan ( i.e. my school). How was I not to be there? I sneaked into the group of students who would be putting up questions and this time he instructed us to come out of our enclosure and settle ourselves closer to the stage so he might interact more comfortably. His address on this day and the previous were as different as ice is from fire. He spent most of his time explaining an equation; Knowledge = Creativity + Righteousness in the heart + Courage. The thing that touched my heart this morning was his answer to the question, "Can corruption be eradicated from our country?" He said, " There are 1 billion people in the country. Considering 5 members per family, there are 200 million homes. In each home there are three children - two daughters and a son or two sons and a daughter- the father and the mother. Children aren't born corrupt so this virus must spread from the seniors of the family. Supposing that the father is corrupt, if the daughter goes up to him and tells him, 'It is a sin to be corrupt', will it not touch his heart? Will it not change him if he sees that his children would find it difficult to love him if he were corrupt?"
Before leaving, he consented to take a picture of himself with the faculty of the institution. It made me proud to think that he had enjoyed the interaction with the students when in our school. He is such a great person. He is the kind of person who answers every letter he gets from the people. Why isn't everybody like him?
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