The Hindu : International / India & World : President extraordinaire

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Friday, Feb 03, 2006

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International - India & World

President extraordinaire

Amit Baruah

From family to education to media, Abdul Kalam has a different perspective; defends joint family concept

SINGAPORE: Seventy-four-year-old Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam's extraordinary energy would put a young man to shame.

On the Singapore leg of his three-nation tour, the President has, yet again, displayed his appetite for engagement.

On Thursday, the President had as many as 11 listed engagements: from a 9 a.m. call by Singapore's Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang to an 8.30 p.m. interview with television station Channel News Asia.

The President, who revels in talking to young people, did the same at an international school for Indian students. Mr. Kalam had taken the trouble of receiving "advance" questions from the students, whom he listed by name.

The President also promised the students whose questions he couldn't take that his responses would be available on his official website.

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One of the students at Bhavans Indian International School had a "different" kind of question for the President. How come Mr. Kalam never chose to have a life partner?

Momentarily, it appeared, that the President was stumped. But recovery was quick. His advice to the young man: "I wish you all the best to have a life partner".

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The electronic media in India has launched an "attack" on society, Mr. Kalam feels. According to him, old age homes were a curse on the nation.

"The electronic media's attack is there," the President said, pointing out that 700 million people in India had escaped a full-scale assault on family values since they lived in rural areas.

During an interaction with leading Singaporeans, Mr. Kalam strongly defended the institution of joint families in India. The joint family system and economic development were both essential for the country, he added.

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The President says education is absolutely essential. He's clear that people's way of thinking can be changed only when children are educated properly at the primary level.

Calling upon society to rid primary school children of their "bag burden," Mr.. Kalam said there was a need to change the way children were taught in primary schools.

Asked about knowledge residing in the English language, the President stated: "I'm promoting teaching in the mother tongue."

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The President has a message for Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs). "Wherever you are, you should help the country where you are," Mr. Kalam said at the school function.

Clearly, that's an important message for the millions of people of Indian origin who have become citizens of other nations.

Every PIO should work for the country of which he or she had become a citizen. "India will be proud of what you do," the President added.

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