An Ingnited youth essay
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Explanation:
a teacher, a scientist, a technologist and as the President of India, I have met millions of people from all walks of life.
In Parliament and legislative assemblies, I have met political leaders and members.
In schools, I met students and teachers.
I have met doctors and paramedical staff in hospitals.
During my travels to some of the remote parts of India, I have met tribal leaders.
Wherever I have gone, I have administered oaths to the thousands of people I met, keeping in mind the group or profession they belong to.
I believe that these oaths do influence their lives or bring about a change in them in some small way.
President A P J Abdul Kalam inspects the guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan, July 25, 2007, his last day in office.
IMAGE: 'The most important, and also difficult, part for an individual is to remove "I" and "me" from his thinking.' Photograph: B Mathur/Reuters
In Wayanad, Kerala, in February 2011, I met students of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at 2.30 am. They were fresh and full of life even at that hour and happily took this 10-point oath that I administered:
1. I will have a goal and work hard to achieve it. I realise that having a small aim is a crime.
2. I will work with integrity and succeed with integrity.
3. I will be a good member of my family, of society, of the nation and of the world.
4. I will always try to save or improve someone's life without any discrimination because of their caste, creed, language, religion or state.
5. Wherever I am and whatever I do, I will always think, 'What can I give?'
6. I will always remember the importance of time. My motto will be: 'Let not my winged days be spent in vain.'
7. I will always work for a clean planet Earth and clean energy.
8. As a youth of my nation, I will work with courage to achieve success in all my tasks and enjoy the success of others.
9. I am as young as my faith and as old as my doubt. Hence, I will light the lamp of faith in my heart.
10. My national flag flies in my heart and I will bring glory to my nation.
The People's President
President A P J Abdul Kalam during the National Folk Dance Festival in 2006.
IMAGE: 'The youth can work for national development even as they work hard for an individual goal.' Photograph: B Mathur/Reuters
A society must always give special attention to the dreams, concerns and aspirations of its youth because they are the ones who will shape its future.
More than 40 per cent of India's population is below the age of 20, according to the census data of 2011.
I often say that the ignited minds of the youth are the most powerful resource on the Earth, above the Earth and under the Earth.
I am convinced that youth power, if properly directed and controlled, could bring about transformational changes in humanity for its progress, meeting its challenges and bringing about peace and prosperity.
Let us consider some of the major problems that the world faces.
Two-thirds of its population lives in poverty, often without any access to safe drinking water, leave alone quality education.
How can the youth of the world contribute to correct the situation?
Can every educated person spread literacy to at least five people in his or her lifetime?
Can the youth spread the message of water conservation?
Can they come up with out-of-the-box solutions to different problems?
Around 6,000 students created a paper filigree of former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam to mark his birth anniversary in Chennai.
IMAGE: 'Youth power, if properly directed and controlled, could bring about transformational changes in humanity for its progress.' Photograph: PTI
Some years ago I started the Lead India 2020 movement.
It is indeed a youth movement, based on my 10-point oath for the youth and born out of my belief that the youth can make a difference to society in the areas of literacy, environment, social justice and minimising the rural-urban divide.
They can work for national development even as they work hard for an individual
Let me tell you the story behind them.
1. Save or Improve Someone's Life
Mahatma Gandhi's mother had once said to him: 'Son, in your entire lifetime, if you can save or improve someone's life, your birth as a human being and your life will be a success. You have the blessings of the Almighty God.'
This advice had a deep impact on Gandhiji and made him work for humanity throughout his life.
School boys with their faces painted in the colours of India'sindependence day
I happened to visit a 400-year-old Buddhist monastery in Tawang during a tour of Arunachal Pradesh in 2003.
I was there for almost
A P J Kalam