July 30, 2015
In keeping alive Kalam’s dreams, young aeronautical engineer Ashiq T.P. is all set to address a huge gathering of students at SNS College and the Nehru group of institutions on August 1, on the theme of ‘Dreams Come True.’ This, according to him, is a tribute to the Missile Man of India, who dreamt of ‘Vision 2020’.
Speaking to Covai Post, Ashiq, the enterprising youngster and former student of Nehru Institute of Engineering and Technology (NIET), currently working as airlines operations engineer at Bengaluru International Airport said, “Kalam was very fond of school and college students. He always spared time to meet and interact with them. I was one of the students who were inspired by his speech, and took his words in the right perspective”.
Ashiq said that he would address the students of SNS College on Kalam’s favourite theme of ‘dreams come true.’ “I was really fortunate to meet Kalam in Kochi during the inauguration of Medcity when he affectionately enquired about my airlines job and my future prospects. I cannot forget his last words – “fly higher and higher… raise the power of youth… raise your knowledge, make a habit of learning from minute things in your day-to-day life… You should be the change and leader,” he said.
“Though Kalam is no more with us, it is our sacred duty to make his dreams come true. Almost all his books, starting from ‘Wings of Fire,’ ‘Ignited Minds,’ and ‘India 2020,’ were penned by him to motivate India’s young minds. We might feel that Kalam has left a huge void that cannot be filled, but hypothetically Kalam would want most of the young generation to replace him. The responsibility of present day youth is to take steps to make his dream, of ‘Vision 2020,’ come true. That would be the most fitting tribute to the man with many visions.”
He said, with a touch of pride, that Kalam, after coming to know about his book ‘In the eye of a teenager,’ simply smiled at him and said, “Message to a teenager from another teenager always has good impact.” Kalam is understood to have said, “Very rarely do I see young minds like these. I’m proud of you.”
Ashiq further added that Kalam appreciated him for organizing the Nehru International Youth Conference at the Nehru group of institutions premises a few months ago. “I was fortunate to be associated with Kalam’s scientific advisor V. Ponraj and social activist K. Abdul Ghani, who were present at the meet”, he said adding that Kalam had promised to attend the meet next year.
After paying his tributes to his rolemodel Kalam at his hometown Rameswaram, Ashiq said that the former President Kalam will find a place in the annals of Indian history.
“It was Kalam who inspired youngsters like me to dream what we want to be in our lives,” he said.