Lesson for teachers
At the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Sainik School Kazhakootam in December 2011, former president Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam put a question to the audience. “Who all want to become unique in life?” All students present in the auditorium stood up.
In spite of the enthusiastic response of students, Kalam wasn’t happy. The teachers seated on the front row had not lifted their hands. He looked at them and asked; “You people don’t want to become unique? “ The embarrassed teachers reluctantly nodded in affirmative. The former president who was not too happy with the reluctant response asked the teachers and all others to repeat loudly “I want to become unique”. He also had a piece of advice for the teachers: “You can make your students think big and break the limits of imagination, only if you possess the qualities of a great teacher. So try to become great teachers and have the personality to lead your wards in the right direction.
Gulmohar mystery
Finally, it took Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s death to wake up Greater Cochin Development Authority to the need for protecting trees planted along the Marine Drive. The agency came out with a statement in the wake of reports that a ‘Gulmohar’ sapling planted by Dr Kalam at Marine Drive got uprooted a few days ago due to the lack of proper care.
All e trees in Marine Drive will be protected with a foundation wall, the GCDA statement said. The agency also dispelled the notion that the former president had planted the ‘Gulmohar’.
“Kalam had only watered a few saplings already planted during a visit to the spot in December 2006,” it said. To facilitate the landing of the president’s helicopter, local officials had cut down a few trees in the helipad in Marine Drive. When the protests reached the president’s office, the local administration was instructed to plant at least 10 trees in place of each tree that was cut down. It was one of these trees that Kalam had “watered”.
