Ex-Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam spurs Bangladeshi youths to work hard
Famed former Indian president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam mesmerised a huge gathering of youth in Dhaka yesterday with his usual inspirational speech, pushing them for dreaming great and defeating failures.
“There will always be problems in life. Problems should not become your captain, rather you should become the captain of the problem, defeat the problem and succeed,” said the scientist while addressing over 700 university students at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.
The 11th president of India is now in the capital to attend the 110th founding anniversary of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dhaka. The two-day celebration kicked off with the dialogue with the students.
Kalam, who served India as president between 2002 and 2007, has long been working for the youth in his home country, and said in the last two decades he met 18 million youths at home and abroad.
He said the youth of Bangladesh formed a significant demographic and would soon become half of the country’s total population.
“Their concerns, issues and opportunities will be crucial for the growth and development of Bangladesh.
“Your dreams will be Bangladesh’s dream, your thoughts will be Bangladesh’s thoughts, and your actions will be Bangladesh’s action,” said Kalam, who has already launched a movement in India involving youth in order to fight corruption.
He said the youth needed to have a great aim in life, as a “small aim is a crime”. He urged the youth to acquire knowledge and work hard to achieve the goals.
Kalam acknowledged although his childhood dream to become a pilot did not materialise, it did not stop him to work hard to become what he is today.
“How you manage your failure is a big issue. Leaders know how to handle success and failures equally.”
He also said leaders should be the ones who take the blame in case of any failure and celebrate the success with all people associated with the success.
“Leaders should be where the problem is. This is the real leadership. It is true in case of trade, commerce, business and politics.”
In an attempt to infuse dreams among the participants, Kalam referred to a nice poem of Persian poet Jalal ad-Din Rumi, and led the youth audience recite it.
“I am born with potential. I am born with goodness and trust. I am born with ideas and dreams. I am born with greatness. I am born with wings. I am not meant for crawling because I have wings. I will learn to use them and fly.”
He said he modified the poem a little to make it relevant to the Bangladeshi youths.
The scientist also called for disposing of all nuclear warheads in the world. “People should work for a nuclear-free world.”
During a question-answer session, he said the amenities such as electricity should be made available in rural areas in order to reduce poverty.
MCCI President Rokia Afzal Rahman said she could not express in words how grateful her chamber was as the former Indian president had taken the trouble to come to Bangladesh to grace the founding anniversary of the MCCI.
Ministers, former advisers of caretaker governments, members of the MCCI board, civil society members and faculties from different universities were present at the dialogue.
Source: The Daily Star
