New Delhi: Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, who flagged off a rally for ‘Clean and Green India’ as part of 86th birth anniversary celebrations of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in Delhi on Sunday, said Kalam had played a pioneering role in making India’s defence and space systems self-reliant.
Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam’s 86th birthday was celebrated with 86 events and activities towards Vision 2020 across Schools and Colleges in New Delhi, Chennai and Rameshwaram. The grand finale was taken out at India Gate and a rally was conducted on the theme “Clean & Green India”. Around 3,000 schools & colleges participated
“The boat maker’s son, who used to distribute newspapers as a young boy to support the family, rose to become the First Citizen of India through sheer hard work, perseverance and self-belief….He used to advise school children and youngsters to ‘Dare to dream and reach for the sky,’ Mr. Venkaiah said. Despite occupying the exalted position of the President of India, Dr. Kalam always remained simple and humble and treated all those who had worked with him or became acquainted with him with affection and warmth, irrespective of their position or background.
“Every discussion with him was a learning experience for me,” the Vice President said recalling the numerous occasions on which he met the People’s President. Dr. Kalam’s vision was to see a fully transformed India as a developed country by 2020 and he was convinced that the country could achieve that status because of the talent, sincerity and hard working nature of the people. He often used to say that ‘strength respects strength’ and wanted India to emerge as a leading economic power, he added.
Stating that the time has come for every citizen to work towards building a “New and Resurgent India”, Mr. Venkaiah said the first and foremost need is to overcome various social ills plaguing the country like poverty, illiteracy, casteism, communalism, regional parochialism and atrocities on women and weaker sections.
“All sections need to be empowered, particularly the vulnerable groups like women, weaker sections and minorities. People must give up “chaltha hai” attitude and display a sense of passion and missionary zeal for building the India dreamt of by Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Dr. Kalam”, he stressed.
