Jalandhar, August 17
The students had to wait for the President of India, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in tyrannical heat for more than three hours. But their wait turned out to be well-rewarded. The President mingled with them freely and satisfied their anxieties and queries about India’s future.
Enthused over the inquisitive response of young minds, Dr Kalam shared his much-publicised “Vision-2020” with the students of the K.M.V College in bigger detail than the students expected.
The students were made to sit at one place for hours before the scheduled arrival of the President, at about 4.30 pm. Some of them complained that they had been sitting there since 1 pm, but water was served and fans of the ‘pandal’ were turned on just before the arrival of Dr Kalam. If a large number of young hands were seen vying for disposable glasses of water after these arrived after a long time, some teachers were seen advising them to “share” the glasses with each other, probably due to shortage.
The exhausted students were seemed so thirsty that they were lapping up mineral water bottles and glasses sent or thrown across the press gallery by officials of the Punjab Public Relations Department and certain journalists.
But once the President arrived at the scene, all complaints of the students evaporated, particularly when Dr Kalam gestured towards them by choosing to part with his company of dignitaries and moving among students, shaking hands and exchanging smiles.
Well-prepared students of the college had already left a mark on all those present at the venue by
mesmerising them with their patriotic songs like “Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawaanon Ka…”, “Swatantra Desh Hai Sada…” and “Mera Rang De Basanti Chola…”.
Dr Kalam said it was a matter of prestige for him that he was in a college that was set up in 1886 by Lala Dev Raj and from where over 50,000 students had already graduated in the past 120 years. He also remembered the contribution of the institution towards the freedom struggle.
“Take an oath with me. Are you ready?” Dr Kalam asked the students. They responded with zeal.
“That you will lead a honest life, free from all corruption and set an example for others. When a person, say a political leader, empowers people, he or she is contributing in the prosperity of the country. I hope you will do so,” Dr Kalam said.
The President was honoured Dr Poonam Kohli, a former student of the college, who had also edited one of his books.
Earlier, he held a brain-storming session with the vice-chancellors of 10 universities and deemed universities of Punjab and Chandigarh.
Also present on the occasion were the Punjab Governor General (retd) S.F. Rodrigues, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr Jai Rup Singh, patron of the college, Mr Chander Mohan and principal, Dr Rita Bawa. MD of the PKF Group of Companies, Mr Alok Sondhi, was also present.
