Kalam will keep on inspiring us, say F’bad students

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, July 28

The shock caused by the sudden demise of Dr. A.PJ.Abdul Kalam is writ large on the faces of the students and staff of the Satyug Darshan Vidyalaya near Bhopani village here.

It is perhaps the only school in the district that had hosted the former President two years ago.

I cannot forget his aura and the affect of his words during an informal interactive session on October 10, 2013 where I also poised certain queries to him, says Dhruv Bhardwaj, a former student.

Dhruv, a plus two student then, had asked, Why India was a victim of brain drain. Dr Kalam interrupted him and had said it was brain gain not brain drain and went on to clarify that a majority of the youngsters wanted to apply their knowledge and expertise in the country and this trend had in fact helped the country a lot.

Vivek Juneja, another student, agrees that the every word said by Dr. Kalam helped them to gain an everlasting confidence. Similarly, 11- year- old Pawan Narula, a student of class VI, said he only remembers Kalam’s white hair and smiling face when he stopped and asked him his name and said how are you? Narula then welcomed the Chief Guest.

Neera, a teacher, also feels gifted to have chatted with him. She said Dr. Kalam asked her what she taught and her students were happy with her. He shook hands and blessed me, she recalled.

We paid tributes to the departed soul during the morning assembly today and pledged to follow his teachings, said Principal R.K Sharma.

The upcoming Robotic Laboratory will be named after Dr Kalam, he added.

Dr Kalam had spent three hours in the school and had addressed a gathering of Principals and students of 100 schools invited for the occasion.