Dr Kalam goes back to school

Watching former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam attending a class as a student is a rare sight which students of Millenium school, Lucknow witnessed. He went to a classroom of the school and attended Geography class for good 15 minutes. Before school authorities could arrange a special chair for Bharat Ratna, Kalam comfortably sat on the student's chair  and listened to what teacher Manju was teaching.

With Dr Kalam sitting next to them, Jyoti Shekhar and Krishna Singh— of the Millennium School—were thrilled. They just could not believe their eyes. Like an ordinary student he answered some of the questions, which the teacher fielded to students. Kalam himself clapped for every correct answer he gave even before the kids could clap for him.

He saw a few power point presentations made by the kids and thoroughly enjoyed them. Ankita Mishra who was sitting next to Kalam said that it was a great honour to share classroom with him.

Dr Kalam also addressed all the students of the school. There was an intriguing question answer session. Children got some of the answers right and gave few wrong ones.

Being students of Millenium school, Dr Kalam asked meaning of the word Millenium from them.All of them anwered it correctly. Other question posed by him was 'Who was named as the Man of the Millennium?'. Nobody could come with a correct answer. Finally Dr Kalam answered: Its Mahatma Gandhi. And the theatre reverberated with huge round of applause.

He preached students to always listen to their mother and their teacher if they want to be successful in life. He advised kids a lesson on knowledge that leads to righteousness in the heart and advised them to be more creative which comes only from imagination.

Kalam asked kids if they were to become politician what would they do? And all answered on expected lines. Removing corruption, putting an end to unrest and bringing peace in society, generating employment were few things which students want to do as politician.

He advised students that they can achieve anything in life only if they set a goal/aim in life, acquire knowledge from books, hard work and perseverance.

"Beware of small aim, it is a crime," he said. Dr Kalam gave ample example of his concern, affection and love for children in his hour-long stay in the school. As he was interacting in the open theatre he spotted few students sitting under sun and asked the teacher to take them to shade.